Macrocyclic Architecture: Tuning Cavity Size and Shape through Maleimide Photochemistry

Open wide: Irradiation of N-alkyl alkynyl maleimides yields imide-cyclobutene containing macrocycles with C(i) and C(2) symmetry. In the case of the C(i) isomers increasing the tether length leads to a one-dimensional increase in cavity size akin to a "letterbox" effect.     

Isomeric Squaraine‐Based [2]Pseudorotaxanes and [2]Rotaxanes: Synthesis,Optical Properties,and Their Tubular Structures in the Solid State

On the basis of formation of [2]pseudorotaxane complexes between triptycene‐derived tetralactam macrocycles 1 a and 1 b and squaraine dyes, construction of squaraine‐based [2]rotaxanes through clipping reactions were studied in detail. As a result, when two symmetrical squaraines 2 d and 2 e were utilized as templates, two pairs of isomeric [2]rotaxanes 3 a – b and 4 a – b as diastereomers were obtained, owing to the two possible linking modes of triptycene derivatives. It was also found, interestingly, that when a nonsymmetrical dye 2 g was involved, there existed simultaneously three isomers of [2]rotaxanes in one reaction due to the different directions of the guest threading. The ¹H NMR and 2D NOESY NMR spectra were used to distinguish the isomers, and the yield of [2]rotaxane 5 a with the benzyl group in the wider rim of the host 1 a was found to be higher than that of another isomer 5 b with an opposite direction of the guest, which indicated the partial selection of the threading direction. The X‐ray structures of 3 b and 4 a showed that, except for the standard hydrogen bonds between the amide protons of the hosts and the carbonyl oxygen atoms of the guests, multiple π???π stacking and C? H???π interactions between triptycene subunits and aromatic rings of the guests also participated in the complexation. Crystallographic studies also revealed that the [2]rotaxane molecules 3 b and 4 a further self‐assembled into tubular structures in the solid state with the squaraine dyes inside the channels. In the case of 4 a , all the nonsymmetrical macrocyclic molecules pointed in one direction, which suggests the formation of oriented tubular structures. Moreover, it was also found that the squaraines encapsulated in the triptycene‐derived macrocycles were protected from chemical attack, and subsequently have potential applications in imaging probes and other biomedical areas.     

Structural properties of cyclopentanone-bridged bis-macrocyclic ligand dicopper(II) complexes in the solid and in solution: a successful test of the MM-EPR method

The copper(II)-assisted condensation of 2,3,2-tet (3,7-diazanonane-1,9-diamine) with formaldehyde and cyclopentanone yields the mono- and bis-macrocyclic Mannich condensation products L(1) and L(2), as well as the Schiff-base product L(3), all with cyclam-type tetraaza macrocycles, coordinated to copper(II). The combination of molecular mechanics and EPR spectroscopy (MM-EPR) reveals that all three isomers of [Cu(2)(L(2))(OH(2))(n)](2+) (n = 0-4), with the expected trans-III (R,R,S,S) configuration of the 14-membered tetraaza macrocycles, are of similar stability, and that the isomer whose structure is solved by X-ray crystallography has a different structure in solution.     

Virtual libraries of tetrapyrrole macrocycles. Combinatorics, isomers, product distributions, and data mining

A software program (PorphyrinViLiGe) has been developed to enumerate the type and relative amounts of substituted tetrapyrrole macrocycles in a virtual library formed by one of four different classes of reactions. The classes include (1) 4-fold reaction of n disubstituted heterocycles (e.g., pyrroles or diiminoisoindolines) to form β-substituted porphyrins, β-substituted tetraazaporphyrins, or α- or β-substituted phthalocyanines; (2) combination of m aminoketones and n diones to form m × n pyrroles, which upon 4-fold reaction give β-substituted porphyrins; (3) derivatization of an 8-point tetrapyrrole scaffold with n reagents, and (4) 4-fold reaction of n aldehydes and pyrrole to form meso-substituted porphyrins. The program accommodates variable ratios of reactants, reversible or irreversible reaction (reaction classes 1 and 2), and degenerate modes of formation. Po?lya's theorem (for enumeration of cyclic entities) has also been implemented and provides validation for reaction classes 3 and 4. The output includes the number and identity of distinct reaction-accessible substituent combinations, the number and identity of isomers thereof, and the theoretical mass spectrum. Provisions for data mining enable assessment of the number of products having a chosen pattern of substituents. Examples include derivatization of an octa-substituted phthalocyanine with eight reagents to afford a library of 2,099,728 members (yet only 6435 distinct substituent combinations) and reversible reaction of six distinct disubstituted pyrroles to afford 2649 members (yet only 126 distinct substituent combinations). In general, libraries of substituted tetrapyrrole macrocycles occupy a synthetically accessible region of chemical space that is rich in isomers (>99% or 95% for the two examples, respectively).     

