Anion binding in aqueous solutions by N-(Isonicotinamido)-N'-phenylthiourea-based simple synthetic neutral receptors.: Role of the hydrophobic microenvironment of the receptor molecule

N-(Isonicotinamido)-N'-(substituted-phenyl)thioureas (1a-e, substituent X = p-OCH3, p-CH3, H, m-Br, and m-CF3) have been designed as neutral receptors, in order to prove the influence of conformational issues on the ability to bind anions in aqueous solutions. Compounds la-a were shown to create a hydrophobic microenvironment around the thiourea group, favoring hydrogen bonding interactions, by evidence from quantum mechanic calculations, thermodynamic analysis, NMR aromatic current shielding, and comparative anion binding. Referring to N-(substituted-benzamido)thioureas (2a-e, substituent Y = H, m-Cl, m-NO2, m,m-Cl,Cl, and p-NO2), we showed that, for the hydrophobic microenvironment to be operative in aqueous solutions, the amido -NH proton needs to be acidic enough.