Chiral Macrocycle‐Enabled Counteranion Trapping for Boosting Highly Efficient and Enantioselective Catalysis

The tight binding enabled by tailor‐made macrocycles can be manipulated for tuning the catalysis process. In parallel to well‐developed crown ether‐based cation‐binding catalysis, a macrocycle‐enabled counteranion trapping strategy is presented for boosting highly efficient and enantioselective catalysis. A set of bis‐diarylthiourea macrocycles containing two BINOL moieties were designed and synthesized. They possess a well‐confined chiral cavity and strong binding affinities towards disulfonate anions. Caused by the tight binding, just 1 mol % macrocycle in combination with 1 mol % ethanedisulfonic acid can promote excellent conversion and up to 99 % ee in the Friedel–Crafts reaction of indoles with imines. The acid or the macrocycle alone do not afford any reactivity. The high catalytic efficiency and excellent stereocontrol was ascribed to large, complexation‐induced acidity enhancement and tight ion‐pairing facilitated by cave‐like macrocyclic cavity.     

Substrate‐Induced Dimerization Assembly of Chiral Macrocycle Catalysts toward Cooperative Asymmetric Catalysis

An artificial system of substrate‐induced dimerization assembly of chiral macrocycle catalysts enables a highly cooperative hydrogen‐bonding activation network for efficient enantioselective transformation. These macrocycles contain two thiourea and two chiral diamine moieties and dimerize with sulfate to form a sandwich‐like assembly. The macrocycles then adopt an extended conformation and reciprocally complement the hydrogen‐bonding interaction sites. Inspired by the guest‐induced dynamic assembly, these macrocycles catalyze the decarboxylative Mannich reaction of cyclic aldimines containing a sulfamate heading group. The imine substrate can be activated toward nucleophilic attack of β‐ketoacid by a cooperative hydrogen‐bonding network enabled by sulfamate‐induced dimerization assembly of the macrocycle catalysts. Highly efficient (>95 % yield in most cases) and enantioselective (up to 97.5:2.5 er) transformation of a variety of substrates using only 5 mol % macrocycle was achieved.     

Substrate-Induced Dimerization Assembly of Chiral Macrocycle Catalysts toward Cooperative Asymmetric Catalysis

An artificial system of substrate-induced dimerization assembly of chiral macrocycle catalysts enables a highly cooperative hydrogen-bonding activation network for efficient enantioselective transformation. These macrocycles contain two thiourea and two chiral diamine moieties and dimerize with sulfate to form a sandwich-like assembly. The macrocycles then adopt an extended conformation and reciprocally complement the hydrogen-bonding interaction sites. Inspired by the guest-induced dynamic assembly, these macrocycles catalyze the decarboxylative Mannich reaction of cyclic aldimines containing a sulfamate heading group. The imine substrate can be activated toward nucleophilic attack of β-ketoacid by a cooperative hydrogen-bonding network enabled by sulfamate-induced dimerization assembly of the macrocycle catalysts. Highly efficient (>95 % yield in most cases) and enantioselective (up to 97.5:2.5 er) transformation of a variety of substrates using only 5 mol % macrocycle was achieved.     

Control over the Redox Cooperative Mechanism of Radical Carbene Transfer Reactions for the Efficient Active-Metal-Template Synthesis of [2]Rotaxanes

A 5,15-bis(1,1′-biphenyl)porphyrin-based molecular clip covalently connected to a ditopic aliphatic ester loop moiety yields a semi-rigid macrocycle with a well-defined cavity. The resulting macrocycle fits the structural requirements for the preparation of porphyrinates capable of promoting formation of C−C bonds. To demonstrate the usefulness of porphyrin-based macrocycles, an active-metal-template synthesis of rotaxanes through a redox non-innocent carbene transfer reaction is described. Coordination of Co^II ions into the porphyrin subunit followed by addition of appropriate monodentate nitrogen-based additives to function as axial ligands enables the radical carbene transfer reactions to styrene derivatives to occur exclusively through the cavity of the macrocycle to afford cyclopropane-linked rotaxanes in excellent 95 % yield. Investigation of the product distribution afforded from the rotaxane assembly reaction reveals how the redox cooperative action between the carbene species and the Co^II ions can be manipulated to gain control over the radical-type mechanism to favor the productive rotaxane forming process.     

