ESR spin probes in ionic liquids.

The spin probes 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPOL), and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-trimethylammoniumpiperidine-1-oxylIodide (CAT-1) are examined in a number of ionic liquids based on substituted imidazolium cations and tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate anions, respectively. The reorientation correlation times tau(R) of the spin probes in these systems have been determined by complete spectra simulation and, for rapid reortientation, by analysis of the intensities of the hyperfine lines of the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra. A comparison of the results with those from the model system glycerol/water and selected organic solvents is made. Additions of diamagnetic and paramagnetic ions allow the conclusion that salt effects and spin exchange are present, and that both are superimposed by motional effects. Specific interactions in the ionic liquids, as well as between the spin-probe molecules and the constituents of the ionic liquids are reflected in the spectra of the spin probes, depending on their molecular structure.     

Spin exchange of nitroxyl radicals in H2O and D2O

By means of continuous wave electron spin resonance (cw ESR) in the X and L bands, the spin exchange of series of different concentrations of the spin probes 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPOL), and 4-(trimethylamino)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl iodide (CAT-1) in H(2)O and D(2)O have been examined. The rate constants k(e) of the spin exchange have been determined by complete spectra simulations, as well as directly from hyperfine line broadenings and concentration depending line shifts. The obtained results showed a good agreement. Their respective differences {k(e)(H(2)O) - k(e)(D(2)O)} could be determined for the first time. They reflect the different influence of the solvents on the spin dynamics but confirm the decrease of the reaction rate in D(2)O, caused by the higher degree of order in this liquid. The spectroscopic and kinetic results presented in this paper establish a further kind of isotopic effect.     

Inclusion complexation of diquat and paraquat by the hosts cucurbit[7]uril and cucurbit[8]uril

The binding interactions in aqueous solution between the dicationic guest diquat (DQ(2+)) and the cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB8) hosts were investigated by (1)H NMR, UV/Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy; mass spectrometry; single-crystal X-ray diffraction; and electrochemical techniques. The binding data were compared with previously reported results for the related paraquat guest (PQ(2+)). DQ(2+) was found to bind poorly (K=350 m(-1)) inside CB7 and more effectively (K=4.8 x 10(4) m(-1)) inside CB8. One-electron reduction led to increased binding affinity with both hosts (K(r)=1 x 10(4) m(-1) with CB7 and K(r)=6 x 10(5) m(-1) for CB8). While (1)H NMR spectroscopic data revealed that DQ(2+) is not fully included by CB7, the crystal structure of the CB8DQ(2+) complex-obtained from single-crystal X-ray diffraction-clearly establishes its inclusion nature. Overall, both diquat and its one-electron reduced radical cation are bound more effectively by CB8 than by CB7. In contrast to this, paraquat exhibits selectivity for CB7, but its radical cation forms a highly stable dimer inside CB8. These differences highlight the pronounced sensitivity of cucurbit[n]uril hosts to guest features such as charge, charge distribution and shape.     

Determination of the purity of cucurbit[n]uril (n = 7, 8) host samples

The formation of highly stable inclusion complexes in aqueous solution between the organometallic cobaltocenium cation (Cob(+)) and the hosts cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB8) was used to develop a simple method, based on UV-vis titrations, to assay the purity of samples of these two hosts. The equilibrium association constant (K) of the Cob(+)@CB7 complex had been previously reported by our group as 5.7 × 10(9) M(-1) at 25 °C in 50 mM sodium acetate medium. In this work, we determine a K value of 1.9 × 10(8) M(-1) at 25 °C in the same medium for the Cob(+)@CB8 complex. The high stability of these complexes and their decreased molar absorptivity coefficients (at 261 nm), compared to that for free Cob(+), lead to straightforward titration plots when graphing absorbance versus concentration of added CB7 (or CB8) host, at constant Cob(+) concentration.     

Inclusion of Carboxyl Function Inside of Cucurbiturils and its Use in Molecular Switches

We have prepared organic guest molecules in which two pyridinium rings are connected through an aromatic/aliphatic bridge bearing a carboxyl group. The supramolecular interactions between these guests and macrocyclic hosts cucurbit[7]uril ( CB7 ) and cucurbit[8]uril ( CB8 ) has been studied. We have demonstrated that the binding modes of the complexes depend on the type of central bridge present in the guest molecules and the size of the macrocycle. We have also showed that the binding mode between cucurbiturils and guests with aromatic bridges is pH independent. On the other hand, a guest containing an aliphatic bridge and CB7 formed a pseudorotaxane, which behaved as a pH‐driven molecular switch.     

The nature of sites of absorption of low-molecular-mass compounds by butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymers

The rotational mobilities of the paramagnetic probes TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) and BZONO (4-benzoate-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) are studied via EPR spectroscopy and the equilibrium swelling of random and multiblock butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymers of various compositions and stereostructures of butadiene units in n-heptane, methyl acetate, and toluene are studied. The nature of defective regions sorbing low-molecular-mass compounds is ascertained. The rotational mobilities of the probes in defects of various structures are estimated. The sites of sorption are found to be identical in crosslinked and noncrosslinked elastomers. It is shown that the sorption of n-heptane and methyl acetate appears in the same defective regions as those of the TEMPO radical, while the sorption of toluene emerges in sorption sites where the value of free volume is sufficient for the sorption of the bulky radical BZONO. A decay in local molecular mobility in structural defects (“holes”) does not hinder the absorption of lowmolecular- mass compounds if the free volume is sufficient.     

