Equilibrium isotope effects on noncovalent interactions in a supramolecular host-guest system

The self-assembled supramolecular complex [Ga(4)L(6)](12-) (1; L = 1,5-bis[2,3-dihydroxybenzamido]naphthalene) can act as a molecular host in aqueous solution and bind cationic guest molecules to its highly charged exterior surface or within its hydrophobic interior cavity. The distinct internal cavity of host 1 modifies the physical properties and reactivity of bound guest molecules and can be used to catalyze a variety of chemical transformations. Noncovalent host-guest interactions in large part control guest binding, molecular recognition and the chemical reactivity of bound guests. Herein we examine equilibrium isotope effects (EIEs) on both exterior and interior guest binding to host 1 and use these effects to probe the details of noncovalent host-guest interactions. For both interior and exterior binding of a benzylphosphonium guest in aqueous solution, protiated guests are found to bind more strongly to host 1 (K(H)/K(D) > 1) and the preferred association of protiated guests is driven by enthalpy and opposed by entropy. Deuteration of guest methyl and benzyl C-H bonds results in a larger EIE than deuteration of guest aromatic C-H bonds. The observed EIEs can be well explained by considering changes in guest vibrational force constants and zero-point energies. DFT calculations further confirm the origins of these EIEs and suggest that changes in low-frequency guest C-H/D vibrational motions (bends, wags, etc.) are primarily responsible for the observed EIEs.     

Determination of NMR Lineshape Anisotropy of Guest Molecules within Inclusion Complexes from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Nonspherical cages in inclusion compounds can result in non‐uniform motion of guest species in these cages and anisotropic lineshapes in NMR spectra of the guest. Herein, we develop a methodology to calculate lineshape anisotropy of guest species in cages based on molecular dynamics simulations of the inclusion compound. The methodology is valid for guest atoms with spin 1/2 nuclei and does not depend on the temperature and type of inclusion compound or guest species studied. As an example, the nonspherical shape of the structure I (sI) clathrate hydrate large cages leads to preferential alignment of linear CO₂ molecules in directions parallel to the two hexagonal faces of the cages. The angular distribution of the CO₂ guests in terms of a polar angle θ and azimuth angle ? and small amplitude vibrational motions in the large cage are characterized by molecular dynamics simulations at different temperatures in the stability range of the CO₂ sI clathrate. The experimental ¹³C NMR lineshapes of CO₂ guests in the large cages show a reversal of the skew between the low temperature (77 K) and the high temperature (238 K) limits of the stability of the clathrate. We determine the angular distributions of the guests in the cages by classical MD simulations of the sI clathrate and calculate the ¹³C NMR lineshapes over a range of temperatures. Good agreement between experimental lineshapes and calculated lineshapes is obtained. No assumptions regarding the nature of the guest motions in the cages are required.     

Characterization of temperature-dependent iron-imidazole vibrational modes in far infrared

The active site of several oxygen binding proteins can be mimicked with the ferric iron protoporphyrin IX derivative hemin, coordinating two imidazole molecules and embedded in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles; the detergent simulates the hydrophobic cavity of heme proteins. We studied the low-frequency vibrational modes of the porphyrin-iron-imidazole bonding in infrared absorbance spectra. Assignment of the metal-ligand vibrations to signals at 396, 387, and 378 cm(-1) was performed by isotope labeling of the imidazole ligand. These modes were also found to be temperature-dependent and to display a linear increase of signal intensity between 25 and 150 K and, with a different slope, between 150 and 300 K. The modes at 396 and 399 cm(-1) show for 25 K an up-shift about 4 cm(-1) and the signal at 378 cm(-1) a small downshift, indicating the involvement of antisymmetric stretching modes and, in the latter, of bending motions. Anharmonic couplings to doming modes are discussed, and the doming mode and hydrogen-bonding signature spectral range between 300 and 100 cm(-1) is presented.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of NMR powder lineshapes of linear guests in structure I clathrate hydrates

We perform molecular dynamics simulations (up to 6 ns) for the structure I clathrate hydrates of linear molecules CS, CS(2), OCS, and C(2)H(2) in large cages at different temperatures in the stability range to determine the angular distribution and dynamics of the guests in the large cages. The long axes of linear guest molecules in the oblate large structure I clathrate hydrate cages are primarily confined near the equatorial plane of the cage rather than axial regions. This non-uniform spatial distribution leads to well-known anisotropic lineshapes in the solid-state NMR spectra of the guest species. We use the dynamic distribution of guest orientations in the cages during the MD simulations at different temperatures to predict the (13)C NMR powder lineshapes of the guests in the large cages. The length of the guests and intermolecular interactions of the guests in the water cages determine the angular distribution and the mobility of the guests in the sI large cages at different temperatures. At low temperatures the range of motion of the guests in the cages are limited and this is reflected in the skew of the predicted (13)C lineshapes. As the guest molecules reach the fast motion limit at higher temperatures, the lineshapes for CS, OCS, and C(2)H(2) are predicted to have the "standard" powder lineshapes of guest molecules.     

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.     

Dynamics of benzene guest inside a self-assembled cylindrical capsule: a combined solid-state 2H NMR and molecular dynamics simulation study

The reorientational dynamics of benzene-d(6) molecules hosted into the cavity of a cavitand-based, self-assembled capsule was investigated by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and temperature-dependent solid-state (2)H NMR spectroscopy. MD simulations were preliminarily performed to assess the motional models of the guest molecules inside the capsules. An in-plane fast reorientation of the benzene guest around the C(6) symmetry axis (B1 motion), characterized by correlation times of the order of picoseconds, was predicted with an activation barrier ( approximately 8 kJ/mol) very similar to that found for neat benzene in the liquid state. An out-of-plane reorientation corresponding to a nutation of the C(6) symmetry axis in a cone angle of 39 degrees (B2 motion, 373 K) with an activation barrier ( approximately 39 kJ/mol) definitely larger than that of liquid benzene was also anticipated. In the temperature range 293-373 K correlation times of the order of a nanosecond have been calculated and a transition from fast to slow regime in the (2)H NMR scale has been predicted between 293 and 173 K. (2)H NMR spectroscopic analysis, carried out in the temperature range 173-373 K on the solid capsules containing the perdeuterated guest (two benzene molecules/capsule), confirmed the occurrence of the B1 and B2 motions found in slow exchange in the (2)H NMR time scale. Line shape simulation of the (2)H NMR spectral lines permitted defining a cone angle value of 39 degrees at 373 K and 35 degrees at 173 K for the nutation axis. The T(1) values measured for the (2)H nuclei of the encapsulated aromatic guest gave correlation times and energetic barrier for the in-plane motion B1 in fine agreement with theoretical calculation. The experimental correlation time for B2 as well as the corresponding energetic barrier are in the same range found for B1. A molecular mechanism for the encapsulated guest accounting for the B1 and B2 motions was also provided.     

Extraction of hydrophobic species into a water-soluble synthetic receptor

A deep, water-soluble cavitand extracts a variety of neutral hydrophobic species into its cavity. Flexible species such as n-alkanes tumble rapidly on the NMR time scale inside the cavity, but this motion is slowed for bulkier guests. Long, rigid guests such as p-substituted aromatics are either static or only tumble at elevated temperatures via flexing motions of the cavitand. Strong selectivity in recognition of long rigid guests is seen. The binding of neutral guests occurs via the classical hydrophobic effect; the process is entropically favored, as shown by isothermal titration calorimetry measurements. Binding affinities are generally on the order of 10(4)-10(5) M(-1). The extent of the hydrophobic stabilization is shown by the binding of long trimethylammonium salts, which bind the alkyl chain in the cavity, rather than the NMe3+ group. Dynamic NMR studies show that self-exchange of neutral guests is independent of guest concentration, and most likely occurs via rate-determining unfolding of the cavitand. In the absence of guests, the cavitand exists in a dimeric velcrand structure.     