A Switchable Open/closed Polyaromatic Macrocycle that Shows Reversible Binding of Long Hydrophilic Molecules

In spite of wide‐ranging previous studies on synthetic macrocycles, the installation of open–close functions into the frameworks remains a challenge. We present a new polyaromatic macrocycle capable of switching between open and closed forms in response to external stimuli, namely, base and acid. The macrocycle, which is prepared in three steps, has a well‐defined hydrophobic cavity with a length of around 1 nm, surrounded by four pH‐responsive acridinium panels. The open and closed structures were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The cylindrical cavity can bind long hydrophilic molecules up to 2.7 nm in length in neutral water and then release the bound guests through a reversible open‐to‐closed structural change upon simple addition of base.     

Hydrindacene‐Based Acetylenic Macrocycles with Horizontally and Vertically Ordered Functionality Arrays

The macrocyclization of 2,6‐diethynyl hydrindacenes ( 1 ) with functional groups at mutually perpendicular positions results in the formation of novel macrocycles which, as a result of the hindered rotation of the hydrindacene units, possess directionally persistent peripheral functionalities. The two hydrindacene units in the dimer macrocycle ( 2 ) have been shown to interact electronically through their respective butadiyne moieties, whereas the trimer macrocycle ( 3 ) demonstrates a moderate degree of geometrical flexibility as a result of the five‐membered hydrindacene rings. In addition, these trimer macrocycles contain a central cavity suitably sized for the inclusion of various solvent molecules. These new macrocycles can be further modified by introducing π‐conjugated side groups, such as styryl and thienyl groups, as well as by attaching a variety of peripheral ester groups.     

Synthesis and guest recognition ability of 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene-containing porphyrinoids

The acid-catalyzed condensation of the bispyrrolylbenzene derivative and benzaldehyde yielded macrocycles 1 and 2 bearing three and four dipyrrin units which are connected by 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene rings. The cationic guest recognition ability of 1 was investigated by UV-vis absorption, (1)H NMR spectroscopic techniques, and ab initio calculations (HF/3-21G(*)). The tris-dipyrrin macrocycle 1 was found to recognize alkali metals in the O6 binding cavity.     

Aza-crown macrocycles as chiral solvating agents for mandelic acid derivatives

A series of new chiral macrocycles containing the trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) subunit and arene- and oligoethylene glycol-derived spacers has been prepared in enantiomerically pure form. Four of the macrocycles have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, which reveals a consistent mode of intramolecular N-H···N hydrogen bonding and conformational variations about the N-benzylic bonds. Most of the macrocycles were found to differentiate the enantiomers of mandelic acid (MA) by (1)H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl(3); within the series of macrocycles tested, enantiodiscrimination was promoted by (i) a meta-linkage geometry about the arene spacer, (ii) the presence of naphthalene- rather than phenylene-derived arene spacers, and (iii) increasing length of the oligoethylene glycol bridge. (1)H NMR titrations were performed with optically pure MA samples, and the data were fitted to a simultaneous 1:1 and 2:1 binding model, yielding estimates of 2:1 binding constants between some of the macrocycles and MA enantiomers. In several cases, NOESY spectra of the MA:macrocycle complexes show differential intramolecular correlations between protons adjacent to the amine and carboxylic acid groups of the macrocycles and MA enantiomers, respectively, thus demonstrating geometric differences between the diastereomeric intermolecular complexes. The three most effective macrocycles were employed as chiral solvating agents (CSAs) to determine the enantiomeric excess (ee) of 18 MA samples over a wide ee range and with very high accuracy (1% absolute error).     

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.     

