Molecular clips with spatially proximal urea residues for efficient transmembrane co-transport of H+/Cl− ions

Abstract

We report the design of bis(urea) functionalized amphiphilic molecular clips viz. 1a–1e to achieve efficient transmembrane co-transport of H⁺/Cl⁻ ions. The most promising molecule 1a demonstrated a low nanomolar EC₅₀ value (6.96 nM) to co-transport H⁺/Cl⁻ ions via a carrier-mediated pathway and showed selective toxicity against cancerous HeLa cells as a result.