Hexameric capsules of lipophilic pyrogallolarene and resorcinarene in solutions as probed by diffusion NMR: one hydroxyl makes the difference

[reaction: see text] NMR diffusion measurements were used to characterize the self-assembled molecular capsule of pyrogallolarene 2c in CDCl(3) solutions. The results were compared with the characteristics of the hexameric capsule of 1b. Although both 2c and 1b self-assemble into hexameric capsules, the role of water in these capsules is rather different. It was also found that the capsule of 2c is more stable in polar media than that of 1b.     

Self-assembly of a hexameric aggregate of a lipophilic calix[4]pyrrole-resorcinarene hybrid in solution: a diffusion NMR study

The lipophilic calix[4]pyrrole-resorcinarene hybrid 1b, the extended analogue of resorcin[4]arene 2b, was synthesized for the first time, and its self-assembly in solution was studied using (1)H and diffusion NMR. It was found that 1b self-assembles to hexameric aggregates in CDCl(3) solution. The interaction of trialkylamine guests with the hexameric aggregate of 1b was explored, and it appears that under the conditions used in the present study these guests interact with the external faces of the hexameric aggregate of 1b.     

Self-recognition, structure, stability, and guest affinity of pyrogallol[4]arene and resorcin[4]arene capsules in solution

In the present study, we used diffusion NMR to probe the structures and characteristics of the products obtained from the self-assembly of resorcin[4]arenes 1a and 1b and pyrogallol[4]arenes 2a and 2b in CDCl(3) solutions. It was found that all four molecules self-assemble into hexameric capsules. The hexameric capsules of pyrogallol[4]arenes 2a and 2b were found to be more stable than the capsules of resorcin[4]arenes 1a and 1b in polar media. We also studied the role of water molecules in the self-assembly of the different capsules and found that water molecules are part of the hexameric capsules of resorcin[4]arenes 1a and 1b but not in the capsules of pyrogallol[4]arenes 2a and 2b. It was found that the self-assembly process between the resorcin[4]arenes and pyrogallol[4]arenes proceeds with self-recognition. When mixing two macrocycles of different types in a chloroform solution, no heterohexamers are formed, only the capsule constructed from the same macrocycle is detected. However, when two resorcin[4]arenes (i.e., 1a and 1b) or two pyrogallol[4]arenes (i.e., 2a and 2b) are mixed, heterohexamers are formed over time. In addition, we found that resorcin[4]arenes and pyrogallol[4]arenes differ significantly in their guest affinity. The capsules of 1a and 1b can accommodate both the tertiary alkylamines and their respective ammonium salts, while the capsules of 2a and 2b encapsulate only the neutral tertiary alkylamines.     

The effect of alcohol structures on the interaction mode with the hexameric capsule of resorcin[4]arene

After more than a century of research on resorcin[4]arenes (1) it is clear that such systems form spontaneously [1(6)(H(2)O)(8)]-type hexameric capsules in wet, non-polar, organic solvents. However, the interactions of these hexameric capsules with alcohols are far from being solved. Here we provide the results of an extensive study on the interaction of different alcohols with the hexameric capsules of resorcin[4]arene 1a by focusing on the exchange of magnetization manifested in diffusion NMR measurements of such capsular systems. We found that some alcohols such as 2-octyl-1-dodecanol and 1-octadecanol do not interact with the hexamers of 1a, whereas other alcohols such as 3-ethyl-3-pentanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol and more act as simple guests and are simply encapsulated in the hexamers. Others alcohols such as 3-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol and others, are part of the hexameric structure where they can exchange magnetization with alcohols in the bulk. The bulkier alcohols, due to an increase of the chain length or in branching, have a higher tendency to be encapsulated rather than being part of the hexameric capsule superstructure. This study demonstrate the unique information that diffusion NMR spectroscopy can provide on supramolecular systems in solution and on the precaution that should be exercised when analyzing diffusion NMR data of such dynamic supramolecular capsules.     

