Enhanced photoreduction of water catalyzed by a cucurbit[8]uril-secured platinum dimer

A cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-secured platinum terpyridyl chloride dimer was used as a photosensitizer and hydrogen-evolving catalyst for the photoreduction of water. Volumes of produced hydrogen were up to 25 and 6 times larger than those obtained with the corresponding free and cucurbit[7]uril-bound platinum monomer, respectively, at equal Pt concentration. The thermodynamics of the proton-coupled electron transfer from the Pt(ii)–Pt(ii) dimer to the corresponding Pt(ii)–Pt(iii)–H hydride key intermediate, as quantified by density functional theory, suggest that CB[8] secures the Pt(ii)–Pt(ii) dimer in a particularly reactive conformation that promotes hydrogen formation.

The cucurbit[8]uril macrocycle can secure a platinum terpyridyl complex into a particularly reactive dimer that catalyzes the photoreduction of water.     

Expected and unexpected photoreactions of 9-(10-)substituted anthracene derivatives in cucurbit[n]uril hosts

By arranging substrates in a “reaction ready” state through noncovalent interactions, supramolecular nanoreactors/catalysts show high selectivity and/or rate acceleration features. Herein, we report the host–guest complexation of 9-(10-)substituted anthracene derivatives (G1–G3) with cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n], n = 8, 10), and the photoreactions of these derivatives in the presence of CB[n] hosts. Both CB[10] and CB[8] showed no obvious effects on the photoreaction of 9,10-disubstituted derivative G1. For G2 and G3, CB[10] operated as either a nanoreactor or catalyst (10%) for the photodimerization of two compounds with high selectivity and high yield. However, although CB[8] formed a 1 : 2 complex with G2, as also observed with CB[10], the photosolvolysis product (9-anthracenemethanol) was obtained quantitatively after photoirradiation of the CB[8]·2G2 complex. This unexpected photosolvolysis was rationalized by a plausible catalytic cycle in which anthracene acts as a photoremovable protecting group (PPG) and the carbonium ion intermediate is stabilized by CB[8].

The photodimerization of 9-substituted anthracene derivative was tremendously promoted by a catalytic amount of cucurbit[10]uril (CB[10]) in water. While CB[8] exclusively induced the photosolvolysis of the anthracene derivative.     

Comparative macrocycle binding of the anticancer drug phenanthriplatin by cucurbit[<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>]urils, β-cyclodextrin and <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-sulfonatocalix[4]arene: a <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR and molecular modelling study

The potential anticancer drug phenanthriplatin, [cis-(NH₃)₂(phenanthridine)Cl]⁺, forms supramolecular complexes with cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n], n?=?7 or 8), β-cyclodextrin and para-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (sCX[4]) as determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The results show that cucurbit[7]uril binds over the long arm of the drug, where hydrophobic effects and two hydrogen bonds stabilise binding. For cucurbit[8]uril, two phenanthriplatin molecules can bind simultaneously within the macrocycle’s cavity. Unfortunately, Na⁺ was able to displace the drug from both CB[7] and CB[8] making the macrocycles unsuitable as delivery vehicles for phenanthriplatin. Drug binding to β-cyclodextrin occurs at the portal of the macrocycle with no part of the phenanthriplatin located within the cavity. Phenanthriplatin binding to sCX[4] occurs in a 2-to-1, macrocycle-to-drug, ratio with the formation of a capsule-like complex where each sCX[4] binds over opposing ends of the drug. The results indicate that para-sulfonatocalix[4]arene is the only suitable macrocycle of the four studied for further research into phenanthriplatin drug delivery.     

Highly stereoselective photocyclodimerization of alpha-cyclodextrin-appended anthracene mediated by gamma-cyclodextrin and cucurbit[8]uril: a dramatic steric effect operating outside the binding site

Photocyclodimerization of alpha-cyclodextrin (CD)-appended anthracene was studied in the presence of gamma-CD and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) hosts to manipulate the stereodifferentiating photoreaction occurring inside the cavity by the bulky attachment located outside. The gamma-CD-mediated photodimerization afforded the head-to-tail photodimers in 98% combined yield, in particular, the syn-head-to-tail photodimer of 91% ee in 68% yield, which are much greater than 32% ee and 44% yield obtained with unmodified anthracene carboxylate. The use of CB[8] also led to a striking inversion of the head-to-tail/head-to-head selectivity, affording exclusively the head-to-head photodimers in 99% combined yield.     

