UV Raman markers for structural analysis of aromatic side chains in proteins

UV Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for investigating the structures and interactions of the aromatic side chains of Phe, Tyr, Trp, and His in proteins. This is because Raman bands of aromatic ring vibrations are selectively enhanced with UV excitation, and intensities and wavenumbers of Raman bands sensitively reflect structures and interactions. Interpretation of protein Raman spectra is greatly assisted by using empirical correlations between spectra and structure. Many Raman bands of aromatic side chains have been proposed to be useful as markers of structures and interactions on the basis of empirical correlations. This article reviews the usefulness and limitations of the Raman markers for protonation/deprotonation, conformation, metal coordination, environmental polarity, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and cation-π interaction of the aromatic side chains. The utility of Raman markers is demonstrated through an application to the structural analysis of a membrane-bound proton channel protein.     

Double affinity amplification of galectin-ligand interactions through arginine-arene interactions: synthetic, thermodynamic, and computational studies with aromatic diamido thiodigalactosides

A series of aromatic mono- or diamido-thiodigalactoside derivatives were synthesized and studied as ligands for galectin-1, -3, -7, -8N terminal domain, and -9N terminal domain. The affinity determination in vitro with competitive fluorescence-polarization experiments and thermodynamic analysis by isothermal microcalorimetry provided a coherent picture of structural requirements for arginine-arene interactions in galectin-ligand binding. Computational studies were employed to explain binding preferences for the different galectins. Galectin-3 formed two almost ideal arene-arginine stacking interactions according to computer modeling and also had the highest affinity for the diamido-thiodigalactosides (K(d) below 50 nM). Site-directed mutagenesis of galectin-3 arginines involved in binding corroborated the importance of their interaction with the aromatic diamido-thiodigalactosides. Furthermore, the arginine mutants revealed distinct differences between free, flexible, and solvent-exposed arginine side chains and tightly ion-paired arginine side chains in interactions with aromatic systems.     

Influences of peptide side chains on the metal ion binding site in metal ion-cationized peptides: Participation of aromatic rings in metal chelation

Aromatic side chains on amino acids influence the fragmentations of cationic complexes of doubly charged metal ions and singly deprotonated peptides. The metal ion interacts with an aromatic side chain and binds to adjacent amide nitrogens. When fragmentation occurs, this bonding leads to the formation of abundant metal-containing a-type ions by reactions that occur at the sites of amino acids that contain the aromatic side chain. Furthermore, formation of metal-containing immonium ions of the amino acids that contain the aromatic side chain also are formed. The abundant a-type ions may be useful in interpretation strategies in which it is necessary to locate in a peptide the position of an amino acid that bears an aromatic side chain.     

Interaction of aromatic units of amino acids with guanidinium cation: The interplay of π···π, XH···π, and M+···π contacts

Complexes formed by guanidinium cation and a pair of aromatic molecules among benzene, phenol, or indole have been computationally studied to determine the characteristics of the cation···π interaction in ternary systems modeling amino acid side chains. Guanidinium coordinates to the aromatic units preferentially in the following order: indole, phenol, and benzene. Complexes containing two different aromatic units show an intermediate behavior between that observed for complexes with only one kind of aromatic unit. Most stable structures correspond to doubly‐T shaped arrangements with the two aromatic units coordinating guanidinium by its NH₂ groups. Other structures with only one aromatic unit coordinated to guanidinium, such as T‐shaped or parallel‐stacked ones, are less favorable but still showing significant stabilization. In indole and phenol complexes, the formation of hydrogen bonds between the aromatic molecules introduces extra stabilization in T‐shaped structures. Three body effects are small and repulsive in doubly T‐shaped minima. Only when hydrogen bonds involving the aromatic molecules are formed in T‐shaped structures a cooperative effect can be observed. In most complexes the interaction is controlled by electrostatics, with induction and dispersion also contributing significantly depending on the nature and orientation of the aromatic species forming the complex. Although the stability in these systems is mainly controlled by the intensity of the interaction between guanidinium and the aromatic molecules coordinated to it, interactions between aromatic molecules can modulate the characteristics of the complex, especially when hydrogen bonds are formed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Response of a designed metalloprotein to changes in metal ion coordination, exogenous ligands, and active site volume determined by X-ray crystallography