Octahydroxypyridine[4]arene self-assembles spontaneously to form hexameric capsules and dimeric aggregates

In recent years it has been observed that resorcin[4]arenes and pyrogallol[4]arenes form hydrogen-bonded hexameric capsules in nonpolar solvents. In the present study we have used NMR spectroscopy, with an emphasis on diffusion NMR, to investigate the self-assembly and the aggregation mode of solutions of octahydroxypyridine[4]arene (1 b) in chloroform. In spectroscopic studies, the hexameric capsule of C-undecylresorcin[4]arene (2 b) was used as a reference compound and in some cases also as an internal reference. The current diffusion NMR spectroscopy study shows, in contrast to a previous report, that compound 1 b self-assembles spontaneously into hexameric and dimeric aggregates in solutions in chloroform. The (1)H NMR and diffusion NMR spectroscopic studies on a solution of 1 b in CHCl(3) show the presence of new upfield-shifted peaks, which diffuse with the same diffusion coefficient as the hexameric peaks in the spectrum. Therefore, these new upfield-shifted peaks were attributed to encapsulated CHCl(3) molecules. Interestingly, diffusion NMR measurements showed that the addition of trifluoroacetic acid (6.7 equiv), which had no effect on the hexameric capsules of 2 b, led to the disassembly of the hexamer and the dimer of 1 b into its monomers. Therefore, we conclude that compound 1 b self-assembles spontaneously into hexameric capsules in nonpolar organic solvents, as do resorcin[4]arenes 2 b and 2 c and pyrogallol[4]arenes 3 a and 3 b.     

Nanoencapsulation of calix[4]arene inclusion complexes

A hexameric resorcinarene nanocapsule in wet CDCl3 forms inclusion complexes of calix[4]arene with tetramethylammonium and trimethylsulfoxonium cations to give highly stable Russian-doll-type multicomponent assemblies. The 2D NOESY experiments revealed the size of the assembly, the close proximity of the encapsulated calix[4]arene molecule to the resorcinarene molecules of the capsule, and the inclusion of the tetramethylammonium cation in the calix[4]arene cavity.     

The role of water molecules in a resorcinarene capsule as probed by NMR diffusion measurements

[structure: see text] NMR diffusion measurements were used to probe the role of water molecules in a resorcinarene capsule in a CDCl(3) solution. It was found that the water/resorcinarene ratio affects both the chemical shift and the diffusion coefficient of the water molecules. From the NMR diffusion measurements we could conclude that the major species in the chloroform solution is the hexamer having eight water molecules that are in fast exchange, on the NMR time scale, with the bulk water.     

Effects of solvent on the relative stability of mono and di-aluminium aryloxide complexes of bipyridines: anomalous behavior of [(tBu)2Al(OPh)]2(mu-4,4-bipy)

The temperature dependence of the solution equilibrium constants for [((t)Bu)(2)Al(OPh)]2(mu-4,4'-bipy)(1a), [((t)Bu)2Al(OPh)](2)(mu-bipetha)(2a, bipetha = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane), and [((t)Bu)(2)Al(OPh)]2(mu-bipethe)(3a, bipethe =trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene) in C6D6 and CDCl(3) allow for the determination of DeltaH and DeltaS for the dissociation of one Al(tBu)2OPh moiety from the bridging ligand, i.e., 2[(tBu)2AL(OPh)]2(mu-L)<==>(K1)2AL(OPh)(tBu)2(L)+[(tBu)2Al(mu-OPh)]2. For compounds and the DeltaH values in C6D6[99(2) kJ mol(-1)(2a) and 109(5) kJ mol(-1)(3a)] and CDCl3[115(5) kJ mol(-1)(2a) and 139(7) kJ mol(-1)(3a)] were found to be inversely proportional with the dielectric constant of the solvent. In contrast, the DeltaH value for 1a in CDCl3 is surprisingly small [14.9(7) kJ mol(-1)] and does not fit with the trends adopted by the bipetha and bipethe derivatives or the value obtained in C6D6[110(2) kJ mol(-1)]. Unlike the other compounds and the C6D6 solutions, the CDCl3 solution of 1a allows for the observation of a second equilibrium 2Al(OPh)(tBu)2(L)<==>(K2)[(tBu)2Al(mu-OPh)]2+2L, for which the DeltaH has been determined [4.5(3) kJ mol(-1)]. This result suggests that in CDCl3 bonding of the second Al(tBu)2OPh moiety to Al(OPh)(tBu)2(4,4'-bipy)(1b) is stabilized by the presence of the first aluminium, which is counter to ab initio calculations that predicts the aluminium in Al(OPh)((t)Bu)2(L) should destabilize the Al-N interaction with a second Al(tBu)2OPh group. The BDE for dissociation of both Al(tBu)2OPh moieties from 1a-3a, and the energy of formation of hydrogen bond interactions with CHCl3, has been calculated by ab initio methods, and no unusual effects are inherent in 1a.     

