Showcasing research from the collaborative laboratories As featured in: of Professors Michael M. Haley, Darren W. Johnson, and Michael D. Pluth from the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Expanding reversible chalcogenide binding: supramolecular receptors for the hydroselenide (HSe−) anion
Despite its critical roles in biological systems, the highly-reactive hydroselenide anion (HSe–) has not previously been targeted in synthetic supramolecular receptor studies. We report the fi rst example of reversible HSe– binding using two distinct synthetic supramolecular receptors, graphically represented by an homage to a classic comic book cover. The binding properties of HSe– were compared to those of the related See Michael M. Haley, anions HS–, Cl–, and Br–, providing a basis for understanding Darren W. Johnson, how to better bind hydrochalcogenide anions. Artwork by Michael D. Pluth et al., Chem. Sci., 2019, 10, 67. co-author Dr. Nathanael Lau.
rsc.li/chemical-science
Registered charity number: 207890 Chemical Science
View Article Online EDGE ARTICLE View Journal | View Issue
Expanding reversible chalcogenide binding: supramolecular receptors for the hydroselenide Cite this: Chem. Sci.,2019,10,67 † All publication charges for this article (HSe ) anion have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry Hazel A. Fargher, ‡ Nathanael Lau, ‡ Lev N. Zakharov, Michael M. Haley, * Darren W. Johnson * and Michael D. Pluth *
Synthetic supramolecular receptors have been widely used to study reversible solution binding of anions; however, few systems target highly-reactive species. In particular, the hydrochalcogenide anions hydrosulfide (HS ) and hydroselenide (HSe ) have been largely overlooked despite their critical roles in biological systems. Herein we present the first example of reversible HSe binding in two distinct synthetic supramolecular receptors, using hydrogen bonds from N–H and aromatic C–H moieties. The tBu 1 arylethynyl bisurea scaffold 1 achieved a binding affinity of 460 50 M for HSe in 10% DMSO-d6/
CF3 1 CD3CN, whereas the tripodal-based receptor 2 achieved a binding affinity of 290 50 M in CD3CN. Received 6th September 2018 Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. Association constants were also measured for HS ,Cl , and Br , and both receptors favored binding of Accepted 18th November 2018 smaller, more basic anions. These studies contribute to a better understanding of chalcogenide DOI: 10.1039/c8sc03968b hydrogen bonding and provide insights into further development of probes for the reversible binding, rsc.li/chemical-science and potential quantification, of HSe and HS .
¼ 18 Introduction and hydrogen sul de (H2S, pKa 7.00). The anionic species dominate at physiological pH, as H2Se exists almost entirely as 19–21 Synthetic supramolecular receptors have been used with great HSe and HS is favored over H2S by a 3 : 1 ratio. This article is licensed under a success for investigating the solution binding of biologically- Although HSe and HS /H2S are highly toxic at elevated and environmentally-relevant anions.1–5 By using reversible, levels,19,22,23 both are essential to life at low concentrations and 18–20 mostly non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, are produced endogenously. For example, H2S has been electrostatic interactions, and anion–p interactions, a diverse classied as the third gasotransmitter alongside carbon Open Access Article. Published on 19 November 2018. Downloaded 10/2/2021 6:28:30 PM. palette of anions can be bound ranging from relatively inert monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) and plays regulatory roles anions such as halides and oxoanions6–10 to highly reactive in the cardiovascular, immune, and gastrointestinal systems, – anions.11–16 Although targeting the latter poses many chal- among others.19,24 27 Similarly, HSe is the common but highly- lenges, reversible binding in supramolecular hosts can be used reactive intermediate generated in the metabolism of dietary to stabilize high-energy anions through non-covalent interac- selenium (Fig. 1),18,20 and it is required for the synthesis of the tions in a manner reminiscent of certain active sites in essential 21st amino acid selenocysteine (Se-Cys).28,29 Se-Cys is proteins.17 Despite this potential, examples of receptors target- then incorporated into selenoproteins, such as thioredoxin ing highly-reactive anions remain rare.11–16 In particular, the reductases and glutathione peroxidases18,20 that play important hydrochalcogenide anions hydroselenide (HSe ) and hydro- roles in redox biochemistry.30,31 However, the high reactivity of sulde (HS ) have been largely overlooked despite their HSe toward both electrophiles and oxygen makes it difficult to considerable environmental and biological signicance. These observe directly in biological systems or to target through the anions are weak bases that exist in equilibrium with their design of selective synthetic receptors.20,32
gaseous conjugate acids, hydrogen selenide (H2Se, pKa ¼ 3.74) Understanding the reversible binding requirements for hydrochalcogenides could provide valuable insights into possible receptor motifs in biological environments. However, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Materials Science Institute, Institute of we are not aware of any reports showing HSe as a viable target Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1253, USA. E-mail: for molecular recognition by anion receptors. Similarly, few [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] examples of reversible HS binding exist,12–14 the rst of which † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Crystallographic details, were reported by our groups using two distinct families of NMR spectra, representative titrations. CCDC 1846890–1846892. For ESI and modular receptor scaffolds (Fig. 2). The initial report was based crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: H 12 10.1039/c8sc03968b on a rigid arylethynyl bisurea receptor (1 ) and the second on H 13 ‡ These authors contributed equally to this work. a exible tripodal arylamide unit (2 ), both of which bound
This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019 Chem. Sci.,2019,10,67–72 | 67 View Article Online Chemical Science Edge Article