Aromatically functionalized cyclic tricholate macrocycles: aggregation, transmembrane pore formation, flexibility, and cooperativity

The aggregation of macrocyclic oligocholates with introverted hydrophilic groups and aromatic side chains was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and liposome leakage assays. Comparison between the solution and the membrane phase afforded insight into the solvophobically driven aggregation. The macrocycles stacked over one another in lipid membranes to form transmembrane nanopores, driven by a strong tendency of the water molecules in the interior of the amphiphilic macrocycles to aggregate in a nonpolar environment. The aromatic side chains provided spectroscopic signatures for stacking, as well as additional driving force for the aggregation. Smaller, more rigid macrocycles stacked better than larger, more flexible ones because the cholate building blocks in the latter could rotate outward and diminish the conformation needed for the water-templated hydrophobic stacking. The acceptor-acceptor interactions among naphthalenediimide (NDI) groups were more effective than the pyrene-NDI donor-acceptor interactions in promoting the transmembrane pore formation of the oligocholate macrocycles.     

Synthesis and self-association properties of diethynylbenzene macrocycles

We synthesized diethynylbenzene macrocycles (DBMs), cyclic oligomers of diethynylbenzene, having functional groups in the periphery of the macrocyclic framework and investigated their self-association properties in solution resulting from π-π stacking interaction. The tetrakis-DBM having hexadecyl ester groups showed dimerization behavior not only in chloroform-d, but also in o-dichlorobenzene-d₄.     

Host-guest interactions in a series of self-assembled As2L2Cl2 macrocycles

The reaction of AsCl3 with H2L (where L = a rigid dithiolate) results in the self-assembly of As2L2Cl2 supramolecular macrocycles. For ligands 4,4'-bis(mercaptomethyl)biphenyl (H2), 4,4'-bis(mercaptomethyl)-trans-stilbene (H2), and 1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis(mercaptomethyl)benzene (H2), the macrocyclic cavities of the resulting assemblies are large enough to host aromatic solvent molecules, as revealed by single crystal X-ray structures of the inclusion complexes. As2L2Cl(2) macrocycles form in solution as a mixture of diastereomers, but the diastereomers can be selectively crystallized and separated. Crystallization of syn- or anti-As(2)3(2)Cl2 can be controlled using host-guest interactions by the prudent choice of crystallization solvents. anti-As(2)3(2)Cl2 crystallizes exclusively from chloroform and benzene, while a [(syn-As(2)(2)Cl(2))(2).p-xylene] dimer crystallizes from p-xylene and a mixture of [(syn-As(2)3(2)Cl(2))(anti-As(2)3(2)Cl2) x toluene] and [(syn-As(2)3(2)Cl2)2 x toluene] dimers crystallize from toluene.     

From static to dynamic: escaping kinetic traps in hydrazone-based dynamic combinatorial libraries

Thermodynamic control over kinetically-trapped mixtures of hydrazone-based macrocycles is achieved by addition of an aromatic monohydrazide to generate dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs) of linear and macrocyclic oligomers.     

The interactions of metal extractant reagents: VI. Aggregation equilibria of Cyanex 302 and Span 80 in toluene solutions

The aggregation equilibria of the commercial extractant Cyanex 302 in toluene have been studied by vapor pressure osmometry (VPO) at different temperatures. The experimental data, treated both graphically and numerically by means of the CPMIN program, can be explained by assuming the formation of a dimer species of the active component bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)thiophosphinic acid for which the aggregation constants have been determined at 28, 40 and 50°C. The influence of other components of the commercial reagent in the aggregation equilibria have also been considered. The interaction between Cyanex 302 and the non-ionic surfactant Span 80 in toluene has also been investigated by VPO and the experimental results interpreted by the formation of mixed species between both reagents.     

一类含联二萘结构的新型聚芳醚酮类刚性大环及其二聚体的合成与表征

通过一定的分子设计,利用一种全新的双酚单体(4-氯代苯基对苯二酚)和含有联二萘结构的双氟三聚体(BNDIF)经一步法合成环状齐聚物,制得了一类含有氯代苯基侧基和联二萘结构的新型聚芳醚酮类刚性大环;并通过氯苯基的催化偶联反应得到了该类刚性大环的二聚体(一类含有2个联二萘结构的新型结构双环齐聚物).利用MALDI-TOFMS和1HNMR及H-HCOSY分析,证明了目标产物的结构.     