Guest-induced assembly of tetracarboxyl-cavitand and tetra(3-pyridyl)-cavitand into a heterodimeric capsule via hydrogen bonds and CH-halogen and/or CH-pi interaction: control of the orientation of the encapsulated guest

The guest- or solvent-induced assembly of a tetracarboxyl-cavitand 1 and a tetra(3-pyridyl)-cavitand 2 into a heterodimeric capsule 1.2 in a rim-to-rim fashion via four intermolecular CO(2)H.N hydrogen bonds has been investigated both in solution and in the solid state. In the (1)H NMR study, a 1:1 mixture of1a and 2a (R = (CH(2))(6)CH(3)) in CDCl(3) gave a mixture of various complicated aggregates, whereas this mixture in CDCl(2)CDCl(2) or p-xylene-d(10) exclusively produced the heterodimeric capsule 1a.2a. It was found that an appropriate 1,4-disubstituted-benzene is a suitable guest for inducing the exclusive formation of 1a.2a in CDCl(3). The ability of a guest to induce the formation of guest-encapsulating heterodimeric capsule, guest@(1a.2a), increased in the order p-ethyltoluene < 1-ethyl-4-methoxybenzene < or = 1-ethyl-4-iodobenzene < or = 1,4-dibromobenzene < 1-iodo-4-methoxybenzene < or= 1,4-dimethoxybenzene < or = 1,4-diiodobenzene. The (1)H NMR study revealed that a CH-halogen interaction between the inner protons of the methylene-bridge rims (-O-H(out)CH(in)-O-) of the 1a and 2a units and the halogen atoms of 1,4-dihalobenzenes and a CH-pi interaction between the methoxy protons of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene and the aromatic cavities of the 1a and 2a units play important roles in the formation of 1,4-dihalobenzene@(1a.2a) and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene@(1a.2a), respectively. A preliminary single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of guest@(1b.2b) (R = (CH(2))(2)Ph; guest = 1-iodo-4-methoxybenzene or p-xylene) confirmed that the guest encapsulated in 1b.2b is oriented with the long axis of the guest along the long axis of 1b.2b and that the iodo and the methoxy groups of the encapsulated 1-iodo-4-methoxybenzene are specifically oriented with respect to the cavities of the 2b and 1b units, respectively.     

Unusual reaction between (nitrile)Pt complexes and pyrazoles: substitution proceeds via metal-mediated nitrile-pyrazole coupling followed by elimination of the nitrile

The reaction of platinum(IV) complex trans-[PtCl4(EtCN)2] with pyrazoles 3,5-RR'pzH (R/R' = H/H, Me/H, Me/Me) leads to the formation of the trans-[PtCl4{NH=C(Et)(3,5-RR'pz)}2] (1-3) species due to the metal-mediated nitrile-pyrazole coupling. Pyrazolylimino complexes 1-3 (i) completely convert to pyrazole complexes cis-[PtCl4(3,5-RR'pzH)2] by elimination of EtCN upon reflux in a CH2Cl2 solution or upon heating in the solid state; (ii) undergo exchange at the imino C atom with another pyrazole different from that contained in the pyrazolylimino ligand. The reaction of trans-[PtIICl2(EtCN)2] and 3,5-RR'pzH, conducted under conditions similar to those for trans-[PtIVCl4(EtCN)2], is much less selective, and the composition of the products strongly depends on the pyrazole employed: (a) with pzH, the reaction gives a mixture of three products, i.e., [PtCl2NH=C(Et)pz-kappa2N,N}] (4), [PtCl(pzH){NH=C(Et)pz-kappa2N,N}]Cl (5), and [Pt(pzH)2{NH=C(Et)pz-kappa2N,N}]Cl2 (6) (complexes 5 and 6 are rather unstable and gradually transform to trans-[PtCl2(pzH2] and [Pt(pzH)(4)]Cl(2) and free EtCN); (b) with 3,5-Me(2)pzH, the reaction leads to the formation of [PtCl2NH=C(Et)(3,5-Me2pz)-kappa2N,N}] (7) and [PtCl(3,5-Me2pzH)3]Cl (8); (c) in the case of asymmetric pyrazole 3(5)-MepzH, which can be added to EtCN and/or bind metal centers by any of the two nonequivalent nitrogen sites, a broad mixture of currently unidentified products is formed. The reduction of 1-3 with Ph3P=CHCO2Me in CHCl3 allows for the formation of corresponding platinum(II) compounds trans-[PtCl2{NH=C(Et)(3,5-RR'pz)}2] (9-11). Ligands NH=C(Et)(3,5-RR'pz) (12-14) were almost quantitatively liberated from 9-11 with 2 equiv of 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane in CDCl3, giving free imines 12-14 in solution and the precipitate of trans-[Pt(dppe)2](Cl)2. Pyrazolylimines 12-14 undergo splitting in CDCl3 solution at 20-25 degrees C for ca. 20 h to furnish the parent propiononitrile and the pyrazole 3,5-RR'pzH, but they can be synthetically utilized immediately after the liberation.     

