Cucurbit[5]uril, Decamethylcucurbit[5]uril and Cucurbit[6]uril. Synthesis, Solubility and Amine Complex Formation

A simple way to prepare cucurbit[5]uril is described. The macrocycles of the cucurbituril type are nearly insoluble in water. The solubilities of cucurbit[5]uril, decamethylcucurbit[5]uril and cucurbit[6]uril in hydrochloric acid, formic acid and acetic acid of different concentrations have been investigated. Due to the formation of complexes between cucurbit[n]urils and protons the solubility increases in aqueous acids. The macrocyclic ligands are able to form complexes with several organic compounds. Thus, the complex formation of the cucurbituril macrocycles with different amines has beenstudied by means of calorimetric titrations. The reaction enthalpy gives noevidence of the formation of inclusion or exclusion complexes. ¹H-NMR measurements show that in the case of cucurbit[5]uril and cucurbit[6]uril the organic guest compound is included within the hydrophobic cavity. Decamethylcucurbit[5]uril forms only exclusion complexes with organicamines. This was confirmed by the crystal structure of the decamethylcucurbit[5]uril-1,6-diaminohexane complex.     

Strong Emission Enhancement in pH-Responsive 2:2 Cucurbit[8]uril Complexes

Organic fluorophores, particularly stimuli-responsive molecules, are very interesting for biological and material sciences applications, but frequently limited by aggregation- and rotation-caused photoluminescence quenching. A series of easily accessible bipyridinium fluorophores, whose emission is quenched by a twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT) mechanism, is reported. Encapsulation in a cucurbit[7]uril host gave a 1:1 complex exhibiting a moderate emission increase due to destabilization of the TICT state inside the apolar cucurbituril cavity. A much stronger fluorescence enhancement is observed in 2:2 complexes with the larger cucurbit[8]uril, which is caused by additional conformational restriction of rotations around the aryl/aryl bonds. Because the cucurbituril complexes are pH switchable, this system represents an efficient supramolecular ON/OFF fluorescence switch.     

Complexation behavior of cucurbit[6]uril with short polypeptides

The binding properties of cucurbit[6]uril towards various peptides have been investigated in acidic aqueous solution. Stability constants and thermodynamic values of the complex formation between following peptides: glycyl-l-alanine, l-leucyl-l-valine, glycyl-l-asparagine, l-leucyl-l-phenylalanine, l-leucyl-l-tryptophan, glycyl-l-histidine, l-glutathione reduced (γ-l-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl-glycine, GSH), and dl-leucyl-glycyl-dl-phenylalanine) with cucurbit[6]uril in aqueous formic acid (50%, v/v) have been calculated from calorimetric titrations. From these results it can be seen that the peptides form exclusion complexes with cucurbit[6]uril. Due to the polar peptide bond they are not included within the hydrophobic cavity of cucurbit[6]uril. The complex formation is favoured by entropic contributions. The release of water molecules from the polar amino groups of the peptides and the carbonyl groups of cucurbituril are responsible.     

The formation of homogeneous and heterogeneous 2:1 complexes between dialkyl- and diarylammonium ions and α-cyclodextrin and cucurbit[6]uril in aqueous formic acid

Dialkyl- and diarylammonium ions are able to form complexes with α-cyclodextrin and cucurbit[6]uril. These amines are able to complex two guest molecules simultaneously resulting in the formation of homogeneous or heterogeneous 1:2 (ratio of dialkylammonium to ligand) complexes. The stability constants and reaction enthalpies for the formation of 1:1 complexes have been measured using potentiometric and calorimetric titrations. Differences between the values obtained by these methods can be attributed to solvent composition. Only for the 1:2 complex formation with cucurbit[6]uril, the ligands influenced each other. The polar carbonyl groups at each portal of the cucurbit[6]urils interacted simultaneously with the protonated amino group resulting in an electrostatic repulsion between both molecules. No further interactions between two complexed molecules of α-cyclodextrin or cucurbit[6]uril and α-cyclodextrin were observed. The absence of polar groups in the case of α-cyclodextrin led to unaffected formation of homogeneous and even heterogeneous 1:2 complexes.     

