Click to enlarge This organic molecule is capable of binding a negatively-charged ion (chloride). (Source: Indiana University Bloomington)

Indiana University Bloomington chemists have designed an organic molecule that binds negatively charged ions, a feat they hope will lead to the development of a whole new molecular toolbox for biologists, chemists, and medical researchers who want to remove chlorine, fluorine and other negatively-charged ions from their solutions. This complex organic molecule is capable of binding a negatively charged ion (chloride). The versatile, easy-to-make molecule may represent a new family of binding agents for use in biology and medicine.

"What we’ve done is create an efficient synthesis that gives us access to a whole new family of binding agents," said Amar Flood, who reports the discovery with postdoctoral scholar Yongjun Li in Angewandte Chemie this week. "The synthesis is extremely modular, as well, so we imagine these molecules can be easily modified to bind a wide variety of negative ions with great specificity."

Published in Drug Discovery & Development magazine: Vol. 11, No. 3, March, 2008, p.16.