Halogen anion (Cl−, Br−) and alkali metal cation (Cs+, K+, Rb+) synergistic binding behaviors using a belt shaped dual-functional hydrocarbon receptor

Q Qingqing Yao (College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University 1 , Tianshui 741001,) H Haolin Li W Wenbo Zhang (Department of Materials Science and Engineering) Y Yaqin Cui (Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, College of Chemical Engineering and Technology) Y Yanzhi Liu (College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University 1 , Tianshui 741001,) J Jianbin Zhang J Jinxing Jiang (Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, College of Chemical Engineering and Technology) Z Zhifeng Li (Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences) K Kun Yuan (Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, College of Chemical Engineering and Technology)

Abstract

The belt shaped functionalized hydrocarbon receptors have attracted great interest because of their special “frustum-like” configuration, in which the openings at the upper and lower ends (dual-functional sites) are more beneficial when used as ion recognition sites. In this paper, the binding behaviors of the belt shaped dual-functional hydrocarbon receptors for halogen anions (Cl− and Br−) and alkali metal cations (K+, Rb+, and Cs+) were investigated in depth using density functional theory calculations. It is found that anion/cation binding can be enhanced and synergistically regulated by counterion and the corresponding conformational changes of the receptor, which well reflects the electrical complementary matching and mutual reinforcement effects. The nature of the receptor–ion interactions was further elucidated by combining the noncovalent intermolecular interaction with molecular electrostatic potential analysis. The complexation process of Cs+/Cl− with the receptor was dynamically tracked using ab initio molecular dynamics simulation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 163, Issue 8
Published August 28, 2025
ISSN 0021-9606
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

The Journal of Chemical Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-9606 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

Q

Qingqing Yao

College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University 1 , Tianshui 741001,

H

Haolin Li

W

Wenbo Zhang

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Y

Yaqin Cui

Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, College of Chemical Engineering and Technology

Y

Yanzhi Liu

College of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Tianshui Normal University 1 , Tianshui 741001,

J

Jianbin Zhang

J

Jinxing Jiang

Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, College of Chemical Engineering and Technology

Z

Zhifeng Li

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

K

Kun Yuan

Key Laboratory of Advanced Optoelectronic Functional Materials of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory for New Molecule Materials Design and Function of Gansu Universities, College of Chemical Engineering and Technology