Towards a redox-active artificial ion channel

Abstract

The synthesis, characterisation and properties of an artificial ion channel containing a redox-active ferrocene unit are described.

Macrocycle-Based Synthetic Ion Channels

“…Planar bilayer conductance experiment proves the unimolecular channel mechanism with open and close behaviors [59]. This family of channels is found to transport Na + and K + ions across the lipid bilayer and has shown antibacterial activity [56,58,60]. Extensive biophysical studies confirmed that the central macrocycle was parallel to the axis of the fatty acid chains and perpendicular to the head group macrocycles [61,62].…”

On the Electrostatics of Cell-Membrane Recognition: From Natural Antibiotics to Rigid Push-Pull Rods

“…[24] Namely, the molecular dipole along the rigid-rod scaffold can, in principle, be switched on and off in a controlled manner. [25] Thus, the use of rigid push ± pull rods provides the so far unique variability of a permanently oriented dipole parallel to the long axis of a membrane-spanning scaffold, which seems crucial for elucidation of the importance of the alignment of dipole to potential for the recognition of polarized membranes.…”

Recent synthetic ion channels and pores

“…The cylindrical self-assembly of rigid-rod b-barrel pores 72-77 is preorganized by the non-planarity of p-octiphenyl Figure 11. Dimeric and oligomeric steroids that may act as carriers (54-59)-folding like umbrellas around hydrophilic guests-or as barrel-stave-like channels formed by two covalent dimers spanning one leaflet each (60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71). staves in octapeptide-p-octiphenyl monomers 72 m -77 m (Fig.…”