Luminescent digold ethynyl thienothiophene and dithienothiophene complexes; their synthesis and structural characterisation

A series of protected and terminal dialkynes with extended pi-conjugation through the fused oligothienyl linker unit in the backbone, 2,5-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene 1a, 5,5'-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene 1b, 2,5-bis(ethynyl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene 2a, 5,5'-bis(ethynyl)dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene 2b, has been synthesized and characterised. The digold alkynyl complexes [(Ph3P)Au(C[triple bond]C)(C6H2S2)(C[triple bond]C)Au(PPh3)] 3a and [(Ph3P)Au(C[triple bond]C)(C8H2S3)(C[triple bond]C)Au(PPh3)] 3b have then been prepared by the reaction of two equivalents of Ph3PAuCl and a methanolic KOH solution of 1a and 1b, respectively. The complexes have been characterised spectroscopically. The crystal structures show that the gold centres adopt a linear two-coordinate geometry appropriate for Au(i) complexes. Within the crystals adjacent molecules are linked by Au...S intermolecular interactions in the range 3.48-3.89 A, but there are no short Au...Au contacts. The absence of Au...Au interactions in solution is confirmed by UV/visible absorption and emission spectroscopy, the spectra being dominated by ligand-centred pi-pi* interactions.     

M2(hpp)4Cl2 and M2(hpp)4, where M = Mo and W: preparations, structure and bonding, and comparisons with C2, C2H2, and C2Cl2 and the hypothetical molecules M2(hpp)4(H)2

