Polymer-supported cationic templates for molecular recognition of anionic hosts in water

Translocating solution-phase molecular recognition of oppositely charged hosts and guests to the solid phase represents a major challenge; we report a successful immobilisation strategy which allows selective host-guest interactions in water unencumbered by unwanted ion exchange-type interactions.     

Molecular recognition by macropolycyclic hosts

The formation of complexes between crown ethers and aklylammonium cations may, to some extent, be modelled using standard molecular mechanics methods and an appropriate charge distribution scheme. Monocyclic crown ethers may be developed to give chromoionophores suitable for use in optical fibre based ion sensors. The incorporation of two crown ether systems into polycyclic host molecules which show highly selective complexation of guest bis-alkylammonium cations is described. The scope of these ditopic receptors may be extended by using metalloporphyrins in place of one or both of the crown ether binding sites.     

Protonated macrobicyclic hosts containing pyridine head units for anion recognition

In this paper, we report two macrobicyclic receptors containing pyridine head units derived from 1,10-diaza-15-crown[5] (L1) or 4,13-diaza-18-crown[6] (L2) that can be protonated in MeCN and used for anion recognition. The interaction of these protonated lateral macrobicycles with different anions has been investigated by means of spectrophotometric titrations in MeCN. The association constants for the complexes of halide anions with the protonated macrobicycles follow the sequences Cl(-)>Br(-)>I(-)>F(-) (L1) and Cl(-)>F(-)>I(-)>Br(-) (L2), whereby an increase of more than two logarithmic units is observed from F(-) to Cl(-) for the binding constants of the receptor derived from L1. The association constants also indicate an important degree of selectivity of these macrobicyclic receptors for Cl(-) over Br(-) or I(-). The X-ray crystal structure analyses of the chloride and bromide complexes confirms the formation of the envisaged supramolecular complexes. Moreover, the binding constants indicate that these receptors present a high sulfate-to-nitrate binding selectivity. The stability trend observed for the recognition of halide anions by the macrobicycles presented herein as well as the sulfate-to-nitrate binding selectivity have been rationalised by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/LanL2DZ level. These studies indicate that the especially high binding selectivity for Cl(-) is the result of the optimum fit between the protonated macrobicyclic cavity and the size of the anion, whereas the sulfate-to-nitrate selectivity results from shape complementarity between the hydrogen-binding acceptor sites on sulfate and the hydrogen-bond donors of the macrobicycle.     

Macrocyclic diorganotin complexes of gamma-amino acid dithiocarbamates as hosts for ion-pair recognition

The dimethyl-, di-n-butyl-, and diphenyltin(IV) dithiocarbamate (dtc) complexes [{R2Sn(L-dtc)}x] 1-7 (1, L = L1, R = Me; 2, L = L1, R = n-Bu; 3, L = L2, R = Me, x = infinity; 4, L = L2, R = n-Bu; 5, L = L3, R = Me, x = 2; 6, L = L3, R = n-Bu, x = 2; 7, L = L3, R = Ph, x = 2) have been prepared from a series of secondary amino acid (AA) homologues as starting materials: N-benzylglycine (alpha-AA derivative = L1), N-benzyl-3-aminopropionic acid (beta-AA derivative = L2), and N-benzyl-4-aminobutyric acid (gamma-AA derivative = L3). The resulting compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and NMR ((1)H, (13)C, and (119)Sn) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray crystallography, showing that in all complexes both functional groups of the heteroleptic ligands are coordinated to the tin atoms. By X-ray diffraction analysis, it could be shown that [{Me2Sn(L2-dtc)}x] (3) is polymeric in the solid state, while the complexes derived from L3 (5-7) have dinuclear 18-membered macrocyclic structures of the composition [{R2Sn(L3-dtc)}2]. For the remaining compounds, it could not be established with certainty whether the structures are macrocyclic or polymeric. A theoretical investigation at the B3LYP/SBKJC(d,p) level of theory indicated that the alpha-AA-dtc complexes might have trinuclear macrocyclic structures. The macrocyclic complexes 5-7 have a double-calix-shaped conformation with two cavities large enough for the inclusion of aliphatic and aromatic guest molecules. They are self-complementary for the formation of supramolecuar synthons that give rise to 1D molecular arrangements in the solid state. Preliminary recognition experiments with tetrabutylammonium acetate have shown that the [{R2Sn(L3-dtc)}2] macrocycles 6 and 7 might interact simultaneously with anions (AcO(-)), which coordinate to the tin atoms, and organic cations (TBA(+)), which accommodate within the hydrophobic cavity (ion-pair recognition).     

