Mechanism of the conversion of inverted CB[6] to CB[6

Inverted cucurbit[n]urils (iCB[n]) form as intermediates during the synthesis of cucurbit[n]urils from glycoluril and formaldehyde in HCl (85 degrees C). Product resubmission experiments establish that the diastereomeric iCB[6] and iCB[7] are kinetic products that are less stable thermodynamically than CB[6] or CB[7] (>2.8 kcal mol(-1)). When iCB[6] or iCB[7] is heated under aqueous acidic conditions, a preference for ring contraction is noted in the formation of CB[5] and CB[6], respectively. Interestingly, under anhydrous acidic conditions ring size is preserved with iCB[6] delivering CB[6] cleanly. To establish the intramolecular nature of the iCB[6] to CB[6] conversion under anhydrous, but not aqueous, acidic conditions we performed crossover experiments involving mixtures of iCB[6] and its (13)C=O labeled isotopomer (13)C(12)-iCB[6]. An unusual diastereomeric CB[6] with a M?bius geometry (13) is proposed as a mechanistic intermediate in the conversion of iCB[6] to CB[6] under anhydrous acidic conditions. The improved mechanistic understanding provided by this study suggests improved routes to CB[n]-type compounds.     

Synthesis and characterization of upper and lower rim functionalized [6]cavitands

A [6]cavitand has been selectively derivatized on both the lower and upper rims. On the lower rim, two out of six potential sites were oxidized to produce a 1,4 substituted [6]cavitand bisketone, which was converted to a corresponding diol as well as a bisacetate [6]cavitand. The crystal structures of the bisketone and the diol were solved. On the upper rim, all six ArCH(3) groups were selectively brominated to ArCH(2)Br groups to produce the hexabromomethyl [6]cavitand, which was converted to the corresponding hexabenzylthiol and hexabenzylthioacetate [6]cavitands. The conformational properties of all compounds are discussed.     

Light-actuated resorcin[4]arene cavitands

A light-actuated resorcin[4]arene cavitand equipped with two quinone (Q) and two opposite Ru(II)-based photosensitizing walls was synthesized and investigated. The cavitand is capable of switching from an open to a contracted conformation upon reduction of the two Q to the corresponding SQ radical anions by intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer in the presence of a sacrificial donor. The molecular switch was investigated by cyclic and rotating disc voltammetry, UV–Vis–NIR spectroelectrochemistry, transient absorption, NMR, and EPR spectroscopy. This study provides the basis for the development of future light-activated switches and molecular actuating nanodevices.     

Cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])‐Based Supramolecular Switches

The use of cucurbit[8]uril as a molecular host has emerged in the chemical literature as a reliable strategy for the creation of dynamic chemical systems, owing to its ability to form homo‐ and heteroternary complexes in aqueous media with appropriate molecular switches as guests. In this manner, CB[8]‐based supramolecular switches can be designed in a predictable and modular fashion, through the selection of appropriate guests able to condition the redox, photochemical, or pH‐triggered behavior of tailored multicomponent systems. Furthermore, CB[8] allows the implementation of dual/triple and linear/orthogonal stimuli‐dependent properties into these molecular devices by a careful selection of the guests. This versatility in their design gives these supramolecular switches great potential for the rational development of new materials, in which their function is not only determined by the custom‐made stimuli‐responsiveness, but also by the transient aggregation/disaggregation of homo‐ or heteromeric building blocks.     

Peptide separation through a CB[8]-mediated supramolecular trap-and-release process

We demonstrate a supramolecular peptide separation approach by the selective immobilization of peptides bearing an N-terminal tryptophan onto a CB[8]-modified gold substrate, followed by electrochemical release. The CB[8]-stabilized heteroternary complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR, ESI-MS, UV/vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Micropatterned CB[8]-modified gold substrates were found to trap only the recognizable N-tryptophan-containing peptides from a peptide mixture that could be visualized as green peptide arrays under fluorescence microscopy. Subsequently, the bound peptides were released from the modified substrates by the controlled single-electron reduction of viologen. The fully reversible trap-and-release process was repeated for 13 cycles, and the cumulative release profile of the dye-peptide conjugate was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy, indicating that no degradation occurred.     

