A molecular flytrap for the selective binding of citrate and other tricarboxylates in water.

The synthesis and binding properties of a new tricationic guanidiniocarbonyl pyrrole receptor 7 are described. Receptor 7 binds citrate 9 and other tricarboxylates such as trimesic acid tricarboxylate 8 with unprecedented high association constants of K(assoc) > 10(5) M(-1) in water as determined by UV and fluorescence tritration studies. According to NOESY experiments and molecular modeling calculations, the tricarboxylates are bound within the inner cavity of receptor 7 by ion pairing between the carboxylate groups and the guanidiniocarbonyl pyrrole moieties, favored by the nonpolar microenvironment of the cavity. Hence, receptor 7 can be regarded as a molecular flytrap. In the case of the aromatic tricarboxylate 8, additional aromatic interactions further strengthen the complex. The complexes with the tricarboxylates are so strong that even the presence of a large excess of competing anions or buffer salts does not significantly affect the association constant. For example, the association constant for citrate changes only from K(assoc) = 1.6 x 10(5) M(-1) in pure water to K(assoc) = 8.6 x 10(4) M(-1) in the presence of a 170-fold excess of bis-tris buffer and a 1000-fold excess of chloride. This makes 7 one of the most efficient receptors for the binding of citrate in aqueous solvents reported thus far.