Proton dynamics in lithium-ammonia solutions and expanded metals

Quasielastic neutron scattering has been used to study proton dynamics in the system lithium-ammonia at concentrations of 0, 4, 12, and 20 mole percent metal (MPM) in both the liquid and solid (expanded metal) phases. At 230 K, in the homogenous liquid state, we find that the proton self-diffusion coefficient first increases with metal concentration, from 5.6x10(-5) cm2 s(-1) in pure ammonia to 7.8x10(-5) cm2 s(-1) at 12 MPM. At higher concentrations we note a small decrease to a value of 7.0x10(-5) cm2 s(-1) at 20 MPM (saturation). These results are consistent with NMR data, and can be explained in terms of the competing influences of the electron and ion solvation. At saturation, the solution freezes to form a series of expanded metal compounds of composition Li(NH3)4. Above the melting point, at 100 K, we are able to fit our data to a jump-diffusion model, with a mean jump length (l) of 2.1 A and residence time (tau) of 3.1 ps. This model gives a diffusion coefficient of 2.3x10(-5) cm2 s(-1). In solid phase I (cubic, stable from 88.8 to 82.2 K) we find that the protons are still undergoing this jump diffusion, with l=2.0 A and tau=3.9 ps giving a diffusion coefficient of 1.8x10(-5) cm2 s(-1). Such motion gives way to purely localized rotation in solid phases IIa (from 82.2 to 69 K) and IIb (stable from 69 to 25 K). We find rotational correlation times (tau(rot)) of the order of 2.0 and 7.3 ps in phases IIa and IIb, respectively. These values can be compared with a rotational mode in solid ammonia with tau(rot) approximately 2.4 ps at 150 K.     

七、八元瓜环与二溴化1,n-亚烷基-二-2-甲基吡啶的超分子自组装

合成和表征了4个碳链长度不同二溴化1,n-亚烷基-二-2-甲基吡啶(客体,n=6,8,10,12),利用1H NMR技术、热重分析及紫外吸收光谱法考察了这些客体与七、八元瓜环(主体)的相互作用,以及形成的主客体包结物的结构特征.研究结果表明4个客体与七、八元瓜环形成不同的主客体包合物.七元瓜环可穿梭在线性客体分子上形成类轮烷型或哑铃型主客体包合物;而由于具有较大的空腔,八元瓜环可包容弯曲状的整个客体分子.     

Cycloalkane and alicyclic heterocycle complexation by new switchable resorcin[4]arene-based container molecules: NMR and ITC binding studies

The synthesis and structural characterization of novel, "molecular basket"-type bridged cavitands is reported. The resorcin[4]arene-based container molecules feature well-defined cavities that bind a wide variety of cycloalkanes and alicyclic heterocycles. Association constants (K(a)) of the 1:1 inclusion complexes were determined by both (1)H NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The obtained K(a) values in mesitylene ranged from 1.7×10(2) M(-1) for cycloheptane up to 1.7×10(7) M(-1) for morpholine. Host-guest complexation by the molecular baskets is generally driven by dispersion interactions, C-H···π interactions of the guests with the aromatic walls of the cavity, and optimal cavity filling. Correlations between NMR-based structural data and binding affinities support that the complexed heterocyclic guests undergo additional polar C-O···C=O, N-H···π, and S···π interactions. The first crystal structure of a cavitand-based molecular basket is reported, providing precise information on the geometry and volume of the inner cavity in the solid state. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations provided information on the size and conformational preorganization of the cavity in the presence of encapsulated guests. The strongest binding of heterocyclic guests, engaging in polar interactions with the host, was observed at a cavity filling volume of 63 ± 9%.     

