Spherical shape complementarity as an overriding motif in the molecular recognition of noncharged organic guests by p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene: complexation of bicyclic azoalkanes

[reaction: see text] The complexation of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (CX4) with 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (1), 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (2), 2,3-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]non-2-ene (3), 1-methyl-4-isopropyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (4), and 1-phenyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (5) was studied in D2O at pD 7.4 by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The formation of deep inclusion complexes was indicated by large upfield 1H NMR shifts of the guest protons (up to 2.6 ppm), which were also used to assign, in combination with 2D ROESY spectra, a preferential inclusion of the isopropyl group of 4 and a dominant inclusion of the azo bicyclic residue for 5. The bicyclic azoalkanes 1-3 showed exceptionally high binding constants on the order of 1000 M(-1), 1-2 orders of magnitude larger than for previously investigated noncharged organic guest molecules. The strong binding was attributed to the spherical shape complementarity between the guest and the conical cavity offered by CX4. Interestingly, although the derivatives 4 and 5 are more hydrophobic, they showed a 2-3 times weaker binding, which was again attributed to the deviation from spherical shape in these bridgehead-substituted derivatives. The preferential inclusion of the hydrophilic but spherical bicyclic residue of 5 rather than the hydrophobic aromatic phenyl group provides a unique observation in aqueous host-guest chemistry and corroborates the pronounced spherical shape affinity of CX4.     

Mechanism of host-guest complexation by cucurbituril

The factors affecting host-guest complexation between the molecular container compound cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) and various guests in aqueous solution are studied, and a detailed complexation mechanism in the presence of cations is derived. The formation of the supramolecular complex is studied in detail for cyclohexylmethylammonium ion as guest. The kinetics and thermodynamics of complexation is monitored by NMR as a function of temperature, salt concentration, and cation size. The binding constants and the ingression rate constants decrease with increasing salt concentration and cation-binding constant, in agreement with a competitive binding of the ammonium site of the guest and the metal cation with the ureido carbonyl portals of CB6. Studies as a function of guest size indicate that the effective container volume of the CB6 cavity is approximately 105 A(3). It is suggested that larger guests are excluded for two reasons: a high activation barrier for ingression imposed by the tight CB6 portals and a destabilization of the complex due to steric repulsion inside. For example, in the case of the nearly spherical azoalkane homologues 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (DBH, volume ca. 96 A(3)) and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO, volume ca. 110 A(3)), the former forms the CB6 complex promptly with a sizable binding constant (1300 M(-1)), while the latter does not form a complex even after several months at optimized complexation conditions. Molecular mechanics calculations are performed for several CB6/guest complexes. A qualitative agreement is found between experimental and calculated activation energies for ingression as a function of both guest size and state of protonation. The potential role of constrictive binding by CB6 is discussed.     

Biomolecular and Supramolecular Kinetics in the Submicrosecond Time Range: the Fluorazophore Approach

Fluorophores based on the azo chromophore 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene, referred to as fluorazophores, display an exceedingly long fluorescence lifetime and undergo quenching upon contact with efficient hydrogen or electron donors. These photophysical and photochemical properties allow several uncommon applications to biomolecular and supramolecular kinetic studies in the submicrosecond time range. Examples for kinetics of host–guest complexation, end-to-end contact formation in polypeptides, and lateral diffusion in membrane models are described. Principal requirements for these types of kinetic measurements and the dependence of the kinetics of diffusion-controlled reactions on the dimensionality of the system are discussed.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of novel dimeric fullerenes incorporated in a 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene framework

Novel dimeric fullerenes incorporated in a 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene framework, with and without direct inter-fullerene-cage bonds, were synthesized and fully characterized spectroscopically; the electronic communication between the two fullerene cages was clarified by differential pulse voltammetry.     

