Anion-induced reconstitution of a self-assembling system to express a chloride-binding Co10L15 pentagonal prism.
Biochemical systems are adaptable, capable of reconstitution at all levels to achieve the functions associated with life. Synthetic chemical systems are more limited in their ability to reorganize to achieve new functions; they can reconfigure to bind an added substrate (template effect) or one binding event may modulate a receptor's affinity for a second substrate (allosteric effect). Here we describe a synthetic chemical system that is capable of structural reconstitution on receipt of one anionic signal (perchlorate) to create a tight binding pocket for another anion (chloride). The complex, barrel-like structure of the chloride receptor is templated by five perchlorate anions. This second-order templation phenomenon allows chemical networks to be envisaged that express more complex responses to chemical signals than is currently feasible.
Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge                 CB2 1EW, UK.
Imogen A
IA
Riddell
Maarten M J
MM
Smulders
Jack K
JK
Clegg
Yana R
YR
Hristova
Boris
B
Breiner
John D
JD
Thoburn
Jonathan R
JR
Nitschke
D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry*; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010472:Perchlorates / Q000737:chemistry*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry; D014052:Toluidines / Q000737:chemistry
D000838:Anions; D002712:Chlorides; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D010472:Perchlorates; D011725:Pyridines; D014052:Toluidines; D003035:Cobalt; C029370:4-toluidine; C054684:lithium perchlorate; C494474:perchlorate