Guest exchange dynamics in an M4L6 tetrahedral host

Guest exchange in an M(4)L(6) supramolecular assembly was previously demonstrated to proceed through a nonrupture mechanism in which guests squeeze through apertures in the host structure and not through larger portals created by partial assembly dissociation. Focusing on the [Ga(4)L(6)](12-) assembly [L = 1,5-bis(2',3'-dihydroxybenzamido)naphthalene], the host-guest kinetic behavior of this supramolecular capsule is defined. Guest self-exchange rates at varied temperatures and pressures were measured to determine activation parameters, revealing negative DeltaS and positive DeltaV values [PEt(4)(+): DeltaH = 74(3) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -46(6) J mol(-1) K(-1), k(298) = 0.003 s(-)); NEt(4)(+): DeltaH = 69(2) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -52(5) J mol(-1) K(-1), k(298) = 0.009 s(-1); NMe(2)Pr(2)(+): DeltaH = 52(2) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -56(7) J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaV = +13(1) cm(3) mol(-1), k(298) = 4.4 s(-1); NPr(4)(+): DeltaH = 42(1) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -102(4) J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaV = +31(2) cm(3) mol(-1), k(298) = 1.4 s(-1)]. In PEt(4)(+) for NEt(4)(+) exchange reactions, egress of the initial guest (G1) is found to be rate determining, with increasing G1 and G2 (the displacing guest) concentrations inhibiting guest exchange. This inhibition is explained by the decreased flexibility of the host imparted by exterior, or exohedral, guest interactions by both the G1 and G2 guests. Blocking the exohedral host sites with high concentrations of the smaller NMe(4)(+) cation (a weak endohedral guest) enhances PEt(4)(+) for NEt(4)(+) guest exchange rates. Finally, guest displacement reactions also demonstrate the sensitivity of guest exchange to thermodynamic endohedral guest binding affinities. When the initial guest (G1) has a weaker affinity for the host, G2 concentration dependence is observed in addition to dependence on the G2 binding strength.     

Long live vinylidene! A new view of the H(2)C=C: --> HC triple bond CH rearrangement from ab initio molecular dynamics.

We present complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations of the preparation of the metastable species vinylidene, and its subsequent, highly exothermic isomerization to acetylene, via electron removal from vinylidene anion (D(2)C=C(-) --> D(2)C=C: --> DC triple bond CD). After equilibrating vinylidene anion-d(2) at either 600 +/- 300 K (slightly below the isomerization barrier) or 1440 K +/- 720 K (just above the isomerization barrier), we remove an electron to form a vibrationally excited singlet vinylidene-d(2) and follow its dynamical evolution for 1.0 ps. Remarkably, we find that none of the vinylidenes equilibrated at 600 K and only 20% of the vinylidenes equilibrated at 1440 K isomerized, suggesting average lifetimes >1 ps for vibrationally excited vinylidene-d(2). Since the anion and neutral vinylidene are structurally similar, and yet extremely different geometrically from the isomerization transition state (TS), neutral vinylidene is not formed near the TS so that it must live until it has sufficient instantaneous kinetic energy in the correct vibrational mode(s). The origin of the delay is explained via both orbital rearrangement and intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) effects. Unique signatures of the isomerization dynamics are revealed in the anharmonic vibrational frequencies extracted from the AIMD, which should be observable by ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy and in fact are consistent with currently available experimental spectra. Most interestingly, of those trajectories that did isomerize, every one of them violated conventional transition-state theory by recrossing back to vinylidene multiple times, against conventional notions that expect highly exothermic reactions to be irreversible. The dynamical motion responsible for the multiple barrier recrossings involves strong mode-coupling between the vinylidene CD(2) rock and a local acetylene DCC bend mode that has been recently observed experimentally. The multiple barrier recrossings can be used, via a generalized definition of lifetime, to reconcile extremely disparate experimental estimates of vinylidene's lifetime (differing by at least 6 orders of magnitude). Last, a caveat: These results are constrained by the approximations inherent in the simulation (classical nuclear motion, neglect of rotation-vibration coupling, and restriction to C(s) symmetry); refinement of these predictions may be necessary when more exact simulations someday become feasible.     

Cavitand-porphyrins.

