Synthesis, complexation studies and biological activity of some novel mono and tricyclic cyclophane amides and cyclophane sulfonamides

A series of mono, tricyclic cyclophane tetraamides and cyclophane sulfonamides have been synthesized and characterized from spectral and XRD studies. All the cyclophane amides form charge transfer (CT) complex with TCNQ. The cyclophane amides show moderate to good anti-inflammatory activity. Some of them were active against Gram positive (Klebsiella pneumonia) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) human pathogens.     

Electromechanics of a redox-active rotaxane in a monolayer assembly on an electrode

A rotaxane monolayer consisting of the cyclophane, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (2), threaded on a "molecular string" that includes a pi-donor diiminobenzene unit and stoppered by an adamantane unit is assembled on a Au electrode. The surface coverage of the electroactive cyclophane unit, E degrees = -0.43 V vs SCE, corresponds to 0.8 x 10(-10) mol.cm(-2). The cyclophane (2) is structurally localized on the molecular string by generating a pi-donor-acceptor complex with the diiminobenzene units of the molecular string. The cyclophane (2) acts as a molecular shuttle, revealing electrochemically driven mechanical translocations along the molecular wire. Reduction of the cyclophane (2) to the respective biradical-dication results in its dissociation from the pi-donor site, and the reduced cyclophane is translocated toward the electrode. Oxidation of the reduced cyclophane reorganizes 2 on the pi-donor-diiminobenzene sites. The positions of the oxidized and reduced cyclophane units are characterized by chronoamperometric and impedance measurements. Using double-step chronoamperometric measurements the dynamics of the translocation of the cyclophane units on the molecular string is characterized. The reduced cyclophane moves toward the electrode with a rate constant corresponding to k(1) = 320 s(-1), whereas the translocation of the oxidized cyclophane from the electrode to the pi-donor binding site proceeds with a rate constant of k(2) = 80 s(-1). Also, in situ electrochemical/contact angle measurements reveal that the electrochemically driven translocation of the cyclophane on the molecular string provides a means to reversibly control the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the surface. The latter system demonstrates the translation of a molecular motion into the macroscopic motion of a water droplet.     

A general synthesis of bis(n6−[2n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) compounds

Hydride reduction of (n⁶-arene)(n⁶?[2_n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) compounds, followed by treatment with acid, gives (n⁶?[2_n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) solvates and thus provides a general synthesis for bis(n⁶?[2_n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) compounds.     

Preparation and multivalently enhanced guest-binding affinity of water-soluble cyclophane heptadecamers

Water-soluble cyclophane heptadecamers (17a and 17b), which were constructed with the core cyclophane heptadecamer and 36 polar side chains with a terminal galactose or glucose residue, respectively, were prepared. An analogous cyclophane pentamer (5a) was also prepared. The stoichiometry for the complex of the cyclophane oligomers with fluorescence guests such as TNS was confirmed to be 1:1 host:guest by a Job plot. The guest-binding affinity of cyclophane heptadecamers 17a and 17b was much enhanced relative to that of a corresponding monocyclic cyclophane (1a), i.e., the 1:1 binding constant (K) values for 17a with TNS, 2,6-ANS, and 1,8-ANS were ca. 1700-, 1600-, and 1500-fold larger than those of 1a for the identical guests, respectively, which reflects the multivalency effects in macrocycles. Meanwhile, the corresponding K values for the cyclophane pentamer 5a with TNS, 2,6-ANS, and 1,8-ANS were ca. 250-, 250-, and 110-fold larger than those of 1a for the identical guest, respectively.     

Substrate specificity and reaction directionality of a three-residue cyclophane forming enzyme PauB

Three-residue cyclophane-forming enzymes (3-CyFEs) are a group of radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides (RiPPs). 3-CyFE catalyzes the crosslinking between an aromatic residue (Ω1) and a non-aromatic residue (X3) in a Ω1-X2-X3 motif to produce a cyclophane ring, a key step in the biosynthesis of the RiPP natural product triceptide. In this study, we perform a genome-wide search for the Xye-type triceptides, showing these RiPPs are likely class-specific and only present in gamma-proteobacteria. The 3-CyFE PauB from Photorhabdus australis exhibits a relaxed substrate specificity on the X3 position, but glycine in this position is not suitable for cyclophane formation. We also reconstituted the activity of PauB in vitro, showing it produces the N-terminal cyclophane firstly, and then the C-terminal ring, whereas the middle cyclophane is produced in the last step.     

