Influence of dimensionality and charge on anion binding in amide-based macrocyclic receptors

The influence of dimensionality and charge on anion binding and structure is explored for a selected series of amide-based macrocyclic receptors. Monocyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic hosts are described in terms of affinities towards simple oxo anions (including acetate) and halides. Binding propensities tend to vary, although some selectivity patterns emerge for similar ligand frameworks. Some anions also exert a template influence the cyclization reactions during the synthesis of host precursors. Structurally sandwich complexes are often formed in the monocycles, while bicycles tend to encapsulate their guests. Multiple anions plus water molecules are often found in the larger bicycles. Added charge via quaternization or protonation tends to enhance binding by one or two orders of magnitude while maintaining the same selectivity patterns.     

Tetrakis(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)distannene and its anion radical

Tetrakis(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)distannene 1 was synthesized by the coupling reaction of tBu2MeSiNa with SnCl2-diox in THF and isolated as dark-green crystals. X-ray analysis of 1 showed the shortest Sn=Sn double bond (2.6683(10) A) among all acyclic distannenes, an almost planar geometry around the Sn atoms, and a highly twisted Sn=Sn double bond. The reaction of distannene 1 with CCl4 produced 1,2-dichlorodistannane 2, implying that 1 does not dissociate into stannylenes, both in the solid state and in solution. The one-electron reduction of 1 with potassium furnished the corresponding distannene anion radical 3, the stable ion radical of the heavy alkene analogues, which has been fully characterized by X-ray crystallography and ESR spectroscopy.     

New strategy and methods for constructing artificial macrocyclic anion receptors. Selective binding of tetrahedral oxoanions

A new rational strategy for assembling highly selective neutral macrocyclic anionic receptors proposed by the authors is considered. The strategy includes preliminary theoretical modeling of supramolecular complexes, analysis of synthetic paths for receptor preparation, selection and synthesis of building blocks followed by their cyclocondensation under thermo-dynamic control in the presence of acid corresponding to the target template anion, which provides anion-induced combinatorial selection of the macrocyclic ligand in the emerging dynamic combinatorial library. Analysis of the properties of the obtained anion receptors showed that the number of hydrogen bonds formed between the receptor and the guest anion mainly determines the binding energy. The receptor selectivity for a particular anion is determined by the nature of coordination sites, their geometry in the macrocyclic cavity, and the overall conformation rigidity of the macrocycle. Using the developed strategy and novel synthetic approaches, a large series of highly selective anion receptors with record binding constants (up to 10^p7 L mol^p-1 in both highly and weakly solvating media) was constructed and the structures of the host—guest complexes were studied in detail by both experimental and theoretical methods     

Tetrakis(methylimidazole) and tetrakis(methylimidazolium) calix[4]arenes: competitive anion binding and deprotonation

Neutral tetrakis(methylimidazole) (1) and the novel cationic tetrakis(methylimidazolium) (2) calixarenes have been prepared and their solid-state and solution behaviour examined. The neutral imidazole forms a mono-zwitterion at elevated temperature, a feature that has been observed both in solution and in the solid-state. The cationic imidazolium exhibits a range of hydrogen bond interactions with anions, with the titration curves upon binding to basic anions suggesting sequential binding to both the upper and lower rims.     

Rigid macrocyclic triamides as anion receptors: anion-dependent binding stoichiometries and 1H chemical shift changes

The cyclic triamide of 3'-amino-3-biphenylcarboxlic acid is readily synthesized in a stepwise manner and represents a novel class of anion receptors with a large central cavity. This macrocycle binds more strongly to tetrahedral anions than spherical or planar anions in organic solvents. The binding stoichiometries for anions with symmetrical charge distribution depend on the solvent polarity, while tetrahedral p-tosylate binds to the macrocycle with 1:1 stoichiometry in all solvents studied. The (1)H NMR chemical shift changes of the protons lining the interior of the macrocycle's central cavity also depend on the geometry of the bound anion. The importance of the convergent array of hydrogen bond donors for anion binding by the macrocycle was confirmed by control studies with an acyclic triamide and a macrocycle with intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

New polydentate macrocyclic ligands of hybrid amine-imine and amide-imine types as artificial anion receptors. Synthesis and study of anion binding

Three new macrocyclic Schiff bases containing an amine or amide structural fragment along with imine groups were synthesized by condensation of 2,6-bis(2-aminophenyliminomethyl)pyridine (1) and N, N’-bis(2-aminophenyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (2) with 2,5-diformylpyrrole (₃) and 2,2-bis(5-formylpyrrol-2-yl)propane (4). The reaction of compound 1 with 3 proceeds abnormally and is accompanied by redox disproportionation of compound 1 in the first step. The structure of the macrocyclic product of this reaction was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Spectrophotometric titration showed that hybrid macrocycle 10, which was prepared by condensation of compound 2 with 4, possesses the properties of an anion receptor and selectively binds hydrosulfate and dihydrophosphate anions in the presence of bromide and nitrate anions. The structures of 10 and its adduct with the hydrosulfate anion were calculated by density functional theory.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 161–168, January, 2005.     