瓜环与哌嗪衍生物主客体配合物的研究(英)

本文采用核磁共振技术研究瓜环与哌嗪衍生物主客体配合物的结构特征。¹H核磁共振谱证实八元瓜环能与一些哌嗪衍生物形成稳定的双客体主客体配合物,六元瓜环与一些哌嗪衍生物形成稳定的1∶1主客体配合物。而五、七元瓜环和哌嗪衍生物则未表现出明显地相互作用。形成的自组装主客体配合物得到质谱的进一步证实。     

Investigation of Host–Guest Compounds of Cucurbit[n=5–8]uril with Some Ortho Aminopyridines and Bispyridine

Host–guest complexes of cucurbit[n=5–8]uril and some examples of ortho substituted pyridines or aminopyridines were examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Portal binding of two ortho aminopyridine free bases, by cucurbit[5]uril, was observed in ¹H NMR spectra. Combined cavity and portal binding in cucurbit[6]uril were observed for both the free base 2-aminomethylpyridine, ampy, the HCl salt, ampy·1HCl, and the salt of 2,2′-bispyridine, bpy·1HCl. Two novel complexes were formed with cucurbit[6]uril. The free base ampyas a dual occupant, formed a 2:1 complex, and bpy·1HCl formed a stable asymmetric 1:1 complex. Only portal binding of 2,6-bisaminomethylpyridine and its salts was observed for cucurbit[6]uril. Fast exchange of the free base and pyridineammonium salts was observed for cucurbit[7-8]uril.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.     

Chiroptic behaviour of a chiral guest in an achiral cucurbit[7]uril host

The protonated forms of the chiral molecules (S)- and (R)-N-benzyl-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine (BNEAH⁺) form very stable 1:1 guest–host complexes with cucurbit[7]uril in aqueous solution. The stoichiometry and stability constants for the guest–host complexes were determined by ¹H NMR, UV–visible and circular dichroism spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The molecular optical rotations of the guests increase in magnitude by about 5-fold upon formation of the {BNEAH·CB[7]}⁺ species. Energy minimized structures of the guests and guest–host complexes indicate changes in the dihedral angles about the stereogenic centre upon ion-dipole and H-bonding interactions between the ammonium hydrogens of the guest and the carbonyl groups of the cucurbituril portals. The increases in the optical rotations are discussed in terms of restricted rotations of the naphthyl groups and in preferential solvation of benzylamine in the cucurbit[7]uril cavity.     

Cucurbit[n]uril binding of platinum anticancer complexes

The encapsulation of cisplatin by cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) and multinuclear platinum complexes linked via a 4,4'-dipyrazolylmethane (dpzm) ligand by Q[7] and cucurbit[8]uril (Q[8]) has been studied by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling. The NMR studies suggest that some cisplatin binds in the cucurbituril cavity, while cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(H2O)]+ only binds at the portals. Alternatively, the dpzm-linked multinuclear platinum complexes are quantitatively encapsulated within the cavities of both Q[7] and Q[8]. Upon encapsulation, the non-exchangeable proton resonances of the multinuclear platinum complexes show significant upfield shifts in 1H NMR spectra. The H3/H3* resonances shift upfield by 0.08 to 0.55 ppm, the H5/H5* shift by 0.9 to 1.6 ppm, while the methylene resonances shift by 0.74 to 0.88 ppm. The size of the resonance shift is dependent on the cavity size of the encapsulating cucurbituril, with Q[7] encapsulation producing larger shifts than Q[8]. The upfield shifts of the dpzm resonances observed upon cucurbituril encapsulation indicate that the Q[7] or Q[8] is positioned directly over the dpzm linking ligand. The terminal platinum groups of trans-[{PtCl(NH3)2}2 mu-dpzm]2+ (di-Pt) and trans-[trans-{PtCl(NH3)2}2-trans-{Pt(dpzm)2(NH3)2}]4+ (tri-Pt) provide a barrier to the on and off movement of cucurbituril, resulting in binding kinetics that are slow on the NMR timescale for the metal complex. Although the dpzm ligand has relatively few rotamers, encapsulation by the larger Q[8] resulted in a more compact di-Pt conformation with each platinum centre retracted further into each Q[8] portal. Encapsulation of the hydrolysed forms of di-Pt and tri-Pt is considerably slower than for the corresponding Cl forms, presumably due to the high-energy cost of passing the +2 platinum centres through the cucurbituril portals. The results of this study suggest that cucurbiturils could be suitable hosts for the pharmacological delivery of multinuclear platinum complexes.     