The reaction between M(2)Cl(2)(NMe(2))(4), where M = Mo or W, and Hhpp (8 equiv) in a solid-state melt reaction at 150 degrees C yields the compounds M(2)(hpp)(4)Cl(2) 1a (M = Mo) and 1b (M = W), respectively, by the elimination of HNMe(2) [hpp is the anion derived from deprotonation of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, Hhpp]. Purification of 1a and 1b is achieved by sublimation of the excess Hhpp and subsequent recrystallization from either CH(2)Cl(2) or CHCl(3) (or CDCl(3)). By single-crystal X-ray crystallography, the structures of 1a and 1b are shown to contain a central paddlewheel-like M(2)(hpp)(4) core with Mo-Mo = 2.1708(8) A (from CH(2)Cl(2)), 2.1574(5) A (from CDCl(3)), W-W = 2.2328(2) A (from CDCl(3)), and M-N = 2.09(1) (av) A. The Cl ligands are axially ligated (linear Cl-M-M-Cl) with abnormally long M-Cl bond distances that, in turn, depend on the presence or absence of hydrogen bonding to chloroform. The quadruply bonded compounds M(2)(hpp)(4), 2a (M = Mo), and 2b (M = W), can be prepared from the reactions between 1,2-M(2)R(2)(NMe(2))(4) compounds, where R = (i)()Bu or p-tolyl, and Hhpp (4 equiv) in benzene by ligand replacement and reductive elimination. The compounds 2a and 2b are readily oxidized, and in chloroform they react to form 1a and 1b, respectively. The electronic structure and bonding in the compounds 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b have been investigated using gradient corrected density functional theory employing Gaussian 98. The bonding in the M-M quadruply bonded compounds, 2a and 2b, reveals M-M delta(2) HOMOs and extensive mixing of M-M pi and nitrogen ligand lone-pair orbitals in a manner qualitatively similar to that of the M(2)(formamidinates)(4). The calculations indicate that in the chloride compounds, 1a and 1b, the HOMO is strongly M-Cl sigma antibonding and weakly M-M sigma bonding in character. Formally there is a M-M triple bond of configuration pi(4)sigma(2), and the LUMO is the M-M delta orbital. An interesting mixing of M-M and M-Cl pi interactions occurs, and an enlightening analogy emerges between these d(4)-d(4) and d(3)-d(3) dinuclear compounds and the bonding in C(2), C(2)H(2), and C(2)Cl(2), which is interrogated herein by simple theoretical calculations together with the potential bonding in axially ligated compounds where strongly covalent M-X bonds are present. The latter were represented by the model compounds M(2)(hpp)(4)(H)(2). On the basis of calculations, we estimate the reactions M(2)(hpp)(4) + X(2) to give M(2)(hpp)(4)X(2) to be enthalpically favorable for X = Cl but not for X = H. These results are discussed in terms of the recent work of Cotton and Murillo and our attempts to prepare parallel-linked oligomers of the type [[bridge]-[M(2)]-](n)().     

C-H-pi interactions in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetraphenylborate molten salt: solid and solution structures

The crystal structure of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetraphenylborate molten salt (1) shows C-H-pi interactions between the hydrogens of the imidazolium cation and the phenyl rings of the tetraphenylborate anion. The imidazolium ring is surrounded by three tetraphenylborate anions that are connected with the same cation by C-H-pi (phenyl rings) interactions. The nearest inter-ion interaction is found between the N-CH-N proton of the cation and the B-phenyl centroid (2.349 A) with a nearly T-shaped geometry. The inter-ionic solution structure of 1 has been investigated by the detection of inter-ionic contacts in 1H NOESY NMR spectra between the protons of the cation and the anion. The 1H-NMR spectra of molten salt 1 is almost independent of its concentration in [D6]DMSO solution, the imidazolium proton chemical shifts are in the expected region and there are no observable NOE effects between the protons of the cation with those of the anion, indicating that 1 behaves in [D6]DMSO as a solvent-separated ion pair. In CDCl3 the 1H-NMR spectra of 1 are concentration dependent and all the imidazolium protons are shielded as compared with those observed in [D6]DMSO. Moreover, the 1H NOESY NMR spectra show all the peaks affected by the interaction between the protons of the imidazolium cation and those of the anion, indicating that in CDCl3 1 possesses a contact ion pair structure. The NCHN proton of the cation exhibits the greatest shielding (up to -4.5 ppm). an indication of the existence of C-H-pi interactions, even in solution. The calculated distance of this proton to the phenyl centroid is 2.3 A for a C-H -pi angle of 180 degrees. The apparent volumes for the cation and anion, calculated from the measured 13C-NMR relaxation times, increase from 38 and 140 A3 in [D6]DMSO to 360 and 600 A3 in CDCl3, respectively; this indicates the formation of floating aggregates of the type (1)(n) in CDCl3 via weak hydrogen bonds, with increasing concentration.     

