Tuning the Solubility of the Ionophores: Glutathione-Mediated Transport of Chloride Ion across the 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.