Two groups of tetrahydrofuranyl-substituted long-chain carboxylic acid
s have been prepared under total stereochemical control. The diastereo
meric ionophores were subsequently evaluated for their capability of b
inding alkali metal ions computationally by Amber force field calculat
ions, experimentally by means of the picrate extraction method, and by
mediating the transport of Lif and Naf through phospholipid bilayers.
(C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.