Self-assembly of a thymine quartet and quadruplex via an organic template

The synthesis of two hydrophobic cavitands bearing four (1) and eight (2) thymidine residues covalently linked with triazole moieties is reported. Spectral evidence indicates the adoption of a hydrogen-bonded T-quartet assembly by 1 in chloroform at low temperature and a π-stacked quadruplex by 2 in DMSO under ambient conditions.     

Comprehensive Characterization of the Self-Folding Cavitand Dynamics

The conformational equilibria and guest exchange process of a resorcin[4]arene derived self-folding cavitand receptor have been characterized in detail by molecular dynamics simulations (MD) and ¹H EXSY NMR experiments. A multi-timescale strategy for exploring the fluxional behaviour of this system has been constructed, exploiting conventional MD and accelerated MD (aMD) techniques. The use of aMD allows the reconstruction of the folding/unfolding process of the receptor by sampling high-energy barrier processes unattainable by conventional MD simulations. We obtained MD trajectories sampling events occurring at different timescales from ns to s: 1) rearrangement of the directional hydrogen bond seam stabilizing the receptor, 2) folding/unfolding of the structure transiting partially open intermediates, and 3) guest departure from different folding stages. Most remarkably, reweighing of the biased aMD simulations provided kinetic barriers that are in very good agreement with those determined experimentally by ¹H NMR. These results constitute the first comprehensive characterization of the complex dynamic features of cavitand receptors. Our approach emerges as a valuable rational design tool for synthetic host-guest systems     

Molecular structures and supramolecular association of chlorodiorganotin(IV) complexes with bis- and tris-dithiocarbamate ligand

Two series of di and trinuclear chlorodiorganotin(IV) complexes derived from bis- and tris-dithiocarbamate ligands have been prepared and structurally characterized. The dinuclear complexes 1-2 of the composition {(R₂SnCl)₂(bis-dtc)} (1, R = Me; 2, R = ⁿBu) have been obtained from R₂SnCl₂ (R = Me, ⁿBu) and the triethylammonium salt of N,N′-dibenzyl-1,2-ethylene-bis(dithiocarbamate). The trinuclear complexes 3-9 with the general formula {(R₂SnCl)₃(tris-dtc)} 3, R = Me, tris-dtc = tris-dtc-Me; 4, R = Me, tris-dtc = tris-dtc-ⁱPr; 5, R = Me, tris-dtc = tris-dtc-Bn; 6, R = ⁿBu, tris-dtc = tris-dtc-Me; 7, R = ⁿBu, tris-dtc = tris-dtc- ⁱPr; 8, R = ⁿBu, tris-dtc = tris-dtc-Bn; 9, R = ^tBu, tris-dtc = tris-dtc-Me) were prepared from R₂SnCl₂ (R = Me, ⁿBu, ^tBu) and the potassium dithiocarbamate salts of (tris[2-(methylamino)ethyl]amine) (tris-dtc-Me), (tris[2-(isopropylamino)ethyl]amine) (=tris-dtc-ⁱPr) and (tris[2-(benzylamino)ethyl]amine) (=tris-dtc-Bn). Compounds 1-9 have been analyzed as far as possible by elemental analysis, FAB⁺ mass spectrometry, IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The solid state and solution studies showed that the dtc ligands are coordinated to the tin atoms in the anisobidentate manner. In all cases the metal centers are five-coordinate. The coordination geometry is intermediate between square-pyramidal and trigonal-bipyramidal coordination polyhedra with τ-values in the range of 0.32-0.53. For the members of each series characterized in the solid state by X-ray diffraction analysis, different molecular conformations were found. The crystal structures show the presence of C-H?Cl, C-H?S, C-H?π, S?Cl, S?S, Cl?Sn and S?Sn contacts.     

Complexing and self-complexing of peptide-cavitands

Resorc[4]arene based peptide-cavitands with four identical chiral amino acids at their upper rim were synthesized and investigated for the complexation of small guest molecules. Competition experiments show, that the tetra amino acid cavitands complex small organic guests in chloroform in the order ethyl acetate <dichloromethane < acetonitrile < ethanol < acetamide < acetic acid. The peptide-cavitands containing aspartic and glutamic acid derivatives enclose parts of their attached amino acids in the cavity, so that these peptide-cavitands are host and guest at the same time. The starting material for the cavitands, the resorc[4]arenetetraamine 3, is made by a new synthetic route using the Delépine-reaction.     

