Protonated polyammonium macrocycles, anion binding

Oxaazamacrocycles are molecules with combined crown ether and amino group properties for example, in dependence on the size of macrocyclic ring and the position of heteroatoms stable complexes with various metals can be formed [32]. Furthermore, when protonated, these compounds are excellent anion binders. In fully protonated polyammonium macrocycles, the coulom-bic attractions and hydrogen bond formation play a dominant role in the anion complexation. The receptors (R,R)-5 and (S,S,S,S)-6 were designed to bind dicarboxylates [33]. 

Polyammonium macrocycles are successful mimics of a variety of phosphoryl transfer enzymes. These simple compounds are noted for their capability to bind to a number of anions, including the simple phosphate and polyphosphates as well as more complex nucleotides. "Large" polyazacycloalkanes in their protonated forms have been found to exhibit ATP binding as well as ATPase activity. A general accepted mechanism for ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by polyaza macrocycles involve the formation of a ATP-receptor complex, held by electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonds, followed by the formation of a covalent intermediate macrocyclic-phosphoramidate species, which is subsequently hydrolyzed (see Figure 2)P... 

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