Charge-assisted hydrogen bonding in a bicyclic amide cage: an effective approach to anion recognition and catalysis in water.

ABSTRACT: Hydrogen bonding is prevalent in biological systems, dictating a myriad of life-sustaining functions in aqueous environments. Leveraging hydrogen bonding for molecular recognition in water encounters significant challenges in synthetic receptors on account of the hydration of their functional groups. Herein, we introduce a water-soluble hydrogen bonding cage, synthesized via a dynamic approach, exhibiting remarkable affinities and selectivities for strongly hydrated anions, including sulfate and oxalate, in water. We illustrate the use of charge-assisted hydrogen bonding in amide-type synthetic receptors, offering a general molecular design principle that applies to a wide range of amide receptors for molecular recognition in water. This strategy not only revalidates the functions o

SUBMITTER: Xu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11409225 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature