Preparation and characterization of inclusion complexes of antitumor camptothecin with cucurbit[n = 7, 8]urils

The slightly water-soluble anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) and its inclusion complexes with cucurbit[n = 7, 8]uril (Q[n] (n = 7, 8)) were investigated. The formation of 1:2 complexes with Q[n] (n = 7, 8) in aqueous solution was confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and the apparent stability constants were determined to be higher than 3.01 × 10¹² L²/mol². The solid inclusion complexes of CPT and Q[n] (n = 7, 8) were also prepared by the co-evaporation method and characterized by Fourier transformation-infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. Aqueous solubility and dissolution studies indicate that the complexes exhibited significantly increased dissolution rates compared with the pure drug and physical mixtures. The potential of Q[7] or Q[8] for stabilizing lactone modality of CPT was investigated by the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method. The results reveal more than 63% CPT lactone form (active form) in CPT-Q[7] or Q[8] complexes compared to only 36% CPT lactone form in the absence of Q[7] or Q[8] after being incubated in the phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4 at 37°C) for 5 h.     

六、七、八元瓜环与苯胺系列衍生物的相互作用

利用紫外吸收光谱、荧光光谱以及¹H NMR方法详细考察了六、七、八元瓜环(Q[6], Q[7], Q[8])与苯胺系列衍生物客体的相互作用和体系pH对其作用的影响. 实验结果表明, 3种瓜环与苯胺系列衍生物客体的相互作用强弱、作用比例以及作用模式与体系的酸度密切相关: 在“高”或“低”pH条件下, 未观察到瓜环与这些客体的明显作用; 在介于“高”与“较高”或“低”与“较低”的pH范围, 瓜环与这些客体发生相互作用, 形成1∶1的包结配合物; 而在介于“较高”与“较低”的pH范围, 瓜环与这些客体发生相互作用, 可形成1∶2的包结配合物. 对于不同的瓜环-客体作用体系, 相应的pH范围各不相同. 本文利用简便的实验方法, 测试了这些pH值及其范围. 根据测定的结果, 结合瓜环以及客体的结构特征, 对体系主客体在不同的酸度区域表现出的不同作用模式进行了探讨.     

七、八元瓜环对萘二胺异构体相互作用的考察

利用紫外吸收光谱、荧光光谱以及¹H NMR方法考察了七、八元瓜环(Q[7], Q[8])与1,8-萘二胺(g1), 2,3-萘二胺(g2), 1,5-萘二胺(g3)的相互作用. 实验结果表明: Q[7]与客体g1发生端口作用, 作用比为1∶1; Q[7]与客体g2, g3相互作用也形成1∶1的包结配合物. Q[8]与三种客体相互作用情况各不相同, 除Q[8]与客体g2相互作用形成1∶2的包结配合物; Q[8]与客体g1或g3可发生相互作用, 形成溶解性较差的作用产物, 其表观相互作用的比例为1∶1. 考察溶液酸度对主客体相互作用的影响还表明: 当pH大于某一值之后, 如Q[7]主客体体系, pH大于6.0; Q[8]主客体体系, pH大于12.0, 用光谱方法观察不到瓜环与客体的相互作用. Q[7], Q[8]为主体的上述主客体作用产物分别与金刚烷胺盐酸盐、1,10-癸二胺盐酸盐的竞争反应结果表明, 已作用的萘二胺异构体容易被所选用的竞争客体所取代, 只有g2与Q[8]形成的包结配合物被1,10-癸二胺盐酸盐部分取代.     

Cucurbit[n]urils-induced room temperature phosphorescence of quinoline derivatives

