Host-guest chemistry and light driven molecular lock of Ru(bpy)(3)-viologen with cucurbit[7-8]urils

Host-guest chemistry and photoinduced electron-transfer processes have been studied in the systems containing Ru(bpy)3 complex covalently linked to viologen as a guest molecule and cucurbit[n]urils (n = 7, 8) as host molecules in aqueous solution. The Ru(bpy)3-viologen complex, [Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)2(4-(4-(1'-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinediium-1-yl)butyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine)]Cl4 (denoted as Ru2+-MV2+, 1) was shown to form stable 1:1 inclusion complexes with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). The binding modes are slightly different with CB[7] and CB[8]. CB[7] preferentially binds to part of the viologen residue in 1 together with the butyl chain, whereas CB[8] preferentially encloses the whole viologen residue. Photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer from the excited-state of the Ru moiety to MV2(+) which is inserted into the cavity of the CBs occurred. Long-lived charge-separated states Ru3(+)-MV(+*) were generated with the lifetimes of 280 ns with CB[7] and 2060 ns with CB[8]. This shows that CBs can slow down the charge recombination within supramolecular systems, and the difference in lifetimes seems to be due to the difference in binding modes. In the presence of a sacrificial electron donor triethanolamine, light-driven formation of a dimer of MV(+*) inside the CB[8] cavity was observed. This "locked" molecular dimer can be "unlocked" by molecular oxygen to give back the original form of the molecular dyad 1 with the MV2(+) moiety inserted in the cavity of CB[8]. The processes could be repeated several times and showed nice reversibility.     

New bis(benzimidazole) cations for threading through dibenzo-24-crown-8

[reaction: see text] We report a simple bis(benzimidazole) dication which can act as new template for threading through dibenzo-24-crown-8. The effect of the solvent and counterion on the magnitude of the binding interaction and on the hydrogen bonding array in the solid state is described.     

Isolated supramolecular [Ru(bpy)3]-viologen-[Ru(bpy)3] complexes with trapped CB[7,8] and photoinduced electron-transfer study in nonaqueous solution

The synthesis of two supramolecular diruthenium complexes, 1 ?CB[7] and 1 ?CB[8] (CB[n]=cucurbit[n]uril), which contain the respective host CB[7] and CB[8], were synthesized and isolated. In the case of host CB[8], the desired supramolecular complex was obtained by utilizing dihydroxynapthalene as a template during the synthesis. The ¹H NMR spectra, electrochemistry, and photochemistry of these supramolecular complexes were performed in nonaqueous solution. The results show that both CB[7,8] hosts mainly bind to the linker part in solution in acetonitrile. This binding also lowers the oxidation potential of the ruthenium metal center and hinders the quenching effect by the viologen moiety. It has also been shown that external methylviologen can be included into 1 ?CB[8]. Analysis with NMR spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and photochemistry clearly shows a viologen radical dimer formation between the bound viologen and free methylviologen, thereby showing that the unique abilities of the CB[8] host can be utilized even in nonaqueous solution.     

Modes of binding interaction between viologen guests and the cucurbit[7]uril host

[structure: see text] Host-guest interactions between cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and a series of dialkyl-4,4'-bipyridinium (viologen) dicationic guests were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. CB7 includes the aromatic nucleus of short chain viologens, but the mode of interaction is different with longer chain viologens due to the favorable hydrophobic interactions between the terminal alkyl substituents and the inner cavity of the host. A new pseudorotaxane was designed and synthesized on the basis of viologen-CB7 binding interactions.     

Synthesis of a bistable[3]rotaxane and its pH-controlled intramolecular charge-transfer behavior

A[3]rotaxane 1 involving two naphtho-21-crown-7(N21C7) rings and a dumbbell-shaped component 4 was synthesized.The dumbbell-shape molecule 4 contains one viologen nucleus,two secondary alky] ammonium sites and two phenyl stoppers.After threading the N21C7 ring with the thread-like ammonium guest 3,the copper(1)-catalyzed Huisgen alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition(CuAAC "click" reaction),was performed to connect the pseudorotaxanes with viologen unit 2 and generate 1. Through treating the[3]rotaxane by the base and acid circularly,the two N21C7 rings can make shuttling motion along the axle.Meanwhile the distance between the electron-deficient viologen unit and the electron-rich naphthol group can be adjusted precisely along with a remarkable intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) behavior.     

Fluorescence-On Response via CB7 Binding to Viologen-Dye Pseudorotaxanes

Fluorescence-on sensors typically rely on disrupting photoinduced electron transfer quenching of the excited state through binding the electron donor. To provide a more general fluorescence-on signaling unit, a quencher-fluorophore dyad has been developed in which quenching by electron transfer to a tethered viologen acceptor can be disrupted through complexation of the viologen by cucurbit[7]uril (CB7). Dyads of benzyl viologen-rhodamine B or a BODIPY fluorophore gave upon CB7 complexation 14- and 30-fold fluorescence enhancement, respectively.     