Synthesis and Properties of 5-Chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline-Substituted Azacrown Ethers: A New Family of Highly Metal Ion-Selective Lariat Ethers

New 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline (CHQ)-substituted aza-18-crown-6 (4), diaza-18-crown-6 (1), diaza-21-crown-7 (2), and diaza-24-crown-8 (3) ligands, where CHQ was attached through the 7-position, and aza-18-crown-6 (11) and diaza-18-crown-6 (10) macrocycles, where CHQ was attached through the 2-position, were prepared. Thermodynamic quantities for complexation of these CHQ-substituted macrocycles with alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions were determined in absolute methanol at 25.0 degrees C by calorimetric titration. Two isomers, 1 and 10, which are different only in the attachment positions of the CHQ to the parent macroring, exhibit remarkable differences in their affinities toward the metal ions. Compound 1 forms very stable complexes with Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), and Ni(2+) (log K = 6.82, 5.31, 10.1, and 11.4, respectively), but not with the alkali metal ions. Ligand 10 displays strong complexation with K(+) and Ba(2+) (log K = 6.61 and 12.2, respectively) but not with Mg(2+) or Cu(2+). The new macrocycles and their complexes have been characterized by means of UV-visible and (1)H NMR spectra and X-ray crystallography. New peaks in the UV spectrum of the Mg(2+)-1 complex could allow an analytical determination of Mg(2+) in very dilute solutions in the presence of other alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. (1)H NMR spectral and X-ray crystallographic studies indicate that ligand 10 forms a cryptate-like structure when coordinated with K(+) and Ba(2+), which induces an efficient overlap of the two hydroxyquinoline rings. Such overlapping forms a pseudo second macroring that results in a significant increase in both complex stability and cation selectivity.     

General Route for the Preparation of Diverse 17-Membered Macrocycles Based on RCM and Examination of the E/Z Selectivity

A convergent, general synthetic route to 17-membered macrocycles was developed to support biological evaluation and structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies during phenotypic screening for immunology targets. A series of amide coupling reactions led to a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) precursor that was cyclized using Grubbs' catalysts. It was found that the reaction formed the macrocyclic products in a 3:1 ratio of E/Z isomers. Moreover, it was shown that a number of similarly substituted RCM precursors undergo cyclization to produce the geometric E/Z isomers in roughly the same 3:1 ratio. The remarkable independence of the E/Z outcome from the substitution pattern of the RCM precursor makes this synthetic approach generally applicable. Separation of the E/Z isomers was achieved by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and allowed biological profiling of the geometric isomers. Reactive groups in the macrocycle were utilized for late-stage modifications in the fashion of diversity-orientated synthesis (DOS), yielding analogs for SAR studies.     

Double-helical cyclic peptides: design, synthesis, and crystal structure of figure-eight mirror-image conformers of adamantane-constrained cystine-containing cyclic peptide cyclo (Adm-Cyst)(3)