The synthesis and characterization of new nanoscale container molecules 7 and 8 are described. They are covalent hybrids of deepened, self-folding cavitands and metalloporphyrins. In receptor 7, the Zn-porphyrin wall is directly built onto the cavitand skeleton. Host 8 features a large unimolecular cavity containing two cavitands attached with the Zn-porphyrin wall. Its dimensions, approximately 10 x 25 A, place it among the largest synthetic hosts prepared to date. A series of adamantyl- and pyridyl-containing guests 14-20 of various lengths were prepared and used to determine the hosts' binding abilities in solution using UV/vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds at the upper rims of the cavitands resist the unfolding of the inner cavities and thereby increase the energetic barrier to guest exchange. The exchange is slow on the NMR time scale (at < or =300 K), and kinetically stable complexes result. When the cavities and metalloporphyrins participate simultaneously in the binding event, very high affinities for guests are found (-DeltaG295 up to 10 kcal x mol(-1) in toluene), to which the porphyrin fragments contribute significantly (-DeltaG295 up to 6 kcal x mol(-1)). The pairwise selection of two different guests by molecular container 8 is reported, and the termolecular complex formed raises the possibility of metal-catalyzed bimolecular reactions in these containers.     

Guest encapsulation and self-assembly of a cavitand-based coordination capsule

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a cavitand-based coordination capsule 14 BF4 of nanometer dimensions is described. Encapsulation studies of large aromatic guests as well as aliphatic guests were performed by using 1H NMR spectroscopy in [D1]chloroform. In addition to the computational analysis of the shape and geometry of the capsule, an experimental approach to estimate the interior size of the cavity is discussed. The cavity provides a highly rigid binding space in which molecules with lengths of approximately 14 A can be selectively accommodated. The rigid cavity distinguished slight structural differences in the flexible alkyl-chain guests as well as the rigid aromatic guests. The detailed thermodynamic studies revealed that not only CH-pi interactions between the methyl groups on the guest termini and the aromatic cavity walls, but also desolvation of the inner cavity play a key role in the guest encapsulation. The cavity preferentially selected the hydrogen-bonded heterodimers of a mixture of two or three carboxylic acids 18-20. The chiral capsule encapsulated a chiral guest to show diastereoselection.     

How much carbon dioxide can be stored in the structure H clathrate hydrates?: a molecular dynamics study

The stability of structure H (sH) carbon dioxide clathrate hydrates at three temperature-pressure conditions are determined by molecular dynamics simulations on a 3x3x3 sH unit cell replica. Simulations are performed at 100 K at ambient pressure, 273 K at 100 bars and also 300 K and 5.0 kbars. The small and medium cages of the sH unit cell are occupied by a single carbon dioxide guest and large cage guest occupancies of 1-5 are considered. Radial distribution functions are given for guests in the large cages and unit cell volumes and configurational energies are studied as a function of large cage CO(2) occupancy. Free energy calculations are carried out to determine the stability of clathrates for large cage occupancies at three temperature/pressure conditions stated above. At the low temperature, large cage occupancy of 5 is the most stable while at the higher temperature, the occupancy of 3 is the most favored. Calculations are also performed to show that the CO(2) sH clathrate is more stable than the methane clathrate analog. Implications on CO(2) sequestration by clathrate formation are discussed.     

Encapsulated guest-host dynamics: guest rotational barriers and tumbling as a probe of host interior cavity space

The supramolecular host assembly [Ga(4)L(6)](12-) (1; L = 1,5-bis[2,3-dihydroxybenzamido]naphthalene) encapsulates cationic guest molecules within its hydrophobic cavity and catalyzes a variety of chemical transformations within its confined interior space. Despite the well-defined structure, the host ligand framework and interior cavity are very flexible and 1 can accommodate a wide range of guest shapes and sizes. These observations raise questions about the steric effects of confinement within 1 and how encapsulation fundamentally changes the motions of guest molecules. Here we examine the motional dynamics (guest bond rotation and tumbling) of encapsulated guest molecules to probe the steric consequences of encapsulation within host 1. Encapsulation is found to increase the Ph-CH(2) bond rotational barrier for ortho-substituted benzyl phosphonium guest molecules by 3 to 6 kcal/mol, and the barrier is found to depend on both guest size and shape. The tumbling dynamics of guests encapsulated in 1 were also investigated, and here it was found that longer, more prolate-shaped guest molecules tumble more slowly in the host cavity than larger but more spherical guest molecules. The prolate guests reduce the host symmetry from T to C(1) in solution at low temperatures, and the distortion of the host framework that is in part responsible for this symmetry reduction is observed directly in the solid state. Analysis of guest motional dynamics is a powerful method for interrogating host structure and fundamental host-guest interactions.     

