Aryl CH hydrogen bonds (HBs) are now commonly recognized as important factors in a number of fields, including molecular biology, stereoselective catalysis, and anion supramolecular chemistry. As the utility of CH HBs has grown, so to has the need to understand the structure–activity relationship for tuning both their strength and selectivity. Although there has been significant computational effort in this area, an experimental study of the substituent effects on CH HBs has not been previously undertaken. Herein we disclose a systematic study of a single CH HB by using traditional urea donors as directing groups in a supramolecular binding cavity. Experimentally determined association constants are examined by a combination of computational (electrostatic potential) and empirical (σm and σp) values for substituent effects. The dominance of electrostatic parameters, as observed in a computational DFT study, is consistent with current CH HB theory; however, a novel anion dependence of the substituent effects is revealed in solution.

A new phenyl-acetylene receptor containing a carbonaceous hydrogen bond donor activates anion binding in conjunction with two stabilizing ureas. The unusual CH···Cl– hydrogen bond is apparent in solution by large 1H NMR chemical shifts and by a short, linear contact in the solid state.

The ability of antibodies to bind a wide variety of analytes with high specificity and high affinity make them ideal candidates for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. However, the poor stability and high production cost of antibodies has prompted exploration of a variety of synthetic materials capable of specific molecular recognition. Unfortunately, it remains a fundamental challenge to create a chemically-diverse population of protein-like, folded synthetic nanostructures with defined molecular conformations in water. Here we report the synthesis and screening of

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has emerged as a crucial biomolecule in physiology and cellular signaling. Key challenges associated with developing new chemical tools for understanding the biological roles of H2S include developing platforms that enable reversible binding of this important biomolecule. Here we report the first synthetic small molecule receptor for hydrosulfide anion, HS−, solely utilizing reversible, hydrogen-bonding interactions in a series of bis(ethynylaniline) derivatives. Binding constants up to 90,300 ± 8700 M−1 were obtained. The fundamental science of reversible sulfide binding—in this case featuring a key CH···S hydrogen bond—will expand the possibility for discovery of sulfide protein targets and molecular recognition agents.

The measurement of a deuterium equilibrium isotope effect (EIE) for the aryl CH···Cl– interaction of anion receptor 1H/1D is reported. Computations corroborate the results of solution measurements for a small, normal EIE in the full complex (KaH/KaD = 1.019 ± 0.010). Interestingly, isotope effects involving fragments of the anion receptor (urea, aryl ring, etc.) are predicted to produce an inverse effect. This points to an unusual and subtle structural organization effect of the anion receptor complex that changes the nature of the combined interactions to a normal isotope effect. The reversal of EIE values suggests that overall architecture of the anion receptor can dramatically impact the nature of bonding in these complexes.