Synthesis and characterization of a metallocycle-based molecular shuttle

Kinetically stable metallocycle-based molecular shuttles of [2]rotaxanes 4a and 4b, along with [3]rotaxanes 5a and 5b, have been prepared using the rhenium(I)-bridged metallocycle 2 and the dumbbell components containing two stations, 3a and 3b. The rotaxanes were self-assembled by hydrogen bonding interactions upon heating a Cl(2)CHCHCl(2) solution containing their components at 70 degrees C. Each rotaxane was isolated in pure form by silica gel chromatography under ordinary laboratory conditions and fully characterized by elemental analysis and various spectroscopic methods. The (1)H NMR signals for the amide NH and the methylene -(CH(2))(4)- of the station were considerably changed when occupied by the metallocycle. In [2]rotaxane 4b, which has a larger naphthyl spacer, the occupied and unoccupied stations gave widely separated signals in the (1)H NMR spectroscopy at room temperature, but averaged signals of two stations were observed in [2]rotaxane 4a, which has a smaller phenyl spacer. This is attributed to the shuttling of the metallocycle between two stations. The coalescence temperature experiment gave a shuttling rate of approximately 670 s(-)(1) at 19 degrees C in CDCl(3), corresponding to an activation free energy (DeltaG()) of 13.3 kcal/mol. With respect to the relative position of the chloride in the rhenium(I) center, two diastereomers are possible in the [2]rotaxane and three diastereomers are possible in the [3]rotaxane. In fact, the rotaxanes exist as diastereomeric mixtures in nearly equal amounts of all possible diastereomers on the basis of the amide NH signals of the station in the (1)H NMR spectroscopy.     

Self-assembly of resorcin[4]arene in the presence of small alkylammonium guests in solution

We followed the self-assembly of C-alkyl-resorcin[4]arene (1a,1b) in the presence of tetraethylammonium salts (2). The X-ray structure of C-ethyl-resorcin[4]arene (1c) in the presence of TEABr (2b), showed a dimer encapsulating one guest. However, diffusion measurements reveal that two molecules of tetraethylammonium are encapsulated within the hexameric capsule of 1a,b in chloroform, regardless of the anion. Most importantly, the anion affects the role of water in the self-assembly and the nature of the formed capsules.     

New hemiketal steroid from the soft coral Cladiella sp

[structure: see text] A new hemiketal steroid, named cladiellin A (1), was first isolated from the soft coral Cladiella sp. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods and X-ray analysis. Compound 1 easily converted to 1a when NMR spectra were measured in CDCl(3) solution and quickly changed to 1b when pyridine was used. The structures of dehydrated products 1a and 1b were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Bioassay showed that all these three compounds showed antioxidant activity.     

Loss of Hoogsteen pairing ability upon N1 adenine platinum binding

Chloroform- and Freon-soluble mixed thymine, adenine complexes trans-[Pt(MeNH(2))(2)(ChmT-N3)(ChmA-N1)]NO(3) (2) and trans-[Pt(MeNH(2))(2)(ChmT-N3)(TBDMS-ado-N1)]BF(4) (3) (ChmT = anion of 1-cyclohexylmethylthymine ChmTH, ChmA = 9-cyclohexylmethyladenine, TBDMS-ado = 2',3',5'-tri-tert-butyldimethylsilyladenosine) have been prepared and characterized to study their propensity to undergo Hoogsteen and/or reversed Hoogsteen pairing in solution with free ChmTH and free 3',5'-diacetyl-2'-deoxyuridine, respectively. No Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen pairing between 2 and ChmT takes place in CDCl(3). In Freon, partial H bonding between N1 platinated TBDMS-ado and 3',5'-diacetyl-2'-deoxyuridine as well as its [3-(15)N] labeled analogue is unambiguously observed only below 150 K. Comparison of (1)J ((15)N-(1)H) coupling constants of 3',5'-diacetyl-2'-deoxyuridine involved in Hoogsteen pairing with free and N1 platinated adenine suggests that the interaction is inherently weaker in the case of platinated adenine. To better understand the complete absence of hydrogen bonding between the ChmA ligand in 2 and free ChmTH, ab initio calculations (gas phase, 0 K) have been carried out for Hoogsteen pairs involving adenine (A) and thymine (T), as well as simplified analogues of 2 and T, both in the presence and absence of counteranions. The data strongly suggest that reduction of the effective positive charge of the heavy metal ion Pt(2+) by counterions diminishes interaction energies. With regard to mixtures of 2 and ChmTH in chloroform, this implies that ion pair formation between the cation of 2 and NO(3)(-) may be responsible for the lack of any measurable Hoogsteen pairing in this solvent.     