Synthesis, characterization and ion transportation studies of some novel cyclophane amides

Various novel cyclophane amides with a large cavity have been synthesized. The structures of cyclophane amides 14 and 15 were resolved using XRD studies. Cyclophane amide 28 shows a shift in λ_max in the UV/Vis. spectra when treated with Cu (II) ion as well as with Pb (II) ion. Ion transportation studies were carried out with cyclophane amide 14 which proved that the Na⁺ ion passes through the cavity while K⁺ ions are retained.     

Syntheses of chiral bishomodiazacalix[4]arenes incorporating amino acid residues: Molecular recognition for racemic ammonium ions by the macrocycles possessing tyrosine residues

Chiral bishomodiazacalix[4]arenes containing amino acid residues were prepared. The ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectra indicated that the macrocycles preferably adopted a cone conformation, which suggested that the cyclophane moiety was in a chiral twisted form. Circular dichroism spectra supported the existence of the chirality of the cyclophane unit, and showed that intramolecular hydrogen bonding plays an important role in the transmission of the chirality from the amino acid residues to the cyclophane moiety. Macrocycles bearing a tyrosine residue have a π‐base cavity large enough to include the ammonium ion, and can serve as a shift reagent for the racemic ammonium ions upon complexation during a ¹H nmr analysis.     

Regulation of dynamic structure of cyclophanes by their complexation with the porphyrin

Dithia[3.3]metacyclophanes which consist of the pyridine unit connecting to the different positions of the parent cyclophane skeleton have been prepared. Conformational change has been observed for the cyclophane having a 4-substituted pyridine unit by binding to the porphyrin. In contrast the porphyrin binding has no influence on conformational behavior of the cyclophane having a 3-substituted pyridine unit.     

Spectroscopic properties of cyclophane/anthracene and cyclophane/9-fluorenone complexes in dichloromethane

Host/guest interactions of cyclophane/anthracene (C/A) and cyclophane/9-fluorenone (C/F) complexes in dichloromethane, where the cyclophane molecule is the host, are investigated. The stability constants, log K_a, for the C/A and C/F complexes are determined by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. For the C/A system, log K_a is 4.2±0.2 as determined from absorption (at 325 nm) and emission (at 382, 403 and 427 nm) spectroscopic data. The analogous measurements yield 3.6±0.2 from absorption (at 309 nm) and emission (at 505 nm) spectroscopic data for the C/F system. Heats of formation of these complexes were determined by measuring the complex association constants at 25, 29 and 32 °C. These results reveal that binding of the anthracene guest by this cyclophane molecule is thermodynamically favored over that for a 9-fluorenone guest. Excited state lifetimes of these systems are also determined.     

Molecular Recognition by Cyclophane/Guanidinium Supramolecular Receptor Embedded at the Air-Water Interface

In order to develop a supramolecular receptor through a self-assembling process, a site-specific host and an inclusion-type host were mixed as a Langmuir monolayer, and guest binding and pressure-induced fluorescence emission were investigated. A guanidinium amphiphile and several cyclophanes carrying hydrophobic moieties were used as the host molecules; molecular recognition of an aqueous fluorescent guest, 6-p-toluidino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (TNS) by binary mixed receptor monolayers was evaluated by a surface pressure-molecular area (π-A) isotherm and a surface fluorescence measurement. An apparent increase in fluorescence intensity was observed when the mixed monolayers of the guanidinium and cyclophane amphiphiles were compressed on an aqueous TNS solution. In contrast, single-component monolayers of the guanidinium or the cyclophane did not show a significant increase in fluorescence emission. In the mixed monolayers, the guest TNS would be bound to the interface by strong electrostatic interaction with the guanidinium, and inclusion of the formed complex probably suppresses the quenching effect in polar medium and/or self-quenching. Experiments with various mixing ratios of these components suggest selective formation of an equimolar cooperative receptor of the guanidinium and the cyclophane. Investigation of the cyclophane structures by fluorescence emission and a competitive binding experiment with another guest were also carried out.     

Cyclophane-lectin Conjugates as a New Class of Water-soluble Host

A conjugate composed of tetraaza[6.1.6.1]paracyclophane bearing carboxylic acids and lectin, a carbohydrate binding protein, was prepared. The specific saccharide-binding abilities as well as the secondary structural features of the lectin were not disturbed, when the cyclophane were covalently bound to the lectin. The conjugate was found to act as a water-soluble host for inclusion of anionic guest molecules such as 6-p-toluidino-naphthalene-2-sulfonate (TNS) and 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulfonate (ANS) in aqueous acetate buffer (pH 4.0) with binding constants of 4.2 × 10⁴ and 1.5 × 10⁴ dm³ mol⁻¹, respectively. The obtained binding constants were much larger than those by untethered water-soluble cyclophane. A highly desolvated microenvironment was provided by the cyclophane cavity on the protein surfaces so that the tight host–guest interaction, which brought about the marked motional repression of the entrapped guests, became effective. The conjugate also showed molecular discrimination capabilities toward the anionic guests through electrostatic repulsion mechanism originating from acid-dissociation equilibrium of carboxylic acids of the cyclophane branches.     