Light-driven release of cucurbit[8]uril from a bivalent cage

Temporal control over supramolecular systems has great potential for the modulation of binding and assembly events, such as providing orthogonal control over protein activity. Especially light controlled triggering provides unique entries for supramolecular systems to interface in a controlled manner with enzymes. Here we report on the light-induced release of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) from a bivalent cage molecule and its subsequent activation of a proteolytic enzyme, caspase-9, that itself is unresponsive to light. Central to the design is the bivalent binding of the cage with high affinity to CB[8], 100-fold stronger than the UV-inactivated products. The affinity switching occurs in the (sub-)micromolar concentration regime, matching the concentration characteristics required for dimerizing and activating caspase-9 by CB[8]. The light-responsive caged CB[8] concept presented offers a novel platform for tuning and application of switchable cucurbiturils and beyond.

Photo-switchable supramolecular systems offer unique entries to control biomolecular process, as illustrated via the light-induced release of cucurbit[8]uril from a bivalent cage molecule and its subsequent activation of the caspase-9 enzyme.     

Supramolecular compounds of chloroaquacomplexes [Mo3Q4(H2O)9−x Clx](4−x )+ (Q = S, Se; x = 2, 3, 5) with cucurbit[n]urils

The following adducts of cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[8]uril with triangular cluster chloroaquacomplexes have been prepared and characterized: {[Mo₃S₄(H₂O)₇Cl₂]₂(CB[₆])}Cl₄·13H₂O (I), (H₃O)₂{[Mo₃Se₄×(H₂O)₆Cl₃](CB[6])}Cl₃·3.5H₂O (II) and (H₃O)₂{[Mo₃S₄(H₂O)₄Cl₅](CB[8])}Cl·14H₂O (III). It is shown that the formation of complementary hydrogen bonds in the systems cucurbit[6]uril/[M₃Q₄(H₂O)_9?x Cl_x]^(4?x)+ (x = 1–3) results in a selective isolation of isomers containing chlorine atom in the trans-position to the capping μ₃-ligand. For large x, a selective inclusion of one or another form into the supramolecular compound is also affected by other factors (a system of hydrogen bonds, S?S and S…Cl interactions between cluster complexes, packing effects etc.).     

Cucurbit[8]uril-based inclusion compounds containing iron(II), cobalt(III), and nickel(II) complexes with cyclam and cyclen as guest molecules: Synthesis and crystal structures

New inclusion compounds containing iron(II), cobalt(III), and nickel(II) complexes with the cyclic polyamine ligands cyclam and cyclen in the macrocyclic cavitand cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) were obtained: {trans-[Fe(Cyclam)(CO)(OCHO)]@CB[8]}Cl · 15H₂O, {cis-[Co(Cyclen)(H₂O)Cl]@CB[8]}Cl₂ · 20H₂O, and {cis-[Ni(Cyclen)(H₂O)Cl]@CB[8]}Cl · 12H₂O. According to X-ray diffraction data, the complexes are in the cavity of each CB[8] molecule. The complexes of the above molecular formulas were isolated in the solid state as supramolecular compounds with CB[8] and structurally characterized for the first time.     

Tuning thermal gelling behavior of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide based copolymer through introducing cucurbit[8]uril ternary complex on side-chain

Thermo-gelation polymers have attracted increasing attention over decades. However, rare facile tuning method of sol-gel transition temperature restricted the wider application. Preceding study indicated that supramolecular interactions demonstrated a powerful means to control the structure and property of polymeric materials. Here we designed an N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) based thermo-sensitive copolymer with naphthyl (Np) on its side chain. Positive-charged side-chain ternary complex was formed with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and methylviologen (MV²⁺) via CB[8]-enhanced intermolecular charge-transfer (CT) interaction. Introducing the ternary complex CB[8]/MV²⁺/Np on side-chain altered microstructure of macromolecular chains and led to a strong tendency for thermo gelation. Altering content of CB[8] and MV²⁺ changed content of the positive-charged side-chain ternary complex and varied gelation temperature. Therefore, introducing supramolecular interaction endowed the hydrogel with tunable gelation property.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of (H3O)2{(Na2(OH)CB[5])2[HV4O12]}Cl · 14H2O

The compound (H₃O)₂{(Na₂(OH)CB[5])₂[HV₄O₁₂]}Cl · 14H₂O is synthesized by heating (120°C) of a mixture of sodium vanadate, cucurbit[5]uril (CB[5]), rubidium chloride, and water in a sealed ampule. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the binding of the [Na₂(OH)]⁺ binuclear cation with CB[5] occurs due to the bidentate coordination of the oxygen atoms of the portals of cucurbit[5]uril to the sodium atoms. The tetranuclear vanadium complex [HV₄O₁₂]^3? serves as a bridge, joining infinite chains {Na₂(OH)CB[5]} _∞ ⁺ in pairs.     