Complex formation of cucurbit[6]uril with amines in the presence of different salts

The complex formation of cucurbit[6]uril with cyclohexylmethylamine hydrochloride and hexylamine hydrochloride has been studied in aqueous solution using potentiometric titrations. The influence of salts like NaCl, KCl, RbCl, CsCl, BaCl₂ and tetramethylammonium chloride and tetraethylammonium perchlorate on the complex formation with amines has been studied at different concentrations of these salts. With increasing salt concentration the stability constants for the complex formation with cyclohexylamine hydrochloride and hexylamine hydrochloride decreases. However, no specific influence is observable. These results show that 2:1 complexes between these salts and cucurbituril are not formed or that their concentration in solution is rather low.     

Complex Formation of Crown Ethers with the Cucurbit[6]uril–Spermidine and Cucurbit[6]uril–Spermine Complex in Aqueous Solution

Alkyl amines are able to form complexes with either crown ethers or cyclodextrins or cucurbit[6]uril. The same is known for polyamines such as spermidine and spermine. However, the simultaneous formation of such polyamines with crown ethers and cucurbit[6]uril has not been studied. The ability of polyamines such as spermidine and spermine to form mixed complexes with different ligands, e.g. crown ethers and cucurbit[6]uril has been studied in aqueous solution using pH-metric and calorimetric titrations. The thermodynamic data of reaction between crown ethers with spermidine, spermine and their cucurbit[6]uril complexes have been determined. The presence of cucurbit[6]uril on the polyamines has no important influence upon the reaction of these amines with crown ethers. The reactions between polyamines, cucurbit[6]uril and crown ethers are simple examples for the self organization of molecules due to specific interactions. Received in final form: 26 January 2005     

水溶性六元瓜环衍生物与1,ω-亚烷基吡啶主客体配合物的^1HNMR及晶体结构

利用^1HNMR技术以及单晶X衍射技术考察对称四甲基取代六元瓜环（TMeQ[6]）与几种1,ω-亚烷基吡啶阳离子（ω=2,4,6,8,10）客体的相互作用．在这些包结配合物中,TMeQ[6]的端口效应以及空腔效应同时存在,其主客体作用模式随着客体亚烷基碳链长短不一而各不相同．对于客体1,2-二乙基吡啶（Edpy）,TMeQ[6]包结Edpy的带正电荷的吡啶环部分,形成一不对称的包结配合物;对于客体1,4-二丁基吡啶（Bdpy）,TMeQ[6]选择性包结Bdpy的吡啶环部分或烷基部分存在竞争作用和快速交换;而具有较长碳链的客体1,6-二己基吡啶（Hdpy）和1,8-二丁庚基吡啶（Odpy）与TMeQ[6]通过空腔的疏水作用以及外部的离子-偶极作用形成稳定的类轮烷包结配合物;客体1,10-二癸基吡啶（Ddpy）的两个吡啶环分别被两个TMeQ[6]包结形成哑铃型的包结配合物．     

Synthesis and X-ray structure of the inclusion complex of dodecamethylcucurbit[6]uril with 1,4-dihydroxybenzene