Methylated multibridged [2n]cyclophanes. All alternate synthesis of [26](1,2,3,4,5,6) cyclophane (superphane)

A sequence of formylation followed by a carbene insertion reaction has led to the stepwise introduction of additional ethano bridges into 4,5,7,8- tetramethyl [2₂](1,4)cyclophane ($\text{1}$), providing syntheses of 5,7,8-trimethyl- [2₃](l,2,4)cyclophane ($\text{6}$), a mixture of 5,8-dimethyl[2₄(1,2,4,5)cyclophane ($\text{10}$) and 5,7-dimethyl[2₄(1,2,3,5)cyclophane ($\text{11}$, and-4-methyl[2₅](1,2,3,4,5)-cyclophane ($\text{14}$). This route to $\text{14}$ completes a formal eight-step synthesis of [2₆](1,2,3,4,5,6)cyclophane ($\text{15}$, superphane) with an overall yield of 17%. A Birch reduction of $\text{6}$ readily gave 12,15-dihydro-5,7,8-trimethyl[2₃](1,2,4)-cyclophane ($\text{7}$) in 85% yield.     

Self-Assembly of a Trithioorthoformate-Capped Cyclophane and Its Endohedral Inclusion of a Methine Group

An unusual trithioorthoformate-capped cyclophane cage was assembled via antimony-activated iodine oxidation of thiols as confirmed by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The disulfide bridges can undergo desulfurization with hexamethylphosphorous triamide (HMPT) at ambient temperature to capture a trithioether cyclophane cage capped by the trithioorthoformate. In both cages a methine proton points directly into the small cavity. This unexpected structure is hypothesized to have formed as a result of haloform insertion during oxidation.     

Hexaaminobenzene derivatives: synthesis and unusual oxidation behavior

The syntheses and the electrochemical behavior of the monomeric peralkylated hexaamino(1,3)metacyclophane 4, the dimeric dodecaamino(1,3)cyclophane 5a, and the dodecaamino(1,3,5)cyclophane 6 are described. Electrochemical measurements show that the hexaaminobenzene units in 4 and 5a undergo an unusually slow two-electron transfer attributed to the deformation of the rings into bis-cyanine cations when oxidized to the respective dication. Further oxidations to tri-, tetra-, and hexacationic units occur at more positive potentials. In the dimeric structures, no interaction between the rings can be seen in the (1,3)cyclophane, but strong interaction for the (1,3,5)cyclophane is observed.     

Tuneable side-chain supramolecular polymer

[reaction: see text] A random copolymer containing 1,5-dialkyloxynaphthalene moieties has been synthesized using atom-transfer radical polymerization. We have shown that this polymer has the ability to form complexes with the tetracationic cyclophane cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (CBPQT(4+)) and that electrochemical reduction of the cyclophane or the addition of a competing guest for the cavity of the cyclophane results in disassembly of the supramolecular polymer.     

Temperature-dependent and friction-controlled electrochemically induced shuttling along molecular strings associated with electrodes.

The temperature and solvent composition dependence of the electrochemically stimulated rate of shuttling of the redox-active cyclophane, cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene), on a molecular string has been studied. The molecular string includes a pi-donor diiminebenzene-site that is associated on one side with an electrode, and stoppered on the other side with an adamantane unit. The cyclophane rests on the pi-donor site, owing to stabilizing pi-donor-acceptor interactions. Electrochemical reduction of the cyclophane units, to the bis-radical cation cyclophane, results in the shuttling of the reduced cyclophane towards the electrode, a process that is driven by the removal of the stabilizing donor-acceptor interactions, and the electrostatic attraction of the reduced product by the electrode. The latter process is energetically downhill, and is temperature-independent. Upon oxidation of the reduced cyclophane that is associated with the electrode, the energetically uphill shuttling of the oxidized cyclophane to the pi-donor site proceeds. The rate of this translocation process has been found to be temperature-dependent, and controlled by the solvent composition. The experimental results have been theoretically analyzed in terms of Kramers' molecular friction model. The theoretical fitting of the experimental results, using solutions of variable composition, reveals that the rate-constants for the uphill reaction in a pure aqueous solution follow the temperature-dependence of the viscosity of water. The results demonstrate the significance of friction phenomena in shuttling processes within molecular machines.     