The de novo protein DF1 is a minimal model for diiron and dimanganese metalloproteins, such as soluble methane monooxygenase. DF1 is a homodimeric four-helix bundle whose dinuclear center is formed by two bridging Glu side chains, two chelating Glu side chains, and two monodentate His ligands. Here, we report the di-Mn(II) and di-Co(II) derivatives of variants of this protein. Together with previously solved structures, 23 crystallographically independent four-helix bundle structures of DF1 variants have been determined, which differ in the bound metal ions and size of the active site cavity. For the di-Mn(II) derivatives, as the size of the cavity increases, the number and polarity of exogenous ligands increases. This collection of structures was analyzed to determine the relationship between protein conformation and the geometry of the active site. The primary mode of backbone movement involves a coordinated tilting and sliding of the first helix in the helix-loop-helix motif. Sliding depends on crystal-packing forces, the steric bulk of a critical residue that determines the dimensions of the active site access cavity, and the intermetal distance. Additionally, a torsional motion of the bridging carboxylates modulates the intermetal distance. This analysis provides a critical evaluation of how conformation, flexibility, and active site accessibility affect the geometry and ligand-binding properties of a metal center. The geometric parameters defining the DF structures were compared to natural diiron proteins; DF proteins have a restricted active site cavity, which may have implications for substrate recognition and chemical stability.     

Binding of tetramethylammonium to polyether side-chained aromatic hosts. Evaluation of the binding contribution from ether oxygen donors

A set of macrocyclic and open-chain aromatic ligands endowed with polyether side chains has been prepared to assess the contribution of ether oxygen donors to the binding of tetramethylammonium (TMA), a cation believed incapable of interacting with oxygen donors. The open-chain hosts consisted of an aromatic binding site and side chains possessing a variable number of ether oxygen donors; the macrocyclic ligands were based on the structure of a previously investigated host, the dimeric cyclophane 1,4-xylylene-1,4-phenylene diacetate (DXPDA), implemented with polyether-type side chains in the backbone. Association to tetramethylammonium picrate (TMAP) was measured in CDCl(3) at T = 296 K by (1)H NMR titrations. Results confirm that the main contribution to the binding of TMA comes from the cation-pi interaction established with the aromatic binding sites, but they unequivocally show that polyether chains participate with cooperative contributions, although of markedly smaller entity. Water is also bound, but the two guests interact with aromatic rings and oxygen donors in an essentially noncompetitive way. An improved procedure for the preparation of cyclophanic tetraester derivatives has been developed that conveniently recycles the oligomeric ester byproducts formed in the one-pot cyclization reaction. An alternative entry to benzylic diketones has also been provided that makes use of a low-order cyanocuprate reagent to prepare in fair yields a class of compounds otherwise uneasily accessible.     

Syntheses and structural characterization of transition metal(II) coordination polymers containing 4,4′-dipyridyldisulfide

The reactions of Zn(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O and FeSO₄ · 7H₂O with 4-PDS (4-PDS = 4,4′-dipyridyldisulfide) and NH₄SCN in CH₃OH afforded the complexes [Zn(NCS)₂(4-PDS)]_n (1) and [Fe(NCS)₂(4-PDS)₂ · 4H₂O]_n (2), respectively, while the reaction of CoCl₂ · 6H₂O with 4-PDS in CH₃OH gave the complex {[Co(4-PDS)₂][Cl]₂ · 2CH₃OH}_n, (3). These complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography. The 4-PDS ligands in 1 are coordinated to the metal centers through the nitrogen atoms to form 1-D zigzag-chains, and the distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry at each zinc center is completed by a pair of N-bonded thiocyanate ligands. Compound 2 has a 1-D channel-chain structure and each octahedral Fe(II) metal center is coordinated by four 4-PDS ligands and two trans N-bonded thiocyanate ligands. Weak SS interactions in complex 1 link the 1-D chains into 2-D molecular sheets. In complex 2, the channel chains are interlinked through SS interactions to form molecular sheets, which interpenetrate through the SS interactions to form 3-D structures with large cavities that are occupied by the water molecules. Compound 3 also has a 1-D channel-chain structure with each square-planar Co(II) metal center coordinated by four 4-PDS ligands. Multiple C–HCl hydrogen bonds and SO interactions in 3 link the 1-D chains into 2-D structures.     

