Binding modes of cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[7]uril with a series of bis-pyridinium compounds

Binding behaviors of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) with a series of bis-pyridinium compounds N, N’-hexamethylenebis(1-alkyl-4-carbamoyl pyridinium bromide) (HBPB-n) (alkyl chain length, n = 6, 8 and 10) guests were investigated using ¹H-NMR, ESI–MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The results show that CB[6] and CB[7] can form [2]pseudorotaxanes with HBPB-n easily. When increasing the length of tail alkyl chain, the binding site of CB[6] at guest molecules changed from the tail to the middle part, while CB[7] remained located over the tail chain. As CB[6] and CB[7] were added in HBPB-8 aqueous solution, a [3]pseudorotaxane was formed by the inclusion of the internal middle site in CB[6] and the tail chain in CB[7].     

Host-guest chemistry and light driven molecular lock of Ru(bpy)(3)-viologen with cucurbit[7-8]urils

Host-guest chemistry and photoinduced electron-transfer processes have been studied in the systems containing Ru(bpy)3 complex covalently linked to viologen as a guest molecule and cucurbit[n]urils (n = 7, 8) as host molecules in aqueous solution. The Ru(bpy)3-viologen complex, [Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)2(4-(4-(1'-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinediium-1-yl)butyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine)]Cl4 (denoted as Ru2+-MV2+, 1) was shown to form stable 1:1 inclusion complexes with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). The binding modes are slightly different with CB[7] and CB[8]. CB[7] preferentially binds to part of the viologen residue in 1 together with the butyl chain, whereas CB[8] preferentially encloses the whole viologen residue. Photoinduced intramolecular electron transfer from the excited-state of the Ru moiety to MV2(+) which is inserted into the cavity of the CBs occurred. Long-lived charge-separated states Ru3(+)-MV(+*) were generated with the lifetimes of 280 ns with CB[7] and 2060 ns with CB[8]. This shows that CBs can slow down the charge recombination within supramolecular systems, and the difference in lifetimes seems to be due to the difference in binding modes. In the presence of a sacrificial electron donor triethanolamine, light-driven formation of a dimer of MV(+*) inside the CB[8] cavity was observed. This "locked" molecular dimer can be "unlocked" by molecular oxygen to give back the original form of the molecular dyad 1 with the MV2(+) moiety inserted in the cavity of CB[8]. The processes could be repeated several times and showed nice reversibility.     

Hierarchical assembly of uranyl metallacycles involving macrocyclic hosts

Actinide metallacycles are an emerging class of functional coordination assemblies, but multi-level assembly from metallacycle units toward hierarchical supramolecular structures are still rarely investigated. In this work, we put forward a novel supramolecular inclusion-based method through introducing two macrocyclic hosts, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) to facilitate hierarchical assembly of uranyl metallacycles with higher complexity, and successfully prepare two different kinds of uranyl metallacycle-based complexes with intriguing hierarchical structures, a CB[7]-based four-member molecular necklace ([4]MN) and a CB[8]-involved ring-in-ring supramolecular polymer chain. The results obtained here prove the feasibility of supramolecular inclusion for regulating coordination assembly of uranyl metallacycles and related hierarchical structures. It is believed that this method can be used to achieve the construction of actinide coordination assemblies with higher structural complexity.     

Inclusion of Carboxyl Function Inside of Cucurbiturils and its Use in Molecular Switches

We have prepared organic guest molecules in which two pyridinium rings are connected through an aromatic/aliphatic bridge bearing a carboxyl group. The supramolecular interactions between these guests and macrocyclic hosts cucurbit[7]uril ( CB7 ) and cucurbit[8]uril ( CB8 ) has been studied. We have demonstrated that the binding modes of the complexes depend on the type of central bridge present in the guest molecules and the size of the macrocycle. We have also showed that the binding mode between cucurbiturils and guests with aromatic bridges is pH independent. On the other hand, a guest containing an aliphatic bridge and CB7 formed a pseudorotaxane, which behaved as a pH‐driven molecular switch.     

