Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Peter J Cragg.
The role of acid catalysis in oxacalix[3]arene synthesis has been investigated. A range of acids were used to optimize the yield of tert-butyloxacalix[3]arene, the most efficient being p-toluenesulfonic acid, which, with local symmetry complementary with that of the lower rim of the calixarene, provides a templating effect.
A series of podands based on two or three hydrogen bonding "arms" situated in mutually ortho, meta, or para relationships about an aryl core have been prepared, and their affinities for simple inorganic anions were measured. Of the two-arm hosts the meta compound and to a lesser extent the ortho host exhibit a cooperative anion binding effect. The two arms function essentially independently in the para derivative. The mutually meta three-arm host shows dramatically enhanced cooperative binding. Conformational changes within the meta two-arm host result in significantly enhanced electrochemical anion sensing compared with the more conformationally rigid three-arm host.
A series of podands based on three hydrogen bonding 'arms' have been prepared and their affinities for simple inorganic anions measured.
Transport of alkali metals, particularly sodium and potassium, across cell membranes is an essential function performed by special proteins that enable cells to regulate inter- and extracellular ion concentrations with exceptional selectivity. The importance of these channel-forming proteins has led to researchers emulating of their structural features: an ion-specific filter and conduction at rates up to 10(8) ions per second. Synthetic helical and cyclic polypeptides form channels, however, the specificity of ion transport is often low. Ion-specific macrocycles have been used as filters from which membrane-spanning derivatives have been prepared. Success has been limited as many compounds act as ion carriers rather than forming transmembrane channels. Surfactant compounds also allow ions to cross membranes but any specificity is serendipitous. Overall it seems possible to mimic either ion specificity or efficient transmembrane ion transport. The goal for the future will be to combine both characteristics in one artificial system.