title: Biomimetic zinc funnel complexes based on calix[6]N3ArO ligands: an acid-base switch for guest binding.
abstract: The coordination chemistry of Zn in an N(3)ArOH environment has been explored. The ligands are based on calix[6]arenes that present two imidazole arms and an amino phenol moiety at the narrow rim. Three different types of complexes have been characterized. One is dicationic with Zn(2+) coordinated to the three nitrogen atoms and to the oxygen of the phenol group of the calix[6]ligand. This complex is very sensitive to exogenous coordinating molecules and exists as a 5-coordinate species due to the endo-complexation of a guest. The second species is a monocationic complex for which the phenol group has been deprotonated. The resulting N(3)ArOZn complex can also bind a guest ligand albeit with a lower affinity than the dicationic complex. The third species is neutral. It can be obtained upon reaction with a base to yield a hydroxo complex or with an anion such as a chloride that coordinates the metal center from the outside of the calixarene cavity. The simultaneous binding of two anionic donors decreases the Zn Lewis acidity, allowing an impressive conformational reorganization of the system. One imidazole arm is released by the metal center. The other one undergoes self-inclusion into the pi-basic calixarene cavity because the low affinity of the metal center for neutral ligand does not allow the endo-coordination of an exogenous guest. Hence, the calix[6]N(3)ArOH-based Zn complexes act as an acid-base switch for guest binding. Several aspects of this system appear reminiscent of Zn-peptidases of the astacin and serralisin families.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie et Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, UMR CNRS 8601, Université René Descartes, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sénèque
authors.forename: Marie-Noëlle
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rager
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prangé
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomas
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reinaud
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D032701:Biomimetics; D047250:Calixarenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000737:chemistry*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D008024:Ligands; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D007093:Imidazoles; D008024:Ligands; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010636:Phenols; C476540:calix(6)arene; D047250:Calixarenes; D015032:Zinc