Tetra- and octalactam macrocycles and catenanes with exocyclic metal coordination sites: versatile building blocks for supramolecular chemistry

The synthesis of a new tetralactam macrocycle and the simultaneous formation of catenanes and larger octalactam macrocycles is reported. These species bear 2,2'-biquinoline moieties suitably positioned to bind a metal center at the outer periphery of the macrocycles. (1)H NMR chemical shifts permit the unambiguous distinction of transoid and cisoid conformations of the biquinoline moiety, thereby allowing an unequivocal identification of the catenane and octalactam structures, despite the fact that both have the same elemental composition and bear identical structural subunits. With the aid of an anion template effect, rotaxanes can be prepared from the smaller tetralactam macrocycle. These reveal significantly altered requirements in terms of the stopper size as compared to previously reported tetralactam wheels. Several copper(I)-mediated dimers and a (bpy)(2)Ru(II) complex (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized from the tetralactam macrocycle and the rotaxanes. The anion binding abilities of the tetralactam macrocycle and its (bpy)(2)Ru(II) complex in DMSO have been compared by (1)H NMR titration experiments, which revealed significantly enhanced binding by the metal complex. Mass spectrometry has been used to study the potential formation of larger assemblies of copper(I) and the catenane built-up from two tetralactam macrocycles. Indeed, a 2:2 complex was identified. In contrast, the octalactam macrocycle of the same elemental composition yields only 1:1 complexes, with the Cu(I) ion connecting its two biquinoline moieties in the center of a figure-eight-shaped molecule. Molecular modeling studies support the structural assignments made.     

Synthesis, Conformational Studies, X-ray Structures, and Complexation Properties of Semirigid Macrocyclic Phosphonamides

The semirigid phosphonamide ligands 1-5 have been synthesized from the macrocyclic precursors 6-9 by reaction with 1,3-propanediol ditosylate or 1,2-dichloroethane. For the thiophosphoryl compounds 1 and 2, and the phosphoryl derivative 5, the reactions were carried out in biphasic aqueous NaOH solutions. The phosphoryl derivatives 3 and 4 were better obtained from NaH in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. The conformations of the hosts in solution were deduced from low-temperature NMR and NOE difference experiments. Conformational equilibria between exo and endo forms are observed for the 18-membered macrocycles 1 and 3. The exo conformer predominates in solution for the 21-membered macrocycle 2, whereas 4 exists as rapidly exchanging conformers. The X-ray crystal structures of macrocycles 1, 2, and 5 have been determined as well as the complexes 1.Hg(SCN)(2) and 5.LiNO(3). In the Hg(2+) complex the metal ion is located out of the macrocyclic cavity and is coordinated to the thiophosphoryl unit. In 5.LiNO(3)()()the Li(+) cation is located inside the macrocyclic cavity and is coordinated to a tetrahedral array of oxygen donors. Free energies of complexation (DeltaG degrees ) of the phosphorylated ligands 3-5 with alkali metal and ammonium cations were determined in CHCl(3) saturated with H(2)O by picrate extraction experiments. The -DeltaG degrees values are greatest for 4 complexing K(+) and NH(4)(+) (7.3 and 8.0 kcal/mol, respectively). The relationships between structure and binding are discussed.     

Anion and carboxylic acid binding to monotopic and ditopic amidopyridine macrocycles

Binding of inorganic anions, carboxylic acids, and tetraalkylammonium carboxylates by macrocyclic compounds of different size was studied by NMR in DMSO-d6. It has been shown that at least a 15-membered ring is necessary for successful recognition of fluoride. Larger macrocycles were shown to bind HSO4(-), H2PO4(-), Cl(-), and carboxylic acid salts. Effects of binding topicity are discussed. The 30-membered macrocycles 4 and 4m selectively bind substrates that are size- and shape-complementary: maximum binding is observed for dicarboxylic acids and dicarboxylates with four-carbon chains, and the binding constant for association of fumaric acid and 4 is ca. 5 orders of magnitude higher than that of maleic acid. The 30-membered macrocycle 4m showed selectivity toward alpha-ketocarboxylic acids. Secondary amino groups were not crucial for binding of fluoride to the macrocycles; however, they proved to be very important for selectivity and strength of carboxylic acid binding. The X-ray structure of the adduct of 4 and nitrobenzoic acid confirmed the guest H-bonding with both the amide and the secondary amino groups of the 30-membered macrocyclic host.     

