Anion-Dependent Hydrogen-Bond Polarity Switching in Ethylene-bridged Urea Oligomers.

ABSTRACT: The reversible coordination of anions to an N,N'-disubstituted 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylurea located at a terminus of a linear chain of ethylene-bridged hydrogen-bonded ureas triggers a cascade of conformational changes. A series of hydrogen-bond polarity reversals propagates along the oligomer, leading to a global switch of its hydrogen-bond directionality. The induced polarity switch, transmitted through four reversible urea groups, results in a change in emission and excitation wavelengths of a fluorophore located at the opposite terminus of the oligomer. The molecule thus behaves as a chemical sensor with a relayed remote spectroscopic response to variations in anion concentration. The polarity switch induced by anion concentration constitutes an artificial communication mechanism

SUBMITTER: Tilly DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10946793 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature