Depression of the apparent chiral recognition ability obtained in the host-guest complexation systems by electrospray and nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Chiral recognition in the host-guest complexation systems of chiral crown ether hosts and amino ester guests was thoroughly examined using the electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry/enantiomer labeled (EL)-guest method. In this method, the mass spectra of a mixture of three components in a solution, a chiral host (H), an equal amount of an (S)-enantiomer guest labeled with deuterium atoms (G(S-dn)(+)) and an unlabeled (R)-enantiomer guest (G(R)+), were measured and the relative peak intensity value [I(H + G(R))(+) / I(H + G(S-dn))(+) = IRIS] of the host-guest complex ions, observed with an excess guest concentration, was taken to provide the chiral recognition ability of the host. In our earlier report (1996), we demonstrated that the apparent chiral recognition abilities using a mass spectrometer with a homemade ESI interface were depressed by about one tenth compared with the corresponding abilities obtained by fast-atom bombardment (FAB) MS. In the present study, the enantioselective complexation behaviors of various combinations of chiral crown hosts with chiral guests were further investigated in detail mainly using a modern commercial ESI/ion trap (IT) mass spectrometer. Consequently, it was found that the apparent IRIS values from the ESI-MS/EL-guest method changed significantly, depending upon the instrument used, and in particular, upon the ESI interfaces. Moreover, under the specific measuring conditions in ESI-IT-MS, the degrees of depression of the apparent chiral recognition abilities are roughly grouped into three classes, depending upon the number (or probably the type) of the hydrophobic substituents of the hosts. Representing the degrees by the slopes when plotting the apparent IRIS values in ESI-MS versus those in FAB-MS, the slopes for the three classes are (1) 1.0, (2) 0.7 and (3) 0.3; the higher the hydrophobicity of the hosts (and then, the host-guest complex ions), the lower the slope (the apparent enantioselectivity). Strengthening the degree of depression may be caused by an increase in the local concentration of the host close to the surface of the droplets produced during the electrospary ionization process. The chiral recognition ability (K(R )/ K(S)) in an equilibrated solution agrees quite well with the IRIS value in FAB-MS rather than that in ESI-MS.     

A novel chiral terpyridine macrocycle as a fluorescent sensor for enantioselective recognition of amino acid derivatives

Terpyridine macrocycle 1 is shown to be a strong chelating agent for organic ammonium salts and also a useful chromophore in fluorescent sensing. It exhibits very good enantioselectivity (K(obs)(S)/K(obs)(R)= 3.8) in chiral discrimination of alpha-phenylglycine methyl ester hydrochloride (PhEtOMe).     

Gd(III)[15-metallacrown-5] recognition of chiral α-amino acid analogues

Chiral Ln(III)[15-metallacrown-5] complexes with phenyl side chains have been shown to encapsulate aromatic carboxylates reversibly in their hydrophobic cavities. Given the importance of selective guest binding for applications of supramolecular containers in synthesis, separations, and materials design, the affinity of Gd(III)[15-metallacrown(Cu(II), L-pheHA)-5] hosts for a series of chiral carboxylate guests with varying substitutions on the α-carbon (phenylalanine, N-acetyl-phenylalanine, phenyllactate, mandelate, methoxyphenylacetate) has been investigated. Differential binding of S- and R-phenylalanine was revealed by X-ray crystallography, as the S-enantiomer exclusively forms associative hydrogen bonds with oxygen atoms in the metallacrown ring. Selective guest binding in solution was assessed with isothermal titration calorimetry, which measures the sequential guest binding in the hydrophobic cavity first and the hydrophilic face of the host, and a cyclic voltammetry assay, which quantifies guest binding strength in the hydrophobic cavity of the host exclusively. In solution, the Gd(III)[15-metallacrown(Cu(II), L-pheHA)-5] hydrophobic cavity exhibits modest chiral selectivity for enantiomers of phenylalanine (K(S)/K(R) = 2.4) and mandelate (K(S)/K(R) = 1.22). Weak binding constants of ～100 M(-1) were measured for neutral and -1 charged carboxylates with hydrophilic functional groups (ammonium, N-acetyl, methyl ether). Weaker binding relative to the unsubstituted guests is attributed to unfavorable interactions between the hydrophilic functionalities of the guest and the hydrophobic cavity of the host. In contrast, binding constants greater than 2000 M(-1) were measured for α-hydroxy analogues phenyllactate and mandelate. The significantly increased affinity likely arises from the guests being bound as a -2 anion upon metal-assisted deprotonation in the Gd(III)[15-metallacrown(Cu(II), l-pheHA)-5] cavity. It is established that guest binding affinity in the hydrophobic cavity of the host follows the general trend of neutral zwitterion < monoanion < dianion, with hydrophilic functional groups decreasing the binding affinity. These results have broad implications for the development of metallacrowns as supramolecular catalysts or in chiral separations.     

