Synthetic Receptors with Micromolar Affinity for Chloride in Water

A water-soluble coordination cage was obtained by reaction of Pd(NO₃)₂ with a 1,3-di(pyridin-3-yl)benzene ligand featuring a short PEG chain. The cavity of the metal-organic cage contains one nitrate anion, which is readily replaced by chloride. The apparent association constant for chloride binding in buffered aqueous solution is K_a=1.8(±0.1)×10⁵ M⁻¹. This value is significantly higher than what has been reported for other macrocyclic chloride receptors. The heavier halides Br⁻ and I⁻ compete with binding or self-assembly, but the receptor displays very good selectivity over common anions such as phosphate, acetate, carbonate, and sulfate. A further increase of the chloride binding affinity by a factor of 3 was achieved using a fluorinated dipyridyl ligand.