Complexation of polyvalent cyclodextrin ions with oppositely charged guests: entropically favorable complexation due to dehydration

Thermodynamic parameters for complexation of polyvalent cyclodextrin (CD) cation and anion with oppositely charged guests have been determined in D2O containing 0.02 M NaCl by means of 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Protonated heptakis(6-amino-6-deoxy)-beta-CD (per-NH3+-beta-CD) forms stable inclusion complexes with monovalent guest anions. The enthalpy (deltaH) and entropy changes (deltaS) for complexation of per-NH3+-beta-CD with p-methylbenzoate anion (p-CH3-Ph-CO2-) are 3.8 +/- 0.7 kJ mol(-1) and 88.6 +/- 2.2 J mol(-1) K(-1), respectively. The deltaH and deltaS values for the native beta-CD-p-CH3-Ph-CO2- system are -8.6 +/- 0.1 kJ mol(-1) and 15.3 +/- 0.7 J mol(-1) K(-1), respectively. The thermodynamic parameters clearly indicate that dehydration from both the host and guest ions accounts for the entropic gain in inclusion process of p-CH3-Ph-CO2- into the per-NH3+-beta-CD cavity. The fact that the neutral guests such as 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene and p-methylbenzyl alcohol hardly form the complexes with per-NH3+-beta-CD exhibits that van der Waals and/or hydrophobic interactions do not cause the complexation of the polyvalent CD cation with the monovalent anion. The acetate anion is not included into the per-NH3+-beta-CD cavity, while the butanoate and hexanoate anions form the inclusion complexes. The complexation of the alkanoate anions is entropically dominated. Judging from these results, it may be concluded that Coulomb interactions cooperated with inclusion are required for realizing the large entropic gain due to extended dehydration. Entropically favorable complexation was also observed for the anionic CD-cationic guest system. The present study might present a general mechanism for ion pairing in water.     

1H NMR chemical shift calculations as a probe of supramolecular host-guest geometry

The self-assembled supramolecular host [Ga(4)L(6)](12-) (1; L = 1,5-bis[2,3-dihydroxybenzamido]naphthalene) can encapsulate cationic guest molecules within its hydrophobic cavity and catalyze the chemical transformations of bound guests. The cavity of host 1 is lined with aromatic naphthalene groups, which create a magnetically shielded interior environment, resulting in upfield shifted (1-3 ppm) NMR resonances for encapsulated guest molecules. Using gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) DFT computations, we show that (1)H NMR chemical shifts for guests encapsulated in 1 can be efficiently and accurately calculated and that valuable structural information is obtained by comparing calculated and experimental chemical shifts. The (1)H NMR chemical shift calculations are used to map the magnetic environment of the interior of 1, discriminate between different host-guest geometries, and explain the unexpected downfield chemical shift observed for a particular guest molecule interacting with host 1.     

Chiroptical Detection of Nonchromophoric,Achiral Guests by Enantiopure Alleno‐Acetylenic Helicages

Enantiopure alleno‐acetylenic ligands assemble diastereoselectively upon the addition of a zinc(II) salt to form triple‐stranded helicates, which provide a sufficiently large helical cage (“helicage”) for the encapsulation of guests. The inclusion complexation of heteroalicycles is confirmed by ROESY and DOSY NMR spectroscopy and quantified in ¹H NMR binding titrations. The ECD spectra of the helicates, which showed strong Cotton effects and exciton coupling, were found to be extremely sensitive to the nature of the guest molecules. Consequently, a series of nonchromophoric, achiral guests of different sizes as well as regioisomers (1,3‐ and 1,4‐dioxane) became distinguishable on the basis of their induced CD (ICD) spectra. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show the adaptability of the cavity size to individual guest molecules and support the selective ICD output. Particularly high affinity towards 1,4‐dioxane allowed its selective detection at parts‐per‐million (ppm) levels in aqueous solutions.