Supramolecular assembler based on cucurbit[8]uril: Photodimerization of a styryl dye in water

Photolysis of aqueous solutions of styryl dye 1 in the presence of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) has been studied by optical spectroscopic methods for the molar ratios n = c _CB[8]/c ₁ in the range of 0 ≤ n ≤ 6. It has been found that the inclusion complexes (1)₂@CB[8] dominate in the solution at n ≤ 0.5, whereas the complexes 1@CB[8] dominate at n ≥ 1. The stability constants have been determined for the 1: 1 (log K ₁ = 6.2 (L mol^?1)) and 2: 1 (log β = 11.9 (L² mol^?2)) complexes. The fluorescence decay kinetics of dye 1 in the presence of CB[8] is two-exponential, with the average lifetime increasing substantially at n ≥ 1. It has been shown that the system can operate in the cyclic mode as an assembler (or supramolecular catalyst) in the photodimerization reaction of dye 1 to form cyclobutane derivative 2. The stability constant of the complex 2@CB[8] (log K ₃ = 5.9 (L mol^?1)) and the quantum yield of cycloaddition (? ≈ 0.07 at n ≈ 0.5) have been determined.     

Cucurbit[5]uril derivatives as oxygen carriers

ABSTRACT

Cucurbit[n]urils are rigid cage-molecules of pumpkin-like shape, made of n-glycoluril units, able to bind mainly neutral molecules and cations. In this work, we investigate the binding of three cucurbit[5]uril derivatives with dioxygen O₂ and show that one of them, namely per-hydroxylated cucurbit[5]uril, (OH)₁₀CB[5], is able to significantly bind dioxygen gas at physiological temperature, even in the presence of sodium chloride at the concentration of injectable solution in blood. As cucurbit[n]urils studied up to now reveal low toxicity, per-hydroxylated cucurbit[5]uril appears as a promising precursor to design a host able to transport O₂ in a haemoglobin substitute solution.     

Controlling the structure and photophysics of fluorophore dimers using multiple cucurbit[8]uril clampings

A modular strategy has been employed to develop a new class of fluorescent molecules, which generates discrete, dimeric stacked fluorophores upon complexation with multiple cucurbit[8]uril macrocycles. The multiple constraints result in a “static” complex (remaining as a single entity for more than 30 ms) and facilitate fluorophore coupling in the ground state, showing a significant bathochromic shift in absorption and emission. This modular design is surprisingly applicable and flexible and has been validated through an investigation of nine different fluorophore cores ranging in size, shape, and geometric variation of their clamping modules. All fluorescent dimers evaluated can be photo-excited to atypical excimer-like states with elongated excited lifetimes (up to 37 ns) and substantially high quantum yields (up to 1). This strategy offers a straightforward preparation of discrete fluorophore dimers, providing promising model systems with explicitly stable dimeric structures and tunable photophysical features, which can be utilized to study various intermolecular processes.

Dimerisation of a wide range of fluorophores through multiple CB[8] clampings leads to constrained intracomplex motion and distinct photophysical properties.     

Characterization of inclusion complexation of various tetraalkylammonium chlorides with cucurbit[7]uril by external high-pressure studies

The inclusion constants of tetraalkylammonium salts (ASs) with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) were determined at high-pressures using methylene blue as a chemical indicator. CB[7] formed 1:1 inclusion complexes with ASs. We found a characteristic dependence of the alkyl chain substituents in ASs on the inclusion equilibrium, which was responsible for the formation of clathrate hydrates of the AS in bulk. Furthermore, we examined the effects of external high pressures on the CB[7] inclusion complexations of ASs having different alkyl chain lengths. Pressure dependence experiments allowed us to calculate the reaction volume (ΔV) upon inclusion; i.e., the volume change (ΔV_desolv) accompanying desolvation around the guest molecules and the volume change (ΔV_repel) caused by the water molecules repelled from the CB[7] cavity. The volumetric study for the inclusion of ASs with CB[7] showed that in the tetraheptylammonium ion, one arm (alkyl chain) was encapsulated in the CB[7] cavity, while in other ASs, two arms were located in the cavity. NMR measurements of the complexes and pressure-dependent studies provided unique information on the structures of the inclusion complexes of ASs with CB[7].     

Supramolecular Polymerization Promoted and Controlled through Self‐Sorting

A new method in which supramolecular polymerization is promoted and controlled through self‐sorting is reported. The bifunctional monomer containing p‐phenylene and naphthalene moieties was prepared. Supramolecular polymerization is promoted by selective recognition between the p‐phenylene group and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), and 2:1 complexation of the naphthalene groups with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). The process can be controlled by tuning the CB[7] content. This development will enrich the field of supramolecular polymers with important advances towards the realization of molecular‐weight and structural control.     