Marked effect of aromatic solvent on unfolding rate of helical ethynylhelicene oligomer

Optically active acyclic ethynylhelicene oligomers were synthesized in high yields by a two-directional method involving Sonogashira coupling and deprotection. Their CD spectra in chloroform exhibited large differences between the oligomers with less than seven helicenes and their higher homologues, which indicated the formation of helical structures for the latter and random coil structures for the former. The helical heptamer gradually unfolded to a random coil structure in chloroform at room temperature. The unfolding rate was examined by CD in several aromatic solvents as well, and the rate constant k was found to be highly dependent on the type of aromatic substituent: k differed by seven orders of magnitude between iodobenzene and trifluoromethylbenzene. Several features of the rates are notable: The reaction rates in halobenzenes were in the order of iodobenzene > bromobenzene > chlorobenzene > benzene > fluorobenzene > m-difluorobenzene, those in alkylbenzenes were styrene > phenylacetylene > ethylbenzene > toluene > benzene, and those in heteroatom-substituted arenes were thioanisole > benzonitrile > anisole > ethyl benzoate > benzene > trifluoromethylbenzene. The log k values exhibited good correlation with the absolute hardness, eta, of the arenes, and higher unfolding rates were observed in the soft arenes. Vapor pressure osmometry studies indicated that the helical structure of the heptamer is dimeric in benzene, fluorobenzene, and trifluoromethylbenzene, while the random coil structure of the heptamer is monomeric in chloroform and toluene. When a chloroform solution of the random coil structure was concentrated to a small volume, the helical structure could be regenerated.     

Syntheses and properties of chiral pentahomothiazacalix[3]arenes

Chiral calixarene analogs incorporating an aminoethanethiol unit such as L-cysteine into their rings were prepared. Conformational analysis of the macrocycles by using ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectroscopy revealed that their preferred conformation was a cone, which was more stable in chloroform than in toluene. The introduction of an aminoethanethiol moiety into the macrocyclic ring caused ring fluctuation, however, the carboxylic acid derivative was a highly rigid structure in the cone form. The ¹H nmr and circular dichroism spectra of the macrocycles showed the existence of chirality of the phenol-formaldehyde unit, which was induced by the chirality of the cysteine moiety.     

Hydrogen bond-assisted macrocyclic oligocholate transporters in lipid membranes

Three macrocyclic oligocholates containing a carboxyl group, a guanidinium ion, and a Cbz-protected amine, respectively, were studied as membrane transporters for hydrophilic molecules. To permeate glucose across lipid bilayers, the macrocycles stacked over one another to form a transmembrane nanopore, driven by a strong tendency of the water molecules in the internal cavities of the amphiphilic macrocycles to aggregate in a nonpolar environment. To transport larger guests such as carboxyfluorescein (CF), the macrocycles acted as carriers to shuttle the guest across the membrane. Hydrogen-bonds between the side chains of the macrocycles strongly affected the transport properties. Surprisingly, the carboxyl group turned out to be far more effective at assisting the aggregation of the oligocholate macrocycles in the membrane than the much stronger carboxylate-guanidinium salt bridge, likely due to competition from the phosphate groups of the lipids for the guanidinium.     

Hydrogen-bonded aryl amide macrocycles: synthesis, single-crystal structures, and stacking interactions with fullerenes and coronene

Six hydrogen-bonded shape-persistent aryl amide macrocycles have been prepared by using one-step and (for some) step-by-step approaches. From the one-step reactions, 3 + 3, 2 + 2, or even 1 + 1 macrocycles were obtained in modest to good yields. The reaction selectivity was highly dependent on the structures of the precursors. The X-ray structural analysis of two methoxyl-bearing macrocycles revealed intramolecular hydrogen bonding and weak intermolecular stacking interaction; no column-styled stacking structures were observed. The 1H (DOSY) NMR, UV-vis, and fluorescent experiments indicated that the new rigidified macrocycles complex fullerenes or coronene in chloroform through intermolecular pi-stacking interaction. The association constants of the corresponding 1:1 complexes have been determined if the stacking was able to cause important fluorescent quenching of the macrocycles or coronene.     