High proton conduction in a chiral ferromagnetic metal-organic quartz-like framework

A complex-as-ligand strategy to get a multifunctional molecular material led to a metal-organic framework with the formula (NH(4))(4)[MnCr(2)(ox)(6)]·4H(2)O. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the anionic bimetallic coordination network adopts a chiral three-dimensional quartz-like architecture. It hosts ammonium cations and water molecules in functionalized channels. In addition to ferromagnetic ordering below T(C) = 3.0 K related to the host network, the material exhibits a very high proton conductivity of 1.1 × 10(-3) S cm(-1) at room temperature due to the guest molecules.     

Synthesis and structural and photoswitchable properties of novel chiral host molecules: axis chiral 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl-appended stiff-stilbene

Novel photoswitchable chiral hosts having an axis chiral 2,2'-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthyl (BINOL)-appended stiff-stilbene, trans-(R,R)- and -(S,S)-1, were synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and low-valence titanium-catalyzed McMurry coupling as key steps, and they were fully characterized by various NMR spectral techniques. The enantiomers of trans-1 showed almost complete mirror images in the CD spectra, where two split Cotton effects (exciton coupling) were observed in the beta-transitions of the naphthyl chromophore at 222 and 235 nm, but no Cotton effect was observed in the stiff-stilbene chromophore at 365 nm. The structures of (R)-10 and trans-(R,R)-1 were confirmed by X-ray structural analysis. The optimized structure of cis-1 by MO calculations has a wide chiral cavity of 7-8 A in diameter, whereas trans-1 cannot form an intramolecular cavity based on the X-ray data. Irradiation of (R,R)-trans-1 with black light (lambda = 365 nm) in CH3CN or benzene at 23 degrees C led to the conversion to the corresponding cis-isomer, as was monitored by 1H NMR, UV-vis, and CD spectra. At the photostationary state, the cis-1/trans-1 ratio was 86/14 in benzene or 75/25 in CH3CN. On the other hand, irradiation of the cis-1/trans-1 (75/25) mixture in CH3CN with an ultra-high-pressure Hg lamp at 23 degrees C (lambda = 410 nm) led to the photostationary state, where the cis-1/trans-1 ratio was estimated to be 9/91 on the basis of the 1H NMR spectra. The cis-trans and trans-cis interconversions could be repeated 10 times without decomposition of the C=C double bond. Thus, a new type of photoswitchable molecule has been developed, and trans-1 and cis-1 were quite durable under irradiation conditions. The guest binding properties of the BINOL moieties of trans- and cis-(R,R)-1 with F-, Cl-, and H2PO4- were examined by 1H NMR titration in CDCl3. Similar interaction with F- and Cl- was observed in trans-1 (host/guest = 1/1, Kassoc = (1.0 +/- 0.13) x 103 for F- and (4.6 +/- 0.72) x 102 M-1 for Cl-) and cis-1 (host/guest = 1/1, Kassoc = (1.0 +/- 0.13) x 103 for F- and (5.9 +/- 0.69) x 10 M-1 for Cl-), but H2PO4- interacted differently: the cis-isomer formed the 1/1 complex (Kassoc = (9.38 +/- 2.67) x 10 M-1), whereas multistep equilibrium was expected for the trans-isomer.     

Unprecedented chiral molecular recognition in a C3-symmetric environment.

The enantiomeric recognition of alpha-chiral primary ammonium ions has been studied with benzene-based tripodal tris(oxazoline) receptors. Contrary to the literature and our expectation, a good level of chiral discrimination is observed with one of the tripodal receptors, which provides a C3-symmetric chiral environment on guest binding. The chiral discrimination has been found to be general in the case of alpha-aryl substituted guests, suggesting pi-pi interactions as an important factor. This result raises a question with respect to the origin of the chiral discrimination since little steric or electronic difference is expected between the diastereomeric inclusion complexes. Binding studies by NMR titration and isothermal titration calorimetry show that the chiral discrimination results from the different thermodynamic stabilities between the diastereomeric complexes and that the host-guest complex formation is driven by favorable enthalpy changes with a minor negative contribution by entropy changes. The X-ray crystal structures for both of the diastereomeric inclusion complexes are resolved, which unambiguously show the binding mode and provide clues on the origin of the chiral discrimination. Bond angle analyses indicate that the minor complex experiences a larger steric strain, which is discernible when it is viewed from "three-body" interactions between the host and the guest. The guest and oxazoline phenyl rings are well stacked, indicating interplay of the pi-pi interactions. The pi-pi interactions are believed to stabilize host-guest complexes, thereby endowing the highly flexible receptors with a substantial enantio-discrimination.     

18-crown-6 ether complexes with aralkylammonium perchlorates

Thermochemical properties of crown ether complexes have been studied by simultaneous TG-DTA (thermogravimetric analysis-differential thermal analysis) coupled with a mass spectrometer, DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and hot stage microscopy (HSM). The examined complexes contain benzylammonium- [BA], (R)-(+)-a-phenylethylammonium- [(R)-PEA], (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-a-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium perchlorate [(R)-NEA and (S)-NEA] salts as guests. In the cases of BA and (R)-PEA an achiral pyridono-18-crown-6 ligand [P18C6], and in the case of (R)-NEA and (S)-NEA a chiral (R,R)-dimethylphenazino-18-crown-6 ligand [(R,R)-DMPh18C6] was used as host molecule to obtain four different crown ether complexes. In all cases, the melting points of the complexes were higher than those of both the host and the guest compounds. The decomposition of the complexes begins immediately after their melting is completed, while the BA and (R)-PEA salts and the crown ether ligands are thermally stable by 50 to 100 K above their melting points. During the decomposition of the salts and the four complexes strongly exothermic processes can be observed which are due to oxidative reactions of the perchlorate anion. Ammonium perchlorate crystals were identified among the decomposition residues of the salts. P18C6 was observed to crystallize with two molecules of water. The studied complexes of P18C6 did not contain any solvate. BA was observed to exhibit a reversible solid-solid phase transition upon heating. The heterochiral complex consisting of (S)-NEA and (R,R)-DMPh18C6 shows a solid-solid phase transition followed by two melting points. HSM observations identified three crystal modifications, two of them simultaneously co-existing. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inherently chiral phosphonatocavitands as artificial chemo- and enantio-selective receptors of natural ammoniums

Inherently chiral phosphonatocavitands with various bridging moieties at their wide rim were synthesized. Optical resolution by chiral HPLC was performed with cavitand 8 to afford enantiopure compounds (+)-8 and (-)-8. The molecular structures of hosts 8 and 12 were determined by X-ray diffraction. The host properties were investigated by (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy. The phosphonatocavitands form inclusion complexes with chiral ammonium neurotransmitters, some presenting enantioselectivity towards the right or left-handed host enantiomers.     

