Ion-pair recognition of tetramethylammonium salts by halogenated resorcinarenes

The non-covalent interactions of different upper-rim-substituted C(2)-resorcinarenes with tetramethylammonium salts were analyzed in the gas phase in an Electrospray Ionization Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometer and by (1)H NMR titrations. The order of binding strengths of the hosts towards the tetramethylammonium cation in the gas phase reflects the electronic nature of the substituents on the upper rim of the resorcinarene. In solution, however, a different trend with particularly high binding constants for halogenated resorcinarenes has been observed. This trend can be explained by a synergetic effect originating from the interaction of the halogenated resorcinarenes with the counter anions through hydrogen bonding. This study highlights the importance of weak interactions in recognition processes and points out the benefits of comparing the gas-phase data with results obtained from solution experiments.     

Ion‐Pair Complexation with a Cavitand Receptor

The capability of resorcinarenes to bind anions within the alkyl feet at the lower rim has been exploited as the starting point for developing a new cavitand able to engulf contact ion pairs of primary ammonium salts in chlorinated solvents with association constants (K_ass) in the range of 10³–10⁴ M ^?1. Methylene bridges were introduced into the upper rim to freeze the resorcinarene in the cone conformation with the four H_down protons converging in the lower pocket, thereby maximizing the CH–anion interactions responsible for the anion binding. Four additional phosphate moieties were introduced into the lower rim in close proximity to the anionic site to provide hydrogen‐bonding‐acceptor P?O groups and promote cation complexation at the bottom of the cavitand. The binding ability of the synthesized ligands was analyzed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and, when possible, by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC); the data were in agreement when complementary techniques were used.     

Cooperative Binding of Divalent Diamides by N‐Alkyl Ammonium Resorcinarene Chlorides

N‐Alkyl ammonium resorcinarene chlorides, stabilized by an intricate array of hydrogen bonds leading to a cavitand‐like structure, bind amides. The molecular recognition occurs through intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl oxygen and the amide hydrogen of the guests and the cation–anion circular hydrogen‐bonded seam of the hosts, as well as through CH ??? π interactions. The N‐alkyl ammonium resorcinarene chlorides cooperatively bind a series of di‐acetamides of varying spacer lengths ranging from three to seven carbons. Titration data fit either a 1:1 or 2:1 binding isotherm depending on the spacer lengths. Considering all the guests possess similar binding motifs, the first binding constants were similar (K₁: 10² M ^?1) for each host. The second binding constant was found to depend on the upper rim substituent of the host and the spacer length of the guests, with the optimum binding observed with the six‐carbon spacer (K₂: 10³ M ^?2). Short spacer lengths increase steric hindrance, whereas longer spacer lengths increase flexibility thus reducing cooperativity. The host with the rigid cyclohexyl upper rim showed stronger binding than the host with flexible benzyl arms. The cooperative binding of these divalent guests was studied in solution through ¹H NMR titration studies and supplemented by diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), X‐ray crystallography, and mass spectrometry.     

Experimental and Computational Study of Complexes Between Quats and Naphthalenophanes

Abstract

A number of neutral cyclophanes incorporating either a 2,6- or a 2,7-dioxynaphthalene unit have been synthesised and their binding properties toward tetramethylammonium and N-methylpyridinium picrates assessed by means of a ¹H NMR spectroscopic technique. A parallel computational study based on molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics calculations has been carried out. There is at least a rough agreement between complexation phenomena based on cation - π interactions in solution and molecular mechanics calculations in the gas phase, in that the stability trend seen across the series of naphthalenophane/tetramethylammonium complexes is satisfactorily reproduced. Furthermore, there is a clear corre-spondence between the magnitude of the observed upfield shifts upon complexation and the calculated structures of host-guest complexes.     