Side chain effect on the double helix formation of ethynylhelicene oligomers

Three series of ethynylhelicene oligomers with different side chains were synthesized: (P)-bD-n (n = 2-6) with branched alkyloxycarbonyl side chains; (P)-S-n (n = 2-7) with decylsulfanyl side chains; and (P)-DF-n (n = 4, 6, 8, 10) with alternating decyloxycarbonyl and perfluorooctyl side chains. The double helix formation of these side chain derivatives was compared to that of (P)-D-n with decyloxycarbonyl side chains. CD, UV-vis, and vapor pressure osmometry (VPO) studies showed that (P)-bD-n formed double helices as well as (P)-D-n. CD studies in trifluoromethylbenzene at different temperatures and concentrations indicated that the stability of the aggregate of (P)-bD-6 was similar to that of (P)-D-6. Bulkiness of side chains had little effect on aggregation, which indicated that π-π interactions of the aromatic moiety were essential for double helix formation. (P)-S-n were random coils in all solvents examined except in trifluoromethylbenzene. Whereas (P)-D-7 formed a double helix at 1 × 10(-3) M in toluene, (P)-S-7 was a random coil. This result indicated that the double helix forming ability of (P)-S-n was substantially lower than that of (P)-D-n. Based on the previous observation that (P)-F-n formed a more stable double helix than (P)-D-n, the order of stability may be summarized as follows: (P)-F-n > (P)-D-n and (P)-bD-n >(P)-S-n. The lower stability of (P)-S-n compared to that of (P)-F-n was ascribed to the softness and/or the electron-rich nature at the m-phenylene moiety. (P)-DF-n did not form a stable double helix. It was speculated that a regular alternating arrangement of soft/hard or electron-rich/deficient moieties is important for stable double helix formation. Side chains of ethynylhelicene oligomers can play significant roles in determining the stability of double helices.     

Aggregation and solubility behavior of asphaltenes and their subfractions

Asphaltenes from four different crude oils (Arab Heavy, B6, Canadon Seco, and Hondo) were fractionated in mixtures of heptane and toluene and analyzed chemically, by vapor pressure osmometry (VPO), and by small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Solubility profiles of the asphaltenes and their subfractions indicated strong cooperative asphaltene interactions of a particular subfraction that is polar and hydrogen bonding. This subfraction had lower H/C ratios and modestly higher N, V, Ni, and Fe contents than the less polar and more soluble subfraction of asphaltenes. VPO and SANS studies indicated that the less soluble subfractions formed aggregates that were considerably larger than the more soluble subfractions. In general, asphaltene aggregate size increased with decreasing solvent aromaticity up to the solubility limit, beyond which the aggregate size decreased with heptane addition. The presence of a low wavevector Q feature in the scattering curves at 25 degrees C indicated that the individual aggregates were flocculating; however, the intensity of the feature was diminished upon heating of the samples to 80 degrees C. The solubility mechanism for Canadon Seco asphaltenes, the largest aggregate formers, appears to be dominated by aromatic pi-bonding interactions due to their low H/C ratio and low nitrogen content. B6 and Hondo asphaltenes formed similar-sized aggregates in heptol and the solubility mechanism is most likely driven by polar interactions due to their relatively high H/C ratios and high nitrogen contents. Arab Heavy, the least polar asphaltene, had a H/C ratio similar to Canadon Seco but formed the smallest aggregates in heptol. The enhancement in polar and pi-bonding interactions for the less soluble subfraction indicated by elemental analysis is reflected by the aggregate size from SANS. The less soluble asphaltenes contribute the majority of species responsible for aggregation and likely cause many petroleum production problems such as pipeline deposition and water-in-oil emulsion stabilization.     

