Molecular parameters and transmembrane transport mechanism of imidazolium-functionalized binols

Abstract

We describe the molecular parameters governing the transmembrane activity of imidazolium-functionalized anion transporters and present a detailed mechanistic study. These ionophores adopt a mobile-carrier mechanism for short methyl and butyl chains, a combined mobile-carrier/transmembrane-pore mechanism for octyl and dodecyl chains, and form transmembrane aggregates for hexadecyl chains. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.