磺化杯[4]芳烃与双正电荷季铵盐的键合作用

采用核磁波谱和等温微量热滴定等手段研究了磺化杯[4]芳烃与3个双正电荷季铵盐相互作用的键合比、 键合模式以及热力学参数. 结果表明, 磺化杯[4]芳烃与3个双正电荷季铵盐以不同的键合模式形成1: 1络合物, 其键合常数均超过10⁵ L/mol, 键合作用主要由焓变驱动, 同时伴随着微弱的正负熵变.     

Efficient photoreduction process of [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+ by electron-mediation via the viologen dication by excitation of a zinc porphyrin

Photoinduced electron-transfer and electron-mediation processes from the excited triplet state of zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (3ZnTPP) to the hexyl viologen dication (HV2+) in the presence of oxo-acetato-bridged triruthenium clusters, [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+, have been revealed by the transient absorption spectra in the visible and near-IR regions. By the nanosecond laser-flash photolysis of ZnTPP in the presence of HV2+ and [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+, the transient absorption bands of the radical cation of ZnTPP (ZnTPP*+) and the reduced viologen (HV*+) were initially observed with the concomitant decay of 3ZnTPP, after which an extra electron of HV*+ mediates to [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]+, efficiently generating [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 with high potential. Although back-electron transfer took place between ZnTPP*+ and [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 in the diffusion-controlled limit, [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 accumulates at a steady concentration upon further addition of 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) as a sacrificial donor to re-produce ZnTPP from ZnTPP*+. Therefore, we established a novel system to accumulate [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 as an electron pool by the excitation of ZnTPP as photosensitizing electron donor in the presence of HV2+ and BNAH as an electron-mediating reagent and sacrificial donor, respectively. With the increase in the electron-withdrawing abilities of the ligands, the final yields of [Ru3(mu3-O)(mu-CH3CO2)6L3]0 increased.     

Radical‐Cation Dimerization Overwhelms Inclusion in [n]Pseudorotaxanes

Suppression of the dimerization of the viologen radical cation by cucurbit[7]uril ( CB7 ) in water is a well‐known phenomenon. Herein, two counter‐examples are presented. Two viologen‐containing thread molecules were designed, synthesized, and thoroughly characterized by ¹H DOSY NMR spectrometry, UV/Vis absorption spectrophotometry, square‐wave voltammetry, and chronocoulometry: BV ⁴⁺, which contains two viologen subunits, and HV ¹²⁺, which contains six. In both threads, the viologen subunits are covalently bonded to a hexavalent phosphazene core. The corresponding [3]‐ and [7]pseudorotaxanes that form on complexation with CB7 , that is, BV ⁴⁺?( CB 7)₂ and HV ¹²⁺?( CB 7)₆, were also analyzed. The properties of two monomeric control threads, namely, methyl viologen ( MV ²⁺) and benzyl methyl viologen ( BMV ²⁺), as well as their [2]pseudorotaxane complexes with CB7 ( MV ²⁺? CB7 and BMV ²⁺? CB7 ) were also investigated. As expected, the control pseudorotaxanes remained intact after one‐electron reduction of their viologen‐recognition stations. In contrast, analogous reduction of BV ⁴⁺?( CB 7)₂ and HV ¹²⁺?( CB 7)₆ led to host–guest decomplexation and release of the free threads BV ^{2( . +)} and HV ^{6( . +)}, respectively. ¹H DOSY NMR spectrometric and chronocoulometric measurements showed that BV ^{2( . +)} and HV ^{6( . +)} have larger diffusion coefficients than the corresponding [3]‐ and [7]pseudorotaxanes, and UV/Vis absorption studies provided evidence for intramolecular radical‐cation dimerization. These results demonstrate that radical‐cation dimerization, a relatively weak interaction, can be used as a driving force in novel molecular switches.     

Cucurbit[8]uril rotaxanes

The synthesis of [2]rotaxanes, each comprising a viologen core threaded through a cucurbit[8]uril (Q8, Figure 1) macrocycle and stoppered by tetraphenylmethane groups, and their binding to second guests as inclusion complexes in organic and aqueous media are described. Stoppering was observed to have little effect on binding. Chemical modification of the threaded guest was used to control solubility and binding characteristics, thus demonstrating a novel approach to making artificial receptors with readily modifiable properties.     