Noncovalent Modulation of Chemoselectivity in the Gas Phase Leads to a Switchover in Reaction Type from Heterolytic to Homolytic to Electrocyclic Cleavage

In the gas phase, thermal activation of supramolecular assemblies such as host–guest complexes leads commonly to noncovalent dissociation into the individual components. Chemical reactions, for example of encapsulated guest molecules, are only found in exceptional cases. As observed by mass spectrometry, when 1-amino-methyl-2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBOA) is complexed by the macrocycle β-cyclodextrin, its protonated complex undergoes collision-induced dissociation into its components, the conventional reaction pathway. Inside the macrocyclic cavity of cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), a competitive chemical reaction of monoprotonated DBOA takes place upon thermal activation, namely a stepwise homolytic covalent bond cleavage with the elimination of N₂, while the doubly protonated CB7⋅DBOA complex undergoes an inner-phase elimination of ethylene, a concerted, electrocyclic ring-opening reaction. These chemical reaction pathways stand in contrast to the gas-phase chemistry of uncomplexed monoprotonated DBOA, for which an elimination of NH₃ predominates upon collision-induced activation, as a heterolytic bond cleavage reaction. The combined results, which can be rationalized in terms of organic-chemical reaction mechanisms and density-function theoretical calculations, demonstrate that chemical reactions in the gas phase can be steered chemoselectively through noncovalent interactions.     

Triple molecular recognition as a directing element in the formation of host-guest complexes with p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene and beta-cyclodextrin

We have investigated a mixture consisting of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (CX4), beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (1) and its bridgehead-substituted derivative (2) in the absence and presence of Zn(2+). In the absence of Zn(2+), four equally populated host-guest complexes exist in solution, as projected from their comparable binding constants (ca. 1000 M(-1)). However, upon the addition of Zn(2+), the formation of a ternary complex, CX4 x 1 x Zn(2+), is induced by a synergy of three supramolecular interactions (Coulombic, hydrophobic, and weak metal-ligand bonding). Concomitantly, the CX4 x 2 complex is destabilized by competitive binding, which drives the system toward a state where only two complexes predominate: namely, CX4 x 1 x Zn(2+) and beta-CD x 2. Known binding constants for the multiple equilibria were used to model the complex system, and the results were consistent with experimental data obtained from 1D and 2D NMR as well as induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectroscopy. The combined results demonstrate how a subtle interplay between cooperative and competitive binding can be exploited to design a complex multicomponent sorting system.     

Selective fluorescence quenching of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene by nucleotides

[reaction: see text] The fluorescence quenching of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) by nucleotides has been studied. The quenching mechanism was analyzed on the basis of deuterium isotope effects, tendencies for exciplex formation, and the quenching efficiency in the presence of a molecular container (cucurbit[7]uril). Exciplex-induced quenching appears to prevail for adenosine, cytidine, and uridine, while hydrogen abstraction becomes competitive for thymidine and guanosine. Compared to other fluorescent probes, DBO responds very selectively to the type of nucleotide.     

“Inverted” Solvent Effect on Charge Transfer in the Excited State

Faster in cyclohexane than in acetonitrile is the fluorescence quenching of the azoalkane 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) by amines and sulfides. Although this photoreaction is induced by charge transfer (CT; see picture) and exciplexes are formed, the increase in the dipole moment of the exciplex is not large enough to offset the solvent stabilization of the excited reactants, and an “inverted” solvent effect results.     

Inclusion of neutral guests by water-soluble macrocyclic hosts – a comparative thermodynamic investigation with cyclodextrins,calixarenes and cucurbiturils

Abstract

The driving forces of association between three different families of macrocycles as hosts, namely cyclodextrins (α-, β-, and γ-), p-sulfonatocalix[n]arenes (n = 4–6) as well as cucurbit[n]urils (n = 6–8), and three different bicyclic azoalkane homologues as guests, namely 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (DBH), 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) as well as 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.3]non-2-ene (DBN), were examined by means of calorimetric titrations, NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation, all in aqueous solution. The small, spherical and uncharged guests preferably bind inside the cavities of the medium sized hosts. The inclusion complexation by β-cyclodextrin and p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene shows medium binding affinities (millimolar), while cucurbit[7]uril macrocycle shows very strong binding (micromolar). For all types of macrocycles, the complex formation is enthalpically driven (ΔH° < 0), accompanied by slightly unfavourable entropy changes (ΔS° < 0). The results are discussed in terms of the flexibility of the hosts, the hydrophobic character of their cavities and the release of high-energy water upon binding, and generalised by including two additional guests, the ketones cyclopentanone and (+)-camphor.     