Chiroptic behaviour of a chiral guest in an achiral cucurbit[7]uril host

The protonated forms of the chiral molecules (S)- and (R)-N-benzyl-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine (BNEAH⁺) form very stable 1:1 guest–host complexes with cucurbit[7]uril in aqueous solution. The stoichiometry and stability constants for the guest–host complexes were determined by ¹H NMR, UV–visible and circular dichroism spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The molecular optical rotations of the guests increase in magnitude by about 5-fold upon formation of the {BNEAH·CB[7]}⁺ species. Energy minimized structures of the guests and guest–host complexes indicate changes in the dihedral angles about the stereogenic centre upon ion-dipole and H-bonding interactions between the ammonium hydrogens of the guest and the carbonyl groups of the cucurbituril portals. The increases in the optical rotations are discussed in terms of restricted rotations of the naphthyl groups and in preferential solvation of benzylamine in the cucurbit[7]uril cavity.     

Complexation and chiral recognition thermodynamics of 6-amino-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin with anionic, cationic, and neutral chiral guests: counterbalance between van der Waals and coulombic interactions

The stability constant (K), standard free energy (Delta G degrees), enthalpy (Delta H degrees), and entropy changes (T Delta S degrees) for the complexation of 6-amino-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin with more than 50 negatively or positively charged as well as neutral guests, including 22 enantiomer pairs, have been determined in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 6.9) at 298.15 K by titration microcalorimetry. The thermodynamic parameters obtained in this study and the relevant data for native beta-cyclodextrin indicate that the complexation and chiral discrimination behavior of the cationic host with charged guests are governed by the critical counterbalance between the electrostatic interactions of the charged groups in host and guest and the conventional intracavity interactions of the hydrophobic moiety of guest, such as hydrophobic, van der Waals, solvation/desolvation, and hydrogen-bonding interactions.     

Thermodynamics of the molecular and chiral recognition of cycloalkanols and camphor by modified beta-cyclodextrins possessing simple aromatic tethers

The complex stability constants (K(S)) and thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG degrees, DeltaH degrees, and TDeltaS degrees ) for 1:1 inclusion complexation of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) derivatives, 6-O-phenyl-beta-CD (2) 6-O-(4-formyl-phenyl)-beta-CD (3), 6-O-(4-nitrophenyl)-beta-CD (4), 6-O-(4-bromophenyl)-beta-CD (5), 6-O-(4-chlorophenyl)]-beta-CD (6), and 6-O-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-CD (7) with representative guest molecules, cyclic alcohols (cyclopentanol, cyclohexanol, cycloheptanol, cyclooctanol), (+/-)-borneol, and (+/-)-camphor, have been determined by means of titration microcalorimetry in an aqueous phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.20) at 298.15 K. The results obtained indicate that the introduction to beta-CD of an aromatic ring bearing different substituent groups significantly enhances the molecular binding ability and moderately alters the chiral discrimination ability for the guests examined here, displaying the highest enantioselectivity of up to 4.01 for the inclusion complexation of 6 with (+/-)-camphor. The enhanced molecular/chiral discrimination ability caused by derivatization is attributed solely to increased positive entropy changes due to the expanding hydrophobic interaction and desolvation effects. The binding modes of host-guest interactions derived from ROESY spectroscopy data show that the resulting complex of 4 and (+)-borneol possesses better induced-fit interaction as compared to (-)-borneol, which is responsible for the enhanced molecular/chiral recognition ability.     

Recognition of alpha-amino acid derivatives by N,N'-dibenzylated S,S-(+)-tetrandrine

Complexation of free and N-acetylated alpha-amino acid anions (Gly, Ala, Phe) and some structurally related guests by a dicationic cyclophane-type N,N'-dibenzylated chiral derivative of a bisisoquinoline macrocyclic alkaloid S,S-(+)-tetrandrine (DBT) has been studied by (1)H-NMR titrations in D(2)O. In contrast to other macrocyclic hosts like cyclodextrins and calixarenes, DBT shows highest affinity and large enantioselectivity (K(S)/K(R) >/=10) toward smaller N-acetylalanine and binds larger phenylalanine derivatives more weakly and non-selectively. With 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylate, a rigid analog of phenylalanine, binding again becomes enantioselective with K(S)/K(R)= 3.8. The binding specificity of DBT is rationalized on the basis of molecular mechanics calculations.     