Acyclic congener of cucurbituril: synthesis and recognition properties

The cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) family of macrocycles occupies a prominent role in molecular recognition and self-assembly studies despite the current inability to access specific cucurbit[n]uril homologues, derivatives, and analogues by straightforward tailor-made synthetic procedures. In this paper, we explore an approach that circumvents the challenges posed by the tailor-made synthesis of macrocyclic CB[n] by preparing 1, which functions as an acyclic CB[6] congener. The o-xylylene connections to the glycoluril rings preorganize 1 into the (a,a,a,a)-1 conformation required for binding and reduce its tendency to undergo self-association. We surveyed the binding properties of 1 toward 16 amines (K(a) 相似文献   

Cucurbit[8]uril/cucurbit[7]uril controlled off/on fluorescence of the acridizinium and 9-aminoacridizinium cations in aqueous solution

The blue fluorescence of acridizinium bromide (ADZ+) and the green fluorescence of 9-aminoacridizinium bromide (AADZ+) in aqueous solutions can be almost entirely switched off upon the double inclusion of these guests in the cavity of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) owing to the formation of a nonfluorescent, noncovalent dimer complex, and then fluorescence can be effectively restored by adding cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) to the complex because it competitively extracts the fluorophores out of the CB[8] cavity.     

Targeted Polypeptide–Microtubule Aggregation with Cucurbit[8]uril for Enhanced Cell Apoptosis

Tunable protein assemblies not only hold a dominant position in vital biological events but are also a significant theme in supramolecular chemistry. Herein, we demonstrated that the intertubular aggregation of microtubules (MTs) could be efficiently regulated by a synergistic polypeptide–tubulin interaction and host–guest complexation. The benzylimidazolium‐modified antimitotic peptide (BP) could recognize the MTs and concurrently form stable inclusion complexes with avirulent cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) in different binding stoichiometries. The self‐assembling morphology of MTs was converted from fibrous to nanoparticulate aggregates via extensive BP?CB[8] cross‐linkage, leading to significant cell apoptosis and tumor ablation in vivo. The targeted (BP?CB[8])@MT ternary assembly provides a facile supramolecular method to enhance the protein–protein interactions, which may be developed as a therapy for degenerative diseases, such as cancer.     

Inclusion complexation of diquat and paraquat by the hosts cucurbit[7]uril and cucurbit[8]uril

The binding interactions in aqueous solution between the dicationic guest diquat (DQ(2+)) and the cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB8) hosts were investigated by (1)H NMR, UV/Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy; mass spectrometry; single-crystal X-ray diffraction; and electrochemical techniques. The binding data were compared with previously reported results for the related paraquat guest (PQ(2+)). DQ(2+) was found to bind poorly (K=350 m(-1)) inside CB7 and more effectively (K=4.8 x 10(4) m(-1)) inside CB8. One-electron reduction led to increased binding affinity with both hosts (K(r)=1 x 10(4) m(-1) with CB7 and K(r)=6 x 10(5) m(-1) for CB8). While (1)H NMR spectroscopic data revealed that DQ(2+) is not fully included by CB7, the crystal structure of the CB8DQ(2+) complex-obtained from single-crystal X-ray diffraction-clearly establishes its inclusion nature. Overall, both diquat and its one-electron reduced radical cation are bound more effectively by CB8 than by CB7. In contrast to this, paraquat exhibits selectivity for CB7, but its radical cation forms a highly stable dimer inside CB8. These differences highlight the pronounced sensitivity of cucurbit[n]uril hosts to guest features such as charge, charge distribution and shape.     

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

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

Electrochemical detection of amino acids based on cucurbit[7]uril-mediated three-dimensional gold nanoassemblies

In this paper, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-mediated three-dimensional gold nanoassemblies were successfully prepared to increase the loaded amount of CB[7] and enhance the electrochemical detection of amino acids. Particle sizes of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) significantly affect stability and detection sensitivity of nanoassemblies. The volume of gold nanoassemblies first increased and then decreased with the increase of CB[7] concentration. The 3D gold nanoassemblies composed of 16 nm AuNPs and 100 µmol/L CB[7] had excellent stability and maximum volume, exhibiting more sensitive detection for a variety of amino acids. And the detection limits of aromatic amino acids are lower in virtue of the higher binding constant between aromatic amino acids and CB[7]. This study will develop and deepen our understanding of molecular recognition in amino acids detection.     