Complexation of Al(III) by aromatic amino acids in the gas phase

The coordination properties of three natural aromatic amino acids (AAAs)-phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), and tryptophan (Trp)-to AlIII are studied in this work, devoting special attention to the role of the aromatic side chain. A comparison with aluminum(III)-alanine complexes is also presented. The polarizability arising from the ring has been seen to be a key factor in the stability of the complexes, with the order being Trp-AlIII > Tyr-AlIII > Phe-AlIII, starting from the most stable one. Cation-pi interactions between the metal and the aromatic ring are present in the lowest energy conformers, especially for Trp, which seems to be very well suited for these kinds of interactions, occurring with both the six- and five-membered rings of the indole side chain. The most stable coordination mode for the three AAAs is found to be tricoordinated with the N and O of the backbone chain and the aromatic ring, as was found theoretically and experimentally for other metals.     

The importance of aromatic-type interactions in serotonin synthesis: protein-ligand interactions in tryptophan hydroxylase and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase

The biosynthesis of serotonin requires aromatic substrates to be bound in the active sites of the enzymes tryptophan hydroxylase and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. These aromatic substrates are held in place partially by dispersion and induction interactions with the enzymes' aromatic amino acid residues. Mutations that decrease substrate binding can result in a decrease in serotonin production and thus can lead to depression and related disorders. We use optimized crystal structures of these two enzymes to examine pair-wise electronic interaction energies between aromatic residues in the active sites and the aromatic ligands. We also perform in silico mutations on the aromatic residues to determine the change in interaction energies as mutations occur. Our second-order Moller-Plessett perturbation theory calculations show that drastic changes in interaction energy can occur and, in light of our previous work, we are able to use these data to offer predictions on the loss of protein function and on the possibility of disease upon mutation. We also examine local and gradient corrected density functional theory methods to evaluate their ability to predict these induction/dispersion-dominated interaction energies. We find that the hybrid B3LYP cannot model these interactions well, whereas the GGA HCTH407 offers largely qualitatively correct results, and the local functional SVWN quantitatively mimics the MP2 results rather well.     

The role of cation-pi interactions in biomolecular association. Design of peptides favoring interactions between cationic and aromatic amino acid side chains.

Cation-pi interactions between amino acid side chains are increasingly being recognized as important structural and functional features of proteins and other biomolecules. Although these interactions have been found in static protein structures, they have not yet been detected in dynamic biomolecular systems. We determined, by (1)H NMR spectroscopic titrations, the energies of cation-pi interactions of the amino acid derivative AcLysOMe (1) with AcPheOEt (2) and with AcTyrOEt (3) in aqueous and three organic solvents. The interaction energy is substantial; it ranges from -2.1 to -3.4 kcal/mol and depends only slightly on the dielectric constant of the solvent. To assess the effects of auxiliary interactions and structural preorganization on formation of cation-pi interactions, we studied these interactions in the association of pentapeptides. Upon binding of the positively-charged peptide AcLysLysLysLysLysNH(2) (5) to the negatively-charged partner AcAspAspXAspAspNH(2) (6), in which X is Leu (6a), Tyr (6b), and Phe (6c), multiple interactions occur. Association of the two pentapeptides is dynamic. Free peptides and their complex are in fast exchange on the NMR time-scale, and 2D (1)H ROESY spectra of the complex of the two pentapeptides do not show intermolecular ROESY peaks. Perturbations of the chemical shifts indicated that the aromatic groups in peptides 6b and 6c were affected by the association with 5. The association constants K(A) for 5 with 6a and with 6b are nearly equal, (4.0 +/- 0.7) x 10(3) and (5.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(3) M(-)(1), respectively, while K(A) for 5 with 6c is larger, (8.3 +/- 1.3) x 10(3) M(-)(1). Molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of the pentapeptide pairs confirmed that their association is dynamic and showed that cation-pi contacts between the two peptides are stereochemically possible. A transient complex between 5 and 6 with a prominent cation-pi interaction, obtained from MD simulations, was used as a template to design cyclic peptides C(X) featuring persistent cation-pi interactions. The cyclic peptide C(X) had a sequence in which X is Tyr, Phe, and Leu. The first two peptides do, but the third does not, contain the aromatic residue capable of interacting with a cationic Lys residue. This covalent construct offered conformational stability over the noncovalent complexes and allowed thorough studies by 2D NMR spectroscopy. Multiple conformations of the cyclic peptides C(Tyr) and C(Phe) are in slow exchange on the NMR time-scale. In one of these conformations, cation-pi interaction between Lys3 and Tyr9/Phe9 is clearly evident. Multiple NOEs between the side chains of residues 3 and 9 are observed; chemical-shift changes are consistent with the placement of the side chain of Lys3 over the aromatic ring. In contrast, the cyclic peptide C(Leu) showed no evidence for close approach of the side chains of Lys3 and Leu9. The cation-pi interaction persists in both DMSO and aqueous solvents. When the disulfide bond in the cyclic peptide C(Phe) was removed, the cation-pi interaction in the acyclic peptide AC(Phe) remained. To test the reliability of the pK(a) criterion for the existence of cation-pi interactions, we determined residue-specific pK(a) values of all four Lys side chains in all three cyclic peptides C(X). While NOE cross-peaks and perturbations of the chemical shifts clearly show the existence of the cation-pi interaction, pK(a) values of Lys3 in C(Tyr) and in C(Phe) differ only marginally from those values of other lysines in these dynamic peptides. Our experimental results with dynamic peptide systems highlight the role of cation-pi interactions in both intermolecular recognition at the protein-protein interface and intramolecular processes such as protein folding.     

