White, Nicholas G; Haynes, Cally JE; (2024) (Self) Assembled news: recent highlights from the supramolecular chemistry literature (quarter 3, 2024). Supramolecular Chemistry 10.1080/10610278.2024.2404031. (In press).

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Abstract

Putting anions to work: In biology, communication between membrane-bound compartments is enabled via ion transport processes. Moving ions against a concentration gradient is an active transport process that requires the input of energy and the action of specialised pump proteins [Citation1]. Replicating active transport using synthetic supramolecular systems is particularly challenging, requiring both the input of energy and very fine, spatiotemporal control over ion uptake and release. Aprahamian and colleagues have designed a supramolecular system that functions as a molecular ion pump, converting light energy into work and pumping KCl across a hydrophobic barrier against the concentration gradient [Citation2]. A key innovation that supports this discovery is the development of a photoswitchable trimeric hydrazine anion receptor 1 (Figure 1). The most stable, ‘inactive’ Z,Z,Z- form has negligible anion binding capacity since its hydrogen bond donors are tied up in intramolecular hydrogen bonds. However, irradiation at 442 nm leads to an excellent conversion (PSS >93%) to an ‘active’ E,E,E-configuration with available hydrogen bond donors and a long half-life. This results in an increase in Cl− binding strength of around 6 orders of magnitude.

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