Chiral resolution through precipitation of diastereomeric capsules in the form of 2:1 beta-cyclodextrin-guest complexes

Preferential precipitation of one enantiomer from a racemic mixture of a camphanate ester of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene was induced by the formation of diasteromeric 2:1 beta-cyclodextrin-guest complexes. The precipitate was enriched with the (-)-enantiomer and the supernatant solution with the (+)-form of a camphanate ester, which was quantitatively analyzed in terms of differential binding constants and intrinsic solubilities of the 2:1 complexes. The enantiomeric excess in the precipitate was determined as 30 +/- 3% by induced circular dichroism.     

Solvent polarity affects H atom abstractions from C-H donors

Kinetic solvent effects on hydrogen abstractions involving C-H donors (dienes, ethers, alkylbenzenes) have been corroborated by experiment and theory (UB3LYP/6-311++G**, polarized continuum model). To single out the effect of solvent polarity, rate constants for scavenging of the cumyloxyl radical and fluorescence quenching of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene were obtained in binary aprotic mixtures of ethylacetate and acetonitrile. Polar solvents result in a selective stabilization of the reactants (see TOC graphic), which results in slower rate constants.     

Kinetic solvent effects on hydrogen abstraction reactions

Kinetic solvent effects on hydrogen abstractions, namely, acceleration in nonpolar solvents, have been presumed to be restricted to O-H hydrogen donors. We demonstrate that also abstractions from C-H and even Sn-H bonds by cumyloxyl radicals and n,pi*-excited 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene are fastest in the gas phase and nonpolar solvents but slowest in acetonitrile. Accordingly, solvent effects on hydrogen abstractions are more general, presumably due to stabilization of the reactive oxygen or nitrogen species in polar solvents.     

Interaction between Exocyclic s-cis-Butadiene and Homoconjugated Functions. Preparation and Diels-Alder Reactivity of Remotely Substituted 2,3-Dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]octanes

The preparations of 5,6-dimethylidene-2exo-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanol ( 8 ), its endo isomer 9 , 5,6-dimethylidene-2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone ( 10 ) and 2 exo, 3 exo-epoxy-5,6dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]octane ( 11 ) are described. The kinetics of their cycloaddition to tetracyanoethylene has been measured in toluene at 25° together with those of 2,3-dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]octane ( 7 ) and 5,6-dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (12). The effects of remote substitution on the Diels-Alder reactivity of 2,3-dimethyl idenebicyclo[2.2.2]octanes are compared with those observed in the 2,3-dimethylidenenorbornane series ( 1–6 ).     

Diels-alder reaction of 2-chloro-2-nitrosopropane with 1,3-cyclohexadiene

3-(2-Chloropropyl)-2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene and 2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene hydrochloride have been prepared by cycloaddition of 2-chloro-2-nitrosopropane to 1,3-cyclohexadiene and their structure determined by nmr, using a ¹H nmr shift reagent.     

One-bond, two-bond, and three-bond mechanisms in thermal deazetizations of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-enes, trans-azomethane, and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene

The thermal deazetizations of a series of substituted 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-enes and some simpler model systems have been studied using the UB3LYP/6-31G(d) and CASPT2 methods, with a variety of active spaces. A fused cyclopropane exerts unique control on the mechanism and rate of deazetization. When the Walsh sigma-orbitals are appropriately aligned in an exo orientation, a pericyclic three-bond cleavage occurs. For an endo-fused cyclopropane, sequential one-bond cleavages occur to take advantage of orbital overlap with the Walsh orbitals. In systems lacking strongly directing substituents, concerted two-bond cleavage pathways to form diradical intermediates have a small enthalpic advantage (DeltaH(0K)++) over sequential one-bond cleavage pathways. However, the one-bond mechanism has an entropic advantage over the two-bond; consequently, at 400-500 K where decomposition occurs, one-bond and two-bond diradical cleavages both occur simultaneously. The thermal decompositions of trans-azomethane and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene are also studied, and the results are compared to extensive computational studies in the literature. Comparisons of UB3LYP, CASSCF, and CASPT2 surfaces for these reactions are made.     

