A Chiral Ligand Assembly That Confers One-Electron O Reduction Activity for a Cu -Selective Metallohydrogel.

The design of functional metallohydrogels is attractive but challenging. A rational approach is introduced for designing functional metallohydrogels using chiral ligands, a phenylalanine derivative with a pyridyl group (l/d-PF). Intriguingly, the as-prepared metallohydrogel exhibits excellent O binding and activating properties. Insights into the O binding pathway reveals the presence of a novel [(l+d)-PF-Cu -O ] species, which can efficiently reduce ferric cytochrome c with the reactive O by receiving an electron from reductant ascorbic acid. This study provides helpful instructions for developing new artificial systems with specific functions through the effective combination of chiral ligands with metal ions.