High Affinity Recognition of a Selected Amino Acid Epitope within a Protein by Cucurbit[8]uril Complexation

Supramolecular interactions between the host cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and amino acids have been widely interrogated, but recognition of specific motifs within a protein domain have never been reported. A phage display approach was herein used to select motifs with the highest binding affinity for the heteroternary complex with methyl viologen and CB[8] (MV?CB[8]) within a vast pool of cyclic peptide sequences. From the selected motifs, an epitope consisting of three amino acid was extrapolated and incorporated into a solvent‐exposed loop of a protein domain; the protein exhibited micromolar binding affinity for the MV?CB[8] complex, matching that of the cyclic peptide. By achieving selective CB[8]‐mediated conjugation of a small molecule to a recombinant protein scaffold we pave the way to biomedical applications of this simple ternary system.     

Supramolecular Polymerization Promoted and Controlled through Self‐Sorting

A new method in which supramolecular polymerization is promoted and controlled through self‐sorting is reported. The bifunctional monomer containing p‐phenylene and naphthalene moieties was prepared. Supramolecular polymerization is promoted by selective recognition between the p‐phenylene group and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), and 2:1 complexation of the naphthalene groups with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). The process can be controlled by tuning the CB[7] content. This development will enrich the field of supramolecular polymers with important advances towards the realization of molecular‐weight and structural control.     

Cucurbit[6]uril functionalized gold nanoparticles and electrode for the detection of metformin drug

Based on the host-guest molecular recognition capability of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) modified on the gold surface, sensitive spectrophotometric and electrochemical methods for the detection of metformin (MET) have been developed. The molecular recognition between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) or CB[6] and MET is initially demonstrated and the related recognition mechanism is further deliberated. First, CB[6]-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/CB[6]) were synthesized and then characterized by ultraviolet visible light spectrum (UV–vis) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The aggregation of AuNPs/CB[6] prompted by MET triggered changes of color and the absorption spectrum, that explored for the visual identification and spectrophotometric determination of MET. Under the optimized detection conditions, the UV–vis spectrometry had a good linear relationship in the range of 6–700 µmol/L, and the detection limit was 2 µmol/L. In addition, a single-layer CB[6]-modified gold electrode (GE-CB[6]) detection system for MET was constructed. As the concentration of MET in the solution continues to increase, the charge transfer resistance (Rct) in the Nyquist diagram of the electrochemical impedance method (EIS) continues to increase. In the concentration range from 10 pmol/L to 20 nmol/L, the logarithm of the MET concentration has a good linear relationship with Rct, and the detection limit of this method is 1.35 pmol/L. Both methods have good concentration sensitivity to MET in different concentration ranges, providing a powerful tool for the detection of MET.     

Cucurbit[7]uril Complexation Drives Thermal trans–cis‐Azobenzene Isomerization and Enables Colorimetric Amine Detection

Complexation of yellow diaminoazobenzenes 1 and 3 inside cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) results in the formation of purple‐colored CB[7] ? cis‐ 1? 2 H⁺ and CB[7] ? cis‐ 3? 2 H⁺ complexes, respectively. The high binding affinity and selectivity displayed by CB[7] toward 1 and 3 pays the >10 kcal mol^?1 thermodynamic cost for this isomerization. We investigated the behavior of these complexes as a function of pH and observed large pK_a shifts and high pH responsiveness, which are characteristic of cucurbit[n]uril molecular containers. The remarkable yellow to purple color change was utilized in the construction of an indicator displacement assay for biologically active amines 4 – 10 . This indicator displacement assay is capable of quantifying the pseudoephedrine ( 5 ) content in Sudafed tablets over the 5–350 μM range.     

Controlled molecular self-assembly behaviors between cucurbituril and bispyridinium derivatives

Two stable supramolecular loops (1 and 2) were successfully constructed by the molecular recognition of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and the homoditopic bispyridinium derivatives (3 and 4). Interestingly, the interconversion of molecular loops and [2]pseudorotaxanes could be reversibly switched under neutral and acidic condition, exhibiting the controlled electrochemical and spectroscopic behaviors.     