Synthesis of resorcin[4]arene cavitands by ring-closing metathesis

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of the first resorcin[4]arene cavitands by ring-closing metathesis reaction are described.     

基于葫芦脲[8]包结增强供体-受体作用构筑“刚-柔”型超分子共聚物

设计合成了一种缺电性的刚性棒状超分子单体,在葫芦脲(CB[8])存在下,它与富电性的柔性单体受CB[8]包结增强的供体-受体作用驱动在水中共组装形成"刚-柔"(rod-coil)型超分子共聚物.运用核磁共振滴定实验、紫外-可见光谱、二维扩散排序核磁共振谱(DOSY)、动态光散射(DLS)以及透射电子显微镜(TEM)等对超分子聚合物的形成及其结构进行了证实和表征,并发现该超分子共聚物在低浓度下采取伸展的线形构象,当浓度增加到一定程度后其线形骨架发生卷曲,转变为颗粒状团聚结构.     

Diphosphacarbollide analogues of the C5H5- anion: isolation of the nido-di- and triphosphacarboranes 7,8,9-P2CB8H10, [7,8,9-P2CB8H9]-, [7,8,10-P2CB8H9]-, and 7,8,9,10-P3CB7H8

Treatment of a solution of excess PCl(3) and PS (PS = "proton sponge" = 1,8-dimethylamino naphthalene) with arachno-4-CB(8)H(14) (1) in CH(2)Cl(2), followed by hydrolysis of the reaction mixture, resulted in the isolation of the eleven-vertex diphosphacarbaborane nido-7,8,9-P(2)CB(8)H(10) (2) (yield 34%) as the main product. Other products isolated from this reaction were the phosphacarboranes nido-7,8,9,10-P(3)CB(7)H(8) (3) (yield 5%) and closo-2,1-PCB(8)H(9) (4) (yield 15%). Compound 2 can be deprotonated by PS in CH(2)Cl(2) or NaH in diethyl ether to give the [nido-7,8,9-P(2)CB(8)H(9)](-) (2(-)()) anion, which gives back the original compound, 2, upon re-protonation. Thermal rearrangement of anion 2(-) (Na(+) salt) at 350 degrees C for 2 h produced the isomeric [nido-7,8,10-P(2)CB(8)H(9)](-) (5(-)()) anion, which was isolated as a PPh(4)(+) salt (yield 86%). Multinuclear ((1)H, (11)B, (31)P, and (13)C), two-dimensional [(11)B-(11)B] COSY, (1)H{(11)B(selective)}, (1)H{(31)P(selective)}, and gradient-enhanced ([(1)H-(13)C] HSQC) magnetic resonance measurements led to complete assignments of all resonances which are in excellent agreement with the structures proposed. Coupling constants, (1)J((31)P,(13)C), (2)J((31)P,C,(1)H), and (1)J((31)P,(31)P), were calculated using the DFT method B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p). The molecular geometries of all compounds were optimized ab initio at a correlated level of theory (RMP2(fc)) using the 6-31G basis set, and their correctness was assessed by comparison of the experimental (11)B and (13)C chemical shifts with those calculated by the GIAO-SCF/II//RMP2(fc)/6-31G method. The computations also include the structures and chemical shieldings of the still unknown isomers [nido-7,10,8-P(2)CB(8)H(9)](-) (6(-)) and [nido-7,9,8-P(2)CB(8)H(9)](-) (7(-)).     

Study on thermal decomposition of calix[6]arene and calix[8]arene

Thermal decomposition kinetics of calix[6]arene (C6) and calix[8]arene (C8) were studied by Thermogravimetry analysis (TG) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). TG was done under static air atmosphere with dynamic heating rates of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 K min⁻¹. Model-free methods such as Friedman and Ozawa–Flynn–Wall were used to evaluate the kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factors (ln A). Model-fitting method such as linear regression was used for the evaluation of optimum kinetic triplets. The kinetic parameters obtained are comparable with both the model-free and model-fitting methods. Within the tested models, the thermal decomposition of C6 and C8 are best described by a three dimensional Jander’s type diffusion. The antioxidant efficiency of C6 and C8 was tested for the decomposition of polypropylene (PP).     

