Charge-transfer interactions in cyclophanes

Charge-transfer interactions in cyclophane systems are reviewed. The majority of the work covered involves intermolecular complexation, with both donor and acceptor moieties existing within the same molecule. Studies have also been performed on intermolecular complexes, mainly tetracyanoethylene:cyclophane complexes. Host-guest complexes involving charge-transfer are also discussed. Other areas covered include solvent effects, substituent effects, and theoretical calculations.     

Tuneable side-chain supramolecular polymer

[reaction: see text] A random copolymer containing 1,5-dialkyloxynaphthalene moieties has been synthesized using atom-transfer radical polymerization. We have shown that this polymer has the ability to form complexes with the tetracationic cyclophane cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (CBPQT(4+)) and that electrochemical reduction of the cyclophane or the addition of a competing guest for the cavity of the cyclophane results in disassembly of the supramolecular polymer.     

Synthesis, characterization and complexation studies of some novel cyclophane amides and sulfonamides

A series of tricyclic tetraamides have been synthesized and were characterized from spectral and XRD studies. XRD studies revealed that the pyridine-based tricyclic cyclophane amide exists with twisted phenyl rings. All the cyclophane compounds form charge-transfer (CT) complexes with TCNQ. Metal ion complexation studies show that the cyclophane amides are more selective towards Cu(II) ions rather than Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions.     

Spectroscopic properties of cyclophane/anthracene and cyclophane/9-fluorenone complexes in dichloromethane

Host/guest interactions of cyclophane/anthracene (C/A) and cyclophane/9-fluorenone (C/F) complexes in dichloromethane, where the cyclophane molecule is the host, are investigated. The stability constants, log K_a, for the C/A and C/F complexes are determined by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. For the C/A system, log K_a is 4.2±0.2 as determined from absorption (at 325 nm) and emission (at 382, 403 and 427 nm) spectroscopic data. The analogous measurements yield 3.6±0.2 from absorption (at 309 nm) and emission (at 505 nm) spectroscopic data for the C/F system. Heats of formation of these complexes were determined by measuring the complex association constants at 25, 29 and 32 °C. These results reveal that binding of the anthracene guest by this cyclophane molecule is thermodynamically favored over that for a 9-fluorenone guest. Excited state lifetimes of these systems are also determined.     

A new hexaaza bicyclic cyclophane with dual binding sites

A new C3-symmetric drum-shaped homoditopic haxaamino bicyclic cyclophane and its hexachloride and hexaiodide complexes have been synthesized and characterized and dual recognition of guests has been demonstrated. Single-crystal X-ray analysis illustrates that bicyclic cyclophane has a cavity and side pockets for acetone molecules. The hexaprotonated state of this bicycle shows encapsulation of an iodide inside its cavity, and in hexachloride complex, chloride is recognized as Cl(-)...H2O in each of the three side pockets which are in extensive hydrogen bonding interactions with the water and chlorides. (1)H NMR experiments have also been carried out on hexatosylated cyclophane with the halides to study solution state binding.     

Hydrogen bond in the excited state of [2.2.2.2](1,2,4,5)cyclophane quinhydrones

Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bond was studied in electron-donor-acceptor complexes in the excited state. It was shown that low-frequency shifts of electron-transfer bands are correlated with the strength of the hydrogen bond in the ground electron state. A satisfactory agreement was obtained between the results of quantum-chemical calculations of [2.2.2.2](1,2,4,5)cyclophane bisquinones and their reduced forms, [2.2.2.2] (1,2,4,5)cyclophane quinhydrones, with experimental data, and unusual physicochemical properties of quinhydrones are noted.     

Diastereomeric host-guest complex formation by an optically active paracyclophane in water

The first synthesis of a water-soluble cyclophane possessing a chiral hydrophobic cavity, and the formation of diastereomeric inclusion complexes with chiral hydrophobic guests in water are described.     