Self-assembly and dynamics of [2]- and [3]rotaxanes with a dinuclear macrocycle containing reversible Os-N coordinate bonds

With a dinuclear macrocycle 2 that contains weak reversible OsVI-N coordinate bonds, self-assembly and equilibrium dynamics of [2]- and [3]rotaxanes have been investigated. When the macrocycle 2 was mixed together with threads 4a-e, which all contain an adipamide station but different sizes of end groups, [2]pseudorotaxane- and rotaxane-like complexes were immediately formed with large association constants of >7 x 103M(-1) in CDCl3 at 298 K. Exchange dynamics, explored by 2D-EXSY experiments, suggest that assembly and disassembly of complexes occur through two distinct pathways, slipping or clipping, and this depends on the size of the end groups. The slipping pathway is predominant with smaller end groups that give pseudorotaxane-like complexes, while the clipping pathway is observed with larger end groups that yield rotaxane-like complexes. Under the same conditions, exchange barriers (deltaG++) were 14.3 kcalmol(-1) for 4a and 16.7 kcalmol(-1) for 4d, and indicate that the slipping process is at least one order of magnitude faster than the clipping process. Using threads 13a and 13b that contain two adipamide groups, more complicated systems have been investigated in which [2]rotaxane, [3]rotaxane, and free components are in equilibrium. Concentration- and temperature-dependent 1H NMR spectroscopic studies allowed the identification of all possible elements and the determination of their relative distributions in solution. For example, the relative distribution of the free components, [2]rotaxane, and [3]rotaxane are 30, 45, and 25 %, respectively, in a mixture of 2 (2mM) and 13a (2mM) in CDCl3 at 10 degrees C. However, [3]rotaxane exists nearly quantitatively in a mixture of 2 (4 mM) and 13 a (2 mM) in CDCl3 at a low temperature - 10 degrees C.     

Water-mediated association provides an ion pair receptor

In this paper, we report on the formation and properties of a water-stabilized dimer comprising calix[4]arene-guanosine conjugate cG 2. The 1,3-alternate calixarene cG 2 was poorly soluble in dry CDCl(3) and gave an ill-resolved NMR spectrum, consistent with its nonspecific aggregation. The compound was much more soluble in water-saturated CDCl(3). Two sets of well-resolved (1)H NMR signals for the guanosine residues in cG 2, present in a 1:1 ratio, indicated that the compound's D(2) symmetry had been broken and provided the first hint that cG 2 dimerizes in water-saturated CDCl(3). The resulting dimer, (cG 2)(2).(H(2)O)(n)(), has a unique property: it extracts alkali halide salts from water into organic solution. This dimer is a rare example of a self-assembled ion pair receptor. The identity of the (cG 2)(2).NaCl.(H(2)O)(n)() dimer was confirmed by comparing its self-diffusion coefficient in CDCl(3), determined by pulsed-field gradient NMR, with that of control compound cA 3, an adenosine analogue. The dimer's stoichiometry was also confirmed by quantitative measurement of the cation and anion using ion chromatrography. Two-dimensional NMR and ion-induced NMR shifts indicated that the cation binding site is formed by an intermolecular G-quartet and the anion binding site is provided by the 5'-amide NH groups. Once bound, the salt increases the dimer's thermal stability. Both (1)H NMR and ion chromatography measurements indicated that the cG 2 dimer has a modest selectivity for extracting K(+) over Na(+) and Br(-) over Cl(-). The anion's identity also influences the association process: NaCl gives a soluble, discrete dimer whereas addition of NaBPh(4) to (cG 2)(2).(H(2)O)(n)() leads to extensive aggregation and precipitation. This study suggests a new direction for ion pair receptors, namely, the use of molecular self-assembly. The study also highlights water's ability to stabilize a functional noncovalent assembly.     

Crown-6-calix[4]arene-capped calix[4]pyrrole: an ion-pair receptor for solvent-separated CsF ions

An ion-pair receptor, 1, containing both cation- and anion-recognizing sites, has been synthesized and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structural studies and (1)H NMR spectroscopic analyses confirmed that 1 forms stable 1:1 complexes with CsF in solution and in the solid state in spite of the large separation enforced between the receptor-bound anion and cation. In 9:1 CDCl3/CD3OD, binding of fluoride anion within the calix[4]pyrrole core of 1 was not observed in the absence of a cobound cesium cation; however, it was seen in this solvent mixture under conditions where a Cs(+) cation was bound to the crown ether-strapped calix[4]arene subunit.