A photoswitchable rotaxane with a folded molecular thread

Novel [2]rotaxanes containing the tetracationic cyclophane cyclobis(paraquat-4,4-biphenylene) and a dumbbell-shaped molecular thread incorporating a photoactive diarylcycloheptatriene station as well as a photoinactive anisol station have been synthesized with yields of nearly 50 % by the alkylative endcapping method. The rotaxane was transformed into the related rotaxane incorporating a diaryl tropylium unit by electrochemical oxidation. The precursor of the cycloheptatrienyl rotaxane, the related pseudorotaxane, and the rotaxanes incorporating the diarylcycloheptatriene and the corresponding tropylium unit were characterized by (1)HNMR spectroscopy and UV/Vis spectroscopy. According to the NMR spectra, both the cycloheptatriene and the tropylium rotaxane possess a folded conformation enabling the tetracationic cyclophane to interact with two stations. The diarylcycloheptatriene station is incorporated inside the cavity of the cyclophane and the anisol station resides alongside the bipyridinium unit of the cyclophane. In contrast, the anisol station is inside the cyclophane in the tropylium rotaxane. The exchange between both conformations can be achieved by introducing the methoxy leaving group into the cycloheptatriene ring; the tropylium rotaxane is generated by photoheterolysis of this methoxy-substituted rotaxane, which reacts thermally back to the cycloheptatriene rotaxane, thus closing the switching cycle. These induced conformational changes achieve a so-called molecular machine.     

“黑洞型”缺电子联吡啶环蕃的合成

利用2,3,5,6-四氟-1,4-苯二甲酸为原料, 经过酯化、还原及溴代, 合成1,4-二溴甲基-2,3,5,6-四氟苯. 以其为原料在低温下利用模板效应合成高度缺电子的“黑洞型”缺电子联吡啶环蕃化合物, 经过连续液液萃取及离子交换得到“黑洞型”缺电子联吡啶环蕃单体. 产品经¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS表征. 利用变温核磁共振技术研究“黑洞型”缺电子联吡啶环蕃与经典的双环(百草枯-对苯撑)型缺电子联吡啶环蕃在溶液中的变化.     

Steroid Cyclophanes as Artificial Cell-surface Receptors. Molecular Recognition and its Consequence in Signal Transduction Behavior

Steroid cyclophanes, bearing four bile acid moieties covalently placed on a tetraazaparacyclophane skeleton, were designed and synthesized as artificial cell-surface receptors. Guest-binding behavior of the steroid cyclophanes embedded in a bilayer membrane formed with a synthetic peptide lipid was clarified by means of fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy. We found that the steroid cyclophane effectively bound aromatic guests in both bilayer membranes and aqueous solution. In addition, copper(II) ions acted as a guest species for the steroid cyclophane and a competitive inhibitor toward a NADH-dependent lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). On these grounds, we constituted a supramolecular assembly as an artificial signaling system in combination with the steroid cyclophane, a cationic peptide lipid, and LDH. As a consequence, the steroid cyclophane acted as an effective artificial cell-surface receptor being capable of transmitting an external signal to the enzyme in collaboration with copper(II) ions as a signal transmitter.     

Modular Synthesis and Dynamics of a Variety of Donor–Acceptor Interlocked Compounds Prepared by Click Chemistry

A series of donor–acceptor [2]‐, [3]‐, and [4]rotaxanes and self‐complexes ([1]rotaxanes) have been synthesized by a threading‐followed‐by‐stoppering approach, in which the precursor pseudorotaxanes are fixed by using Cu^I‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition to attach the required stoppers. This alternative approach to forming rotaxanes of the donor–acceptor type, in which the donor is a 1,5‐dioxynaphthalene unit and the acceptor is the tetracationic cyclophane cyclobis(paraquat‐p‐phenylene), proceeds with enhanced yields relative to the tried and tested synthetic strategies, which involve the clipping of the cyclophane around a preformed dumbbell containing π‐electron‐donating recognition sites. The new synthetic approach is amenable to application to highly convergent sequences. To extend the scope of this reaction, we constructed [2]rotaxanes in which one of the phenylene rings of the tetracationic cyclophane is perfluorinated, a feature which significantly weakens its association with π‐electron‐rich guests. The activation barrier for the shuttling of the cyclophane over a spacer containing two triazole rings was determined to be (15.5±0.1) kcal mol^?1 for a degenerate two‐station [2]rotaxane, a value similar to that previously measured for analogous degenerate compounds containing aromatic or ethylene glycol spacers. The triazole rings do not seem to perturb the shuttling process significantly; this property bodes well for their future incorporation into bistable molecular switches.