Nanoparticles: scaffolds for molecular recognition

Monolayer and mixed-monolayer protected clusters (MPCs and MMPCs) have great potential to combine molecular functionality with the intrinsic properties of nanometer-sized scaffolds. This synergy can be used to create complex functional devices, including redox-active, electronic, or magnetic storage devices, solution-based sensors, and highly efficient catalysts. This review outlines some of the recent developments in nanoscale receptors based on synthetic and nonbiological recognition elements. In these nanoparticle systems, molecular recognition is achieved by covalent attachment of receptors on the nanoparticles coupled with noncovalent interactions to target substrates. Synthetic host-guest systems, hydrogen bonding, change in redox states, pi-pi stacking, rotaxane formation, and ion recognition are the main topics covered in this review.     

Colorimetric sensor arrays for molecular recognition

The development of colorimetric sensor arrays for the detection of volatile organic compounds is reported. Using an array of chemo-responsive dyes, enormous discriminatory power is created in a simple device that can imaged easily with an ordinary flat-bed scanner. High sensitivities (ppb) have been demonstrated for the detection of biologically important analytes, including amines, carboxylic acids, and thiols. By the proper choice of dyes and substrate, the array can be made essentially non-responsive to changes in humidity.     

Aptamer-based molecular recognition for biosensor development

Nucleic acid aptamers are an emerging class of synthetic ligands and have recently attracted significant attention in numerous fields. One is in biosensor development. In principle, nucleic acid aptamers can be discovered to recognize any molecule of interest with high affinity and specificity. In addition, unlike most ligands evolved in nature, synthetic nucleic acid aptamers are usually tolerant of harsh chemical, physical, and biological conditions. These distinguished characteristics make aptamers attractive molecular recognition ligands for biosensing applications. This review first concisely introduces methods for aptamer discovery including upstream selection and downstream truncation, then discusses aptamer-based biosensor development from the viewpoint of signal production.

分子印迹技术在蛋白质识别中的应用进展

分子印迹技术是一种制备具有分子识别能力的聚合物的有效技术,已经广泛应用于制备对小分子具有选择性的分子印迹聚合物,但制备能够特异性识别生物大分子--蛋白质的分子印迹聚合物的研究仍然具有挑战性。本文讨论了制备蛋白质分子印迹聚合物的难点,评述了目前印迹蛋白质的方法及各自的优缺点,展望了蛋白质印迹技术的发展趋势。     

Synthetic protocols and building blocks for molecular electronics

Simple and readily accessible aryl bromides are useful building blocks for thiol end-capped molecular wires. Thus, 4-bromophenyl tert-butyl sulfide and 1-bromo-4-(methoxymethyl)benzene serve as precursors for a variety of oligo(phenylenevinylene) and oligo(phenyleneethynylene) wires via efficient synthetic transformations as presented in this paper.     

Self-assembly of dipeptidyl ureas: a new class of hydrogen-bonded molecular duplexes

The dipeptidyl urea 1 composed of two dipeptide chains bearing the C-terminal pyridyl moiety (-L-Ala-L-Pro-NHPy) was prepared. Two molecules of 1 are revealed to be held together by six intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form a hydrogen-bonded duplex by the single-crystal X-ray structure determination. Proton magnetic resonance nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) study indicates the hydrogen-bonded duplex even in solution. Furthermore, a shuttle-like molecular dynamics based on recombination of the hydrogen bonds was observed. The dipeptidyl urea composed of two dipeptide chains bearing the C-terminal pyrenyl moiety (-L-Ala-L-Pro-NHCH(2)Pyr) exhibited both monomer and eximer emissions in the fluorescence spectra, supporting the formation of a duplex. A combination of the C-terminal amide NH function in each side and the designed sequence of hydrogen-bonding sites are considered to be a crucial factor for the duplex formation.     

An ab initio and molecular mechanical investigation of ureas and amide derivatives

Ab initio molecular orbital theory with the 6-31G* basis set has been used to investigate the geometries and preferred conformations for urea, derivatives of urea, and a few complicated amide derivatives. The results from the ab initio calculations provide insight into the gas-phase rotational barrier about the C? N bond and have been used to generate parameters for the MM2(87) molecular mechanics program. When applicable, theoretical structures are compared with corresponding previously reported experimental geometries. Urea is predicted to be nonplanar with pyramidal amino groups.     

Change in conformation upon complexation of double-armed terephthalamide hosts: dynamic molecular recognition of ditopic guests with strong CD signaling

Conformation of novel terephthalamide hosts 1 changes from anti to syn upon complexation with a bidentate guest (2 or 3). Chiral sense in the helical syn-form of the double-armed host molecules 1 is biased by the asymmetric centers on the chiral guest [(R,R)/(S,S)-2a], which can be detected by the drastic change in circular dichroism (CD) spectrum thanks to the exciton coupling of two chromophores (‘arms’) linked to the amide nitrogens. Asymmetric centers on the host molecule also exhibit preference for the twisting direction upon change in geometry from the anti- to syn-form. Thus, the achiral guests (2b or 3) can also be detected by modulation of CD spectrum upon complexation with the chiral host [(R,R)-1a].     

