Polarizing a hydrophobic cavity for the efficient binding of organic guests: the case of calix[6]tren, a highly efficient and versatile receptor for neutral or cationic species

The host-guest properties of calix[6]tren 1 have been evaluated. The receptor is based on a calix[6]arene that is covalently capped at the narrow rim by a tren unit. As a result, the system presents a concave hydrophobic cavity with, at its bottom, a grid-like nitrogenous core. Despite its well-defined cavity and opening to the outside at the large rim, 1 did not behave as a good receptor for neutral molecules in chloroform. However, it exhibited efficient endo-complexation of ammonium guests. By contrast, the per-protonated host, 1.4H(+), behaved as a remarkable receptor for small organic molecules. The complexation is driven by a strong charge-dipole interaction and hydrogen bonds between the polar guest and the tetracationic cap of the calixarene. Finally, coordination of Zn(2+) to the tren core led to the asymmetrization of calixarene cavity and to the strong but selective endo-binding of neutral ligands. This study emphasizes the efficiency of a receptor presenting a concave hydrophobic cavity that is polarized at its bottom. The resulting combination of charge-dipole, hydrogen bonding, CH-pi, and van der Waals interactions highly stabilizes the supramolecular architectures. Also, importantly, the tren cap allows the tuning of the polarization, offering either a basic (1), a highly charged and acidic (1.4H(+)), or a coordination (1.Zn(2+)) site. As a result, the system proved to be highly versatile, tunable, and interconvertible in solution by simple addition of protons, bases, or metal ions.     

Biomimetic zinc funnel complexes based on calix[6]N3ArO ligands: an acid-base switch for guest binding

The coordination chemistry of Zn in an N(3)ArOH environment has been explored. The ligands are based on calix[6]arenes that present two imidazole arms and an amino phenol moiety at the narrow rim. Three different types of complexes have been characterized. One is dicationic with Zn(2+) coordinated to the three nitrogen atoms and to the oxygen of the phenol group of the calix[6]ligand. This complex is very sensitive to exogenous coordinating molecules and exists as a 5-coordinate species due to the endo-complexation of a guest. The second species is a monocationic complex for which the phenol group has been deprotonated. The resulting N(3)ArOZn complex can also bind a guest ligand albeit with a lower affinity than the dicationic complex. The third species is neutral. It can be obtained upon reaction with a base to yield a hydroxo complex or with an anion such as a chloride that coordinates the metal center from the outside of the calixarene cavity. The simultaneous binding of two anionic donors decreases the Zn Lewis acidity, allowing an impressive conformational reorganization of the system. One imidazole arm is released by the metal center. The other one undergoes self-inclusion into the pi-basic calixarene cavity because the low affinity of the metal center for neutral ligand does not allow the endo-coordination of an exogenous guest. Hence, the calix[6]N(3)ArOH-based Zn complexes act as an acid-base switch for guest binding. Several aspects of this system appear reminiscent of Zn-peptidases of the astacin and serralisin families.     

The relationship between the structures of Cu(II) complexes and their chemical transformations: VII

The thermal decompositions of Cu(en)₂(NCS)X. where X^–=Cl^–, Br^–, NO ₃ ^– , BF ₄ ^– and ClO ₄ ^– , have been studied in comparison with the courses of Cu(en)₂(SCN)₂ and Cu(en)₂X₂ decomposition. It is shown that the presence of the thiocyanate group in the complexes Cu(en)₂(NCS)X is the most important factor in the decomposition course, in agreement with the fact that the anions X^– are not coordinated. or are only semicoordinated. Significant differences were found in the courses of thermal decomposition of two forms of Cu(en)₂(NCS)(BF₄) differing in the structure of their coordination polyhedra.

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Zusammenfassung Die thermische Zersetzung von Cu(en)₂(NCS)X (X=Cl Br, NO₃, BF₄ und ClO₄) wurde untersucht und mit der von Cu(en₂(SCN)₂ und Cu(en)₂X₂ verglichem. Der den Verlauf der Zersetzung entscheidend bestimmende Faktor isi die Anw esenheit der Thiocyanat-Gruppe in den Cu(en)₂(NCS)X-Komplexen, was in Übereinstimmung damit steht,. daß die Anionen X nicht oder nur teilweise koordiniert sind. Es wurden signifikante Unterschiedeim Verlauf der thermischen Zersetzung von zwei sich in der Struktur ihrer Kordinationspolyeder unter-, heidenden Formen von Cu(en)₂(NCS)(BF₄) gefunden.

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Cu(en)₂(NCS)X (X^–=Cl^–, Br^–, NO ₄ ^– , NO ₃ ^– , BF₄ ClO₄, Cu(en)₂(SCN)₂ Cu(en)₂(X)₂. , Cu(en)₂(NCS)X X Cu(en) (NCS)BF₄ i .

