Anion Transporters Based on Noncovalent Balance including Anion-π, Hydrogen, and Halogen Bonding

Anion transmembrane transport mediated by novel noncovalent interactions is of central interest in supramolecular chemistry. In this work, a series of oxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine-derived transporters 1 and 2 bearing anion-pi-, hydrogen-, and halogen-bonding sites in rational proximity were designed and synthesized by a one-pot strategy starting from gallic acid ester derivatives and mono- or di-halogen-substituted triazines. 1H NMR titrations demonstrated efficient binding of 1 and 2 toward Cl and Br in solution, giving association constants in the range of 10(2)-10(4) M-1. Cooperation of anion-pi, hydrogen, and halogen bonding was revealed as a driving force for anion binding by single-crystal structures of two complexes and density functional theory calculations. Fluorescence assays indicated that compounds 1 are efficient chloride transporters with effective concentrations (EC50) falling in the range of 3.17.4 mu M and following an order of 1a > 1b > 1c > 1d. The contribution of halogen bonding and cooperative noncovalent bonds to ion transport was then discussed. Significantly, transporters 1 exhibit high anticancer activity. In the presence of 1 and KCl (60 mM), the cell survival of HCT116 reduces to 11.924.9% with IC50 values in the range of 52.366.4 mu M