Complexes of lasalocid 2-naphthylmethyl ester with monovalent metal cations studied by mass spectrometry, spectroscopic and semiempirical methods

Lasalocid acid is an ionophore able to carry protons and cations through the cell membrane. Its 2-naphthylmethyl ester (NAFB) and its complexes with Li+, Na+ and K+ cations were synthesized and their structures were studied by ESI-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR and PM5 methods. The ESI-MS spectra indicate that NAFB forms stable complexes with Li+, Na+ and K+ cations of exclusively 1:1 stoichiometry and that the complexation of Li+ cations by NAFB is favoured. The NMR and FTIR spectra indicate that the oxygen atom of the ketone group of the NAFB molecule is involved in the coordination of the cations, and the strength of this process is dependent on the type of cation. We find that the intramolecular O(3)–H···O(2) hydrogen bond in NAFB and its complexes is partially broken in acetonitrile solution and that this process is independent of the type of cation. The PM5 semiempirical calculations allow visualisation of all structures and determination of the hydrogen bond parameters.