First Principles Investigation of Noncovalent Complexation: A [2.2.2]‐Cryptand Ion‐Binding Selectivity Study

A first principles methodology, aimed at understanding the roles of molecular conformation and energetics in host–guest binding interactions, is developed and tested on a system that pushes the practical limits of ab initio methods. The binding behavior between the [2.2.2]‐cryptand host (4,7,13,16,21,24‐hexaoxa‐1,10‐diaza‐bicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane) and alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺) in gas, water, methanol, and acetonitrile is characterized. Hartree–Fock and density functional theory methods are used in concert with crystallographic information to identify gas phase, energy‐minimized conformations. Gas phase free energies of binding, with vibrational contributions, are compared to solution‐state binding constants through relative binding selectivity analysis. Calculated relative binding free energies qualitatively correlated with solution state experiments only after gas phase metal desolvation is considered. The B3LYP exchange–correlation functional improves theoretical correlations with experimental relative binding free energies. The relevance of gas phase calculations towards understanding binding in condensed phases is discussed. Natural bond orbital methods highlights previously unidentified intramolecular and intermolecular M⁺(222) chemistries, such as an intramolecular n′_O→σ*_CH hydrogen bond.     

Photoresponsive upper-rim azobenzene substituted calix[4]resorcinarenes

Photoswitchable calix[4]resorcinarenes with different numbers of azo groups in the upper rim were synthesised by the reaction of bromomethylcavitand with 4-aminoazobenzene. UV-vis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, MALDI TOF-MS spectral data have been used to elucidate the structures of compounds.     

Solubilization and acidic and receptor properties of calix[4]resorcinarenes in aqueous solutions of oxyethylated dodecanol Brij-35

Solubilization of calix [4]resorcinarenes (Cn) with a varied length of hydrophobic substituents (R =Me, Pr, C₅H₁₁, C₇H₁₅, C₉H₁₉, and C₁₁H₂₃) in aqueous solutions of oxyethylated dodecanol Brij-35 was studied by the solubility method and 1D and 2D ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The solubilization of Cn in micellar solutions of Brij-35 is caused by the formation of mixed Cn-Brij-35 aggregates and is weakened substantially with the elongation of R. It was shown by pH-metry and 1D ¹H NMR spectroscopy that the receptor properties of the Cn anions toward the tetramethylammonium cations in the mixed aggregates differ substantially from those for the monomeric molecules in aqueous-organic and aqueous solutions. In particular, the binding of the tetramethylammonium cations does not result in screening of their N-Me fragments with the cyclophane cavity of the receptor.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 376–382, February, 2005.     

[N⋅⋅⋅I+⋅⋅⋅N] Halogen‐Bonded Dimeric Capsules from Tetrakis(3‐pyridyl)ethylene Cavitands

Two [N???I⁺???N] halogen‐bonded dimeric capsules using tetrakis(3‐pyridyl)ethylene cavitands with different lower rim alkyl chains are synthesized and analyzed in solution and the gas phase. These first examples of symmetrical dimeric capsules making use of the iodonium ion (I⁺) as the main connecting module are characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS), and ion mobility‐mass spectrometry (TW‐IMS) experiments. The synthesis and effective halogen‐bonded dimerization proceeds through analogous dimeric capsules with [N???Ag⁺???N] binding motifs as the intermediates as evidenced by the X‐ray structures of (CH₂Cl₂)₂@[ 3 a ₂?Ag₄?(H₂O)₂?OTs₄] and (CH₂Cl₂)₂@[ 3 a ₂?Ag₄?(H₂O)₄?OTs₄], two structurally different capsules.     

