Development of luminescent metallohelicate as a selective chloride transporter

The supramolecular assemblies of luminescent metallohelicates play a crucial role in ion transport, thanks to their tunable three-dimensional molecular architecture and advantageous fluorescence properties. In this study, we synthesized a series of benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (BTZ)-based metallohelicates specifically designed for ion transport applications. These carefully crafted metallohelicates possess internal cavities and varying lengths of alkyl side chains, which enable modulation of their compatibility with phospholipid membranes and enhance ion transport efficiency. Moreover, their high fluorescence quantum yields allow for characterization via fluorescence microscopy following successful incorporation into the membranes. Importantly, due to their strong affinity for anions and the smaller ionic radius of chloride, these metallohelicates exhibit selective transport activity for chloride ions.