Control of the stoichiometry in host-guest complexation by redox chemistry of guests: inclusion of methylviologen in cucurbit[8]uril

The binding stoichiometry of a host-guest complex can be effectively controlled by the redox chemistry of the guest: a 1:1 inclusion complex of methylviologen dication (MV2+) in cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) converts completely and reversibly to a 2:1 inclusion complex of cation radical (MV+.) in CB[8] upon the reduction of the guest.     

A host-induced intramolecular charge-transfer complex and light-driven radical cation formation of a molecular triad with cucurbit[8]uril

The host-guest chemistry of systems containing a molecular triad Ru(bpy) 3-MV (2+)-naphthol complex (denoted as Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np, 1) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) is investigated by NMR, ESI-MS, UV-vis, and electrochemistry. The Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np guest and CB[8] host can form a stable 1:1 inclusion complex, in which the naphthalene residue is back-folded and inserted together with the viologen residue into the cavity of CB[8]. The selective binding of Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np guest with beta-CD and CB[8] host is also investigated. We find that CB[8] binds the Ru (2+)-MV (2+)-Np guest stronger than beta-CD. Upon light irradiation, a MV (+*) radical cation stabilized in the cavity of CB[8] accompanied by the naphthalene residue has been observed. This novel system may open a new way for design and synthesis of photoactive molecular devices.     

葫芦脲[7]与核黄素包结物的可能结构和光谱性质

利用密度泛函理论对葫芦脲[7]和核黄素包结物的可能结构进行了理论计算.从5种可能结构分析主客体在包结物中的作用得出:核黄素作为客体分子与主体葫芦脲[7]分子通过不同官能团作用可形成稳定性不同的包结物,其中以核糖醇的羟基插入到葫芦脲[7]分子的腔体与其端羰基氧原子形成较多的氢键最稳定.在理论上证明了此包结反应为一放热反应的实验事实,并进一步说明了包结物分子的相对稳定性受主客体分子的几何畸变能和主客体之间作用能的影响,说明了成键能和稳定性之间的区别.在此基础上利用时间相关的密度泛函理论进行了不同构型包结物的激发态计算并对光谱性质进行了理论预测.比较了包结物中核黄素分子的跃迁轨道的组成变化,分析得出:葫芦脲[7]的包结作用改变了核黄素分子的电子跃迁性质,使其吸收光谱发生红移.并预测出其荧光猝灭的微观机理,此理论计算结果很好地解释了相应的实验现象.     

Improvement of Dispersion and Release Properties of Nifedipine in Suppositories by Complexation with 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Geometries, electronic properties and NMR-shielding of cucurbit[5]uril, decamethylcucurbit[5]uril, cucurbit[6]uril, cucurbit[7]uril, and cucurbit[8]uril are investigated with DFT calculations. All molecules are highly symmetrical with a distinct geometric flexibility. In addition with a characteristic partial charge distribution these findings account for their chemical complex building ability.     

Unusual Complex Formation and Chemical Reaction of Haloacetate Anion on the Exterior Surface of Cucurbit[6]uril in the Gas Phase

Noncovalent interactions of cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) with haloacetate and halide anions are investigated in the gas phase using electrospray ionization ion mobility mass spectrometry. Strong noncovalent interactions of monoiodoacetate, monobromoacetate, monochloroacetate, dichloroacetate, and trichloroacetate on the exterior surface of CB[6] are observed in the negative mode electrospray ionization mass spectra. The strong binding energy of the complex allows intramolecular S_N2 reaction of haloacetate, which yields externally bound CB[6]-halide complex, by collisional activation. Utilizing ion mobility technique, structures of exteriorly bound CB[6] complexes of haloacetate and halide anions are confirmed. Theoretically determined low energy structures using density functional theory (DFT) further support results from ion mobility studies. The DFT calculation reveals that the binding energy and conformation of haloacetate on the CB[6] surface affect the efficiency of the intramolecular S_N2 reaction of haloacetate, which correlate well with the experimental observation.