Donor-acceptor ring-in-ring complexes

The self-assembly of three donor-acceptor ring-in-ring complexes, prepared from the π-electron-deficient tetracationic cyclophane, cyclobis(paraquat-4,4'-biphenylene), and three large π-electron-rich crown ethers (each 50-membered rings) containing dioxynaphthalene (DNP) and tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) units in pairs (DNP/DNP, DNP/TTF and TTF/TTF), is reported. (1)H NMR spectroscopic analyses are indicative of the formation of 1:1 complexes in CD(3)CN, whilst the charge-transfer interactions between the DNP and TTF units of the crown ethers and the tetracationic cyclophane have permitted the measurement of binding constants of up to 4×10(3) M(-1) in CH(3)CN to be made using UV/Vis spectroscopy. Ring-in-ring complexes are proposed as intermediates in the stepwise synthesis of molecular Borromean rings (BRs) comprised of three different rings. With the particular choice of crown ethers, the 1:1 complexes have polyether loops that protrude from the donor-acceptor recognition point above and below the mean plane of the tetracationic cyclophane, which, ideally, could conceivably bind dialkylammonium centers present in a third ring. X-ray crystallographic analyses of the solid-state superstructures of two of the three 1:1 complexes reveal, however, the presence of prodigious CH···O interactions between the polyether loops of the crown ethers and the rims of the cyclophane, no doubt stabilizing the complexes, but, at the same time, masking their potential recognition sites from further interactions that are essential to the subsequent emergence of the third ring. The solid-state superstructure of one of the crown ethers binding two dibenzylammonium ions provides some insight into the design requirements for the next generation of these systems; longer polyether loops may be required to allow optimal interactions between all components. It has become clear during a pursuit of the stepwise synthesis of the molecular BRs that, when designing complex mechanically interlocked molecules utilizing multiple recognition sites, the unsullied orthogonality of the recognition motifs is of the utmost importance.     

Complexation of Neutral Molecules by Cyclophane Hosts

Since the discovery of the crown ethers by Pedersen twenty years ago, the chemistry of synthetic hosts for the selective complexation of organic and inorganic guests has seen an extraordinarily rapid development. This article discusses in particular the contributions provided by synthetic cyclophanes as hosts to the understanding of molecular complexation of neutral organic guest molecules in aqueous and organic solvents. In aqueous solution, cyclophanes form stoichiometric complexes with neutral aromatic guests which can approach enzyme-substrate complexes in their stability. Efficient molecular complexation is also observed in organic environments. Here, as a result of large solvation effects, the strength of complexation is strongly dependent on the nature of the organic solvent. Electron donor-acceptor interactions can contribute significantly to the stability of complexes formed between cyclophane hosts and aromatic guests. Force-field calculations together with computer graphics are powerful tools in the design of water-soluble, optically active hosts for chiral recognition of complexed racemic guests. Simple and selective functionalization of the cyclophane framework leads to stable, bioorganic catalysts. Like enzymes, these catalysts bind their substrates in a rapid equilibrium prior to the reaction steps. As a perspective, some fascinating research objectives in the field of molecular recognition and catalysis which can be targeted with designed cyclophane hosts are shown.     

Cyclophane porphyrins and their metal complexes: Biomimetic study on receptor site of hemoprotein oxygen binding

A new symmetric porphyrin, 7,8,17,18-tetraethyl-3,13-dimethylporphyrin-2, 12-dipropionic acid and its derivatives were synthesized by the a,c-biladiene route. Condensation of the dipropionic acid with diamine, [H₂N(CH₂)_nNH₂, n= 6,7,8,9,10,12, and14], afforded the corresponding cyclophane porphyrins. The bridged groups were characterized by the ¹H-NMR spectra of their zinc complexes. The spin state of the Fe(III) complexes of the cyclophane porphyrins was investigated by changing the size of the bridged chain or size of axial ligand. The cyclophane-porphyrinato (III) perchlorate complexes in a mixture of MeOH and CHCl₃, with 4-benzylpyridine provide a model for methemoproteins. Steric constraint between an axial ligand and the bridge group, [-CH₂CH₂CONH(CH₂)_nNHCOCH₂CH₂]at the bridged face determines the ratio of the penta- and hexa-coordinated ferric complexes. The rate of O-binding to the Co(II) cyclophane porphyrins is mar present result indicates that removal of a solvent molecule or sixth axial ligand from the near proximity of the Co(II) complex increases the rate of O- binding.     