Ferrocene-based imidazolium receptors for anions

Cyclic and acyclic ferrocene derivatives bearing two imidazolium rings have been synthesized and characterized by NMR, elemental analysis, mass spectra, and X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical measurements revealed that all the receptors displayed a significant anodic shift response for F⁻. In addition, for receptors 1, 2, and 4, addition of HSO₄⁻ induced quite different electrochemical behavior with dramatic cathodic peak current increase on CV. ¹H NMR titrations demonstrated that receptors 1, 2, and 4 showed selectivity for AcO⁻ while receptor 3 exhibited high affinity toward Cl⁻ among the anions investigated.     

Fluorescent charge-assisted halogen-bonding macrocyclic halo-imidazolium receptors for anion recognition and sensing in aqueous media

The synthesis and anion binding properties of a new family of fluorescent halogen bonding (XB) macrocyclic halo-imidazolium receptors are described. The receptors contain chloro-, bromo-, and iodo-imidazolium motifs incorporated into a cyclic structure using naphthalene spacer groups. The large size of the iodine atom substituents resulted in the isolation of anti and syn conformers of the iodo-imidazoliophane, whereas the chloro- and bromo-imidazoliophane analogues exhibit solution dynamic conformational behavior. The syn iodo-imidazoliophane isomer forms novel dimeric isostructural XB complexes of 2:2 stoichiometry with bromide and iodide anions in the solid state. Solution phase DOSY NMR experiments indicate iodide recognition takes place via cooperative convergent XB-iodide 1:1 stoichiometric binding in aqueous solvent mixtures. (1)H NMR and fluorescence spectroscopic titration experiments with a variety of anions in the competitive CD(3)OD/D(2)O (9:1) aqueous solvent mixture demonstrated the bromo- and syn iodo-imidazoliophane XB receptors to bind selectively iodide and bromide respectively, and sense these halide anions exclusively via a fluorescence response. The protic-, chloro-, and anti iodo-imidazoliophane receptors proved to be ineffectual anion complexants in this aqueous methanolic solvent mixture. Computational DFT and molecular dynamics simulations corroborate the experimental observations that bromo- and syn iodo-imidazoliophane XB receptors form stable cooperative convergent XB associations with bromide and iodide.     

Nitro-substituted 3,3'-bis(indolyl)methane derivatives as anion receptors: electron-withdrawing effect and tunability of anion binding properties

A series of nitro-substituted 3,3'-bis-indolyl phenylmethane derivatives were synthesized and their anion binding properties were investigated in detail. The introduction of the electron-withdrawing nitro group into indole unit and/or meso-phenyl ring, which leads to the increased acidity of indole NH and meso-position CH proton, has a positive effect on anion binding. The nitro-substituted bis(indolyl)methane receptors exhibited selective colorimetric sensing of F- anion, as revealed by the notable color and spectral changes, rationally due to the deprotonation of the indole NH of the receptor. Meanwhile, the additive introduction of the nitro substituents on the meso-phenyl ring of bis(indolyl)methane can lead to the deprotonation of the meso-position CH and further induce an irreversible oxidation process obtaining bis(indolyl)methene product in the F- anion sensing system.     

Bambus[n]urils: a new family of macrocyclic anion receptors

A recently discovered anion receptor is jointed by three related macrocycles differing in the number of glycoluril units and type of substitution. The synthesis is carried out in nonpolar solvents compared to aqueous media used in the case of the original macrocycle. The size of macrocycle is controlled by a template. A hexameric macrocycle with benzyl substitution binds halide anions with an affinity exceeding 10(9) M(-1) while a tetrameric analog does not bind any of the investigated anions.     

Blue Tetrakis(diisopropylamino)-cyclo-tetraborane and Yellow Tetrakis(tetramethylpiperidino)tetrabora-tetrahedrane

The colored boranes closo- 1 and cyclo- 2 are obtained upon dehalogenation of sterically hindered diaminodichlorodiborane(4) 3 . The TMP groups of 1 cause the formation of a tetrahedrane, whereas in 2 the diisopropylamino substituents stabilize the bent four-membered ring. TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino.     

Cationic fac-tris(pyrazole) complexes as anion receptors

New receptors fac-[Re(CO)3(pz)3]BAr'4 (pz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazole or 3(5)-tert-butylpyrazole, Ar' = 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3), synthesized from [Re(OTf)(CO)5] and the pyrazoles, have been found to show a high affinity for chloride.     

Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)tetrahedrane

Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)tetrahedrane 3 has been synthesized upon irradiation of tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)cyclobutadiene 8, which can be prepared either by thermal nitrogen elimination from trimethylsilyl[1,2,3-tris(trimethylsilyl)-2-cycloprop-1-enyl]diazomethane 7 or by mild oxidation of cyclobutadiene dianion 9 with 1,2-dibromoethane. The structural characterization of tetrahedrane 3 has been achieved by X-ray crystallography. The surprising thermal stability of 3 - which is stable up to 300 degrees C - is discussed.