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Updated: Nov 5, 2025

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Highly Active Halogen Bonding and Chalcogen Bonding Chloride Transporters with Non-Protonophoric Activity
Laura E Bickerton1, Andrew Docker1, Alistair J Sterling1
1Department of Chemistry Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK.
Abstract:
Synthetic anion transporters show much promise as potential anti-cancer agents and therapeutics for diseases associated with mis-regulation of protein anion channels. In such applications high activity and anion selectivity are crucial to overcome competing proton or hydroxide transport which dissipates cellular pH gradients. Here, highly active bidentate halogen bonding and chalcogen bonding anion carriers based on electron deficient iodo- and telluromethyl-triazole derivatives are reported. Anion transport experiments in lipid bilayer vesicles reveal record nanomolar chloride transport activity for the bidentate halogen bonding anion carrier, and remarkably high chloride over proton/hydroxide selectivity for the chalcogen bonding anionophore. Computational studies provide further insight into the role of sigma-hole mediated anion recognition and desolvation at the membrane interface. Comparison with hydrogen bonding analogues demonstrates the importance of employing sigma-hole donor motifs in synthetic anionophores for achieving both high transport activity and selectivity.
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