Temperature-dependent solvent effect on the kinetic energy distribution on p-cresol molecule as building block of calixarene capsules

The solvent effect on the kinetic energy distribution of p-cresol molecule was investigated by quantum-chemical (QM) method and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, then the consequences were checked experimentally by photoluminescence (PL) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods. Results of QM calculations highlight the coupling of two vibrational normalmodes of p-cresol molecule in the presence of ethanol while no similar coupling was observed in methanol. MD simulations show that the normalmode coupling in ethanol is more pronounced at higher temperature and it is preferably based on the molecular friction of the cresol molecule with its environment. The theoretical observations were also proved experimentally. The dissociation rate of calixarene–phenol complexes were measured by DSC method. The decreased dissociation rate of the calixarene–phenol complexes observed in ethanol reflects the increased motion of the methyl groups of cresol units of calixarene in the ethanol solvent, a property which was predicted by the theoretical results. Our findings are applicable to many areas of chemistry where the formation and dissociation rates play important role: e.g., in the development of chemical molecular sensors or developing molecular containers for drugs towards pharmaceutical applications.