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Crown Ether Functionalized Potassium‐Responsive Anionocages for Cascaded Guest Delivery
Author(s) -
Wang Shanshan,
Huang Zhe,
Li Anyang,
Zhao Yanxia,
Zuo Wei,
Li Yawen,
Miao Haohao,
Ma Jiacheng,
Sun Wei,
Wang Xiaoqing,
Cao Liping,
Wu Biao,
Jia Chuandong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202100441
Subject(s) - cryptand , chemistry , crown ether , molecule , combinatorial chemistry , ligand (biochemistry) , ether , stereochemistry , drug delivery , receptor , ion , organic chemistry , biochemistry
In many critical biological processes, host–guest chemistry of protein receptors is regulated by effector molecules to realize cascaded delivery of messenger molecules between different targets. Mimicking these natural processes with artificial receptors remains a challenge. Herein, we report a cascaded guest delivery between two anionocages (anion‐coordination‐driven cages), in a reversible manner, wherein binding of K + ions by a crown ether functionalized, heteroleptic A 2 L 3 (A=anion, L=ligand) anionocage triggers the release and delivery of a TEA + (tetraethylammonium) guest to another A 2 L 3 anionocage that is a weaker and less K + ‐sensitive receptor. Elimination of the K + with [2,2,2]‐cryptand enables recapture of the TEA + by the crown ether functionalized anionocage and thus realizes a reversed guest delivery. Moreover, integrative self‐sorting of anionocages is firstly reported, leading to heteroleptic cages with enhanced guest binding affinities.