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

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 EC 50 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.