Tuning the solubility of ionophores: glutathione-mediated transport of chloride ions across hydrophobic membranes

A stimuli-responsive anion transport strategy was successfully employed to regulate the water solubility of ionophores and promote controlled transport of Cl − ions across lipid bilayers. A sulfonium-based proanionophore was efficiently activated by glutathione to regenerate the active anionophore, which allowed controlled transport of Cl − ions in a cellular environment with lower cytotoxicity. Glutathione-mediated transformation of a water-soluble proanionophore to an active anionophore allows controlled transport of Cl − ion across hydrophobic lipid bilayers.