The cucurbit[7,8]urils (Q[7] and Q[8])-induced room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) of quinoline and its derivatives were firstly found in the cucurbit[n]urils chemistry. The luminophores (quinolines) and their RTP are affected by the concentration of different Q[n]s, heavy metal ions and amounts, and pH. The RTP lifetime of the luminophore has been investigated. In presence of Na₂SO₃, the cation Tl⁺ led to stronger Q[n]-induced RTP, while the RTP lifetimes of luminophore/Q[7 or 8]/KI were generally longer than that of luminophore/Q[7 or 8]/TlNO₃, the RTP lifetimes of these systems were between 0.18 and 47.4 ms. Contrary to the stable 1:2 Q[8]:guest ternary inclusion complexes at lower pHs, as suggested by ¹H NMR, electronic absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, low Q[8]-induced room temperature phosphorescence was observed. However, at higher pHs, high intensity of cucurbit[n]urils-induced room temperature phosphorescence of these quinoline derivatives were observed, and a 1:1 Q[8]:guest inclusion complex was formed. Investigations of dependence of RTP intensity on concentration of Q[n] revealed that the highest intensity of the Q[n]-induced RTP was observed at a low mole ratio of host:guest, which is closed to 1:1. It was presumably resulted from the strong interaction of Q[n] and these guests due to the combined hydrophobic cavity interaction and the hydrophilic portal interaction of the cucurbit[n]urils with the nitrogen heterocycles guest.     

A hemicyanine and cucurbit[n]uril inclusion complex: competitive guest binding of cucurbit[7]uril and cucurbit[8]uril

The interaction between the hemicyanine indole derivative H and the cucubit[n]urils Q[7] and Q[8] has been studied using ¹H NMR and UV spectroscopy as well as by fluorescence experiments. Competitive studies on the inclusion of H by Q[7] and Q[8] have also been conducted, and reveal that on changing the size of the Q[n] cavity, the binding behaviour can be very different.     

Direct syntheses of a series of cucurbit[n]uril-anchored polyacrylamides

Using the one-pot, direct strategy reported by Su and co-workers, we have synthesised a series of cucurbit[n]urils (Q[n], n = 5–8) and alkyl-substituted cucurbit[6]urils (SQ[6]s) anchored on polymers. Acrylamide, as a typical monomer, was used to synthesise a series of Q[n]s (n = 5–8) and SQ[6]-anchored polyacrylamides (PAMs) using a persulfate salt as initiator and oxidant. The Q[n]s (n = 5–8) and SQ[6]-anchored PAM samples have been characterised by ¹H NMR, ¹H NMR titrations of probe guests, Fourier-transform infrared and thermogravimetric analyser. The results confirmed that PAM chains had been successfully grafted on the back of the Q[n]s (n = 5–8) and SQ[6]s through an in situ radical polymerisation approach. It was further confirmed that the hydrophobic cavities of the Q[n]s on the polymers were still freely accessible. This synthetic approach may be extended to a variety of Q[n]s that are difficult to functionalise.     

Interaction of Cucurbit[n = 6∼8]urils and Benzimidazole Derivatives

The structures and optical properties of host–guest complexes produced from cucurbit[n = 6–8]urils and some benzimidazole derivatives have been investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. The experimental results reveal that calculations of A∼N_Q[n]/N_guest and I_f∼N_Q[n]/N_guest for the same association complex both support a good fit to an identical binding model. In particular, the A∼N_Q[n]/N_guest, I_f∼N_Q[n]/N_guest calculations and the ¹H NMR determinations for three Q[6]–ge(1∼3) complexes and three Q[8]–ge(1∼3) complexes all support a binding model of 1:1 and 1:2 respectively.     

Host–guest interactions of thiabendazole with normal and modified cucurbituril: 1H NMR,phase solubility and antifungal activity studies

Guest–host inclusion complexes between thiabendazole (TBZ) and cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]), symmetrical tetra-methylcucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) and meta-hexamethyl-substituted cucurbit[6]uril (HMeQ[6]) in aqueous solution were investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and phase solubility studies. The antifungal activities of the inclusion complexes were also determined. Analysis of the ¹H NMR spectra revealed that the host Q[7] selectively binds the benzimidazole ring moiety of the guest molecule and that the thiazole ring is encapsulated into the cavities of TMeQ[6] and HMeQ[6]. Phase solubility diagrams were analysed using rigorous procedures to obtain estimates of the complex formation constants for Q[n]-TBZ complexation. The phase solubility studies showed that TBZ solubility increased as a function of Q[7], TMeQ[6] and HMeQ[6] concentrations. We found that complexation of TBZ with Q[n] increased the inhibitory effect of TBZ on the growth of Fusarium graminearum. Our results thus demonstrate that complexation of TBZ with Q[n] could be used to improve the solubility and antifungal activity of TBZ.     

