Squaratides: a tunable platform for anion binding in peptide-inspired macrocycles

Key Points

• The study aims to explore a new class of macrocycles designed for anion binding through tunable peptidomimetic structures.
• Introduced squaratides with squaramide units in the peptide backbone.
• Evaluated ion binding capabilities with acetate and chloride.
• Manipulated sidechain functionality to assess effects on binding affinity and stoichiometry.
• Squaratides demonstrated effective binding to acetate and chloride ions.
• Binding affinity was modulated by sidechain variations, enhancing stoichiometry control.
• Establishes a versatile platform for designing selective anion receptors.