Enhanced guest affinity and enantioselectivity through variation of the Gd3+ [15-metallacrown-5] side chain

Supramolecular hosts that bind guests reversibly are investigated for potential catalysis and separations applications. Chiral Ln(3+)[15-Metallacrown-5] metallocavitands bind carboxylate guests in hydrophobic cavities generated by their ligand side chains. A thermodynamic study on Gd(3+)[15-metallacrown-5] hosts with ligands bearing phenyl side chains containing 0, 1, and 2 methylene spacers (1-pgHA, 1-pheHA, 1-hpheHA, respectively) is presented to quantitatively assess how guest affinity and chiral selectivity can be enhanced through changes to the ligand side chain. Guest binding affinity was measured with cyclic voltammetry using ferrocene carboxylate as a redox probe. K(a) values between ferrocene carboxylate and 1-pgHA and 1-pheHA were 4800 ± 400 M(-1) and 4400 ± 700 M(-1), respectively. Significantly stronger binding affinity of 12,100 ± 700 M(-1) was measured with 1-hpheHA, a result of the longer side-chains more completely encapsulating the guest. A similar trend was observed with benzoate. The side chain also influenced enantioselectivity, as K(S)/K(R) values of up to 2.2 ± 0.6 were measured. The side chain dependent guest binding supports the development of highly selective Ln(3+)[15-Metallacrown-5] hosts for use in catalysis and separations through careful ligand design.     

Fluorescence sensing of ammonium and organoammonium ions with tripodal oxazoline receptors

A new class of fluorescence sensors for ammonium and organoammonium ions has been disclosed. One of the sensors, an alaninol-derived tripodal oxazoline (1a) shows significant fluorescence enhancement upon binding NH(4)(+) but little response toward K(+), Na(+), and Mg(2+) ions. Owing to its chiral environment, a phenylglycinol-derived tripodal oxazoline (1b) shows chiral discrimination in fluorescence upon binding enantiomeric guests. [reaction: see text]     

Recognition of mandelate stereoisomers by chiral porphyrin hosts: prediction of stereopreference in guest binding a priori using a simple binding model?

Rigid porphyrin hosts that mimic the spatial arrangement of mandelate recognition motifs lead to stereoselective receptors and illustrate how subtle structural differences in host design have significant impact on guest recognition. The porphyrin hosts are obtained with minimal synthetic effort from readily available chiral amine precursors and are modular in design. The chiral recognition properties of the porphyrin-based hosts with chiral carboxylate-containing guests and chiral amines are described. UV/vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopic results indicate some of these porphyrin hosts undergo an induced fit conformational change upon guest binding.     

Synthesis and characterization of some new C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands derived from chiral Feist's acid

The hemilabile chiral C2 symmetrical bidentate substituted amide ligands (1R,2R)-5(a-d) and (1S,2S)-6(a-d) were synthesized in quantitative yield from (1R,2R)-(+)-3-methylenecyclo-propane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-(-)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1S,2S)-3, in two steps, respectively. The chiral Feist's acids (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-3 were obtained in good isomeric purity by resolution of trans-(±)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid from an 8:2 mixture of tert-butanol and water, using (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzyl amine as a chiral reagent. This process is reproducible on a large scale. All these new synthesized chiral ligands were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry, as well as elemental analysis and their specific rotations were measured. These new classes of C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands could be of special interest in asymmetric transformations.     