Host–guest complexes of various cucurbit[n]urils with the hydrochloride salt of 2,4-diaminoazobenzene

The interaction products of normal cucurbit[n]urils (n = 7, 8; Q[7] Q[8]) and a sym- tetramethyl-substituted cucurbit[6]uril derivative (TMeQ[6]) with the hydrochloride salts of 2,4-diaminoazobenzene (g·HCl) were investigated in aqueous solution using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy, as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction. The ¹H NMR spectra analysis established a basic interaction model in which inclusion complexes with a host:guest ratio of 1:1 form for the TMeQ[6] and Q[7] cases, while they form with a host:guest ratio of 1:2 for the Q[8] case. Commonly, the hosts selectively bound to the phenyl moieties of the guests. Absorption spectrophotometric analysis in aqueous solution defined the stability of the host–guest inclusion complexes at pH 3.2. Quantitatively, at this pH, complexes with a host:guest ratio of 1:1—those with smaller hosts TMeQ[6] and Q[7]—formed with logK values between 6 and 7. That with host Q[8] and a host:guest ratio of 1:2 formed with a logK value of 10.8. Single crystal X-ray structures of the inclusion complexes TMeQ[6]–g·HCl and Q[8]–g·HCl showed the phenyl moiety of the guest inserted into the host cavity. This result supports the solution-based ¹H NMR spectroscopic study.     

Coordination of Alkaline Earth Metal Ions in the Inverted Cucurbit[7]uril Supramolecular Assemblies Formed in the Presence of [ZnCl4]2− and [CdCl4]2−

A convenient method to isolate inverted cucurbit[7]uril (iQ[7]) from a mixture of water‐soluble Q[n]s was established by eluting the soluble mixture of Q[n]s on a Dowex (H⁺ form) column so that iQ[7] could be selected as a ligand for coordination and supramolecular assembly with alkaline earth cations (AE²⁺) in aqueous HCl solutions in the presence of [ZnCl₄]^2? and [CdCl₄]^2? anions as structure‐directing agents. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed that both iQ[7]–AE²⁺–[ZnCl₄]^2?–HCl and iQ[7]–AE²⁺–[CdCl₄]^2?–HCl interaction systems yielded supramolecular assemblies, in which the [ZnCl₄]^2? and [CdCl₄]^2? anions presented a honeycomb effect, and this resulted in the formation of linear iQ[7]/AE²⁺ coordination polymers through outer‐surface interactions of Q[n]s.     

Potential Applications of Cucurbit[n]urils and Their Derivatives in the Capture of Hazardous Chemicals

Cucurbit[n]urils (Q[n]s) are a relatively young family of macrocycles, consisting of glycoluril units bridged by methylene groups, and their unique structures have attracted extensive attention from chemists in recent decades. Due to the presence of a rigid hydrophobic inner cavity and two polar outer portals lined with carbonyl groups, Q[n]s not only encapsulate guest species into the cavity, but also coordinate with metal ions/clusters. Considerable achievements have been obtained in the fields of Q[n]s-based host–guest chemistry, coordination chemistry, as well as the combination of host–guest and coordination chemistry. Furthermore, the outer surface of Q[n]s has been demonstrated to be capable of interacting with definite species to generate supramolecular architectures in recent years. With more in-depth research into Q[n]s, their application studies have also emerged as a hot topic. This Minireview focuses on recent advances in the potential applications of solid-state materials based on Q[n]s and their derivatives for the capture and adsorption of hazardous chemicals from a solution or a gas mixture.     

七、八元瓜环对盐酸雷尼替丁的包合作用及缓释性能

研究了七元瓜环(Q[7])和八元瓜环(Q[8])与盐酸雷尼替丁(RH)的包合作用及包合物的体外药物缓释性能.采用紫外-可见光谱法测定了体系的包合比、包合稳定常数和药物累积释放度;用1H NMR技术考察了体系主-客体的包合作用.结果表明,Q[7]和Q[8]与RH在酸性及中性条件下均能发生1∶1包合作用,包合稳定常数分别为1.21×104和2.06×104 L/mol;在碱性条件下则不发生包合作用.原药RH,Q[7]-RH及Q[8]-RH包合物在人工胃液(pH=1.2)中的60 min累积释放度分别为89.1%,56.6%和38.4%;而在人工肠液(pH=6.8)中三者的60 min累积释放度分别为90.2%,58.7%和38.0%.实验结果表明,Q[7]及Q[8]包合对RH有明显的体外缓释作用.     