New molecular shapes for recognition and catalysis

Progress in molecular recognition is reviewed with special emphasis on the advantages offered by molecular clefts. These new structures are rapidly assembled from readily accessible starting materials and feature functional groups that converge on smaller species that present complementary surfaces. The sizes and shapes of the clefts are controlled by the use of appropriate spacer elements. The selective binding of acids, amines, amino acids, metal ions, heterocyclic compounds and nucleosides is described. Their special applicability to problems involving concerted catalysis is also introduced.     

Phenanthroline-derived ratiometric chemosensor for ureas

The syntheses of 1,10-phenanthroline fluorophore-based chemosensor 7 and its truncated analog 9 are reported. Interactions of these compounds with urea, thiourea, 1,3-dimethylurea, tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one, imidazolidin-2-one, and selected uronium salts were assessed by three-dimensional excitation-emission spectroscopy, UV-vis absorbance, and fluorescence titrations. Chemosensor 7 was found to be capable of distinguishing between neutral ureas and their salts, by producing a different optical response for each type of compounds. The complexation of urea by 7 was also studied by selective-NOE 1H NMR, 13C NMR (using 13C-labeled guest), and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. In addition, we performed DFT calculations (B3LYP 3-21g** level) for structures of complexes of 7 with urea, imidazolidin-2-one, and tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one. Development of chemosensor 7-type compounds in conjunction with differential excitation-emission spectroscopy represents an important step toward the development of novel tools for ureas and their salts analysis.     

Stabilization of molecular LiF and LiFHF inside metallamacrocyclic hosts

Complexes of molecular LiF and LiFHF were synthesized using the metallamacrocyclic receptors [(cymene)Ru(C(5)H(3)NO(2))](3) (1), [CpRh(C(5)H(3)NO(2))](3) (2), and [CpIr(C(5)H(3)NO(2))](3) (3). LiBF(4) complexes of 1-3 were prepared and subsequently treated with F(-) or FHF(-) to give the desired products in an anion-exchange reaction. All complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (13)C, (19)F, (7)Li). Strong scalar coupling between (7)Li and (19)F is observed for the LiF and the LiFHF complexes ((1)J(LiF) = 91-103 Hz). The LiFHF adduct of 1 displays fluxional behavior with fast exchange of the two fluorine atoms. The structures of the complexes 1.LiBF(4), 2.LiBF(4), 1.LiF, 2.LiF, 1.LiFHF, and 3.LiFHF were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Li-F bond lengths between 1.77 and 1.81 A were found. The LiFHF complexes show a hydrogen difluoride anion coordinated in a bent fashion via one fluorine atom to the lithium ion.     

Symmetric ethereal hosts for lithium: factors for high affinity and selectivity upon ion recognition

Abstract

Since the host-guest chemistry field has been formulated, organic hosts for various ions have been studied extensively. It is now widely accepted that structural and electrostatic complementarity is very important in host-guest chemistry. However, the detailed understanding which enables the chemists to design useful hosts is still in paucity. Although the calculated gas-phase binding energy is not of direct use for many practical applications, this could provide an objective measure for the intrinsic affinity. Here, we have calculated approximate binding energies for famous organic hosts for lithium. The selectivity between lithium and sodium was also investigated. 6-311++G(d,p) basis set with B3LYP functional was used to calculate binding energy of Li⁺ and Na⁺ with four famous hosts. They are spherand, [2,1,1]cryptand, 12-crown-4 and [1₆]starand. We examined several factors such as coordination number, partial charge of oxygen, distance from metal to its coordinating oxygen and metal-dipolar moiety interactions. Within the boundary of the chosen four symmetric hosts in this work, charge–dipolar moiety orientation was the factor that roughly explains the calculated binding affinity.     

Complexity in molecular recognition

The anomer selectivity of artificial carbohydrate receptors was studied using in silico methods in order to shed light on the thermodynamic driving forces at work during molecular recognition in general. The contributions of relevant intermolecular hydrogen bonds were investigated by means of generalized compliance constants in order to dissect important from less important non-covalent interactions. Even at this moderately low rung on the ladder of complexity essential aspects of molecular recognition are not explainable in terms of additive intermolecular interactions. Though molecular recognition seems to be a complex and emergent property, a rationale for the diastereoselectivity of carbohydrate receptors was obtained by a combination of experimental data, free energy simulations and ab initio calculations.