Ditopic Receptors based on Lower‐ and Upper‐Rim Substituted Hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arenes: Cation‐Controlled Hydrogen Bonding of Anion

Heteroditopic hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene receptors that are capable of binding an anion and a cation simultaneously in a cooperative fashion were synthesized. The structure of one of the triamide derivatives was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The binding of alkali metals at the lower rim, and the binding of anions (chloride, bromide) at the upper rim, has been investigated by using ¹H NMR titration experiments. Alkali metal binding at the lower rim controls the calix cavity. Li⁺‐ion binding to the lower rim can improve the binding ability of anions at the upper rim amide moiety by a factor of 15, thus suggesting a strong positive allosteric effect for anion recognition. However, when a Na⁺ cation is bound to the ionophoric site on the lower rim, the calix cavity is changed from a “flattened cone” to a more‐upright form, which is favored for intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the neighboring NH and C?O groups; this change can block the inclusion of anions onto the amide moiety at the upper rim, which strongly suggests a negative allosteric effect of Na⁺‐ion binding, which controls the cooperative recognition system.     

Exploring the Anion–Cation Interaction in m‐Terphenyltetrafluorosilicates by Using Multinuclear NMR Spectroscopy,X‐ray Diffraction,and ICR‐FT‐MS

The synthesis of a series of m‐terphenyl‐substituted tetrafluorosilicates with different cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Ag⁺, Tl⁺) is described and the interactions between the anion and cation are investigated in the solid, solution, and gas states by using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and ion cyclotron resonance Fourier‐transform mass spectrometry (ICR‐FT‐MS). In solution, heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy parameters show only limited sensitivity to the nature of the cation, which furthermore can be affected by solvent effects. More pronounced effects are observed in the structural data obtained from X‐ray diffraction studies, which are in good agreement with experimental gas‐phase data from ESIMS. ESIMS also reveals the existence of dimeric species of the type [M(DmpSiF₄)₂]^? (Dmp=2,6‐dimesitylphenyl), the stability of which was determined by normalized collision energy experiments.     

Aggregation of amphiphilic aminomethylated calix[4]resorcinarenes and the nonionic surfactant Triton-X-100 in organic solvents

Aggregation and intermolecular interactions of amphiphilic calix[4]resorcinarene (1), aminomethylated calix[4]resorcinarenes (AMC 2—7) with different structures of the upper rim (including the oxazine structure in 6 and 7) and hydrophobic substituents on the lower (2—5), upper (6), or both rims (7) in the absence and in the presence of the nonionic surfactant Triton-X-100 (8) and p-nitrophenol (9) in chloroform and 1,4-dioxane were studied by permittivity measurements and 2D ROESY ¹H NMR technique. The tendency of amphiphilic derivatives 1—7 toward self-aggregation and mixed aggregation with surfactant 8 primarily depends on the nature of both the solvent and the polar groups on the upper rim of calixarenes. In chloroform, AMC—8 aggregates show interactions of the methyl and methylene groups of the hydrophobic substituents of AMC with the ethyleneoxy fragments of surfactant 8, while in stable intermolecular complexes of 5 and 6 with compound 9, the methylene groups of the long-chain radicals of the AMC strongly interact with the aromatic protons ortho to the hydroxy group of 9. In 1,4-dioxane, calix[4]resorcinarenes 1 and 5 are bound in stable solvates, which prevents them from forming aggregates and mixed micelles.     

Maximizing Coordination Capsule–Guest Polar Interactions in Apolar Solvents Reveals Significant Binding

Guest encapsulation underpins the functional properties of self‐assembled capsules yet identifying systems capable of strongly binding small organic molecules in solution remains a challenge. Most coordination capsules rely on the hydrophobic effect to ensure effective solution‐phase association. In contrast, we show that using non‐interacting anions in apolar solvents can maximize favorable interactions between a cationic Pd₂L₄ host and charge‐neutral guests resulting in a dramatic increase in binding strength. With quinone‐type guests, association constants in excess of 10⁸ m ^?1 were observed, comparable to the highest previously recorded constant for a metallosupramolecular capsule. Modulation of optoelectronic properties of the guests was also observed, with encapsulation either changing or switching‐on luminescence not present in the bulk phase.     

Resorcin[4]arene-based anion receptors with four phenylurea substituents

Cavitand-based anion receptors were developed by the introduction of four phenylurea moieties on the upper rim of a resorcin[4]arene. Their binding properties for various anions were investigated in DMSO-d₆ using ¹H NMR spectroscopic methods, and the high 1:1 binding affinity for carboxylates was observed due to hydrophobic as well as charge-dipole interactions between host and guest.     