A large number of macrocycles containing alternating repeats of cystine diOMe(-NH-CH(CO(2)Me)-CH(2)-S-)(2) and either a conformationally rigid aromatic/alicyclic moiety or a flexible polymethylene unit (X) in the cyclic backbone with ring size varying from 13- to 78-membered have been examined by spectral ((1)H NMR, FT-IR, CD) and X-ray crystallography studies for unusual conformational preferences. While (1)H NMR measurements indicated a turnlike conformation for all macrocycles, stabilized by intramolecular NH.CO hydrogen bonding, as also supported by FT-IR spectra in chloroform, convincing proof for beta-turn structures was provided by circular dichroism studies. Single-crystal X-ray studies on 39-membered cyclo (Adm-L-Cyst)(3) revealed a double-helical fold (figure-eight motif) for the macrocycle. Only a right-handed double helix was seen in the macrocycle constructed from L-cystine. The mirror-image macrocycle made up of D-cystine units exhibited a double helix with exactly the opposite screw sense, as expected. The enantiomeric figure-eights were stabilized by two intramolecular NH. CO hydrogen bonds and exhibited identical (1) H NMR and FT-IR spectra. The CD spectra of both isomers had a mirror-image relationship. The present results have clearly brought out the importance of cystine residues in inducing turn conformation that may be an important deciding factor for the adoption of topologically important structures by macrocycles containing multiple S-S linkages.     

Synthesis and characterization of two isomeric, self-assembled arsenic-thiolate macrocycles

The use of labile As-S bond formation in the self-assembly of discrete supramolecular structures is extended. Macrocyclic structures of chemical formula As2L2Cl2 (H2L=alpha,alpha'-dimercapto-p-xylene) were prepared and characterized. Diastereomeric syn and anti isomers of these macrocycles were selectively crystallized and characterized in the solid state using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both the syn and anti macrocycles show close contacts between the arsenic(III) ions and the aromatic carbons, consistent with intramolecular arsenic-pi interactions. The dynamic behavior of the isomers in solution is also investigated. anti-As2L2Cl2.AsCl3 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (No. 14) with a=10.6194(5) A, b=16.7780(9) A, c=8.5725(4) A, beta=100.6830(10) degrees, and Z=2. syn-As2L2Cl2 crystallizes in orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62) with a=10.8881(8) A, b=19.3511(14) A, c=9.9524(7) A, and Z=4.     

Derivatization of fullerene dimer C120 by the Bingel reaction and a 3He NMR study of 3He@C120 monoadducts.

Cyclopropanation with diethyl bromomalonate and base (the Bingel reaction) was conducted on fullerene dimer C120 to give a mixture of "monoadducts" (45% yield) and "bisadducts" (< or =37% yield), while 18% of the C120 remained unchanged. The "monoadducts" were separated into five positional isomers, i.e., e(face), e(edge), trans-4, trans-3, and trans-2, by preparative HPLC. Assignments were made based on 1H (and 13C) NMR and confirmed by theoretical calculations of the addends' 1H NMR chemical shifts. The relative yields of these isomers were in fair agreement with those observed for the Bingel bisaddition of C60. The Bingel reaction was also carried out on the dimer C120 encapsulating 3He in one of the C60 cages. Each positional isomer of the "monoadduct" exhibited a pair of 3He NMR signals corresponding to an isomer with functionalization on the 3He-containing cage and the other isomer with functionalization on the empty cage. Using the 3He NMR spectroscopy, a pair of signals for the trans-1 isomer, which eluded detection by 1H NMR, were observed, in addition to pairs of signals for e(face), e(edge), trans-4, trans-3, and trans-2 isomers. The 3He NMR signals for isomers with functionalization on the 3He-containing cage were spread out over a 1.82-ppm range reflecting the direct effects of the addition pattern on the C60 surface. In contrast, the isomers with functionalization on the empty cage exhibited 3He NMR signals that appeared over a 0.14-ppm range, which was shown to be primarily due to changes in the diamagnetism of the functionalized cage based on theoretical calculations of 3He NMR chemical shifts for the model system in which the C60 cage encapsulating 3He was removed.     