Synthesis,isolation, characterization,and properties of small-size aromatic macrocycles for poly(arylene ether ketone)s

A series of macrocyclic arylene ether ketone oligomers from 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone, 2,4′-difluorobenzophenone and 1,3-bis(4′-fluorobenzoyl)benzene were prepared via aromatic nucleophilic substitution according to the pseudo-high dilution principle. Small-size aromatic macrocycles were isolated by silica gel column chromatography with cyclohexane/ethyl acetate as eluent. The chemical structures of these small-size macrocycles were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF–MS), IR, ¹⁹F-,¹H-, and ¹³C-NMR, and GPC techniques. Molecular chain length and steric hindrance of monomers affected the product compositions. The NMR results show that there are different chemical shifts in the different ring-size macrocyclic poly arylene ether ketones in spite of having the same repeating unit. The crystallizability and thermal properties of small-size arylene ether ketone macrocycles were also investigated by DSC, WAXD, TGA, and the results suggest that the crystallization and thermal properties are related to their intrinsic chemical structures. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1957–1967, 1999     

Synthesis and ring‐opening polymerization of macrocyclic aryl ketone oligomers

A series of macrocyclic aryl ketone oligomers were prepared by the reaction of phthaloyl dichloride or isophthaloyl dichloride with various bridge‐linking electron‐rich aromatic hydrocarbons 3a–d under pseudo‐high dilution conditions in the presence of Lewis base via Friedel–Crafts acylation reaction. Detailed structural characterization of these oligomers confirmed the cyclic nature by a combination of MALDI‐TOF‐MS, GPC, and ¹H NMR analyses. These cyclic ketone oligomers have high solubility in organic solvents and the cyclic oligomers derived from phthaloyl dichloride are amorphous. The cyclic ketone oligomers readily undergo anionic ring‐opening polymerization in the melt by using potassium 4,4′‐biphenoxide as the initiator, producing linear, high molecular weight poly(ether ketone)s. Moreover, the isothermal chemorheology of the ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic oligomers 4a and 4b was also investigated. The results show that the shear viscosity of the molten reactive mixture is lower than 10 Pa · S at a constant shear rate of 0.05 rad/sec and increases slowly in the initial stage of ring‐opening polymerization. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shape-persistent arylenevinylene macrocycles (AVMs) prepared via acyclic diene metathesis macrocyclization (ADMAC)

Shape-persistent arylenevinylene macrocycles (AVMs) were successfully prepared in one step from readily available aromatic diene monomers through olefin metathesis in good yields. (1)H NMR, UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence studies revealed the aggregation behavior of the obtained macrocycles. SEM characterization showed AVM nanofibril formation.     

Synthesis and molecular orbital calculations of some benzo-substituted macrocyclic diamides and their corresponding macrocyclic dithiodiamides

A new series of benzo-substituted macrocyclic diamides were prepared by nucleophilic reaction of the appropriate dipotassium salts with the corresponding bis(halo) compounds in refluxing DMF. Treatment of the novel macrocyclic diamides with Lawesson's reagent in refluxing toluene led to the formation of the corresponding macrocyclic dithiodiamides in good yields. Molecular orbital calculations were performed at the semi-empirical level AM1 on some of the studied macrocycles. Thermodynamic functions show that the most stable structures in gas phase that have internal amine groups are less in energy than the other ones that have internal carbonyl groups. The solvent polarity does not appreciably affect the stability trend of the three conformers of each compound due to their comparable dipole moments. A complete and thorough survey of proton affinity (PA) and proton detachment energies (PDE) on each of the possible sites has been performed.     

3+3]Cycloalkyne dimers linked by an azo group: a stable cis-azo compound forms polymeric aggregates by nonplanar pi-pi interactions

We previously reported that the structure of the linker moiety controlled intramolecular and bimolecular aggregation of [3+3]cycloalkyne oligomers, which are cyclic acetylene derivatives containing helicenes. Here, novel [3+3]cycloalkyne dimers linked by the azo group are synthesized, and aggregation behaviors are studied, which turned out to be considerably different. The trans- and cis-azo compounds were synthesized by the oxidative coupling of a [3+3]cycloalkyne amine derivative, and the stereochemistry was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy. 1H NMR, CD, gel permeation chromatography analysis, and vapor pressure osmometry in chloroform revealed that the trans-isomer forms a strong and selective bimolecular aggregate. The cis-isomer forms a trimolecular aggregate at a concentration below 1 mM and a polymeric aggregate at above 1 mM. Unlike known diaryl azo compounds, these azo isomers do not interconvert when subjected to heating or irradiation. In contrast, a model compound lacking the cyclic helicene structure isomerizes readily.     