Cucurbit[7]uril moving on side chains of polypseudorotaxanes: Synthesis,characterization, and properties

Novel side chain polypseudorotaxanes with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) threaded onto the side chains are synthesized from a water‐soluble polymer and CB[7] in water by simple stirring at room temperature. CB[7] beads could move from the hexyl groups to the benzyl and a part of viologen units in the side chains of polymer when the molar ratio of CB[7] to the monomer reaches from 1 to 2 as shown by ¹H NMR studies, and it is considered that the hydrophobic and charge‐dipole interactions of CB[7] are the driving forces. The sizes of the polypseudorotaxanes with different molar ratio of CB[7] to 4VBVHeP in aqueous solution increase with increasing the molar ratio of CB[7] to 4VBVHeP as found by DLS and resonance light scattering, while the typical cyclic voltammograms and UV–vis data indicate that CB[7] are not threaded in the viologen units of P4VBVHeP, and the oxidation reduction characteristic of the polymer is remarkably affected by the addition of CB[7]. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

One-pot synthesis of donor-acceptor [2]rotaxanes based on cryptand-paraquat recognition motif

Two novel cryptand-based [2]rotaxanes were synthesized by a facile one-pot reaction from three neutral precursors: easily accessible cryptand host 1 and commercially available 4,4'-bipyridine and 3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl bromide. Their structures were confirmed by (1)H NMR, 2D NMR, HRMS and X-ray analysis. Moreover, two [2]pseudorotaxanes based on the same cryptand hosts and dibenzyl viologen guest 3 were also demonstrated both in solution and in the solid state, which are different from previously reported [3]pseudorotaxane-like complexes formed by dimethyl viologen guest 2 and the cryptands.     

Self-assembly of a double calix[6]arene pseudorotaxane in oriented channels

A synthetic study to disclose the more appropriate manner by which two calix[6]arene units could be connected for the construction of an extended tubular structure was undertaken. As a result, a head-to-tail double calix[6]arene having the structure of an oriented nanotube that is about 2.6 nm long and 1.6 nm wide was prepared and characterized. This molecule is able to act as a wheel-type host and forms a supramolecular complex with an axle-type molecule, derived from 4,4'-bipyridinium (viologen), through very efficient self-assembly in solution. The properties of such a pseudorotaxane-type complex, which is stabilized by a combination of noncovalent interactions, were investigated in solution by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy and voltammetric methods. These observations provide a clue about the location of the bipyridinium unit along the nanotube. In the solid state, the complex undergoes a further stage of self-assembly, thereby initiating extended oriented tubular structures. Crystallographic studies revealed that the positioning of the viologen dication in this asymmetric wheel is addressed by a complicated pattern of cooperative noncovalent intermolecular interactions that involve only one half of the host, whereas the remaining (more polar) half of the host is exploited to create long-range structural order that leads to a "secondary" structure of extended supramolecular channels that, in turn, self-assemble in the lattice, thus giving rise to a "tertiary" structure of parallel sandwiches of nanotubes.     

Self-assembled single-walled carbon nanotube:zinc-porphyrin hybrids through ammonium ion-crown ether interaction: construction and electron transfer

An ammonium ion-crown ether interaction has been successfully used to construct porphyrin-single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) donor-acceptor hybrids. The [18]crown-6 to alkyl ammonium ion binding strategy resulted in porphyrin-SWNT nanohybrids that are stable and soluble in DMF. The porphyrin-SWNT hybrids were characterized by spectroscopic, TEM, and electrochemical techniques. Both steady-state and time-resolved emission studies revealed efficient quenching of the singlet excited state of the porphyrins and free-energy calculations suggested that electron-transfer quenching occurred. Nanosecond transient absorption spectral results supported the charge-separation quenching process. Charge-stabilization was also observed for the nanohybrids in which the lifetime of the radical ion pairs was around 100 ns. The present nanohybrids were also used to reduce the hexyl viologen dication (HV2+) and to oxidize 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide in solution in an electron-pooling experiment. Accumulation of the radical cation (HV.+) was observed in high yields, which provided additional proof for the occurrence of photoinduced charge separation. The present study demonstrates that a hydrogen-bonding motif is a successful self-assembly method to build SWNTs bearing donor-acceptor nanohybrids, which are useful for light-energy harvesting and photovoltaic applications.     

A photocatalytic acid- and base-free Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley-type reduction using a [Ru(bpy)3]2+/viologen couple

A photocatalytic system to effect the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction of carbonylic compounds to alcohols has been developed. The system comprises [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as a photosensitizer, triethanolamine as a sacrificial electron donor, viologen as an electron acceptor, and the carbonyl compound and iPrOH as Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reagents. The photocatalytic reaction can be performed in neat iPrOH or in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquid. Mass spectrometric detection of the viologen hydride derivative VH+ confirms that this species is the reducing agent responsible for the carbonyl compound reduction. The reaction intermediates involved in the photocatalytic system have also been characterized by laser flash photolysis.     

