ATP cleavage by cone tetraguanidinocalix[4]arene

The upper rim cone tetraguanidinocalix[4]arene 1 is a highly effective catalyst of ATP hydrolysis. The catalytically most active species is the triprotonated form of the catalyst. The three protonated guanidinium groups provide the electrostatic driving force for substrate binding and activation, while the neutral guanidine most likely acts as a nucleophilic catalyst.