Contribution of aromatic interactions to alpha-helix stability

The influence of natural and unnatural i, i + 4 aromatic side chain-side chain interactions on alpha-helix stability was determined in Ala-Lys host peptides by circular dichroism (CD). All interactions investigated provided some stability to the helix; however, phenylalanine-phenylalanine (F-F) and phenylalanine-pentafluorophenylalanine (F-f5F) interactions resulted in the greatest enhancement in helicity, doubling the helical content over i, i + 5 control peptides at internal positions. Quantification of these interactions using AGADIR multistate helix-coil algorithm revealed that the F-F and F-f5F interaction energies are equivalent at internal positions in the sequence (deltaGF-F = deltaGF-f5F = -0.27 kcal/mol), despite the differences in their expected geometries. As the strength of a face-to-face stacked phenyl-pentafluorophenyl interaction should surpass an edge-to-face or offset-stacked phenyl-phenyl interaction, we believe this result reflects the inability of the side chains in F-f5F to attain a fully stacked geometry within the context of an alpha-helix. Positioning the interactions at the C-terminus led to much stronger interactions (deltaGF-F = -0.8 kcal/mol; deltaGF-f5F = -0.55 kcal/mol) likely because of favorable chi(1) rotameric preferences for aromatic residues at C-capping regions of alpha-helices, suggesting that aromatic side chain-side chain interactions are an effective alpha-helix C-capping method.     

Stabilizing interactions between aromatic and basic side chains in alpha-helical peptides and proteins. Tyrosine effects on helix circular dichroism

Here we investigate the structures and energetics of interactions between aromatic (Phe or Tyr) and basic (Lys or Arg) amino acids in alpha-helices. Side chain interaction energies are measured using helical peptides, by quantifying their helicities with circular dichroism at 222 nm and interpreting the results with Lifson-Roig-based helix/coil theory. A difficulty in working with Tyr is that the aromatic ring perturbs the CD spectrum, giving an incorrect helicity. We calculated the effect of Tyr on the CD at 222 nm by deriving the intensities of the bands directly from the electronic and magnetic transition dipole moments through the rotational strengths corresponding to each excited state of the polypeptide. This gives an improved value of the helix preference of Tyr (from 0.48 to 0.35) and a correction to the helicity for the peptides containing Tyr. We find that Phe-Lys, Lys-Phe, Phe-Arg, Arg-Phe, and Tyr-Lys are all stabilizing by -0.10 to -0.18 kcal.mol-1 when placed i, i + 4 on the surface of a helix in aqueous solution, despite the great difference in polarity between these residues. Interactions between these side chains have previously been attributed to cation-pi bonds. A survey of protein structures shows that they are in fact predominantly hydrophobic interactions between the CH2 groups of Lys or Arg and the aromatic rings.     

A comparative DFT study of some N-based aromatic ligand metal complexes as anticancer agents and analysis of their mode of interaction with DNA base pair

Metal complexed anticancer agents interact with DNA nucleobase pairs (AT and GC) through different types of binding mode such as intercalation, groove binding, covalent binding, etc. Minor and major groove binding mechanism of DNA base pair is the key factor for all kinds of anticancer agent; as metal complexes have a great affinity to bind with DNA nucleobase either through minor or major groove. Ligands in metal complexes also play a vital role during the interaction with DNA base pairs; these ligands directly interact with DNA through different interacting modes. Generally, anticancer agents with less sterically hindered N-based aromatic and planar ligands are the key component for DNA binding; as the structure of such ligands are quite compatible for following intercalation and groove binding mechanism. Since, the experimental investigation for drug-DNA nucleobase complexes are extremely complicated, therefore; quantum mechanical calculations might be very helpful for computing the actual interactions in drug-DNA complexes. Quantum mechanical approaches such as density functional theory (DFT) might be a very important and useful tool to investigate the actual mode of interaction of metal complexed antitumor agents with DNA nucleobase. Herein, we have taken some metal complexes with N-based aromatic ligands as antitumor agents to investigate the proper mode of interaction between drug-DNA complexes.     