Structural Elucidation of the Mechanism of Molecular Recognition in Chiral Crystalline Sponges

To gain insight into chiral recognition in porous materials we have prepared a family of fourth generation chiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that have rigid frameworks and adaptable (flexible) pores. The previously reported parent material, [Co₂(S‐mandelate)₂(4,4′‐bipyridine)₃](NO₃)₂, CMOM‐ 1S , is a modular MOF; five new variants in which counterions (BF₄^?, CMOM‐ 2S ) or mandelate ligands are substituted (2‐Cl, CMOM‐ 11R ; 3‐Cl, CMOM‐ 21R ; 4‐Cl, CMOM‐ 31R ; 4‐CH₃, CMOM‐ 41R ) and the existing CF₃SO₃^? variant CMOM‐ 3S are studied herein. Fine‐tuning of pore size, shape, and chemistry afforded a series of distinct host–guest binding sites with variable chiral separation properties with respect to three structural isomers of phenylpropanol. Structural analysis of the resulting crystalline sponge phases revealed that host–guest interactions, guest–guest interactions, and pore adaptability collectively determine chiral discrimination.     

Anthracene derivatives bearing thiourea and glucopyranosyl groups for the highly selective chiral recognition of amino acids: opposite chiral selectivities from similar binding units

Two new anthracene thiourea derivatives, 1 and 2, were investigated as fluorescent chemosensors for the chiral recognition of the two enantiomers of alpha-amino carboxylates. Especially, host 2 displayed K(L)/K(D) values as high as 10.4 with t-Boc alanine. Furthermore, the D/L selectivity of hosts 1 and 2 is opposite, even though both hosts bear the same glucopyranosyl units. These intriguing opposite D/L binding affinities by 1 and 2 were obtained without/with H-pi interaction between anthrancene moiety and the methyl groups, which were explained by extensive high-level theoretical investigations taking into account the dispersion energy as well as the 2D-NMR chemical shifts.     

竞争包结法研究β-环糊精及其两种衍生物对一些手性脂肪族客体分子的识别作用

以酚酞作为光谱探针 ,采用紫外 可见光谱滴定法测定了 β 环糊精 (β CD)、单 (6 氧 α 麦芽糖 ) β 环糊精 (6 G2 β CD )和单 [2 氧 (2 羟丙基 ) ] β 环糊精 (2 HP β CD )在 2 5℃时 ,pH =10 5缓冲液中(0 0 2 5mol/L)与几种脂肪族手性客体分子所形成超分子配合物的稳定常数 .结果表明 ,多种弱相互作用力协同作用于环糊精的配位过程 ,主 客体间的尺寸匹配决定所形成配合物的稳定性 .环糊精衍生物的取代基影响主体的配位能力 ,对于尺寸较小的客体分子配位能力的大小一般为 2 HP β CD >β CD >6 G2 β CD .另一方面 ,3种环糊精主体化合物对一些脂肪族客体分子也表现出一定的手性识别能力 ,对 (+ ) 异构体给出相对较强的键合能力 ,其中 ,2 HP β CD对 (+ ) /(- ) 樟脑的配位选择性为 1 2 5 .     

Diastereoselective fragmentation of chiral alpha-aminophosphonic acids/metal ion aggregates

Diastereomeric clusters of general formula [MAB(2)](+) and [MA(2)B](+) (M = Li(I), Na(I), Ag(I), Ni(II)-H, or Cu(II)-H; A = (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-(1-aminopropyl)phosphonic acid; B = (1R)-(-)- and (1S)-(+)-(1-aminohexyl)phosphonic acid) have been readily generated in the electrospray ionization (ESI) source of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer and their collision-induced dissociation (CID) investigated. CID of diastereomeric complexes, e.g. [MA(S)(B(S))(2)](+) and [MA(R)(B(S))(2)](+), leads to fragmentation patterns characterized by R(homo) = [MA(S)B(S)](+)/[M(B(S))(2)](+) and R(hetero) = [MA(R)B(S)](+)/[M(B(S))(2)](+) abundance ratios, which depend upon the relative stability of the diastereomeric [MA(S)B(S)](+) and [MA(R)B(S)](+) complexes in the gas phase. The chiral resolution factor R(chiral) = R(homo)/R(hetero) is found to depend not only on the nature of the M ion but also on that of the fragmenting species, whether [MAB(2)](+) or [MA(2)B](+). The origin of this behavior is discussed.