Effect of the ring size and asymmetry of cyclodextrins on their inclusion ability: a theoretical study

Effect of the ring size and asymmetry upon methylation of cyclodextrins (CDs) on their inclusion ability has been demonstrated for the inclusion complexes of native α-, β-, γ-CDs, dimethylated β-CD (DIMEB) and trimethylated β-CD (TRIMEB) with piperazine (PIZ) by PM3 and ONIOM calculations. In all complexes, PIZ prefers residing mostly in the central CD cavity. The complex stability in the order TRIMEB–PIZ > DIMEB–PIZ > α-CD–PIZ > γ-CD–PIZ > β-CD–PIZ indicates that the CD-ring asymmetry promotes the macrocycle deformation and inclusion ability. Our calculation results suggest that the inclusion complexes of both native and methylated CDs with PIZ in the gas phase are energetically stable, in addition to the β-CD–PIZ inclusion complex that has been evidenced thus far by X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses. Further calculations in the presence of water and adjacent CD molecules show that the increased intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions enhance the stability of β-CD–PIZ complex.