Stable complexes of tertiary ammonia derivative of phenothiazine with tertramethylsulfonated resorcin[4]arenes obtained under substoichiometric conditions

Eight water insoluble complexes of tetramethylsulfonated calix[4]resorcinarenes 1 and 2 (–CH₃ and –C₅H₁₁) with phenothiazine derivative, 3, were obtained under substoichiometric conditions by mixing aqueous solutions of the initial reagents. It was found that complexation of cationic 3 by macrocycles was provided by both Coulomb interaction with the negative sulfonato-groups on the upper rim and by cation-π interactions with the aromatic cavity. The complexes precipitated and, therefore, were studied in organic solvents—DMSO, CD₃OD, and CDCl₃ using IR-, UV-, and NMR- spectroscopy. Formation of the complexes accompanied by gradual dehydratation of the host—estimated quantity of water in the complexes decreased with increase of the initial concentration of 3. Driving forces of precipitation and complexation, the role of water coordinated by the hosts, and distribution of phenothiazine derivative between two kinds of binding sites are discussed.     

A Theoretical Study on the Structure,Intramolecular Interactions,and Detonation Performance of Hydrazinium Dinitramide

The structures of hydrazinium dinitramide (HDN) in the gas phase and in aqueous solution have been studied at different levels of theory by using quantum chemistry. The intramolecular hydrogen‐bond interactions in HDN were studied by employing the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), as well as those in ammonium dinitramide (ADN), hydrazinium nitroformate (HNF), and ammonium nitroformate (ANF) for comparison. The results showed that HDN possessed the strongest hydrogen bonds, with the largest hydrogen‐bond energy (?47.95 kJ mol^?1) and the largest total hydrogen‐bond energy (?60.29 kJ mol^?1). In addition, the charge transfer between the cation and the anion, the binding energy, the energy difference between the frontier orbitals, and the second‐order perturbation energy of HDN were all the largest among the investigated compounds. These strongest intramolecular interactions accounted for the highest decomposition temperature of HDN among all four compounds. The IR spectra in the gas phase and in aqueous solution were very different and showed the significant influence of the solvent. The UV spectrum showed the strongest absorption at about 253 nm. An orbital‐interaction diagram demonstrated that the transition of electrons mainly happened inside the anion of HDN. The detonation velocity (D=8.34 km s^?1) and detonation pressure (P=30.18 GPa) of HDN were both higher than those of ADN (D=7.55 km s^?1 and P=24.83 GPa). The composite explosive HDN/CL‐20 with the weight ratio w_CL?20/w_HDN=0.388:0.612 showed the best performance (D=9.36 km s^?1, P=39.82 GPa), which was close to that of CL‐20 (D=9.73 km s^?1, P=45.19 GPa) and slightly better than that of the composite explosive ADN/CL‐20 (w_CL?20/w_ADN=0.298:0.702, D=9.34 km s^?1, P=39.63 GPa).     

Complexation of calix[4]arenehydroxymethylphosphonic acids with amino acids. Binding constants determination of the complexes by HPLC method

Host–Guest complexation process of calixarenehydroxymethylphosphonic acids with 10 amino acids in solution H₂O/MeCN (99:1) had been studied. Binding constants of the inclusion complexes from the dependence between capacity factors of the Guest and the calixarene-Host concentration in the mobile phase had been calculated. It was shown the binding constants depend on the nature of the amino acid residue, conformation of the calixarene skeleton, quantity of phosphoryl groups at the upper rim. In accordance with molecular calculation the complexation is determined by the electrostatic interactions between the positively charged nitrogen atom of amino acid and the negatively charged oxygen atom of phosphonic group of calixarene molecule, hydrogen bonds, π–π, CH–π and solvatophobic, interactions.     