烷基链长对紫精分子在Cu(100)电极表面吸附结构的影响

用循环伏安法(CV)和原位扫描隧道显微镜(STM)研究了烷基取代的紫精分子在Cu(100)电极上的氧化还原行为及其吸附结构对电极电势的依赖性. 对乙基紫精(DHV)和庚基紫精(DEV)在含有KCl电解质溶液中进行循环伏安曲线的测定, 两者呈现出不同的氧化还原行为. 从STM所得图像观察, 二价庚基紫精在Cl-c(2×2)-Cu(100)电极上呈现出二维有序的点阵组装结构,而二价乙基紫精却未出现任何的吸附结构. 降低电极电势至单电子转移反应发生时, 形成的自由基庚基紫精在电极表面呈现出稳定的条带状组装结构, 而自由基乙基紫精出现的条带组装结构比较密集且不能稳定存在. 继续降低电极电势, 庚基紫精的吸附结构会随之出现明显的变化,而乙基紫精不会有吸附结构改变的响应.     

Side‐chain polypseudorotaxanes by threading cucurbit[7]uril onto poly‐N‐n‐butyl‐N′‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium bromide chloride: Synthesis,characterization, and properties

A novel side‐chain polypseudorotaxanes P4VBVBu/CB[7] was synthesized from poly‐N‐n‐butyl‐N′‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium bromide chloride (P4VBVBu) and cucurbit [7]uril (CB[7]) in water by simple stirring at room temperature. CB[7] beads are localized on viologen units in side chains of polypseudorotaxanes as shown by ¹H NMR, IR, XRD, and UV–vis studies, and it is considered that the hydrophobic and charge‐dipole interactions are the driving forces. TGA data show that thermal stability of the polypseudorotaxanes increases with the adding of CB[7] threaded. DLS data show that P4VBVBu and CB[7] could form polypseudorotaxanes, and the average hydrodynamic radius of the polypseudorotaxanes increases with increasing the concentration of CB[7]. The typical cyclic voltammograms indicate that the oxidation reduction characteristic of P4VBVBu is remarkably affected by the addition of CB[7] because of the formation of polypseudorotaxanes and the shielding effects of CB[7] threaded on the viologen units of polypseudorotaxanes. With the increase of the concentration of KBr or K₂SO₄, the formation of the polypseudorotaxanes was inhibited due to the shielding effects of both Br^? or SO to viologen ion and K⁺ to CB[7] by UV–vis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2135–2142, 2010     

Control of the stoichiometry in host-guest complexation by redox chemistry of guests: inclusion of methylviologen in cucurbit[8]uril

The binding stoichiometry of a host-guest complex can be effectively controlled by the redox chemistry of the guest: a 1:1 inclusion complex of methylviologen dication (MV2+) in cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) converts completely and reversibly to a 2:1 inclusion complex of cation radical (MV+.) in CB[8] upon the reduction of the guest.     

Selective and Reversible Fluoride Complexation from Water by a Cyclic Tri(phosphonio)methanide Dication

Tri(phosphonio)methanide dication 3 ²⁺, prepared from a trifluoromethylsulfanylphosphonium dication ( 1 ²⁺) via an intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, is an unexpected P‐based, water‐resistant Lewis acid that is capable to selectively and reversibly bind fluoride ions from organic/aqueous biphasic solution. The formed complex is an unusual fluorophosphorane ( [3‐F] OTf). The multiple donor–acceptor interactions of 3 ²⁺ that are crucial for the fluoride fixation have been elucidated by quantum chemical calculation. Compound [3‐F] OTf can also be used as a convenient anhydrous fluoride ion source and was probed as a suitable catalyst of the silylotrifluoromethylation of various aldehydes.     

A Phosphorus-Based Pacman Dication Generated by Cooperative Self-Activation of a Pacman Phosphane

Formal coordination of phosphorus(III) by a calix[4]pyrrole Schiff base ligand was achieved through the reaction of this ligand with PCl₃ under basic conditions. The reaction product adopts a Pacman conformation with two P−Cl moieties, one in exo and one in endo position. It represents the first non-metal compound of calix[4]pyrrole Schiff base ligands and of Pacman ligands in general. The spatial neighborhood of the two phosphorus atoms enables cooperative reactions. As a first example, the chloride abstraction with AgOTf is presented, yielding a macrocyclic dication with two embedded phosphorus(III) monocations, which both undergo a cooperative, internal activation reaction with an adjacent C=N double bond. This intramolecular redox process affords two pentacoordinated phosphorus(V) centers within the Pacman dication. All reaction products were fully characterized and all results are supported by computations.