Benzobis(imidazolium)-cucurbit[8]uril complexes for binding and sensing aromatic compounds in aqueous solution

The utilities of benzobis(imidazolium) salts (BBIs) as stable and fluorescent components of supramolecular assemblies involving the macrocyclic host, cucurbit8]uril (CB8]), are described. CB8] has the unusual ability to bind tightly and selectively to two different guests in aqueous media, typically methyl viologen (MV) as the first guest, followed by an indole, naphthalene, or catechol-containing second guest. Based on similar size, shape, and charge, tetramethyl benzobis(imidazolium) (MBBI) was identified as a potential alternative to MV that would increase the repertoire of guests for cucurbit8]uril. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies showed that MBBI binds to CB8] in a 1:1 ratio with an equilibrium association constant (K(a)) value of 5.7×10(5) M(-1), and that the resulting MBBI·CB8] complex binds to a series of aromatic second guests with K(a) values ranging from 10(3) to 10(5) M(-1). These complexation phenomena were supported by mass spectrometry, which confirmed complex formation, and a series of NMR studies that showed the expected upfield perturbation of aromatic peaks and of the MBBI methyl peaks. Surprisingly, the binding behavior of MBBI is strikingly similar to that of MV, and yet MBBI offers a number of substantial advantages for many applications, including intrinsic fluorescence, high chemical stability, and broad synthetic tunability. Indeed, the intense fluorescence emission of the MBBI·CB8] complex was quenched upon binding to the second guests, thus demonstrating the utility of MBBI as a component for optical sensing. Building on these favorable properties, the MBBI·CB8] system was successfully applied to the sequence-selective recognition of peptides as well as the controlled disassembly of polymer aggregates in water. These results broaden the available guests for the cucurbitn]uril family and demonstrate potentially new applications.