The synthesis, and X-ray crystal structure of the inclusion host-guest complex of dodecamethylcucurbit[6]uril (DDMeQ[6]) with 1,4-dihydroxybenzene (DHOBEN) are reported. The complex crystallizes in the space group P21/c (No.14) with a =12.2847(4), b = 12.6895(4), c = 15.1310(4) A, alpha = 74.6960(10), beta = 71.4090(10), gamma = 86.5090(10) degrees and Z = 1. A novel approach to dodecamethylcucurbit[6]uril synthesis is also described. To separate dodecamethylcucurbit[6]uril, 1,4-dihydroxybenzene is used as a guest molecule for crystallization of the fully methyl-substituted cucurbituril. The driving force for the self-assembled inclusion host-guest complex can be attributed to not only the cavity interaction of dodecamethylcucurbit[6]uril (host), but also to the hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl oxygen at the portals of the host and the hydroxy groups of the guest.     

Difference of coordination between alkali- and alkaline-earth-metal ions to a symmetrical α,α',δ,δ'-tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril

To explore differences in coordination between alkali- and alkaline-earth-metal ions and cucurbit[n]urils, a water-soluble α,α',δ,δ'-tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) was used to synthesize a series of complexes and their supramolecular assemblies, based on the coordination of TMeQ[6] with alkali- and alkaline-earth-metal ions. The complexes and corresponding supramolecular assemblies were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Unlike cucurbituril (Q[6]), which formed the metal-Q[6] polymers based on the direct coordination of carbonyl oxygen atoms to the alkali-metal ions, TMeQ[6] formed metal-TMeQ[6] polymers based on the direct coordination of carbonyl oxygen atoms with the alkaline-earth-metal ions rather than the alkali-metal ions.     

Gas-phase uranyl-nitrile complex ions

Electrospray ionization was used to generate doubly charged complex ions composed of the uranyl ion and nitrile ligands. The complexes, with general formula [UO2(RCN)n]2+, n = 0-5 (where R=CH3-, CH3CH2-, or C6H5-), were isolated in an ion-trap mass spectrometer to probe intrinsic reactions with H2O. For these complexes, two general reaction pathways were observed: (a) the direct addition of one or more H2O ligands to the doubly charged complexes and (b) charge-reduction reactions. For the latter, the reactions produced uranyl hydroxide, [UO2OH], complexes via collisions with gas-phase H2O molecules and the elimination of protonated nitrile ligands.     

Inclusion complexes of the antitumour metallocenes Cp(2)MCl(2) (M = Mo, Ti) with cucurbit[n]urils

The encapsulation of the aquated forms of molybdocene dichloride and titanocene dichloride by cucurbit[n]uril (Q[n], where n = 7 and 8) at different pD values has been studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling. (1)H NMR titration experiments indicate that both metallocenes form 1 : 1 host-guest complexes with both Q[7] and Q[8]. In these complexes, both the cyclopentadienyl ligands and metal centre are positioned deep within the cucurbituril cavity. In vitro cell proliferation studies using the cancer cell lines MCF-7 and 2008 showed that the encapsulated molybdocene complex was more active than the corresponding free metallocene, with GI(50) values of 210 and 400 muM respectively. However, unexpectedly the encapsulation of Cp(2)MoCl(2(aq))at pD 7 catalysed significant degradation of the cucurbituril framework in the presence of oxygen. Encapsulation of Cp(2)TiCl(2(aq)) by Q[7] greatly slowed the protonolysis of the cyclopentadienyl ligands in aqueous phosphate buffer (pD 7), while encapsulation in Q[8] only slightly retarded the hydrolytic degradation of the metallocene.     

六元瓜环与磺基水杨酸主客体配合物的晶体结构

合成了六元瓜环与磺基水杨酸主客体配合物,并测定了其单晶结构.晶体结构表明六元瓜环包结了3个水分子,磺基水杨酸位于六元瓜环的外侧,且与水分子通过氢键与六元瓜环相连,瓜环之间通过端口的羰基O原子、磺基水杨酸以及水分子间的氢键作用形成一维超分子.     

