Highly efficient anion transport mediated by 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing substituents

Abstract

1,3-Bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene exhibits potent anionophoric activity through a process of anion exchange with a minor level of proton/anion symport. Modification of 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene with strong electron-withdrawing substituents, such as trifluoromethyl and nitro groups, leads to up to 789-fold increase in the activity. The benzimidazolyl–NH fragments, the relative position and the number of the benzimidazolyl groups on the central phenyl scaffold play an essential role in the transport.