棒状双酯基磁性液晶的合成及其磁性和液晶性

以端基为C3及C5取代的多环酸为原料, 合成了6个具有双酯基中介核, 末端为TEMPO (TEMPO＝2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl)的磁性分子. 用元素分析, 红外光谱, 质谱等对其结构进行了表征; 利用超导量子干涉仪(SQUID磁学测量系统), 顺磁共振仪, 差热扫描量热仪以及热台偏光显微镜等对化合物的磁性质和液晶性质进行了测定, 提出了该类化合物同时具有磁性及液晶性所应具备的分子结构; 最后, 将磁性液晶与液晶材料进行了混配, 测试了混配液晶的光电性能. 结果表明, 6个化合物均同时具有磁性和液晶性, 其液晶相温度区间在16～24.8 ℃, 呈典型的向列相织构; 磁性液晶与液晶材料混配后可明显改善液晶材料的响应灵敏度.     

Force-field and quantum-mechanical binding study of selected SAMPL3 host-guest complexes

A Merck molecular force field classical potential combined with Poisson-Boltzmann electrostatics (MMFF/PB) has been used to estimate the binding free energy of seven guest molecules (six tertiary amines and one primary amine) into a synthetic receptor (acyclic cucurbit[4]uril congener) and two benzimidazoles into cyclic cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) hosts. In addition, binding enthalpies for the benzimidazoles were calculated with density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP functional and a polarizable continuum model (PCM). Although in most cases the MMFF/PB approach returned reasonable agreements with the experiment (±2 kcal/mol), significant, much larger deviations were reported in the case of three host-guest pairs. All four binding enthalpy predictions with the DFT/PCM method suffered 70% or larger deviations from the calorimetry data. Results are discussed in terms of the molecular models used for guest-host complexation and the quality of the intermolecular potentials.     

Triple Emission from p‐Dimethylaminobenzonitrile–Cucurbit[8]uril Triggers the Elusive Excimer Emission

The intriguing dual‐emission behavior of p‐ dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN) and the identity of the associated excited states is, arguably, the most extensively investigated and also controversially discussed molecule‐ specific phenomenon of modern photochemistry. We have now found a new, third fluorescence band when DMABN is encapsulated within the water‐soluble molecular container cucurbit[8]uril (CB8). It is centered between the previously observed emissions and assigned to the elusive excimer emission from DMABN through 1:2 CB8:DMABN complex formation. Heating of the CB8 ? (DMABN)₂ complex from 0 to 100 °C results in the dissociation of the ternary complex and restoration of the dual‐emission properties of the monomer. Alternatively, monomer emission can be obtained by selecting cucurbit[7]uril (CB7), a host homologue that is too small to accommodate two DMABN molecules, or by introducing ethyl instead of methyl groups at the amino terminus of the aminobenzonitrile guest.     

Highly Efficient Supramolecular Catalysis by Endowing the Reaction Intermediate with Adaptive Reactivity

A new strategy of highly efficient supramolecular catalysis is developed by endowing the reaction intermediate with adaptive reactivity. The supramolecular catalyst, prepared by host–guest complexation between 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), was used for biphasic oxidation of alcohols. Cationic TEMPO⁺, the key intermediate, was stabilized by the electrostatic effect of CB[7] in aqueous phase, thus promoting the formation of TEMPO⁺ and inhibiting side reactions. Moreover, through the migration into the organic phase, TEMPO⁺ was separated from CB[7] and recovered the high reactivity to drive a fast oxidation of substrates. The adaptive reactivity of TEMPO⁺ induced an integral optimization of the catalytic cycle and greatly improved the conversion of the reaction. This work highlights the unique advantages of dynamic noncovalent interactions on modulating the activity of reaction intermediates, which may open new horizons for supramolecular catalysis.     

Rotaxanes Capped with Host Molecules: Supramolecular Behavior of Adamantylated Bisimidazolium Salts Containing a Biphenyl Centerpiece

Bisimidazolium salts with one central biphenyl binding site and two terminal adamantyl binding sites form water‐soluble binary or ternary aggregates with cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) with rotaxane and pseudorotaxane architectures. The observed arrangements result from cooperation of the supramolecular stopper binding strength and steric barriers against free slippage of the CB7 and β‐CD host molecules over the bisimidazolium guest axle.     