Natural abundance nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance spectral studies on selected donors

The natural abundance 15N-NMR chemical shifts of selected aliphatic amines, 2-substituted pyridine type compounds, bialicyclic tertiary amines have been measured as a function of the nature of the solvent. In the case of cyclic aliphatic amines, like piperidine, morpholine, piperazine, thiomorpholine, the nitrogen is more shielded in concentrated solution compared to that in dilute solution whereas in the hydrogen bonding and protonating solvents there is a prominent deshielding. 2-Substituted pyridines studied can be further divided into four sub groups. The site of hydrogen bonding and protonation in 2-amino, 2-hydroxy and 2-mercapto pyridines have been conclusively proved from the 15N-NMR chemical shifts and the well-known tautomeric forms of the above compounds. Similarly in the case of 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine and 2-(3-thienyl)pyridine, the site of donation has been proved as the nitrogen of the pyridine ring in both the compounds. In a similar manner, the site of hydrogen bonding and protonation in two individual compounds 2-anilinopyridine and 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole have also been established. Among the bialicyclic amines, 1,2-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) behaved differently from the other two compounds. In both 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN), it was possible to show that N1-nitrogen in both the compounds is the site of donation. The effect of the second donor site on the 15N-NMR chemical shift, the site of donation in the selected compounds and some typical compounds reported in literature have been presented and discussed.     

Thermal reactions of 7-d- and 8-d-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-enes

The gas phase thermal reactions exhibited by bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene and 7-d and 8-d analogues at 300 degrees C have been followed kinetically through GC and 2H NMR spectroscopic analyses. In contrast to the pattern of transformations exhibited by bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-ene and deuterium-labeled analogues, no reactions initiated by C1-C6 bond cleavage are seen, epimerization at C8 is much faster than [1,3] shifts leading to bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene, and the ratio of rate constants for [1,3] carbon migration with inversion versus migration with retention is approximately 1.4. Homolysis of C1-C8 to give a conformationally flexible diradical intermediate having a relatively long lifetime and multiple options for further reaction (re-formation of C1-C8 with or without net epimerization, fragmentation to 1,3-cyclohexadiene and ethylene, migration to the original C3 with inversion or retention) accords well with the observations. Clearly, orbital symmetry control does not govern stereochemistry for the [1,3] sigmatropic carbon shifts.     

Thermotropic homopolyester. I. Synthesis and characterization of homopolyesters containing the mesogenic unit,bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene

Homopolyesters based on bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene as a mesogenic group were prepared and characterized. The use of bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene in these homopolyesters lowered the symmetry of the resulting systems enough to lead to the observation of melting behavior.     

The average structures of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene

The average molecular structures of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] oct-2-ene have been determined by electron diffraction in the gas phase. The structural parameters were obtained by applying a least squares analysis on the molecular scattering intensity functions. For 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene, C_s symmetry was assumed in calculating the geometry of the molecule. The parameters thus determined are: N₃=N₂ = 1.221 Å, N₃- C₄ = 1.445 Å, C₄-C₅ = 1.538 Å, C-H_(ave.) = 1.112 Å, < C₁N₂N₃ = 116.3°, < N₃C₄C₅ = 105.2°, < C₁C₄C₅ = 71.5°, C₄-C₇ = 1.547 Å, C₅-C₆ = 1.530 Å, < C₁C₇C₄ = 108.0°. For 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene, C_2vsymmetry was assumed. The geometrical parameters are: N₃ = N₂ = 1.243 Å, N₃-C₄ = 1.473 Å, C₄-C₅ = 1.550 Å, C₅-C₆ = 1.516 Å, C-H_(ave.) = 1.119 Å,< C₁N₂N₃ = 115.1°, < N₃C₄C₅ = 109.1°, < C₆C₁C₄ = 71.6°.     

Distance distributions of short polypeptides recovered by fluorescence resonance energy transfer in the 10 A domain

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between tryptophan (Trp) as donor and 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (Dbo) as acceptor was studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The unique feature of this FRET pair is its exceptionally short F?rster radius (10 A), which allows one to recover distance distributions in very short structureless peptides. The technique was applied to Trp-(GlySer)n-Dbo-NH2 peptides with n = 0-10, for which the average probe/quencher distance ranged between 8.7 and 13.7 A experimentally (in propylene glycol, analysis according to wormlike chain model) and 8.6-10.2 A theoretically (for n = 0-6, GROMOS96 molecular dynamics simulations). The larger FRET efficiency in steady-state compared to time-resolved fluorescence experiments was attributed to a static quenching component, suggesting that a small but significant part (ca. 10%) of the conformations are already in van der Waals contact when excitation occurs.