Synthesis and photochromic reactivity of macromolecules incorporating four dithienylethene units

Two macrocycles bearing four dithienylethene units were synthesized. Upon irradiation of the macrocycles 5 and 6 with ultraviolet light, only one or two photo-induced cyclization reaction occurs. Each isomers were isolated and analyzed by ¹H NMR spectrum. The quantum yield of 5 and 6 are 0.58 and 0.64, respectively. The high value is due to the presence of enforced antiparallel conformation in the macrocycles 5 and 6.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected cyclic homooligomers from sugar amino acids

Two new families of orthogonally protected cyclic homooligomers with two to four sugar units were synthesized from pyranoid sugar amino acids. Cyclic oligomers composed of amide-linked sugar amino acids (1-3) were prepared by cyclization of linear oligomers of the novel orthogonally protected pyranoid sugar amino acid 12 using a solution-phase coupling method. These orthogonally protected cyclic molecules can be selectively or fully deprotected, affording the macrocycles ready to further functionalization. The straightforward reduction of the amide bonds in the cyclic oligomers 1-3 gave the corresponding amine-linked macrocycles 4-6. This kind of amine-linked carbohydrate-based cyclic oligomer has never been reported before. These flexible molecular receptors could be studied as molecular hosts for molecular, cationic, and anionic recognition. Conformational analysis by molecular modeling (AM1) showed that all of the deprotected cyclic trimers and tetramers preferred a (4)C(1) chair conformation with oxygen atoms of the sugar ring located on the interior of the cavity and the secondary hydroxyl groups outward. In the amide-linked macrocycles, all of the amide bonds are in s-trans conformation. The estimated size of the internal cavity is about 4.5 A for the cyclic trimer and 6.9 A for the cyclic tetramer. The amine-linked macrocycles displayed similar conformational behavior with a slight decrease in internal cavity.     

Selecting topology and connectivity through metal-directed macrocyclization reactions: a square planar palladium [2]catenate and two noninterlocked isomers

We report the synthesis of a [2]catenate using a square planar palladium(II) template, together with two isomers of the interlocked structure: a single tetradentate macrocycle that adopts a "figure of eight" conformation to encapsulate the metal and a complex in which the two macrocycles of the catenane are not interlocked. The three isomers can each be selectively formed depending on how the building blocks are assembled and cyclized. Olefin metathesis of both building blocks while they are attached to the metal gives the single large macrocycle in 77% yield. Cyclizing the monodentate unit prior to attaching both ligands to the metal gives the [2]catenate in 78% yield. Preforming the tridentate macrocycle produces a complex in two atropisomeric forms-threaded and nonthreaded-in a 2:3 ratio, which do not interconvert in dichloromethane at room temperature over 7 days. RCM of the nonthreaded atropisomer affords the complex with two noninterlocked macrocyclic ligands; RCM of the threaded atropisomer generates the topologically isomeric [2]catenate. Heating the acyclic atropisomers in acetonitrile provides a mechanism for their interconversion via ligand exchange, allowing the threaded:nonthreaded ratio to be varied from 2:3 to 8:1. All three fully ring-closed complexes were characterized unambiguously by 1H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. As far as we are aware, this is the first time such a set of three formal topological and constitutional isomers has been described.     

Thermodynamic rearrangement synthesis and NMR structures of C1, C3, and T isomers of C60H36

The structures of three C60H36 isomers, produced by high-temperature transfer hydrogenation of C(60) in a 9,10-dihydroanthracene melt, was accomplished by 2D (1)H-detected NMR experiments, recorded at 800 MHz. The unsymmetrical C(1) isomer is found to be the most abundant one (60-70%), followed by the C(3) isomer (25-30%) and the least abundant T isomer (2-5%). All three isomers are closely related in structure and have three vicinal hydrogens located on each of the 12 pentagons. Facile hydrogen migration on the fullerene surface during annealing at elevated temperatures is believed to be responsible for the preferential formation of these thermodynamically most stable C60H36 isomers. This hypothesis was further supported by thermal conversion of C60H36 isomers to a single C(3v) isomer of C60H18.     