Cation [M = H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, and NMe4+] interactions with the aromatic motifs of naturally occurring amino acids: a theoretical study

Ab initio (HF, MP2, and CCSD(T)) and DFT (B3LYP) calculations were done in modeling the cation (H(+), Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), NH(4)(+), and NMe(4)(+)) interaction with aromatic side chain motifs of four amino acids (viz., phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and histidine). As the metal ion approaches the pi-framework of the model systems, they form strongly bound cation-pi complexes, where the metal ion is symmetrically disposed with respect to all ring atoms. In contrast, proton prefers to bind covalently to one of the ring carbons. The NH(4)(+) and NMe(4)(+) ions have shown N-H...pi interaction and C-H...pi interaction with the aromatic motifs. The interaction energies of N-H...pi and C-H...pi complexes are higher than hydrogen bonding interactions; thus, the orientation of aromatic side chains in protein is effected in the presence of ammonium ions. However, the regioselectivity of metal ion complexation is controlled by the affinity of the site of attack. In the imidazole unit of histidine the ring nitrogen has much higher metal ion (as well as proton) affinity as compared to the pi-face, facilitating the in-plane complexation of the metal ions. The interaction energies increase in the order of 1-M < 2-M < 3-M < 4-M < 5-M for all the metal ion considered. Similarly, the complexation energies with the model systems decrease in the following order: Mg(2+) > Ca(2+) > Li(+) > Na(+) > K(+) congruent with NH(4)(+) > NMe(4)(+). The variation of the bond lengths and the extent of charge transfer upon complexation correlate well with the computed interaction energies.     

Development of building blocks for the synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of a series of NHC building blocks that can then be incorporated into more complicated structures by palladium catalysis is reported. This approach is used for the synthesis of three amino acids containing NHC side chains. The ability to use the amino acids in solid-phase peptide synthesis to make NHC-containing peptides is also demonstrated. Additionally, the NHC side chain can be deprotected and coordinated to a catalytically active transition metal. Finally, it is illustrated that the building blocks participate in Suzuki coupling to provide access to substituted NHC ligands.     

Modulation of fragmental charge transfer via hydrogen bonds. Direct measurement of electronic contributions

Hydrogen bonds play an important role in an overwhelming variety of fields from biology to surface and supramolecular chemistry. The term "hydrogen bond" refers to a wide range of interactions with various covalent and polar contributions. In particular, hydrogen bonds have an important role in the folding and packing of peptides and nucleic acids. Recent studies also point to the importance of hydrogen bonding in the context of second-shell interactions, in metal binding and selectivity in metalloproteins, and in controlling the dynamics of membrane proteins. In this study, we demonstrate and quantify the modulation of fragmental charge transfer from hydrogen-bonded ligands to a metal center, by employing our recently introduced molecular potentiometer. The molecular details that affect this type of fragmental charge transfer are presented and a path for transferring chemical information is demonstrated. We found that H-bond interactions in the extended positions of axial ligands provide an effective means of modulating the amount of fragmental charge transfer to a metal center, thereby dramatically influencing the electronic properties of the ligand, the binding affinity, and the binding of additional ligands. The magnitude of fragmental charge-transfer modulation induced by a single ligand-solvent H-bond interaction is comparable to those induced by covalent substitution, although H-bond enthalpy is only on the order of several kilojoules per mole. Importantly, we find a significant change in the ligand electronic properties, even for weak C-H...O=C H-bond formation, where the bond enthalpy is substantially lower than for conventional H-bond interactions. The excess fragmental charge transferred to the metal center, deduced from the spectroscopic measurements, correlates well with the computationally determined values. Our findings underscore the importance of second-shell interactions in the active sites of enzymes, beyond the structural and electrostatic importance that is widely recognized today.     