Fluorophore appended saccharide cyclophane: self-association, fluorescent properties, heterodimers with cyclodextrins, and cross-linking behavior with peanut agglutinin of dansyl-modified saccharide cyclophane

A saccharide cyclophane bearing an environment-sensitive fluorophore (1) was prepared by introducing not only three branches with a terminal galactose residue but also one with a dansyl moiety into a tetraaza[6.1.6.1]paracyclophane skeleton. Self-association behavior of the dansyl-appended saccharide cyclophane was characterized in aqueous media by fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements. At least in the concentrations below 1.0 x 10(-5) M, saccharide cyclophane 1 existed in a monomeric state, whereas it tended to form self-aggregated complexes in the higher concentration. Solvent polarity dependency on the emission spectra of 1 was examined by fluorescence spectroscopy. With increasing dioxane contents in dioxane/water solvents, the fluorescence intensity originating from the dansyl moiety of 1 increased along with a concomitant blue shift of the fluorescence maximum (lambda(em)). In the monomeric state of 1 in water, the dansyl moiety of 1 was not fully included into its cyclophane cavity but partially exposed to the bulk aqueous phase. In the higher concentration ranges in an aggregate state, however, the dansyl group of 1 was located in the apolar cyclophane cavity whose microenvironment was equivalent to the polarity of 1-butanol evaluated on the basis of a correlation between lambda(em) and solvent polarity. This indicates an intermolecular inclusion of the dansyl moiety within the cyclophane. When cyclodextrin (CD) was mixed with 1, the dansyl group of 1 was bound to an internal cavity of CD such as gamma-CD, beta-CD, 6-O-alpha-glucosyl-beta-CD, and 6-O-alpha-maltosyl-beta-CD with binding constants of 7.5 x 10(2), 7.8 x 10(2), 7.7 x 10(2), and 6.0 x 10(2) M(-1), respectively. Such a supramolecular assembling of dansyl-modified cyclophane 1 and CDs caused changes of the fluorescence spectra as well as appearance of induced CD bands in aqueous media. Furthermore, saccharide cyclophane 1 was selectively bound to peanut agglutinin (PNA), galactoside-binding lectin, which was readily monitored by a visible turbidity of the solution due to a cross-linking agglutination of these components, as well as by fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of a hexacationic cyclophane and formation of EDA-type host–guest complexes

A polycationic cyclophane with six cationic sites (three 4,4′-bipyridinium cation units) supported by a rigid cyclic skeleton was synthesized. It formed electron donor–acceptor complexes with electron-rich compounds, and their inclusion properties with pyrene and calixresorcin[4]arene were studied.     

Complex formation of dimeric cyclophane zinc diphenylporphyrinates with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane and pyrazine

The formation of host-guest complexes between dimeric cyclophane zinc diphenylporphyrinates and bidentate ligands of different nature containing two nitrogen atoms has been studied by the spectrophotometric titration method and ¹H NMR spectroscopy in a toluene-methanol (2: 1) binary solvent. The complexation of these dimeric porphyrinates with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane or pyrazine can lead to 1: 1 or 1: 2 complexes, depending on the metalloporphyrin-to-ligand molar ratio. The stability constants of the porphyrinate-ligand complexes and concentration ranges of their formation have been determined.     