Recognition of glycine by cucurbit[5]uril and cucurbit[6]uril: A comparative study of exo- and endo-binding

Recognition features of glycine (Gly) with cucurbit[5]uril (Q[5]) and cucurbit[6]uril (Q[6]) both in aqueous solution and solid state were investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. ¹H NMR data indicate that the Gly is located outside of the portals of the Q[5], exhibiting exo binding with the Q[5]. In the case of the Q[6], the Gly shows endo binding or a dual binding mode (endo and exo binding) with the host, which depends on the amount of the host in the aqueous solution. X-ray crystallography clearly display that the Gly forms 2:1 exclusion complex with the Q[5], and 2:1 inclusion complex with the Q[6]. Interestingly, hydrogen bondings between the encapsulated Gly molecules in the Q[6] were observed.     

Photodimerization of azaanthracene derivatives mediated by cucurbit[10]uril

Challenges of achieving efficient photodimerization of azaanthracene derivatives remain due to the low selectivity and slow reaction rate. In this paper, cucurbit[10]uril (CB[10]), with the largest rigid and hydrophobic cavity among CB[n]s, was used to affect the photodimerization reaction of four water-soluble 1-(2-)substituted azaanthracene derivatives (1-4). It revealed that 1-4 could form 1:2 host-guest complexes with CB[10] in aqueous solution. Irradiation of 1 in the presence of 0.5 equiv. of CB[10] selectively produced a head-to-tail (anti-HT) photodimer product. As for 2-4, CB[10] acted as a nanoreactor accelerating their photodimerization reaction in water. Our results suggest that photodimerization of azaanthracene derivatives could be promoted by the CB[10]-based host-guest strategy with high efficiency and selectivity.     

Water structuring inside the cavities of cucurbit[n]urils (n = 5–8): a quantum-chemical forecast

In this work we report findings of the quantum-chemical examination of water structuring in the cavities of cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]), n?=?5–8 obtained within the density functional theory. The thermodynamically most stable structures of inclusion compounds (H₂O)_m@CB[n] were determined for different numbers m of H₂O molecules inside the cavities. From the viewpoint of thermodynamics, the most probable numbers m of water molecules in the CB[n] homologues are the following: m?=?2 for CB[5], m?=?4 for CB[6], m?=?8 for CB[7] and m?=?10 for CB[8]. For the case of CB[6] synthesized in aqueous solution, we compared its experimental IR spectrum with that calculated quantum-chemically for the model inclusion systems (H₂O)_m@CB[6] where m ranges from 1 to 6. The best agreement between the experimental and theoretical spectra was observed for (H₂O)₄@CB[6], in complete agreement with the conclusion made based on the thermodynamic estimations. Our results are also in good agreement with other available estimates of the most probable number of water molecules in CB[n].     

A water soluble tetramethyl-substituted cucurbit[8]uril obtained from larger intermediates?

A new water soluble tetramethyl-substituted cucurbit[8]uril (Me₄Q[8]) was easily isolated from cucurbit[n]uril product mixture which was synthesized by using the dimer of glycoluril and diether of dimethyl substituted glycoluril. Crystal structure analysis shows that Me₄Q[8] is constructed of building blocks: three dimmers and two dimethyl glycolurils, the two dimethyl glycolurils are separated by a dimer of glycoluril. It is speculated that Me₄Q[8] is degraded by a larger hexamethyl substituted Q[9] or larger intermediates.     

Inclusion of nickel(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">II</Emphasis>) and copper(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">II</Emphasis>) complexes with aliphatic polyamines in cucurbit[8]uril

The inclusion compound of macrocyclic cavitand cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) with the nickel(II) complex containing the tetraazamacrocyclic ligand cyclam, {[Ni(cyclam)]@CB[8]}Cl₂··16H₂O (1), and the inclusion compounds of CB[8] with the copper(II) bis-ethylene-diamine complex, {trans-[Cu(en)₂(H₂O)₂]@CB[8]}Cl₂·{CB[8]}·42H₂O (2a) and {trans-[Cu(en)₂(H₂O)₂]@CB[8]}Cl₂·17H₂O (2b), were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and ESR spectroscopy, and electrospray mass spectrometry. Guest—host inclusion compounds can be directly synthesized starting from a metal complex and cucurbit[8]uril, as was exemplified by the preparation of compounds 2a and 2b.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2414–2419, November, 2004.     

Binding modes of cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[7]uril with a series of bis-pyridinium compounds

Binding behaviors of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) with a series of bis-pyridinium compounds N, N’-hexamethylenebis(1-alkyl-4-carbamoyl pyridinium bromide) (HBPB-n) (alkyl chain length, n = 6, 8 and 10) guests were investigated using ¹H-NMR, ESI–MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The results show that CB[6] and CB[7] can form [2]pseudorotaxanes with HBPB-n easily. When increasing the length of tail alkyl chain, the binding site of CB[6] at guest molecules changed from the tail to the middle part, while CB[7] remained located over the tail chain. As CB[6] and CB[7] were added in HBPB-8 aqueous solution, a [3]pseudorotaxane was formed by the inclusion of the internal middle site in CB[6] and the tail chain in CB[7].