Separation of metals by liquid surfactant membranes containing crown ether carboxylic acids

A water-in-oil-in-water emulsion liquid membrane system is used to transport alkali metal and alkaline earth cations from an external alkaline aqueous source phase through an organic membrane containing a crown ether carboxylic acid and into the internal acidic aqueous phase of the emulsion droplet. The influence of varying the crown ether carboxylic acid structure upon the selectivity and efficiency of competitive metal ion transport is examined.     

Proton-driven cation transport through polyamic acid membranes incorporating crown ether moiety

Proton-driven cation transport against cation concentration gradient has been investigated using films of polyamic acid 18-crown-6 (1) and polyamide 18-crown-6 (3)/polyamic acid (5) mixtures as the polymeric membrane. Both membrane systems containing the crown ethers were found to act as efficient alkali metal ion pumps. The ion-transportability of the polyamic acid 18-crown-6 membrane decreased in the order K⁺ > Cs⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺, which is reflected in the cation-complexing ability of the 18-crown-6 moiety. The transport selectivity, however, was varied remarkably by the combined use of polyvinylpyrrolidone with (1) and, therefore, by the resulting increase in hydrophilicity of the membrane. The ion-selectivity in the transport through mixed membranes of (3) and (5) was also dependent on the membrane composition. For the proton-driven cation transport two mechanisms are proposed; in one of the transport mechanisms, the carboxylic group cooperates with the crown ether moiety and in the other the carboxylic group participates independently.     

Electrokinetic particle translocation through a nanopore containing a floating electrode

Electrokinetic particle translocation through a nanopore containing a floating electrode is investigated by solving a continuum model, composed of the coupled Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations for the ionic mass transport and the modified Stokes equations for the flow field. Two effects due to the presence of the floating electrode, the induced-charge electroosmosis (ICEO) and the particle-floating electrode electrostatic interaction, could significantly affect the electrokinetic mobility of DNA nanoparticles. When the electrical double layers (EDLs) of the DNA nanoparticle and the floating electrode are not overlapped, the particle-floating electrode electrostatic interaction becomes negligible. As a result, the DNA nanoparticle could be trapped near the floating electrode arising from the induced-charge electroosmosis when the applied electric field is relatively high. The presence of the floating electrode attracts more ions inside the nanopore resulting in an increase in the ionic current flowing through the nanopore; however, it has a limited effect on the deviation of the current from its base current when the particle is far from the pore.     

Coupled transport membranes incorporating a polymeric crown ether carboxylic acid

Polymer membranes, cast from a blend of a polymeric crown ether carboxylic acid and a polyaramid support polymer, were similar in structure to asymmetric membranes prepared from the support polymer alone. In the presence of a transmembrane pH gradient simultaneous cation-proton countertransport and anion-proton cotransport occurs. Rate constants for transport of protons, cations and anions were evaluated under steady-state and non-steady-state conditions and empirical rate equations for the transport process were derived from initial rate experiments under steady state conditions. Cation transport depends upon the cation concentration in the basic phase and the proton concentration in the acidic phase with relative kinetic orders of 1:1. Anion transport depends upon the concentrations of anions and protons in the acidic phase and inversely upon the basic phase cation concentration with relative kinetic orders of 1:1:-2. These results are rationalized by a transport mechanism, rate limited by hopping of ions between adjacent crown ether sites within the membrane. The membrane is essentially non-selective for anion transport but exhibits cation selectivity typical of the crown ether moiety.     

A storable encapsulated bilayer chip containing a single protein nanopore

A robust, portable chip containing a single protein nanopore would be a significant development in the practical application of stochastic sensing technology. Here, we describe a chip in which a single alpha-hemolysin (alphaHL) pore in a planar phospholipid bilayer is sandwiched between two layers of agarose gel. These encapsulated nanopore chips remain functional after storage for weeks. The detection of the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) was demonstrated with a chip containing a genetically engineered alphaHL pore as the sensor element.     

Studies of crown ether complexes aryldiazonium ion complexes

DNMR studies show that for complexation of aryldiazonium salts 21-crown-7 is the preferred host.     

Controlling a single protein in a nanopore through electrostatic traps

Protein-protein pore interaction is a fundamental and ubiquitous process in biology and medical biotechnology. Here, we employed high-resolution time-resolved single-channel electrical recording along with protein engineering to examine a protein-protein pore interaction at single-molecule resolution. The pore was formed by Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin (alphaHL) protein and contained electrostatic traps formed by rings of seven aspartic acid residues placed at two different positions within the pore lumen. The protein analytes were positively charged presequences (pb2) of varying length fused to the small ribonuclease barnase (Ba). The presence of the electrostatic traps greatly enhanced the interaction of the pb2-Ba protein with the alphaHL protein pore. This study demonstrates the high sensitivity of the nanopore technique to an array of factors that govern the protein-protein pore interaction, including the length of the pb2 presequence, the position of the electrostatic traps within the pore lumen, the ionic strength of the aqueous phase, and the transmembrane potential. Alterations in the functional properties of the pb2-Ba protein and the alphaHL protein pore and systematic changes of the experimental parameters revealed the balance between forces driving the pb2-Ba protein into the pore and forces driving it out.     