Tri- and tetraurea piperazine cyclophanes: synthesis and complexation studies of preorganized and folded receptor molecules

A series of symmetrical tri‐ and tetrameric N‐ethyl‐ and N‐phenylurea‐functionalized cyclophanes have been prepared in nearly quantitative yields (86–99 %) from the corresponding tri‐ and tetraamino‐functionalized piperazine cyclophanes and ethyl or phenyl isocyanates. Their conformational and complexation properties have been studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy, and ESI‐MS analysis. The rigid 27‐membered trimeric cyclophane skeleton assisted by a seam of intramolecular hydrogen bonds results in a preorganized ditopic recognition site with an all‐syn conformation of the urea moieties that, complemented by a lipophilic cavity of the cyclophane, binds molecular and ionic guests as well as ion pairs. The all‐syn conformation persists in acidic conditions and the triprotonated triurea cyclophane binds an unprecedented anion pair, H₂PO₄^????HPO₄^2?, in the solid state. The tetra‐N‐ethylurea cyclophane is less rigid and demonstrates an induced‐fit recognition of diisopropyl ether in the solid state. The guest was encapsulated within the lipophilic interior of a quasicapsule, formed by intramolecular hydrogen‐bond‐driven folding of the 36‐membered cyclophane skeleton. In the gas phase, the essential role of the urea moieties in the binding was demonstrated by the formation of monomeric 1:1 complexes with K⁺, TMA⁺, and TMP⁺ as well as the ion‐pair complexes [KI+K]⁺, [TMABr+TMA]⁺ and [TMPBr+TMP]⁺. In the positive‐mode ESI‐MS analysis, ion‐pair binding was found to be more pronounced with the larger tetraurea cyclophanes. In the negative mode, owing to the large size of the binding site, a general binding preference towards larger anions, such as the iodide, over smaller anions, such as the fluoride, was observed.     

Modular Synthesis and Dynamics of a Variety of Donor–Acceptor Interlocked Compounds Prepared by Click Chemistry

A series of donor–acceptor [2]‐, [3]‐, and [4]rotaxanes and self‐complexes ([1]rotaxanes) have been synthesized by a threading‐followed‐by‐stoppering approach, in which the precursor pseudorotaxanes are fixed by using Cu^I‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition to attach the required stoppers. This alternative approach to forming rotaxanes of the donor–acceptor type, in which the donor is a 1,5‐dioxynaphthalene unit and the acceptor is the tetracationic cyclophane cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene), proceeds with enhanced yields relative to the tried and tested synthetic strategies, which involve the clipping of the cyclophane around a preformed dumbbell containing π‐electron‐donating recognition sites. The new synthetic approach is amenable to application to highly convergent sequences. To extend the scope of this reaction, we constructed [2]rotaxanes in which one of the phenylene rings of the tetracationic cyclophane is perfluorinated, a feature which significantly weakens its association with π‐electron‐rich guests. The activation barrier for the shuttling of the cyclophane over a spacer containing two triazole rings was determined to be (15.5±0.1) kcal mol^?1 for a degenerate two‐station [2]rotaxane, a value similar to that previously measured for analogous degenerate compounds containing aromatic or ethylene glycol spacers. The triazole rings do not seem to perturb the shuttling process significantly; this property bodes well for their future incorporation into bistable molecular switches.     

Toward Electrochemically Controllable Tristable Three‐Station [2]Catenanes

Encouraged by the prospect of producing an electrochemical, color‐switchable red–green–blue (RGB) dye compound, we have designed, synthesized, and characterized two three‐station [2]catenanes. Both are composed of macrocyclic polyethers containing three π‐electron‐rich stations, which act as recognition sites for a π‐electron‐deficient tetracationic cyclophane. The molecular structures of the two three‐station [2]catenanes were characterized fully by mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. To anticipate the relative occupancies of the three stations in each [2]catenane by the cyclophane, model compounds with the same constitutions in the vicinity of the stations were synthesized. The relative ground‐state populations of the three stations occupied in both [2]catenanes were estimated from the thermodynamic parameters for 1:1 complexes between all these model compounds and the cyclophane, obtained from isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The electrochemical and electromechanical properties of the three‐station [2]catenanes were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and spectroelectrochemistry (SEC). The first three‐station [2]catenane was found to behave like a bistable system, whereas the second can be described as a quasi‐tristable system.     