Synthesis and Characterization of S-Methylspiro[4.5]-dec-7-en-6-one and 6-methylspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-8-one

In connection with another problem, we required authentic samples of 8-methylsiro[4.5]dec-7-en-6-one (1) and 6-methyl-spire[4.5]dec-6-en-8-one (2). The former compound is not reported in the literature. Although there are two reports of the latter material,^1,2 the physical data ascribed to it do not agree. In this communication, we report the synthesis and characterization of the two isomers.     

Functional [6]pericyclynes: synthesis through [14+4] and [8+10] cyclization strategies

Critical analysis of possible strategies for the synthesis of novel carbo-benzene derivatives suggests several [(18-n)+n] routes for the preparation of hexaoxy[6]pericyclyne precursors. Beyond the previously attempted [9+9] symmetrical scheme (n=9), the a priori most selective strategies are those for which n=1, 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16. They involve a cyclizing double-propargylation of a C(18-n) omega-bis-terminal-skipped oligoyne containing (19-n)/3 triple bonds with a C(n) omega-dicarbonyl-skipped oligoyne containing (n-1)/3 triple bonds. To complement the previously used [11+7] strategy, the [14+4] and [8+10] strategies were thus explored. They proved to be efficient, affording seven novel hexaoxy[6]pericyclynes corresponding to six different substitution patterns. These compounds were obtained in 7-15 steps as mixtures of stereoisomers. Thus, by using dibenzoylacetylene as the C(4) electrophile, a [14+4] strategy allowed the synthesis of two hexaphenyl representatives with two or four free carbinol vertices. This approach also afforded tetraphenyl representatives in which the two remaining carbinoxy vertices were substituted with either two alkynyl or one 4-anisyl and one 4-pyridyl groups. By using the hexacarbonyldicobalt complex of butynedial as the C(4) electrophile, a [14+4] strategy also allowed the isolation of a tetraphenylhexaoxy[6]pericyclyne with two adjacent unsubstituted carbinol vertices. A regioisomer with two opposite unsubstituted carbinol vertices was obtained through an [8+10] strategy and its oxidation afforded the corresponding pericyclynedione. Several attempts at synthesizing diphenylhexaoxy[6]pericyclynes with four unsubstituted carbinoxy vertices are described. Only an [8+10] strategy allowed the generation of a fragile diphenylhexaoxy[6]pericyclyne with four adjacent unsubstituted carbinoxy vertices, which could be partly characterized. These results show that the synthesis of the nonsubstituted hexahydroxy[6]pericyclyne, the ring carbo-mer of [6]cyclitol, is a difficult challenge.     

Reaction of trimethylaluminum with calixarenes. I. Synthesis and structure of [Calix[8]arene methyl ether] [AlMe3]6·2 toluene and of [p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene methyl ether] [AlMe3]6·4 benzene

Reaction of the methyl ether of calix[8]arene with AlMe₃ yields [calix[8]arene methyl ether] [AlMe₃]₆·2 toluene,1, while that ofp-tert-butylcalix[8]arene gives [p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene methyl ether] [AlMe₃]₆·4 benzene,2. Both compounds1 and2 fail to react with alkali metal salts, MX. In1, the absence of a butylpara-substituent affords greater flexibility than is the case for thetert-butyl compound2. Thus, all six of the AlMe₃ groups are located on the outside of the macrocyclic ring (in projection) in1, but two AlMe₃ units are found on the inside in2. Colorless, air-sensitive crystals of1 belong to the triclinic space group witha=13.690(8),b=14.317(4),c=14.738(6) Å, =76.11(3), =62.36(4), =82.41(4)^o, andD _c =1.06 g cm^–3 forZ=1. Refinement led toR=0.101 for 1154 observed reflections.2 crystallizes in with =12.400(6),b=16.229(8),c=19.251(5) Å, =96.17(3), =107.25(3), =101.54(3)^o, andD _c =1.01 g cm^–3 forZ=1. Refinement of2 gaveR=0.128 for 4351 observed reflections. The macrocyclic array in both1 and2 lies about a crystallographic center of inversion. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82049 (48 pages).