Inclusion of a Cu2+ ion by a large-cavity crown ether dibenzo-24-crown-8 through supramolecular interactions

A supramolecular copper-aqua-crown ether complex, [Cu(II)(H2O)4(dibenzo-24-crown-8]2+ (1c) is stabilized with a Lindqvist-type polyoxometalate anion, [Mo(VI)6O19]2- (1a), in an ion-pair compound [Cu(II)(H2O)4(dibenzo-24-crown-8][Mo(VI6O19] identical with [1c][1a] identical with 1. In the crystal, 1c and 1a assemble to a chainlike structure in which each polyoxoanion 1a is sandwiched by two 1c cations. 1c is a structurally characterized dibenzo-24-crown-8 (a larger-cavity crown ether) supramolecular complex that shows encapsulation of a small cation at the center of its internal cavity, and compound 1 represents a unique example of a first-row transition metal-crown ether inclusion complex that interacts with a polyoxometalate anion.     

Thermocontrolling ion permeation through binary component membrane composed of crown ether liquid crystal/PVC

In view of the nature of orderness in structure and the mesomorphism in property of liquid crystal, the function of which is further exploited by integrating it with the feature of crown ether. The monoarmed crown ether liquid crystals are successfully applied to the imitation of biomembrane transport. Binary component membrane composed of crown ether liquid crystal and PVC was first developed. Such a novel model of biomimetic membrane is capable of imitating ingeniously the thermocontrolling transport of biomembrane, thus the essential function of liquid crystal in membane transport is more fully exploited. It was suggested, consequently, that the molecules of the crown ether liquid crystal could assemble themselves to form ionic channels, as they exist in mesophase.Of still more significance is that the thermocontrolling transport of ions through the membrane is found to be operative selectively and the permeation of ion is under the direct influence of the thermal turmoil of the crown ether liquid cr     

Electric field-controlled water permeation coupled to ion transport through a nanopore

We report molecular dynamics simulations of a generic hydrophobic nanopore connecting two reservoirs which are initially at different Na(+) concentrations, as in a biological cell. The nanopore is impermeable to water under equilibrium conditions, but the strong electric field caused by the ionic concentration gradient drives water molecules in. The density and structure of water in the pore are highly field dependent. In a typical simulation run, we observe a succession of cation passages through the pore, characterized by approximately bulk mobility. These ion passages reduce the electric field, until the pore empties of water and closes to further ion transport, thus providing a possible mechanism for biological ion channel gating.     

Sorption of traces of strontium ions on silica gel containing crown ether

This paper is concerned with the synthesis of silica gel sorbents by the sol method. A sorbent selective for trace amounts of Sr ions has been prepared. This method of synthesis is shown to be preferable to the tradition of impregnating the carrier.L. V. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Ukraine, 252039 Kiev, Science Prosp., 31. Translated from Teoreticheskiya i Éksperimental'naya Khimii, Vol.32, No. 4, pp. 258–260, July–August, 1996. Original article submitted October 17, 1995.     

Selective separation of alkali metal cations by bulk chloroform membranes containing lipophilic crown ether phosphonic acid monoethyl esters

A series of crown ether phosphonic acid monoethyl esters with crown ether ring size variation from 12-crown-4 to 24-crown-8 is used in bulk chloroform membranes to separate alkali metal cations from mixtures. Selective proton-coupled transport of alkali metal cations from weakly alkaline aqueous phases is achieved. With individual ionizable crown ether carriers, transport selectivity for Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺-Cs⁺ is achieved. A closely related lipophilic phosphonic acid monoethyl ester derivative with a cyclohexyl unit in place of the crown ether exhibits transport selectivity for Li⁺. However, the corresponding phosphonic acid diethyl ester is devoid of transport activity. Effects of structural variation within the carrier upon the selectivity and efficiency of competitive alkali metal cation transport are assessed.     

Novel organometallic chalcones functionalized with a crown ether fragment as optical ion chemosensors

We previously reported the synthesis and characterization of new organometallic chalcones derived from ferrocene, cyrhetrene and cymantrene functionalized with a benzo‐15‐crown‐5 fragment. The ferrocene and cyrhetrene chalcones have been investigated as chemosensors for metal ions with optical response in acetonitrile. Several metal ions were selected considering the diameter of the cavity and the charge‐to‐radius ratio of the cation. The stoichiometry of the complexes was determined using Job's method. It was found that Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ complexes have a 1:1 stoichiometry while a 2:1 (metaloligand‐to‐cation) stoichiometry was determined for Ba²⁺ and Pb²⁺ complexes. The association constants were calculated according to the stoichiometry of the complex and the results showed that they are directly affected by the electron‐withdrawing nature of the organometallic fragment. Moreover, complexes of ferrocenyl chalcone have larger association constants than those of the cyrhetrenyl analogue. This experimental observation is consistent with the electronic properties of the ferrocenyl fragment.     

Self‐assembly of daisy chain oligomers from heteroditopic molecules containing secondary ammonium ion and crown ether moieties

MALDI‐TOF MS of the heteroditopic compound 2 ‐(benzylammoniomethyl)dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8 hexafluorophosphate ( 4 ) revealed oligomeric “daisy chain” species up to the hexamer. Similar results were obtained for 2‐(6′‐hydroxyhexylammoniomethyl)dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8 hexafluorophosphate ( 8 ). The complexations of two substituted dibenzylammonium salts, 2,2′‐dimethyldibenzylammonium hexaflurophosphate ( 9a ) and 2,2′,5‐trimethoxydibenzylammonium hexafluorophosphate ( 9b ), with dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8 were examined as models for slippage systems; association constants are reported for these systems. A crystal structure is reported for the new dimethylbenzylammonoium pseudorotaxane. The trimethoxy analog is shown to be capable of slippage formation of a rotaxane, albeit in low yield. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 975–985, 2010