Synthesis, structure, and conformation of aza[1n]metacyclophanes

N-Benzyl substituted aza[1n]metacyclophanes (n = 4, 6, 8, and 10) were prepared in overall 40% isolated yields via Pd-catalyzed aminations. Analyses of the reaction mixtures showed that aza[14]metacyclophane and the related polymer were the primary products ( approximately 60% overall yield); aza[1n]metacyclophanes up to n = 14 and linear oligomers with up to 20 nitrogen atoms (with at least three types of end groups) were detected. Macrocyclic structures for n = 4, 6, and 10 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. 1,3-Alternate (D(2d)) and 1,3,5-alternate (S(6)) conformations in solution on NMR time scale at low temperatures were found for macrocycles with n = 4 and n = 6, respectively; the barrier for ring inversion was considerably lower for the larger macrocycle.     

Synthesis and self-association of an imine-containing m-phenylene ethynylene macrocycle

The purpose of this study was to test the suitability of the imine bond as a structural unit within the backbone of phenylene ethynylene macrocycles and oligomers by determining the ability of m-phenylene ethynylene macrocycle 1 to form pi-stacked aggregates in both solution and the solid state. Macrocycle 1, with two imine bonds, was synthesized in high yield from diamine 4 and dialdehyde 5. The imine-forming macrocyclization step was carried out under a variety of conditions, with the best yield obtained simply by refluxing the reactants in methanol. The self-association behavior of 1 in various solvents was probed by (1)H NMR. The association constants (K(E)) in acetone-d(6) and tetrahydrofuran-d(8) were determined by fitting the concentration-dependent chemical shifts with indefinite self-association models. The results showed that solvophobically driven intermolecular pi-pi stacking could be preserved in the imine-containing m-phenylene ethynylene macrocycles. Interestingly, in acetone macrocycle 1 exhibited a stronger tendency to form a dimer rather than higher aggregates. We postulate that this behavior may be due to electrostatic attraction between dipolar imine groups. The solid-state packing of 1 was studied by wide- and small-angle X-ray powder diffraction (WAXD and SAXD). Bragg reflections of 1 were consistent with a hexagonal packing motif similar to our previous studies on m-phenylene ethynylene macrocycles that formed columnar liquid crystal phases.     

Synthesis and ring‐opening polymerization of co‐cyclic(aromatic aliphatic disulfide) oligomers

An effective approach was presented for the synthesis of co‐cyclic(aromatic aliphatic disulfide) oligomers by catalytic oxidation of aromatic and aliphatic dithiols with oxygen in the presence of a copper‐amine catalyst. The aromatic dithiols can be 4,4′‐oxybis(benzenethiol), 4,4′‐diphenyl dithiol, 4,4′‐diphenylsulfone dithiol. The aliphatic dithiols can be 1,2‐ethanedithiol, 2,3‐butanedithiol, 1,6‐hexane dithiol. The co‐cyclic(aromatic aliphatic disulfide) oligomers were characterized by gradient HPLC, MALDI‐TOF‐MS, GPC, ¹H‐NMR, TGA, and DSC techniques. The glass transition temperatures of these co‐cyclics ranged from ?11.3 to 56.6°C. In general, these co‐cyclic(aromatic aliphatic disulfide) oligomers are soluble in common organic solvents, such as CHCl₃, THF, DMF, DMAc. These co‐cyclic oligomers readily underwent free radical ring‐opening polymerization in the melt at 180°C, producing linear, tough and high molecular weight poly(aromatic aliphatic disulfide)s. The glass transition temperatures of these polymers ranged from ?3.7 to 107.8°C that are higher than those of corresponding co‐cyclics. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.