Uptake of Hydrocarbons in Aqueous Solution by Encapsulation in Acyclic Cucurbit[n]uril‐Type Molecular Containers

The ability of two water‐soluble acyclic cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) type containers, whose hydrophobic cavity is defined by a glycoluril tetramer backbone and terminal aromatic (benzene, naphthalene) sidewalls, to act as solubilizing agents for hydrocarbons in water is described. ¹H NMR spectroscopy studies and phase‐solubility diagrams establish that the naphthalene‐walled container performs as well as, or better than, CB[7] and CB[8] in promoting the uptake of poorly soluble hydrocarbons into aqueous solution through formation of host–hydrocarbon complexes. The naphthalene‐walled acyclic CB[n] container is able to extract large hydrocarbons from crude oil into aqueous solution.     

Construction of Pseudorotaxanes and Rotaxanes Based on Cucurbit[n]uril

¹H-NMR spectroscopic analysis indicates that cucurbit[7]uril can form a stable inclusion complex with 1,6-hexanediamine, while cucurbit[5]uril cannot form pseudorotaxane with 1,6-hexanediamine under our experimental conditions. This was confirmed by the crystal structure of the complex. The cavity of cucurbit[8]uril seems to be large for binding 1,6-hexanediamine efficiently. And a simple, mild, high-yield (>80%) method has been described for the synthesis of rotaxanes through the self-assembly of pseudorotaxanes of cucurbit[n]uril (n=6, 7)/1, 6-hexanediamine and sodium tetraphenylborate. The obtained rotaxanes are held intact solely by noncovalent interactions, and are characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H-NMR, ESI-MS and MALDI-TOF MS.     

Design,Synthesis, and Anticancer Activity of Novel Fused Purine Analogues

6‐Mercaptopurine has been utilized for the synthesis of various fused purine analogues through different chemical reactions to yield [1,4]thiazino[4,3,2‐gh ]purines 2, 3, 10a,b, 14 , (8‐oxo‐[1,4]thiazino[4,3,2‐gh ]purin‐7(8H )‐ylidene) acetate 4 , [1,4]thiazepino[4,3,2‐gh ]purine 6 , thiazolo[3,4,5‐gh ]purine 7 , imidazo[1,5,4‐gh ]purin‐5‐amine 8 , 5‐methylimidazo[1,5,4‐gh ]purine 9 , [1,2,4]triazino[4,3‐i ]purines 16, 18, 21 , [1,2,4]triazino[4,5,6‐gh ]purine 20 , 5‐methyl‐2‐(7H ‐purin‐6‐yl)‐1H ‐pyrazol‐3(2H )‐one 22 , [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐i ]purine 23 , [1,2,5]triazepino[5,4,3‐gh ]purine 24 , and ethyl 6‐(2‐(ethoxycarbonyl)hydrazinyl)‐9H ‐purine‐9‐carboxylate 26 . Seventeen of the newly synthesized compounds were selected by the NCI, Maryland, USA, and were tested for their anticancer activity in an initial single high dose in the full NCI 60 cell line panel among which [1,4]thiazino[4,3,2‐gh ]purine‐7,8‐dione 2 , 7‐benzyl‐[1,4]thiazino[4,3,2‐gh ]purine 10b , and 3‐(2,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐7H ‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐i]purine 23 were found to possess very potent anticancer activity against most of the cancer cell lines.     

New Synthesis of Diazepino[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline and Pyrido[1,2,3‐de]quinoxalines via Addition–Elimination Followed by Cycloacylation

This paper describes a convenient and efficient synthesis of new fused tricyclic diazepino[3,2,1‐ij]quinolines and substituted pyrido[1,2,3‐de]quinoxalines. o‐Phenylenediamines are transformed in the tricycle nucleus in only a few‐step synthetic sequence to produce ethyl 2,8‐dioxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐8H [1,4]diazepino[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline‐7‐carboxylate, ethyl 8‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐8H‐[1,4]diazepino[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline‐7‐carboxylate and ethyl 2,7‐dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H,7H‐pyrido[1,2,3‐de]quinoxaline‐6‐carboxylate. The method is economical and simple to perform.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic characterization of camptothecin hydrolysis at physiological pH in the absence and presence of human serum albumin