Pleated polymeric foldamers driven by donor–acceptor interaction and conjugated radical cation dimerization

Two naphthalene(NP) and bipyridinium(BIPY~(2+)) alternately incorporated polymers P1 and P2 have been prepared through the formation of dynamic hydrazone bonds. The polymers formed NP–BIPY~(2+)donor–acceptor interaction-induced pleated secondary structure. Upon reducing the BIPY~(2+)units to radical cation BIPY+, intramolecular dimerization of the BIPY+units induced the backbones to afford another pleated secondary structure. Adding electron-rich macrocyclic polyether bis-1,5-dinaphtho[38]crown-10 or electron-deficient cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) cyclophane did not break the first foldamer by complexing the BIPY2+or NP units of the polymers, whereas the di(radical cationic)ring of the second cyclophane could break the second foldamer by forming threading complexes with the BIPY+units of the polymers.     

Complex formation of mono-and binuclear dimeric cyclophane zinc diphenylporphyrinates with pyridine

The formation of host-guest complexes between zinc diphenylporphyrinates of dimeric diphenylporphyrins and pyridine in toluene has been studied by the spectrophotometric titration method and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The zinc porphyrinates with pyridine form “internal” or “external” 1: 1 or 1: 2 complexes, depending on the length of binding ether O(CH₂)_nO bridges (n = 2, 3) of the cyclophane dimers and the reactant concentration. The stability constants of the porphyrinate-ligand complexes and concentration ranges of their formation have been determined.     

Electromechanics of a redox-active rotaxane in a monolayer assembly on an electrode

A rotaxane monolayer consisting of the cyclophane, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (2), threaded on a "molecular string" that includes a pi-donor diiminobenzene unit and stoppered by an adamantane unit is assembled on a Au electrode. The surface coverage of the electroactive cyclophane unit, E degrees = -0.43 V vs SCE, corresponds to 0.8 x 10(-10) mol.cm(-2). The cyclophane (2) is structurally localized on the molecular string by generating a pi-donor-acceptor complex with the diiminobenzene units of the molecular string. The cyclophane (2) acts as a molecular shuttle, revealing electrochemically driven mechanical translocations along the molecular wire. Reduction of the cyclophane (2) to the respective biradical-dication results in its dissociation from the pi-donor site, and the reduced cyclophane is translocated toward the electrode. Oxidation of the reduced cyclophane reorganizes 2 on the pi-donor-diiminobenzene sites. The positions of the oxidized and reduced cyclophane units are characterized by chronoamperometric and impedance measurements. Using double-step chronoamperometric measurements the dynamics of the translocation of the cyclophane units on the molecular string is characterized. The reduced cyclophane moves toward the electrode with a rate constant corresponding to k(1) = 320 s(-1), whereas the translocation of the oxidized cyclophane from the electrode to the pi-donor binding site proceeds with a rate constant of k(2) = 80 s(-1). Also, in situ electrochemical/contact angle measurements reveal that the electrochemically driven translocation of the cyclophane on the molecular string provides a means to reversibly control the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the surface. The latter system demonstrates the translation of a molecular motion into the macroscopic motion of a water droplet.     

Weak hydrogen bonding as a basis for concentration-dependent guest selectivity by a cyclophane host

Crystalline inclusion complexes between the cyclophane 1 and three isomers of picoline and lutidine were grown and their properties and structures were studied by X-ray analysis, thermal gravimetry (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In competition experiments, the cyclophane host, which by itself is only able to form weak Cbond;H.acceptor hydrogen bonds, is able to discriminate between the different picoline or lutidine isomers, although in some cases a strong concentration dependence of the preferred isomer is observed. In the three-component experiments, inclusion of 4-picoline is strongly favored when X(4-picoline)>0.35-0.39. Very similar results were obtained in the lutidine series. The fact that 2,4-lutidine is favored when X(2,4-lutidine)>0.2 indicates that the host prefers the isomer with the methyl group in 4-position relative to the nitrogen atom. The selectivities observed can be explained based on the assignment of the inclusion complexes to different adduct classes. In the case of the picoline isomers, the preference of 4-picoline was in good agreement with the calculated lattice energies for this series. The present work also shows that caution is advisable when deducing selectivity of crystalline inclusion compounds from guest competition experiments.