Sequential Formation of Heteroternary Cucurbit[10]uril (CB[10]) Complexes

The globular and monocationic guest molecule trimethyl-azaphosphatrane ( AZAP , a protonated Verkade superbase) was shown to form a host:guest 1 : 1 complex with the cucurbit[10]uril (CB[10]) macrocycle in water. Molecular dynamics calculations showed that CB[10] adopts an 8-shape with AZAP occupying the majority of the internal space, CB[10] contracting around AZAP and leaving a significant part of the cavity unoccupied. This residual space was used to co-include planar and monocationic co-guest ( CG ) molecules, affording heteroternary CB[10]⋅ AZAP ⋅ CG complexes potentially opening new perspectives in supramolecular chemistry.     

Cucurbituril adamantanediazirine complexes and consequential carbene chemistry

Adamantanediazirines, precursors of adamantanylidenes, form 1:1 complexes (guest to host) with cucurbit[7]uril and cucurbit[8]uril and a 3:1 complex with a Pd nanocage in water. (1)H NMR spectra suggested that these complexes are stable in water on the NMR time scale. While photolysis of adamantanediazirines in water gave mainly adamantanone and adamantanol via adamantanylidene as intermediate, the 1:1 complexes of adamantanediazirine with cucurbiturils gave intramolecular C-H insertion products of adamantanylidene in >90% yield. The study establishes that significant control of carbene reactivity can be achieved when the precursor is encapsulated within a tight inert cavity. While the general characteristics of molecular containers can be understood on the basis of concepts such as "confinement" and "weak interactions", each one is unique and deserves careful scrutiny.     

Host-guest complexes of a water soluble cucurbit[6]uril derivative with some dications of 1,ω-alkyldipyridines: <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR and X-ray structures

Interactions between a symmetrical tetramethyl-substituted cucurbit[6]uril (host: TMeQ[6]) and 1,ω-alkylenedipyridine (ω = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) dicationic guests were investigated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray crystallography. In these inclusion complexes, combined cavity and portal binding in TMeQ[6] were observed, and the length of the bridged alkylene was found to play an important role not only in balancing the overall hydrophilic/hydrophobic interaction between the host and the guest, but also in defining the structure of the resulting inclusion complexes. For the guest 1,2-ethylenedipyridine (Edpy), TMeQ[6] includes a positively charged pyridine ring of Edpy to form an unsymmetrical inclusion complex; for the guest 1,4-butylenedipyridine (Bdpy), TMeQ[6] includes a positively charged pyridine ring of Bdpy, but the different competitive interactions in and between the related inclusion complexes could lead to a fast exchange between the hosts and guests. For the guests with longer bridge chains, such as 1,6-hexamethylenedipyridine (Hdpy) or 1,8-octylenedipyridine (Odpy), a stable pseudorotaxane inclusion complex is formed by combining the hydrophobic cavity and the outer portal dipole-ion interactions. However, for 1,10-decatylenedipyridine (Ddpy), the two TMeQ[6] host molecules include the two end pyridine rings of Ddpy and form a dumbbell inclusion complex. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20662003 & 20767001), the International Collaborative Project of Guizhou Province (Grant No. 2007400108), the Science Technology Fund of Guizhou Province (Grant No. J-2008-2012) and the Natural Science Youth Foundation of Guizhou University (Grant No. 2007-005)     

Improvement of Dispersion and Release Properties of Nifedipine in Suppositories by Complexation with 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Geometries, electronic properties and NMR-shielding of cucurbit[5]uril, decamethylcucurbit[5]uril, cucurbit[6]uril, cucurbit[7]uril, and cucurbit[8]uril are investigated with DFT calculations. All molecules are highly symmetrical with a distinct geometric flexibility. In addition with a characteristic partial charge distribution these findings account for their chemical complex building ability.