Synthesis and Supramolecular Studies of Chiral Boronated Platinum(II) Complexes: Insights into the Molecular Recognition of Carboranes by β‐Cyclodextrin

The synthesis and characterisation of a novel isomeric family of closo‐carborane‐containing Pt^II complexes ((R/S)‐( 1 – 4 )?2 NO₃) are reported. Related complexes ( 5 ?NO₃ and 6 ?NO₃) that contain the 7,8‐nido‐carborane cluster were obtained from the selective deboronation of the 1,2‐closo‐carborane analogues. The corresponding water‐soluble supramolecular 1:1 host–guest β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) adducts ((R/S)‐( 1 – 4 ) ? β‐CD?2 NO₃) were also prepared and fully characterised. HR‐ESI‐MS experiments confirmed the presence of the host–guest adducts, and 2D‐¹H{¹¹B} ROESY NMR studies showed that the boron clusters enter the β‐CD from the side of the wider annulus. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments revealed enthalpically driven 1:1 and higher‐order supramolecular interactions between β‐CD and (R/S)‐( 1 – 4 )?2 NO₃ in aqueous solution. A comparison of the predominate 1:1 binding mode established that the affinity of β‐CD for the guest molecule is mainly influenced by the pyridyl ring substitution pattern and chirality of the host, whilst the nature of the closo‐carborane isomer also plays some role, with the most favourable structural features for β‐CD binding being the presence of the 4‐pyridyl ring, 1,12‐closo‐carborane, and an S configuration. The results reported here represent the first comprehensive calorimetric study of the supramolecular interactions between closo‐carborane compounds and β‐CD, and it provides fascinating insights into the structural features influencing the thermodynamics of this phenomenon.