To accurately derive the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters governing the hydrolysis of the lactone ring at physiological pH, a derivative spectrophotometric technique was used for the simultaneous estimation of lactone and carboxylate forms of camptothecin (CPT). The hydrolysis of the CPT‐lactone and the lactonization of CPT‐carboxylate at 310.15 K followed a first‐order decay with apparent rate constants equal to 0.0279 ± 0.0016 min^?1 and 0.0282 ± 0.0024 min^?1, respectively. The activation energy associated with the hydrolysis of the CPT‐lactone and the lactonization of the CPT‐carboxylate as calculated from the Arrhenius equation was 89.18 ± 0.84 and 86.49 ± 2.7 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The enthalpy and entropy of the thermodynamically favored hydrolysis reaction were on average 10.49 kJ mol^?1 and 48.00 J K^?1 mol^?1, respectively. The positive enthalpy and entropy values of the CPT‐lactone hydrolysis indicate that the reaction is endothermic and entropically driven. The stability of CPT‐lactone in the presence of human serum albumin (HSA) was also analyzed. Notwithstanding the much faster hydrolysis of the CPT‐lactone in the presence of HSA at various temperatures, the energy of activation was determined to be similar to the one estimated in the absence of HSA, suggesting that HSA does not catalyze the hydrolysis reaction, but it merely binds, sequesters, and stabilizes the CPT‐carboxylate species. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 704–715, 2009     

Supramolecular assemblies of cucurbit[n]urils and 4-aminopyridine controlled by cucurbit[n]uril size (n = 5, 6, 7 and 8)

The binding interactions between 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and a series of cucurbit[n]urils (Q[5], Q[6], TMeQ[6], Q[7], Q[8]) have been studied using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and X-ray crystallography. The data indicates that the Q[5]@4-AP complex exhibits exo binding, which is not observed in the other four host-guest complexes. Furthermore, X-ray crystallography clearly reveals how the Q[n]s bind with 4-AP to form complexes, for example Q[5] forms an outer-surface complex, whilst Q[6], TMeQ[6] and Q[7] formed 1:1 host and guest type complexes, and Q[8] formed a stable 1:2 ternary complex due to its large cavity, which can accommodate two 4-AP molecules.     

六、七元瓜环与苯二胺及硝基苯胺异构体相互作用的HPLC研究

利用HPLC法考察了六、七元瓜环(Q[6], Q[7])与邻苯二胺(g1)、间苯二胺(g2)、对苯二胺(g3)、邻硝基苯胺(g4)、间硝基苯胺(g5)、对硝基苯胺(g6)的相互作用. 实验结果表明: Q[6]可与客体g1～g3, g5形成1∶1的包结配合物; Q[7]与客体g1～g6形成1∶1包结配合物, 同时计算了包结配合物的包结稳定常数, 探讨了主-客体的相互作用模式, 并利用¹H NMR、紫外吸收光谱法进行了佐证.     

Controlled Self‐Assembly by Mono‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes and Bis‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes

The complexation‐induced critical aggregation concentrations of 1‐pyrenemethylaminium by mono‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes and bis‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes (n=4, 5) were systemically measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. In all cases, the complexation‐induced critical aggregation concentration decreases by about 3 times upon addition of p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes. However, the optimal molar ratios for the aggregation of 1‐pyrenemethylaminium by mono‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes and bis‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes are distinctly different: For mono‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes, the optimum mixing ratio for the aggregation of 1‐pyrenemethylaminium is 1:4 mono‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes/1‐pyrenemethylaminium, whereas only 2.5 molecules of 1‐pyrenemethylaminium can be bound by one cavity of bis‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes. The intermolecular complexation of mono‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes and bis‐p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes with 1‐pyrenemethylaminium led to the formation of two distinctly different nanoarchitectures, which were shown to be nanoscale vesicle and rod aggregates, respectively, by using dynamic laser scattering, TEM, and SEM. This behavior is also different from the fiber‐like aggregates with lengths of several micrometers that were formed by 1‐pyrenemethylaminium itself above its critical aggregation concentration. Furthermore, the obtained nanoaggregates exhibit benign water solubility, self‐labeled fluorescence, and, more importantly, temperature responsiveness.