Gas-Phase studies of valinomycin-alkali metal cation complexes: attachment rates and cation affinities

Reactions of laser-desorbed Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺ with thermally vaporized valinomycin generate metal-ligand complexes in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance trapping cell, proving that complexes can form via gas-phase ion-molecule reactions. Although desorption of intact pre-formed complexes cannot be ruled out, this route appears minor. Relative rate constants for the complexation reactions show strong dependence on the charge densities of the cations. Competition experiments between valinomycin and the synthetic ionophores 18-crown-6 (18C6) and 2.2.2]-cryptand (2.2.2]) show that valinomycin has a higher intrinsic alkali metal cation affinity than either 18C6 or 2.2.2], in contrast to the complex formation constants observed in methanol, where K+ affinities are in the order 2.2.2] > 18C6 > valinomycin.