First-second shell interactions in metal binding sites in proteins: a PDB survey and DFT/CDM calculations

The role of the second shell in the process of metal binding and selectivity in metalloproteins has been elucidated by combining Protein Data Bank (PDB) surveys of Mg, Mn, Ca, and Zn binding sites with density functional theory/continuum dielectric methods (DFT/CDM). Peptide backbone groups were found to be the most common second-shell ligand in Mg, Mn, Ca, and Zn binding sites, followed (in decreasing order) by Asp/Glu, Lys/Arg, Asn/Gln, and Ser/Thr side chains. Aromatic oxygen- or nitrogen-containing side chains (Tyr, His, and Trp) and sulfur-containing side chains (Cys and Met) are seldom found in the second coordination layer. The backbone and Asn/Gln side chain are ubiquitous in the metal second coordination layer as their carbonyl oxygen and amide hydrogen can act as a hydrogen-bond acceptor and donor, respectively, and can therefore partner practically every first-shell ligand. The second most common outer-shell ligand, Asp/Glu, predominantly hydrogen bonds to a metal-bound water or Zn-bound histidine and polarizes the H-O or H-N bond. In certain cases, a second-shell Asp/Glu could affect the protonation state of the metal ligand. It could also energetically stabilize a positively charged metal complex more than a neutral ligand such as the backbone and Asn/Gln side chain. As for the first shell, the second shell is predicted to contribute to the metal selectivity of the binding site by discriminating between metal cations of different ionic radii and coordination geometries. The first-shell-second-shell interaction energies decay rapidly with increasing solvent exposure of the metal binding site. They are less favorable but are of the same order of magnitude as compared to the respective metal-first-shell interaction energies. Altogether, the results indicate that the structure and properties of the second shell are dictated by those of the first layer. The outer shell is apparently designed to stabilize/protect the inner-shell and complement/enhance its properties.     

Probing anion-pi interactions in 1-D Co(II), Ni(II), and Cd(II) coordination polymers containing flexible pyrazine ligands

Two flexible thioether-containing heterocyclic ligands bis(2-pyrazylmethyl)sulfide (L1) and 2-benzylsulfanylmethylpyrazine (L2) have arene rings with differing pi-acidities which were used to probe anion-pi binding in five 1-D coordination polymers formed from the metal salts Co(ClO4)2, Ni(NO3)2, and Cd(NO3)2. In {[Co(L1)(MeCN)2](ClO4)2}infinity (1), {[Ni(L1)(NO3)2]}infinity (2), and {[Cd2(L1)(MeCN)(H2O)(NO3)4].H2O}infinity (3.H2O), the symmetrical ligand L1 was bound facially to the metal center and was bridged through a pyrazine donor to an adjacent metal forming a polymer chain. The folding of L1 formed U-shaped pi-pockets in 1 and 3.H2O which encapsulated free and bound anions, respectively. The anions interacted with the pi-acidic centers in a variety of different binding modes including anion-pi-anion and pi-anion-pi sandwiching. A wider pi-pocket was formed in 2 which also contained anion-pi interactions. The polymer chains in 2 were interdigitated through a rare type of complementary T-shaped N(pyrazine)...pi interaction. In {[Co(L2)(H2O)3](ClO4)2.H2O}infinity (4.H2O) and {[Cd(L2)(H2O)(NO3)2]}infinity (5), the unsymmetrical ligand L2 chelated the metal center and bridged through a pyrazine donor to an adjacent metal forming a polymer chain. The ligand arrangement resulted in the anions in both structures being involved in only anion-pi-anion sandwich interactions. In 4.H2O, the noncoordinated ClO4- anions interacted with only one chain while in 5 the coordinated NO3- anions acted as anion-pi supramolecular synthons between chains. Comparison between the polymers formed with ligands L1 and L2 showed that only the more pi-acidic ring was involved in the anion-pi interactions.     

Functionalization of Polyethyleneimine with Hollow Cyclotriveratrylene and Its Subsequent Supramolecular Interaction with Doxorubicin

In this paper, a modified Cyclotriveratrylene was synthesized and linked to a branched Polyethylenimine, and this unique polymeric material was subsequently examined as a potential supramolecular carrier for Doxorubicin. Spectroscopic analysis in different solvents had shown that Doxorubicin was coordinated within the hollow-shaped unit of the armed Cyclotriveratrylene, and the nature of the host–guest complex revealed intrinsic Van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonding between the host and guest. The strongest interaction was detected in water because of the hydrophobic effect shared between the aromatic groups of the Doxorubicin and Cyclotriveratrylene unit. Density functional theory calculations had also confirmed that in the most stable coordination of Doxorubicin with the cross-linked polymer, the aromatic rings of the Doxorubicin were localized toward the Cyclotriveratrylene core, while its aliphatic chains aligned closer with amino groups, thus forming a compact supramolecular assembly that may confer a shielding effect on Doxorubicin. These observations had emphasized the importance of supramolecular considerations when designing a novel drug delivery platform.