Switchable bifunctional molecular recognition in water using a pH-responsive Endo-functionalized cavity

Xiaoping Wang, Mao Quan, Huan Yao, Xin-Yu Pang, Hua Ke and Wei Jiang ()
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Xiaoping Wang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Mao Quan: Southern University of Science and Technology
Huan Yao: Southern University of Science and Technology
Xin-Yu Pang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Hua Ke: Southern University of Science and Technology
Wei Jiang: Southern University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The construction of water-soluble synthetic hosts with a stimuli-responsive endo-functionalized cavity is challenging. These hosts feature a switchable cavity and may bring new properties to the fields of self-assembly, molecular machines, and biomedical sciences. Herein, we report a pair of water-soluble naphthotubes with a pH-responsive endo-functionalized cavity. The inward-directing secondary amine group of the hosts can be protonated and deprotonated. Thus, the hosts have different cavity features at the two states and show drastically different binding preference and selectivity in water. We reveal that the binding difference of the two host states is originated from the differences in charge repulsion, hydrogen bonding and the hydrophobic effects. Moreover, the guest binding can be easily switched in a ternary mixture with two guest molecules by adjusting the pH value of the solution. These pH-responsive hosts may be used for the construction of smart self-assembly systems and water-soluble molecular machines.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30012-4

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