Facilitated Lewis Acid Transfer by Phospholipids at a (Water|CHCl3) Liquid|Liquid Interface toward Biomimetic and Energy Applications

International audienceProton and metal ion interaction with phospholipids are of considerable interest to biological applications (e.g., chemical communication, drug transport, etc.). Herein, H+ and Li+ coordination to a typical phospholipid are examined electrochemically at the water|chloroform microinterface, which reveals two coordination stoichiometries toward protons that were thermodynamically quantified using cyclic voltammetry. The thermodynamics of phospholipid facilitated proton transfer are further confirmed through Comsol Multiphysics simulations. Insight into H+–phospholipid coordination/interaction has valuable implications toward cellular communication (such as vesicle systems that mimic living cells) and vesicle microreactor synthetic applications; however, the utility of the H+/phospholipid coupled water|organic solvent system is exemplified herein toward the batch generation of solar fuels through shake-flask experiments