The Hexameric Resorcinarene Capsule at Work: Supramolecular Catalysis in Confined Spaces

An Atom-Economical Method for the Formation of Amidopyrroles Exploiting the Self-Assembled Resorcinarene Capsule

Here is reported the first example of an organocatalyzed coupling between pyrrole and isocyanates in a nanoconfined space. The hexameric resorcinarene capsule C is able to catalyze the direct coupling between isocyanates and pyrroles to give amidopyrroles with excellent yields and selectivities. The reaction catalyzed by C prevents the use of expensive and poorly atom-economical reagents. As in natural enzymes, the cavity of C is able to discriminate between isomeric substrates.

Synthesis of a coumarin derivative of resorcin[4]arene with solvent-controlled chirality

This paper presents the synthesis of a coumarin derivative of resorcin[4]arene (1) using a cascade thermolysis/Michael reaction. The influence of the hydrogen bonding system on the conformational rigidity and cyclochirality of the coumarin derivative of resorcin[4]arene was discussed; these properties depended on the proton-donor–acceptor properties of the solvent. Significant differences, which depended on the environment, in the coumarin derivative of resorcin[4]arene fluorescence were observed and discussed.

This paper presents the synthesis of a coumarin derivative of resorcin[4]arene (1) using a cascade thermolysis/Michael reaction.

Water plays a dynamical role in a hydrogen-bonded, hexameric supramolecular assembly

The hexameric resorcin[4]arene supramolecular assembly has attracted significant interest as a self-assembled capsule that exhibits dynamic host-guest chemistry. Many studies have been carried out to investigate the structure and thermodynamics of the assembly, but considerably less is known about its dynamical properties. Here, molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the timescales of water encapsulation in this assembly in wet chloroform. We have previously shown [A. Katiyar et al., Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 6591-6594] that at low water content there are three distinct populations of water molecules present, while at higher water content an additional population, long water chains interacting with the assembly, appears. The relative free energies of these different water positions are calculated and time correlation functions are used to determine the timescales for interconversion between the populations. This analysis demonstrates that the water molecules are in rapid exchange with each other on timescales of tens of ps to a few ns, and suggests that water molecules might be acting as a critical component in the guest exchange mechanism.

Anion-mediated encapsulation-induced emission enhancement of an IrIII complex within a resorcin[4]arene hexameric capsule

The anions of the Ir complex salts control the thermodynamic stability and photoluminescence properties of the host–guest complex.

The Hexameric Resorcinarene Capsule as a Brønsted Acid Catalyst for the Synthesis of Bis(heteroaryl)methanes in a Nanoconfined Space

Herein, we show that the hexameric resorcinarene capsule C is able to catalyze the formation of bis(heteroaryl)methanes by reaction between pyrroles or indoles and carbonyl compounds (α-ketoesters or aldehydes) in excellent yields and selectivity. Our results suggest that the capsule can play a double catalytic role as a H-bond catalyst, for the initial activation of the carbonyl substrate, and as a Brønsted acid catalyst, for the dehydration of the intermediate alcohol.

Conformational Characteristics of Feet-to-Feet-Connected Biscavitands

X-ray crystallography of an acetoxy-protected bisresorcinarene and biscavitands possessing phosphonate and dialkylsilyl bridges revealed that the bisresorcinarene and the biscavitands adopt helical forms in the solid state. Helical conformations were also found in solution. The helix-helix interconversions of the biscavitands occurred with high activation barriers of more than 50 kJ mol^-1. The activation parameters of the helix-helix interconversions were determined using exchange spectroscopy (EXSY). The positive activation enthalpies and the negative activation entropies suggest that the transition states of the helix-helix interconversion process are most likely more strained and symmetric than the ground states. The compensatory enthalpy-entropy correlation is found in the series of activation parameters, giving rise to a compensation temperature of 254 K.

Catalysis inside Supramolecular Capsules: Recent Developments

In the last decades, supramolecular chemists have developed new molecular receptors able to include a wide range of guests. In addition, they have designed synthetic hosts able to form capsules having an internal volume of thousands of Å3. This inner space shows different features from the bulk solution. In particular, this environment has recently been employed to perform chemical reactions, obtaining reaction products different from the “normal” conditions. These supramolecular capsules act as nanoreactors, catalyzing many chemical transformations. This review collects the recent developments (since 2015) in this field, focusing on supramolecular capsules based on resorcinarene hexameric capsules and metal-cage capsules.

A hexameric resorcinarene capsule as a hydrogen bonding catalyst in the conjugate addition of pyrroles and indoles to nitroalkenes

A hexameric resorcinarene capsule (C) acts as a hydrogen bonding catalyst for the addition of nitroalkenes to pyrroles and indoles.

Cyclizations catalyzed inside a hexameric resorcinarene capsule

The self-assembled, hydrogen-bonded hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule represents one of the most readily accessible host systems for the study of container catalysis.