A hexaamine cage was synthesised in good yield by a [2+3] Schiff-base condensation followed by sodium borohydride reduction to be used as a receptor for the selective binding of anionic species. The protonation constants of the receptor, as well as its association constants with Cl(-), I(-), NO(3)(-), AcO(-), ClO(4)(-), H(2)PO(4)(-), SO(4)(2-), SeO(4)(2-) and S(2)O(3)(2-) were determined by potentiometry at 298.2 +/- 0.1 K in H(2)O-MeOH (50 : 50 v/v) and at ionic strength 0.10 +/- 0.01 mol dm(-3) in KTsO. These studies revealed a remarkable selectivity for dianionic tetrahedral anions by the protonated receptor, with association constants ranging 5.03-5.30 log units for the dianionic species and 1.49-2.97 log units for monoanionic ones. Single crystal X-ray determination of [(H(6)xyl)(SO(4))(H(2)O)(6)](SO(4))(2).9.5H(2)O showed that one sulfate anion is encapsulated into the receptor cage sited between the two 2,4,6-triethylbenzene caps establishing three N-HO hydrogen bonds with two adjacent N-H binding sites and additional O-HO hydrogen bonding interactions with six water of crystallization molecules. Four water molecules of the (SO(4))(H(2)O)(6) cluster interact with [H(6)xyl](6+) through N-HO hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamics simulations (MD) carried out with SO(4)(2-) and Cl(-) anions in H(2)O-MeOH (50 : 50 v/v) allowed the full understanding of anion molecular recognition, the selectivity of the protonated receptor for SO(4)(2-) and the role played by the methanol and water solvent molecules.

A new, versatile chloride-anion-templating synthetic pathway is exploited for the preparation of a series of eight new [2]rotaxane host molecules, including the first sulfonamide interlocked system. (1)H NMR spectroscopic titration investigations demonstrate the rotaxanes' capability to selectively recognise the chloride anion in competitive aqueous solvent media. The interlocked host's halide binding affinity can be further enhanced and tuned through the attachment of electron-withdrawing substituents and by increasing its positive charge. A dicationic rotaxane selectively binds chloride in 35% water, wherein no evidence of oxoanion binding is observed. NMR spectroscopy, X-ray structural analysis and computational molecular dynamics simulations are used to account for rotaxane formation yields, anion binding strengths and selectivity trends.

Three tetra-triazole macrocycles were synthesized in good yields by the copper(i)-catalysed cycloaddition of bis-triazole azides and bis-alkynes. One of these was alkylated to give a cyclic tetra-triazolium receptor, which complexes anions strongly in competitive DMSO-water mixtures. In 1 : 1 DMSO-water, the tetracationic receptor exhibits a preference for the larger halides, bromide and iodide, with all halides associating more strongly than the oxoanion, acetate. The sulfate dianion is complexed far more strongly than any of the monobasic anions (K(a) > 10(4) M(-1)). Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations corroborate the experimentally determined anion binding selectivity trends.

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Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have been recognized as important signalling molecules involved in multiple physiological functions, including wound healing. Their exogenous delivery has been established as a new route for therapies, being the topical application the nearest to commercialization. Nevertheless, the gaseous nature of these therapeutic agents and their toxicity at high levels imply additional challenges in the design of effective delivery systems, including the tailoring of their morphology and surface chemistry to get controllable release kinetics and suitable lifetimes. This review highlights the increasing interest in the use of these gases in wound healing applications by presenting the various potential strategies in which NO and/or H2S are the main therapeutic agents, with focus on their conceptual design, release behaviour and therapeutic performance. These strategies comprise the application of several types of nanoparticles, polymers, porous materials, and composites as new releasing carriers of NO and H2S, with characteristics that will facilitate the application of these molecules in the clinical practice.