Transmembrane transport of copper(i) by imidazole-functionalised calix[4]arenes

Abstract

Here we present the first synthetic transmembrane transporters for Cu⁺. Calix[4]arenes with two imidazole groups have a linear coordination motif, which allows selective extraction of Cu⁺ into chloroform. Transmembrane transport of Cu⁺ into liposomes was investigated with a newly developed assay and the results open the way to biomedical applications of these Cu⁺ ionophores.