Assembly-Driven Oxidative Degradation of Melarsomine Triggered by Cyanuric Acid

Abstract

Molecular self-assembly can trigger or regulate specific chemical reactions that would otherwise be infeasible when molecules exist individually. Supramolecular structures can significantly affect the rate of chemical reactions; therefore, optimizing supramolecular structures by manipulating intermolecular interactions is crucial for achieving the desired reactivity. Melamine is known to form hydrogen bonds with cyanuric acid, resulting in the formation of a supramolecular network. Melarsomine, an effective medication for heartworm treatment in dogs, contains a melamine moiety. It has yet to be studied how the chemical stability of melarsomine is affected by its interaction with other molecules. Herein, we report the formation of a two-dimensional supramolecular network between melarsomine and cyanuric acid via hydrogen bonds. This network structure captures dissolved oxygen in an aqueous solution, accelerating the oxidative degradation of melarsomine.