Effects of Solvent Properties on the Anion Binding of Neutral Water-Soluble Bis(cyclopeptides) in Water and Aqueous Solvent Mixtures

[Image: see text] In this study, the anion-binding bis(cyclopeptide) 2 is introduced, which dissolves freely in water, affording up to 10 mM concentrations, thanks to triethylene glycol-derived substituents in the cyclopeptide subunits and the linker connecting them. Binding studies provided evidence that the anion affinity previously demonstrated for less-soluble analogs of this compound is retained under highly competitive aqueous conditions. The highest affinity in water was observed for iodide, closely followed by sulfate anions, whereas binding of soft and weakly coordinating anions could not be observed. The anion selectivity of 2 thus differs from that of other recently described receptors, which also do not require electrostatic or coordinative interactions for anion binding in water but typically fail to bind strongly coordinating sulfate anions. The ability of 2 to overcome sulfate hydration is attributed to the special mode of binding, combining direct N–H···A(–) interactions with the release of water molecules from the receptor cavity. The characterization of the anion binding of 2 and a related bis(cyclopeptide) in a variety of different solvents and aqueous solvent mixtures furthermore allowed the correlation of the binding properties with solvent parameters. These analyses provided qualitative and even quantitative insights into the solvent properties and solvation phenomena that mainly affect anion complexation.