Selection of the cis and trans phosph(III)azane macrocycles [{P(mu-NtBu)}2(1-Y-2-NH-C6H4)]2(Y=O, S)

The 1 : 1 reactions of [ClP(mu-NtBu)]2 with the difunctional aromatic amines 1,2-1-YH-2-NH2-C6H4 in the presence of Et3N give the dimeric phosph(III)azane macrocycles [{P(mu-NtBu)2(1-Y-2-HN-C6H4)]2, predominantly as the cis isomer in the case of Y=O (1.cis) and as the trans isomer for Y=S (2.trans). Model M.O. calculations suggest that the selection of the cis and trans isomers is not thermodynamically controlled. The alternative isomers 1.trans and 2.cis are generated exclusively by the deprotonation of the model intermediates [(1-Y-2-NH2-C6H4)P(mu-NtBu)]2[Y=O (3), S (4)] with nBuLi followed by cyclisation with [ClP(mu-NtBu)]2. The solid-state structures of 1.cis/trans(50 : 50), 2.cis, 3 and 4 are reported.     

Bis-imine-cyclometalated macrocycles: synthesis, characterization and observation of solution behaviour

A novel class of cyclometalated macrocycles [(Cp*Ir)(2)(R-N=C-C(6)H(2)-C=N-R)(2)](2)(pyrazine)(2)·(OTf)(4) [R = Ph (4a), p-MeOC(6)H(4) (4b), p-MeC(6)H(4) (4c), p-ClC(6)H(4) (4d), Me (4e)]; [(Cp*Rh)(2)(R-N=C-C(6)H(2)-C=N-R)(2)](2)(pyrazine)(2)·(OTf)(4) [R = Ph (4a'), p-MeOC(6)H(4) (4b'), p-MeC(6)H(4) (4c')] and [(Cp*Ir)(2)(R-C=N-C(6)H(4)-N=C-R)(2)](2)(pyrazine)(2)·(OTf)(4) [R = Ph (5a), p-MeOC(6)H(4) (5b)] was stepwise constructed through the double-site C-H activation of aromatic bis-imine substrates. The structures of binuclear complexes and tetranuclear macrocycles were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Isomers were found both in binuclear species and macrocyclic complexes. Flexible substrates led to the existence of isomers for binuclear species, yet gave no isomers after macrocyclic constructions; rigid ones, in contrast, led to isomers only for macrocyclic species. The isomers of tetranuclear macrocycles were thermodynamically stable to reversible transformation on a scale of days. Robust bonding and a certain degree of rigidity were invoked to explain the existence of isomers. This is the first example, to our knowledge, in which coordinated macrocycles containing half-sandwich Cp*M (M = Ir, Rh) fragments have been constructed, without a dynamic reversible process.     

The synthesis and conformation of oxygenated trianglimine macrocycles

The synthesis of series of D(2h) and C(2v) symmetric oxygenated aromatic dicarboxaldehydes, using dilithiation methodology, is described along with their reactivity in the [3+3] cyclocondensation reaction with (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane to give oxygenated trianglimine macrocycles. Macrocycles derived from C(2v) symmetric dialdehydes give macrocycles with a stereogenic aromatic plane with complete diastereocontrol, as a mixture of rotamers.     

Binuclear copper(I) macrocycles synthesized via the weak-link approach

The weak-link approach has been employed to synthesize a series of bimetallic Cu(I) macrocycles in high yield. Addition of phosphinoalkylether or -thioether ligands to [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6 produces "condensed" intermediates, [mu-(1,4-(PPh2CH2CH2X)2Y)2Cu2][PF6]2 (X = S, O; Y = C6H4, C6F4), containing strong P-Cu bonds and weaker O-Cu or S-Cu bonds. The weak bonds of these intermediates can be cleaved through ligand substitution reactions to generate macrocyclic structures, [mu-(1,4-(PPh2CH2CH2X)2Y)2(Z)nCu2][PF6]2 (X = S, O; Y = C6H4, C6F4; Z = pyridine, acetonitrile, diimines, isocyanide) in nearly quantitative yields. The incorporation of tetrahedral Cu(I) metal centers into these macrocycles provides a pathway to complexes that differ from analogous d8 square planar macrocycles generated via this approach in their increased air stability, small molecule reactivity, and ability to form multiple structural isomers. Solid-state structures, as determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, are presented for condensed intermediates and an open macrocycle     

Electronic and structural properties of the metalloporphyrin structural isomers: semiempirical AM1 and PM3 calculations