     

Détermination de l'énergie de conjugaison des acides naphtoǐques

The present paper deals with the experimental and theoretical determination of energies of conjugation of organic molecules.A computation process has been applied, first to simple molecules comprising an hydrocarbon (styrene), an oxygen function (benzaldehyde) and a nitrogen function (aniline). The results are compared with those obtained from the literature.The application of this computation process to naphthoic acids permits the determination of energies of conjugation and isomerization of these molecules.     

Ethylenic compounds reactivity: bromination—XLI: Relative reactivities of R1CMeCH2 and R1CHCMe2 series as a criterion for distinguishing between bridged and acyclic transition states. Degree of symmetry of the bromonium ion-like transition state

Reactivities of homogeneous series of ethylenic compounds R¹CHCH₂1, trans R¹CHCHMe 2, R¹MeCCH₂3 and R¹CHCMe₂4 have been measured in methanol at 25°C (R¹ Me, Et, n-Pr, -CH₂C₆H₅-CH₂OCOCH₃, -CH₂Cl). The criterion developed to decide between a bridged and a carbonium ion-like transition state is based on an internal comparison of the series and avoids resorting to external structural scales. Even in the case of alkenes 3 and 4 which are very dissymmetric with respect to polarity, the sensitivity to polar effects remains constant and the transition state behaves like a symmetric entity; only a slight secondary effect, attributed to hyperconjugation, is detectable.     

Heterogeneous reactions of solid nickel(II) complexes,V

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of solid complexes of the type Ni(NCS)₂L₂ (L=pyridine,β-picoline and quinoline), of pseudooctahedral configuration, were studied by using isothermal methods, on the basis of losses of weight, in the temperature range 90–191?. The most suitable reaction order for all the complexes under investigation was found to ben=2/3, i.e. the total decomposition rate is determined by the chemical process proper. The calculated values ofE _a(in kcal · mole^?1) decrease in the following order: Ni(NCS)₂py₂ (29.4)>Ni(NCS)₂(β-pic)₂ (27.6)>Ni(NCS)₂Q₂ (24.3). With increasing volume of the ligand L the reaction rate also increases, and this suggests that the reaction proceeds by dissociative activation. For all the investigated complexes it was found that δH>E _A; this may be explained by a several-step mechanism and the complex Ni(NCS)₂L is then considered an intermediate.     

Regioselectivity of Birch reductive alkylation of biaryls

[reaction: see text] The regioselectivity of the Birch reductive alkylation of polysubstituted biaryls has been investigated. Results indicate that regioselectivity is affected by the electronic nature of substituents on both aromatic rings. The electron-rich 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl moiety is selectively reduced and then alkylated, while phenols and aniline are not dearomatized under these conditions. Biaryls possessing a phenol moiety are alkylated on the second ring, providing that the acidic proton has been removed prior to the Li/NH3 reduction.     

Assessment of the Fe-Sn-Zn phase diagram at 450°C

The Fe-Sn-Zn system is of interest because Sn is one element added to the Zn galvanizing bath to overcome the drawbacks due to the presence of Si in semi-killed steels. This work has been undertaken with the aim to understand the tin effect on the microstructure and the layers growth in batch galvanized coatings on low alloyed steels. Various experimental techniques such as metallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) are used in order to characterize the microstructure and the properties of such coatings elaborated in a zinc bath enriched with tin. Solidification phenomena and layers growth mechanisms during galvanization are explained by means of the ternary phase diagram Fe-Sn-Zn at 450°C. The Calphad method allows to obtain this phase diagram from the three optimized binary phase diagrams Fe-Sn, Fe-Zn and Sn-Zn and some experimental data inside the ternary Fe-Sn-Zn system.     

Calix[6]arene-based cuprous "funnel complexes": a mimic for the substrate access channel to metalloenzyme active sites

Two calixarene-based model systems (a and b) for monocopper enzymes are compared. Both present a tris(pyridine) coordination site for Cu that mimics the imidazole-rich neutral binding site in enzymes. Upon reaction with 1 equiv of copper(I), the tridentate ligands gave rise to ill-defined unsymmetrical complexes. However, in the presence of an organonitrile RCN (R = Me, Et, Ph), tetrahedral species were obtained, with the nitrilo ligand included in the calixarene hydrophobic cone. System b presents a larger cavity than system a, with a wider opening thanks to the removal of three tBu groups from the calixarene structure. As a result, the recognition pattern for MeCN vs PhCN is inverted, and the relative affinity constants differ by 3 orders of magnitude. The mechanism of the acetonitrile exchange at the cuprous centers was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Thermodynamic and kinetic data show that it follows a dissociative pathway in both cases. The main differences between systems a and b stem from the presence of a door that entraps the guest in case a. In system b indeed, the removal of three calixarene tBu groups led to a 100-fold acceleration of the MeCN exchange rate. Hence, these supramolecular systems provide a rare and interesting model for the hydrophobic substrate channel giving access to a metalloenzyme active site.