Artificial Chloride-Selective Channel: Shape and Function Mimic of the ClC Channel Selective Pore

An artificial channel molecule 1 that mimics the shape and function of the ClC channel selective pore was described. To facilitate the transport of chloride along a unimolecular pathway, anion−π interactions were introduced as the noncovalent driving force. The hourglass-like shape of 1 was constructed with 1,3-alternate tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine as the narrowest (central) unit. Two diglycolamine-linked imide arms were tethered as the extending part, and phenylalanine moieties were fixed as the terminal anchoring groups. The ion transport activity was examined by a combination of vesicle and planar bilayer conductance techniques (BLM). The fluorescence analysis on the vesicle indicated that 1 is an efficient chloride transporter with high activity (EC50 = 1.50 μM; 1/lipid = 1:89). The ion channel characteristics were confirmed by BLM measurements, showing an average conductance of 20.8 ± 1.0 pS in symmetric KCl solutions (cis/trans = 1.0 M/1.0 M). Anion/cation selectivity with a permeability ratio PCl–/PK+ = 1.90 in an asymmetric KCl solution (cis/trans = 1.0 M/0.25 M) and anion/anion selectivity with PCl–/PBr– = 22.83 in a KCl/KBr solution (cis/trans = 1.0 M KCl/1.0 M KBr) were demonstrated.