Bare Clusters Derived from Protein Templates: Au25+, Au38+ and Au102+

A discrete sequence of bare gold clusters of well‐defined nuclearity, namely Au₂₅⁺, Au₃₈⁺ and Au₁₀₂⁺, formed in a process that starts from gold‐bound adducts of the protein lysozyme, were detected in the gas phase. It is proposed that subsequent to laser desorption ionization, gold clusters form in the gas phase, with the protein serving as a confining growth environment that provides an effective reservoir for dissipation of the cluster aggregation and stabilization energy. First‐principles calculations reveal that the growing gold clusters can be electronically stabilized in the protein environment, achieving electronic closed‐shell structures as a result of bonding interactions with the protein. Calculations for a cluster with 38 gold atoms reveal that gold interaction with the protein results in breaking of the disulfide bonds of the cystine units, and that the binding of the cysteine residues to the cluster depletes the number of delocalized electrons in the cluster, resulting in opening of a super‐atom electronic gap. This shell‐closure stabilization mechanism confers enhanced stability to the gold clusters. Once formed as stable magic number aggregates in the protein growth medium, the gold clusters become detached from the protein template and are observed as bare Au_n⁺ (n=25, 38, and 102) clusters.     

Retention behavior of resorcinarene‐based cavitands on C8 and C18 stationary phases

The understanding of the retention behavior of large molecules is an area of interest in liquid chromatography. Resorcinarene‐based cavitands are cavity‐shaped cyclic oligomers that can create host–guest interactions. We have investigated the chromatographic behavior of two types of cyclic tetramers as analytes in high‐performance liquid chromatography. The experiments were performed at four different temperatures (15, 25, 35, 45°C) on two types of reversed stationary phases (C₈ and C₁₈) from two different manufacturers. We have found a huge difference between the retention of resorcinarenes and cavitands. In some cases, the retention factor of cavitands was even a hundred times larger than the retention factor of resorcinarenes. The retention of methylated derivates was two to four times larger compared to that of demethylated compounds on every column. The opposite retention behavior of the resorcinarenes and cavitands on the two types of stationary phases showed well the difference of the selectivity of the XTerra and BDS Hypersil columns. The retention mechanism was studied by the thermodynamic parameters calculated from the van't Hoff equation.     

Electronic Modulation of Palladium in Metal Phosphide Nanoparticles for Chemoselective Reduction of Halogenated Nitrobenzenes

Tuning the electronic property of a transition metal plays an important role in the selective catalysis. Herein, the control synthesis of (Pd_xNi_y)‐P nanoparticles is reported. The binding energy of Pd3d_5/2 as a function of x/y ratio is well tunable from 335.3 to 335.9 eV. The composition‐induced electronic modulation was correlated with the selective catalysis of (Pd_xNi_y)‐P in the reduction of halogenated nitrobenzenes. The electro‐deficiency of Pd helped to improve the selectivity. The amorphous (Pd₃₈Ni₂₆)P₃₆/C performed an exceptional selectivity in comparison with other related (Pd‐Ni)‐P/C, Pd₃₈Ni₂₆/C, and Pd/C. Various halogenated nitrobenzenes (chlorides, bromides, and iodide) were tolerant and the corresponding halogenated anilines were obtained in high yields. This work provides some clues for the rational design of bimetallic phosphides with covalent interactions to boost the catalysis.     

The tetramethylammonium ion (TMA+) versus the hydronium ion (H3O+) as internal reference for 1H NMR measurements in superacid media. Solute–solvent interactions

It is shown that the chemical shift of the generally utilized internal reference for ¹H NMR measurements in superacid media, namely, tetramethylammonium bromide, which is normally fixed at 3.10 ppm from external TMS, changes with the composition of the acid mixture (HF or HSO₃F:SbF₅). This is attributed to solute–solvent interactions. The use of both the tetramethylammonium ion or the hydronium ion as internal references is discussed, as the hydronium ion appears to be only slightly influenced by these interactions.