Semiempirical calculations using AM1 and PM3 have been performed on the zinc(II) and magnesium(II) complexes of nine structural isomers of tetrapyrrole macrocycles such as porphyrin, porphycene, corrphycene and hemiporphycene, N-confused porphyrin and other isomers that have not been synthesized. The optimized geometry and the bond parameters obtained compare favorably with results obtained from X-ray and spectral studies. Heats of formation, ionization potentials, HOMO-LUMO energy differences, dipole moments, and the splitting of HOMOs and LUMOs of the metal complexes of each of these isomers are also reported and compared with experimental results. The “four-orbital model” of Gouterman remains valid for the investigated structural isomers. The present study represents an unusually appropriate opportunity to study, via molecular orbital methods, the interaction between various metal ions, and the electronic and geometrical environment of the central cavity of the closely related isomeric macrocycles. The major outcome of this study is the verification of the expected differential behavior of metal ions employed in the present study as a sophisticated probe of cavity properties which also suggests that this procedure can be extended to other metal complexes. This study also serves as an interesting prototype for more elaborate ab initio calculations. However, such calculations on the presently investigated macrocyclic systems may have to be performed at a higher level than MP2 or DFT to account for the unusual delocalization, as suggested by a recent study by Schaefer and co-workers on delocalized [10]annulene (H.M. Sulzbach, H.F. Schaefer, W. Klopper and H.P. Luthi, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 118 (1996) 3519).     

Selenoether macrocyclic chemistry--syntheses and properties of new potentially tridentate and hexadentate Se/O-donor macrocycles

Treatment of O(CH2CH2SeCN)2 with Na in NH3(l), followed by dropwise addition of a thf solution of o-C6H4(CH2Br)2 at -40 degrees C leads to formation of three mixed Se/O-donor macrocycles which are separable by column chromatography, the [1 + 1] species L1, the [2 + 2] ring L2 and the [3 + 3] ring L3, of which L2 is by far the major species. Using the same starting materials, but in a high dilution cyclisation at room temperature with NaBH4 in thf/EtOH gives exclusively the [1 + 1] ring, L1. The saturated ring Se/O-donor macrocycles, L4 and L5 are obtained by simultaneous dropwise addition of solutions of O(CH2CH2SeCN)2 and Br(CH2)3Br to NaBH4 suspended in thf/EtOH. The small tridentate Se2O-donor ring, L4, is again the dominant product under these conditions (71%), although the more flexible precursors in this reaction also give rise to the larger Se4O2-donor ring, L5, as a by-product in 8% yield. These compounds are readily separated and purified by column chromatography (ethyl acetate:hexane, 1:19). The new macrocycles have been characterised by 1H, (13)C{1H} and (77)Se{1H} NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, together with crystal structures of L1 and L2. Complexes of L1 and L2 with late transition metals (Pd(II), Pt(II), Cu(I) and Ag(I)) are also described.     

Synthesis of fused multicyclic compounds containing macrocycles by dienyne ring-closing metathesis and Diels-Alder reactions

Fused bicyclic compounds comprising small and large rings were synthesised by dienyne ring-closing metathesis (RCM) using Grubbs' catalyst. By taking advantage of faster small ring cyclisation compared with macrocyclisation, single isomers were obtained rather than mixtures of two isomers with different ring sizes. Using this process, various fused bicyclic compounds comprising small rings (5-7- membered) and large rings (14-17- membered) were obtained. By increasing reaction temperature and catalyst loading, the product conversion was improved in a predicted manner. This method produced E-olefins on the macrocycles with high selectivity. Also, the selectivity issues of tandem RCM for the synthesis of fused bicyclic compounds comprising small and medium rings were investigated. Lastly, the prepared bicyclic compounds with small and large rings contained 1, 3-dienes that underwent a further modification reaction, such as Diels-Alder, to produce more complex compounds. These Diels-Alder reactions produced tri- and tetracyclic compounds containing a macrocycle with single diastereomers, suggesting that the methodology demonstrated here could be a powerful tool for rapid preparation of highly complex molecules.