Anion Transport Mediated by Sigma Hole Interactions | Langton Research Group

Our research group has been exploiting unusual non-covalent interactions, particularly those involving sigma hole interactions (halogen and chalcogen bonding) to mediate anion transport across lipid membranes. We have shown that such interactions allow for a high degree of chloride over proton/ hydroxide selectivity, a feature that is key for potential applications as therapeutics. For instance, we have shown that iodo- and telluoro-triazole groups impart both high activity and selectivity for chloride anion transport (figure to the right, Chem. Sci., 2020, Chem. Eur. J., 2021).

We have also explored how the multiple accessible redox states of tellurium can be exploited to develop redox-controlled ionophores, by utilising Te chalcogen bonding interactions for anion recognition, and interconversion between Te(II), Te(IV) and Te(VI) oxidation states using biological oxidants and reductants (figure below, JACS, 2023). In collaboration with Prof. Paul Beer's group, we have also demonstrated that halogen bonding catenanes can act as effective anion transporters, with enhanced activity and selectivity over their constituent macrocycles (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023).

30 andrews jacs

1. Transmembrane Anion Transport Mediated by Halogen Bonding and Hydrogen Bonding Triazole Anionophores

L. E. Bickerton, A. J. Sterling, P. D. Beer, F. Duarte and M. J. Langton, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 4722-4729

2. Highly Active Halogen Bonding and Chalcogen Bonding Chloride Transporters with Non-Protonophoric Activity

L. E. Bickerton^†, A. Docker^†, A. J. Sterling, H. Kuhn, F. Duarte, P. D. Beer and M. J. Langton, Chem. Eur. J., 2021, 27, 11738-11745

^†These authors contributed equally.

3. Multistate Redox-Switchable Ion Transport Using Chalcogen Bonding Anionophores

A. Docker, T. G. Johnson, H. Kuhn, Z. Zhang and M. J. Langton, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2023, 145, 2661-2668

4. Exploiting the Catenane Mechanical Bond Effect for Selective Halide Anion Transmembrane Transport

H. M. Tay, T. G. Johnson, A. Docker, M. J. Langton and P. D. Beer, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2023, 62, e202312745