Molecular Recognition by Cyclophane/Guanidinium Supramolecular Receptor Embedded at the Air-Water Interface

In order to develop a supramolecular receptor through a self-assembling process, a site-specific host and an inclusion-type host were mixed as a Langmuir monolayer, and guest binding and pressure-induced fluorescence emission were investigated. A guanidinium amphiphile and several cyclophanes carrying hydrophobic moieties were used as the host molecules; molecular recognition of an aqueous fluorescent guest, 6-p-toluidino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (TNS) by binary mixed receptor monolayers was evaluated by a surface pressure-molecular area (π-A) isotherm and a surface fluorescence measurement. An apparent increase in fluorescence intensity was observed when the mixed monolayers of the guanidinium and cyclophane amphiphiles were compressed on an aqueous TNS solution. In contrast, single-component monolayers of the guanidinium or the cyclophane did not show a significant increase in fluorescence emission. In the mixed monolayers, the guest TNS would be bound to the interface by strong electrostatic interaction with the guanidinium, and inclusion of the formed complex probably suppresses the quenching effect in polar medium and/or self-quenching. Experiments with various mixing ratios of these components suggest selective formation of an equimolar cooperative receptor of the guanidinium and the cyclophane. Investigation of the cyclophane structures by fluorescence emission and a competitive binding experiment with another guest were also carried out.