Environmental Effects Dominate the Folding of Oligocholates in Solution, Surfactant Micelles, and Lipid Membranes

Oligocholate foldamers with different numbers and locations of guanidinium−carboxylate salt bridges were synthesized. The salt bridges were introduced by incorporating arginine and glutamic acid residues into the foldamer sequence. The conformations of these foldamers were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy in homogeneous solution, anionic and nonionic micelles, and lipid bilayers. Environmental effects instead of inherent foldability were found to dominate the folding. As different noncovalent forces become involved in the conformations of the molecules, the best folder in one environment could turn into the worst in another. Preferential solvation was the main driving force for the folding of oligocholates in solution. The molecules behaved very differently in micelles and lipid bilayers, with the most critical factors controlling the folding−unfolding equilibrium being the solvation of ionic groups and the abilities of the surfactants/lipids to compete for the salt bridge. Because of their ability to fold into helices with a nonpolar exterior and a polar interior, the oligocholates could transport large hydrophilic molecules such as carboxyfluorescein across lipid bilayers. Both the conformational properties of the oligocholates and their binding with the guest were important to the transport efficiency.Reprinted (adapted) with permission from Journal of the American Chemical Society 132 (2010): 9890, doi:10.1021/ja103694p. Copyright 2010 American Chemical Society.</p

Synthesis, crystal structures and complexation behaviours ofthiacalix[4]arenes bearing 1,2,3-triazole groups

The structure and complexation behaviour of 1,3-alternate-1,2,3-triazole based on thiacalix[4]arene,1,3-alternate-1 and 2 have been determined by means of X-ray analysis, fluorescence and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray results suggested that the nitrogen atom N3 on triazole ring can act as hydrogen bond acceptors in the self-assembly of a supramolecular structure. The fluorescence spectra changes indicated that the thiacalix[4]arene bearing 1,2,3-triazole groups were highly selective for Ag + in comparison with other tested metal ions by enhancement of the monomer emission of pyrene. The 1H NMR results suggested that Ag + can be strongly bonded by the triazole groups with the cooperation of the ionophoric cavity formed by the two inverted benzene rings and the sulfur atoms of the thiacalix[4]arene. © 2011 Taylor & Francis