Nanoscale inhomogeneities in thermoresponsive triblock copolymers

We present continuous-wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy data of the spin probe 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) in aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(propylene oxide)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) triblock copolymers (Pluronic or Poloxamer). TEMPO is notably smaller than the spin probes conventionally used in the context of polymer science and reveals the early emergence of small hydrophobic cavities when PPO strands of several molecules aggregate and collapse upon temperature increase. The occurrence of hydrophobic cavities appears independent of the overall molecular weight of the Pluronics, but clearly depends on the relative PPO/PEO contents. In all the cases studied, the volume fraction of hydrophobic cavities increases in a broad temperature range of ≥40 °C. The appearance of the hydrophobic regions does not seem to be directly correlated to micellization of the polymers. A decrease of the relative PPO amount in the polymers not only hinders collapse of the PPO strands, it can also be described as a site exchange of the spin probes between hydrophobic cavities and the surrounding medium. On the other hand, in cases of high PPO contents, spin probe exchange could not be observed. This suggests that one may potentially control the diffusion of small molecules between the micellar cores and the surrounding medium by adjusting the PEO/PPO ratio of the used Pluronics.     

Coordination chemistry of stable radicals: homolysis of a titanium-oxygen bond

Thermolysis of Cp2TiCl(TEMPO) (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) at 60 degrees C in a benzene/CCl4 mixture generates Cp2TiCl2. Kinetic studies implicate a mechanism involving the reversible cleavage of a Ti-O bond to generate the TEMPO radical and Cp2TiCl, which is trapped by CCl4 to give Cp2TiCl2. The rate of this reaction is strongly inhibited by added TEMPO and increases with increasing CCl4 concentration, indicating that the coupling of TEMPO to Cp2TiCl is faster than chloride atom abstraction from CCl4.     

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].     

Voltammetric Study of the Electrocatalytic Oxidation of L-Sodium Lactate by 4-Acetamido-TEMPO

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - The use of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and 4-acetamido-TEMPO (ACT) for electrochemical oxidation of L-sodium lactate (SL) was comparatively...     

Targeted Polypeptide–Microtubule Aggregation with Cucurbit[8]uril for Enhanced Cell Apoptosis

Tunable protein assemblies not only hold a dominant position in vital biological events but are also a significant theme in supramolecular chemistry. Herein, we demonstrated that the intertubular aggregation of microtubules (MTs) could be efficiently regulated by a synergistic polypeptide–tubulin interaction and host–guest complexation. The benzylimidazolium‐modified antimitotic peptide (BP) could recognize the MTs and concurrently form stable inclusion complexes with avirulent cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) in different binding stoichiometries. The self‐assembling morphology of MTs was converted from fibrous to nanoparticulate aggregates via extensive BP?CB[8] cross‐linkage, leading to significant cell apoptosis and tumor ablation in vivo. The targeted (BP?CB[8])@MT ternary assembly provides a facile supramolecular method to enhance the protein–protein interactions, which may be developed as a therapy for degenerative diseases, such as cancer.     

DDQ-mediated oxidation of sp C–H bond for the direct synthesis of vicinal tricarbonyl compounds

A facile and direct synthetic method was developed for the construction of vicinal tricarbonyl compounds (VTCs) in moderate to excellent yields (46–92%), by treating the readily available 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) in the presence of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ). The reaction pathway involves the DDQ-mediated oxidative activation of sp³ C–H bond and subsequent coupling to TEMPO to form the key intermediate TEMPO-substrate adduct, which can be further converted to VTC products promoted by DDQ.     

Fast motion in molecular solids at low temperatures: evidence from a pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance study of nitroxyl radical relaxation

We have investigated the electron phase-memory relaxation time of the nitroxyl radical 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl at temperatures between 5 and 80 K in crystalline and glassy states of ethanol using pulsed X-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results indicate that the transition from the slow to fast motion regimes of the paramagnetic center occurs upon further cooling of the sample below ～20 K. We provide experimental evidence that this phenomenon cannot be ascribed to the impact of hyperfine interactions with methyl protons in the system, but it can be instead a signature of the coupling of the electron spin with the boson peak excitations of the lattice.     

瓜环[n](n=6～8)与盐酸丁咯地尔的相互作用

利用1HNMR技术、电喷雾质谱、红外光谱及紫外吸收光谱等手段研究了瓜环[n](n=6～8)与盐酸丁咯地尔的相互作用.实验结果表明,盐酸丁咯地尔与3种瓜环具有不同的相互作用,主-客体配合物的作用模式随着瓜环大小的不同而各不相同.其中,瓜环[6]与盐酸丁咯地尔的相互作用非常弱,而瓜环[7]和瓜环[8]则都将盐酸丁咯地尔分子中的吡咯环及其相邻的2个碳全部包结进去,形成了包结比为1:1的对称包结配合物.通过紫外吸收光谱法计算得到瓜环[7]和瓜环[8]与盐酸丁咯地尔分子的包结常数在102～103L/mol范围内,说明瓜环对盐酸丁咯地尔具有潜在的药物缓释作用.     

9-Azanoradamantane N-oxyl (Nor-AZADO): a highly active organocatalyst for alcohol oxidation

A highly active organocatalyst for alcohol oxidation has been developed. 9-Azanoradamantane N-oxyl (Nor-AZADO 4), constituting an unhindered, stable nitroxyl radical, exhibits superior catalytic activity to 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and AZADOs in the oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyl compounds.