Synthesis of polyhydroxy cavitands and intramolecular inclusion of their octaester derivatives

A facile and efficient synthesis of novel cavitands containing eight hydroxyl groups was accomplished in eight steps beginning from commercially available resorcinol and the corresponding aldehydes. The synthesis combines two classical approaches to cavitand chemistry and yields the target octol cavitand molecules in gram quantities with no chromatographic separations. A variety of octaester cavitand derivatives were then prepared from the parent octols and their spectral properties are reported.     

Supramolecular Sensors for the Detection of Alcohols

Cooperativity between different noncovalent host–guest interactions is the key for the successful generation of selective supramolecular sensors. A new class of cavitands capable of synergistic CH⋅⋅⋅π interactions and hydrogen bonding has been designed and exploited for the detection of alcohol vapors using mass transducers (see schematic representation).     

Supramolecular Assemblies of Phosphorylated Cavitands

The recent results in the chemistry of cavitands have proved that they are very efficient molecular receptors and potential precursors of molecular devices. In this context, we have investigated the synthesis and binding properties of phosphorylated cavitands. The stereoselective synthesis and the structural studies of the new compounds showed that these bowl-shaped molecules possess a well defined aromatic cavity surrounded by four phosphoryl groups (P=O or P=S). They are very efficient ligands for metal and organic cations. They are able to encapsulate cationic species by cooperative effect of the preorganized aromatic cavity and the four phosphorylated groups. Moreover, the upper and lower rim functionalitics can lead to the formation of molecular capsules and supramolecular assemblies whose properties and structures have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and NMR studies in solution.     

Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)‐Bridged Resorcin[4]arene Cavitands: Towards New Electrochemical Molecular Switches

We report the synthesis of novel resorcin[4]arene‐based cavitands featuring two extended bridges consisting of quinoxaline‐fused TTF (tetrathiafulvalene) moieties. In the neutral form, these cavitands were expected to adopt the vase form, whereas, upon oxidation, the open kite geometry should be preferred due to Coulombic repulsion between the two TTF radical cations (Scheme 2). The key step in the preparation of these novel molecular switches was the P(OEt)₃‐mediated coupling between a macrocyclic bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐thione) and 2 equiv. of a suitable 1,3‐dithiol‐2‐one. Following the successful application of this strategy to the preparation of mono‐TTF‐cavitand 3 (Scheme 3), the synthesis of the bis‐TTF derivatives 2 (Scheme 4) and 19 (Scheme 5) was pursued; however, the target compounds could not be isolated due to their insolubility. Upon decorating both the octol bowl and the TTF cavity rims with long alkyl chains, the soluble bis‐TTF cavitand 23 was finally obtained, besides a minor amount of the novel cage compound 25a featuring a highly distorted TTF bridge (Scheme 6). In contrast to 25a , the deep cavitand 23 undergoes reversible vase → kite switching upon lowering the temperature from 293 to 193 K (Fig. 1). Electrochemical studies by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) provided preliminary evidence for successful vase → kite switching of 23 induced by the oxidation of the TTF cavity walls.     

The making of molecular belts and collars

This article relates the first encouraging steps towards the fulfilment of a long-standing research goal aimed at turning the chemistry of laterally-fused six-membered rings through 90° ... or, more specifically, the making of (i) beltenes, in which 1,4-cyclohexadiene rings are linked in a polycyclic array by lateral fusion through their carbon-carbon double bonds, (ii) collarenes, in which alternating benzene and 1,4-cyclohexadiene rings are fused to form macropolycyclic hydrocarbons and (iii) cyclacenes, which may be considered as two annulenes joined to each other by carbon-carbon single bonds between every other atom around the annulene rings. The synthesis of the key macropolycyclic compound, which is a potential precursor of [12]beltene and [12]collarene, exploits the amazing stereoelectronic control that exists in the Diels-Alder reaction between a bisdiene and a bisdienophile with the appropriate structural features and reactivity characteristics.