Synthesis and characterization of pyridine-based polyamido-polyester optically active macrocycles and enantiomeric recognition for D- and L-amino acid methyl ester hydrochloride

Five new chiral macrocycles, 3a-e, have been prepared by the acylation cyclization of chiral diamine dihydrobromide intermediates 2a-c with 2,6-pyridinedicarbonyl dichloride in highly diluted solution at room temperature. The chiral diesters 1a-c needed for the preparation of the macrocycles were obtained from condensation of corresponding N-(Z)-L-amino acids and 2,6-bishydroxymethyl pyridine in the presence of DCC and DMAP. The enantiomeric recognition of chiral macrocycles 3a-e for D- and L-amino acid methyl ester hydrochlorides has been characterized by fluorescence spectra, which indicate that some of them exhibited significant chiral recognition for the enantiomers of D- and L-amino acid methyl ester hydrochlorides. The stoichiometry and binding constants of 3a-L-Am(2) and 3c-L-Am(2) complexes have been determined. An X-ray analysis of the chiral macrocycle 3b show that the chiral ligand is rather rigid and strained.     

A novel conformationally adaptive macrocyclic tetramaleimide with flipping pyrene sidewalls

The synthesis, structure, and properties of pyrene-based conformationally adaptive macrocycles are described. This new type of conformationally adaptive macrocycle was constructed through Perkin reaction,followed by imidization. By changing the condensation partner as the linking unit, a family of conjugated macrocycles with different sizes of the cavity was synthesized, which provide a simple and modular synthetic strategy towards the conformationally adaptive macrocycles. Furthermore, the macr...     

Photocontrolled On‐Surface Pseudorotaxane Formation with Well‐Ordered Macrocycle Multilayers

The photoinduced pseudorotaxane formation between a photoresponsive axle and a tetralactam macrocycle was investigated in solution and on glass surfaces with immobilized multilayers of macrocycles. In the course of this reaction, a novel photoswitchable binding station with azobenzene as the photoswitchable unit and diketopiperazine as the binding station was synthesized and studied by NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Glass surfaces have been functionalized with pyridine‐terminated SAMs and subsequently with multilayers of macrocycles through layer‐by‐layer self assembly. A preferred orientation of the macrocycles could be confirmed by NEXAFS spectroscopy. The photocontrolled deposition of the axle into the surface‐bound macrocycle‐multilayers was monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy and led to an increase of the molecular order, as indicated by more substantial linear dichroism effects in angle‐resolved NEXAFS spectra.     

Heterocorrole Conformations: Little Saddling,Much Ruffling

10‐Heterocorrole complexes with oxygen, sulfur, and selenium at position 10 of the macrocycle and with the divalent ions of nickel, copper, and palladium were prepared and investigated. The focus was set on the size adaptation and matching mechanisms of cavity size versus ionic radius in corrole‐type macrocycles. A full set of single‐crystal X‐ray analytical data revealed that in all but one case the N₄ binding site of the ring‐contracted tetrapyrrole was larger than necessary to bind the metal ion without deformation. In‐plane size adaptation through M−N bond‐length elongation by 2.5–3.2 % was effective, as well as pronounced out‐of‐plane ruffling of the macrocycle for those compounds with a more severe size mismatch. Such ruffling had been excluded for corroles previously, but is apparently the most efficient mechanism to adapt to small central ions.     

