Mark E. Light

Structure–Activity Relationships in Tripodal Transmembrane Anion Transporters: The Effect of Fluorination

A series of easy-to-make fluorinated tripodal anion transporters containing urea and thiourea groups have been prepared and their anion transport properties studied. Vesicle anion transport assays using ion-selective electrodes show that this class of compound is capable of transporting chloride through a lipid bilayer via a variety of mechanisms, including chloride/H+ cotransport and chloride/nitrate, chloride/bicarbonate, and to a lesser extent an unusual chloride/sulfate antiport process. Calculations indicate that increasing the degree of fluorination of the tripodal transmembrane transporters increases the lipophilicity of the transporter and this is shown to be the major contributing factor in the superior transport activity of the fluorinated compounds, with a maximum transport rate achieved for clog P = 8. The most active transporter 5 contained a urea functionality appended with a 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group and was able to mediate transmembrane chloride transport at receptor to lipid ratios as low as 1:250000. Proton NMR titration and single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the ability of the tripodal receptors to bind different anions with varying affinities in a 1:1 or 2:1 stoichiometry in solution and in the solid state. We also provide evidence that the most potent anion transporters are able to induce apoptosis in human cancer cells by using a selection of in vitro viability and fluorescence assays.

Nitrophenyl derivatives of pyrrole 2,5-diamides: structural behaviour, anion binding and colour change signalled deprotonationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectra for compounds 2 and 3, NMR anion titration profiles in DMSO-d6‒0.5% water. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/ob/b2/b210848h/

Two new pyrrole 2,5-diamide clefts have been synthesized containing 4-nitrophenyl or 3,5-dinitrophenyl groups appended to the amide positions. The 3,5-dinitrophenyl derivative has been shown to deprotonate in the presence of fluoride, which in acetonitrile solution, gives rise to a deep blue colour.

1,3-diindolylureas and 1,3-diindolylthioureas: anion complexation studies in solution and the solid state.

1,3-Diindolylureas and thioureas have been synthesised and their anion complexation properties in solution studied. Whilst diindolylthioureas showed only moderate affinities and selectivities, diindolylureas show remarkably high affinity for dihydrogen phosphate in solution for an acyclic, neutral receptor in water/[D(6)]DMSO mixtures. These easy-to-make compounds adopt relatively planar conformations in the solid-state and are able to donate four hydrogen bonds and yet not fill the coordination sphere of carbonate or phosphate, allowing two or three receptors to bind to each anion in the solid-state.

Squaramides as Potent Transmembrane Anion Transporters

Square peg in a round ball: squaramides are shown to be potent transmembrane anion transporters for both chloride and bicarbonate, performing better than the thiourea and urea analogues. Studies into the nature of this transport point to a mobile carrier mechanism, where the squaramide delivers the anion cargo across the lipid bilayer (see scheme, green sphere=anion). These drug-like molecules provide a platform for the development of a new generation of anion-transport systems.

1,3-Diindolylureas: high affinity dihydrogen phosphate receptors

Neutral 1,3-di(1H-indol-7-yl)ureas are selective dihydrogen phosphate receptors in polar solvent mixtures (DMSO-d(6)-25% water).

Silica-supported imine palladacycles : recyclable catalysts for the Suzuki reaction?

Silica-supported, imine-based palladacyclic catalysts have been synthesised and the crystal structure of complex 9, the triphenylphosphine adduct of the pre-supported precursor complex 8, has been determined. The solid-supported catalysts show considerably lower activity in the Suzuki reaction than their homogeneous counterparts. Poor recyclability of the silica-immobilised catalysts and the presence of active catalysts in solution indicate that imine-based palladacyclic catalysts are unstable with respect to liberation of zero-valent palladium species. Whilst the solid-supported complexes are not useful as catalysts, they do function as excellent mechanistic probes. Studies on model complexes give further information on the processes that cause the liberation of zero-valent species not only from the solid-supported catalysts, but also from homogeneous systems. In all cases it appears that a reductive-elimination event occurs to generate the active catalyst.

Carboxylate complexation by a family of easy-to-make ortho- phenylenediamine based bis-ureas : studies in solution and the solid state

Simple bis-urea compounds based on ortho-phenylenediamine function as excellent receptors for carboxylate anions in DMSO-d6–0.5% water solution. By varying the functional groups in these compounds, the binding affinity of carboxylate anions can be modulated. Solid-state studies illustrate the cleft-like arrangement of the DDDD hydrogen bond array in the carboxylate complexes of these compounds.

Anion-Anion Proton Transfer in Hydrogen Bonded Complexes

Complexation of dihydrogen phosphate by an anion receptor containing six hydrogen bond donor groups has been shown to reduce the pK(a) of the bound anionic species to such an extent that addition of further aliquots of dihydrogen phosphate result in deprotonation of the bound species with the resultant formation of a monohydrogen phosphate receptor complex. X-ray crystallographic studies confirm monohydrogen phosphate complex formation in the solid state. In this way, this study explains the formation of complexes with unusual stoichiometries when investigating the binding of dihydrogenphosphate anion to hydrogen-bonding receptors.

Acyclic indole and carbazole-based sulfate receptors

The anion complexation properties of a series of acyclic receptors consisting of diindolylurea groups appended with amide, amidoindole or amidocarbazole groups have been studied. The receptors selectively bind and encapsulate sulfate via either six or eight hydrogen bonds. Receptors containing eight hydrogen bond donors perturb the pKa of bound dihydrogen phosphate and bicarbonate to the extent that they are deprotonated by free anion in solution.

Structurally simple lipid bilayer transport agents for chloride and bicarbonate

A new series of structurally simple compounds containing thiourea groups have been shown by a combination of ion-selective electrode and 13C NMR techniques to be potent chloride-bicarbonate exchange agents that function at low concentration in POPC and POPC/cholesterol membranes.