Heterocorrole Conformations: Little Saddling,Much Ruffling

10‐Heterocorrole complexes with oxygen, sulfur, and selenium at position 10 of the macrocycle and with the divalent ions of nickel, copper, and palladium were prepared and investigated. The focus was set on the size adaptation and matching mechanisms of cavity size versus ionic radius in corrole‐type macrocycles. A full set of single‐crystal X‐ray analytical data revealed that in all but one case the N₄ binding site of the ring‐contracted tetrapyrrole was larger than necessary to bind the metal ion without deformation. In‐plane size adaptation through M−N bond‐length elongation by 2.5–3.2 % was effective, as well as pronounced out‐of‐plane ruffling of the macrocycle for those compounds with a more severe size mismatch. Such ruffling had been excluded for corroles previously, but is apparently the most efficient mechanism to adapt to small central ions.     

Chiral Macrocycles as Reagents and Catalysts

Ionophores, whether of natural or synthetic origin, encapsulate their ionic “guests” using noncovalent bonding. This encapsulation process resembles, at least superficially, the bonding of a substrate by an enzyme-active site. The analogy to enzymes can be extended further if the ionophore is provided with functional groups that can react with a suitable guest molecule bound in the cavity of the ionophore. We have embedded in the periphery of a macrocycle a 1,4-dihydropyridine, a mimic of the coenzyme NADH. The macrocycle, in addition to having (weak) ionophoric properties, is chiral. The strategy has led to compounds that react as artificial hydrogenases and which are capable of distinguishing, in a predictable fashion, between the prochiral faces of suitable carbonyl substrates. Ancillary developments from this approach have been many. A remarkably general method for the preparation of a wide variety of macrocycles has been developed which depends on some remarkable chemical idiosyncrasies of the cesium ion. In attempts to exploit the chemical possibilities of these macrocycles, unusual chemistry, possibly relevant to the action of the enzyme, 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase, has been uncovered. In a similar vein, study of macrocycles has led to variants of the aldol condensation on chiral templates. Finally, catalytic CC bond formation mediated by transition metals is revealed to be an area in which chiral macrocycles can play a useful role by acting as chiral ligands for the transition metal.     

Macrocycle breathing in [2]rotaxanes with tetralactam macrocycles

The structural dynamics of two pairs of [2]rotaxanes were compared using variable-temperature NMR. Each rotaxane had a surrounding tetralactam macrocycle with either 2,6-pyridine dicarboxamide or isophthalamide bridging units. Differences were observed in two types of rotational processes: spinning of the phenylene wall units in the surrounding macrocycle of squaraine rotaxanes and macrocycle pirouetting in xanthone rotaxanes. The rotaxanes with macrocycles containing 2,6-pyridine dicarboxamide bridges exhibited higher rotational barriers due to a cavity contraction effect, which disfavored macrocycle breathing.     

Comparative macrocycle binding of the anticancer drug phenanthriplatin by cucurbit[<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>]urils, β-cyclodextrin and <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-sulfonatocalix[4]arene: a <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR and molecular modelling study

The potential anticancer drug phenanthriplatin, [cis-(NH₃)₂(phenanthridine)Cl]⁺, forms supramolecular complexes with cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n], n?=?7 or 8), β-cyclodextrin and para-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (sCX[4]) as determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. The results show that cucurbit[7]uril binds over the long arm of the drug, where hydrophobic effects and two hydrogen bonds stabilise binding. For cucurbit[8]uril, two phenanthriplatin molecules can bind simultaneously within the macrocycle’s cavity. Unfortunately, Na⁺ was able to displace the drug from both CB[7] and CB[8] making the macrocycles unsuitable as delivery vehicles for phenanthriplatin. Drug binding to β-cyclodextrin occurs at the portal of the macrocycle with no part of the phenanthriplatin located within the cavity. Phenanthriplatin binding to sCX[4] occurs in a 2-to-1, macrocycle-to-drug, ratio with the formation of a capsule-like complex where each sCX[4] binds over opposing ends of the drug. The results indicate that para-sulfonatocalix[4]arene is the only suitable macrocycle of the four studied for further research into phenanthriplatin drug delivery.