Inclusion Complexes of Ferrocenes and β-Cyclodextrins. Critical Appraisal of the Electrochemical Evaluation of Formation Constants

Controlling the supramolecular assembly of redox-active dendrimers at molecular printboards by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Redox-active ferrocenyl (Fc)-functionalized poly(propylenimine) (PPI) dendrimers solubilized in aqueous media by complexation of the Fc end groups with beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) were immobilized at monolayers of betaCD on glass ("molecular printboards") via multiple host-guest interactions. The directed immobilization of the third-generation dendrimer-betaCD assembly G3-PPI-(Fc)16-(betaCD)16 at the printboard was achieved by supramolecular microcontact printing. The redox activity of the patterned dendrimers was mapped by scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in the positive feedback mode using [IrCl(6)](3-) as a mediator. Local oxidation of the Fc-dendrimers by the microelectrode-generated [IrCl(6)](2-) resulted in an effective removal of the Fc-dendrimers from the host surface since the oxidation of Fc to the oxidized form (Fc+) leads to a concomitant loss of affinity for betaCD. Thus, SECM provided a way not only to image the surface, but also to control the binding of the Fc-terminated dendrimers at the molecular printboard. Additionally, the electrochemical desorption process could be monitored in time as the dendrimer patterns were gradually erased upon multiple scans.

Modeling Competitive Guest Binding to β-Cyclodextrin Molecular Printboards

Anchoring of functionalized guest molecules to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) is key to the development of molecular printboards for nanopatterning. One very promising system involves guest binding to immobilized beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) hosts, with guest:host recognition facilitated by a hydrophobic interaction between uncharged anchor groups on the guest molecule and beta-CD hosts self-assembled at gold surfaces. We use molecular dynamics free energy (MDFE) simulations to describe the specificity of guest:beta-CD association. We find good agreement with experimental thermodynamic measurements for binding enthalpy differences between three commonly used phenyl guests: benzene, toluene, and t-butylbenzene. van der Waals interaction with the inside of the host cavity accounts for almost all of the net stabilization of the larger phenyl guests in beta-CD. Partial and full methylation of the secondary rim of beta-CD decreases host rigidity and significantly impairs binding of both phenyl and larger adamantane guest molecules. The beta-CD cavity is also very intolerant of guest charging, penalizing the oxidized state of ferrocene by at least 7 kcal/mol. beta-CD hence expresses moderate specificity toward uncharged organic guest molecules by van der Waals recognition, with a much higher specificity calculated for electrostatic recognition of organometallic guests.

Solvent- and Temperature-Tuned Orientation of Ferrocenyl Azide Inside β-Cyclodextrin

An induced circular dichroism (ICD) solution study on the orientation of ferrocenyl azide within the beta-cyclodextrin cavity is described. In DMSO, ferrocenyl azide prefers an axial inclusion, whereas in ethylene glycol and DMSO/H2O = 50/50 an equatorial alignment dominates. As shown by temperature-dependent ICD spectra, at lower temperatures ferrocenyl azide adopts preferentially an equatorial arrangement, whereas at higher temperatures an axial one is favored. Temperature and solvent effects on the co-conformation of ferrocene noncovalently bound to cyclodextrin have never been observed before.

Complexation of Ferrocene Derivatives by the Cucurbit[7]uril Host: A Comparative Study of the Cucurbituril and Cyclodextrin Host Families

The formation of inclusion complexes between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and ferrocene and its derivatives has been investigated. The X-ray crystal structure of the 1:1 inclusion complex between ferrocene and CB[7] revealed that the guest molecule resides in the host cavity with two different orientations. Inclusion of a set of five water-soluble ferrocene derivatives in CB[7] was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and calorimetric and voltammetric techniques. Our data indicate that all neutral and cationic guests form highly stable inclusion complexes with CB[7], with binding constants in the 10(9)-10(10) M(-)(1) and 10(12)-10(13) M(-1) ranges, respectively. However, the anionic ferrocenecarboxylate, the only negatively charged guest among those surveyed, was not bound by CB[7] at all. These results are in sharp contrast to the known binding behavior of the same guests to beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), since all the guests form stable inclusion complexes with beta-CD, with binding constants in the range 10(3)-10(4) M(-1). The electrostatic surface potentials of CB[6], CB[7], and CB[8] and their size-equivalent CDs were calculated and compared. The CD portals and cavities exhibit low surface potential values, whereas the regions around the carbonyl oxygens in CBs are significantly negative, which explains the strong affinity of CBs for positively charged guests and also provides a rationalization for the rejection of anionic guests. Taken together, our data suggest that cucurbiturils may form very stable complexes. However, the host-guest interactions are very sensitive to some structural features, such as a negatively charged carboxylate group attached to the ferrocene residue, which may completely disrupt the stability of the complexes.

Determination of the molecular complexation constant between alprostadil and alpha-cyclodextrin by conductometry: implications for a freeze-dried formulation

The binding constant between alprostadil (PGE1) and alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) was determined at four temperatures using conductance measurements. Alpha-cyclodextrin is an excipient material in Caverject dual chamber syringe (DCS) that was added to enhance stability. The binding constant was used to calculate the amount of PGE1 free upon reconstitution and injection, since only the free drug is clinically active. The conductivity measurement is based on a decrease in specific conductance as alprostadil is titrated with alpha-CD. The change in conductivity was plotted versus free ligand concentration (alpha-CD) to generate a binding curve. As the value of the binding constant proved to be dependent on substrate concentration, it is really a pseudo binding constant. A value of 742+/-60 M(-1) was obtained for a 0.5 mM solution of alprostadil at 27 degrees C and a value of 550+/-52 M(-1) at 37 degrees C. These results compare favorably to values previously obtained by NMR and capillary electrophoresis. Calculation of the fraction PGE1 free upon reconstitution and injection show it to approach the desired outcome of one. Hence, the amount of drug delivered by Caverject DCS is nominally equivalent to that delivered by Caverject S. Po., a predecessor product that contains no alpha-cyclodextrin.

Photometric detection of cyclodextrins in liquid chromatography by using iodine generated electrochemically in-situ

A method has been developed for photometric detection of cyclodextrins (CD) in liquid chromatography using iodine (I2) generated electrochemically in-situ. Iodide ion in the mobile phase was electrochemically oxidized to I2 which was subsequently reacted with I-, in an electrochemical flow cell, forming I3-. The absorbance of I3- was found to be greatly enhanced when CD were present in the mobile phase. The absorbance enhancement was caused by the change in the mole fraction of I3-, because of the inclusion reaction of I3- with CD. On the basis of this phenomenon, CD were detected by means of a photodiode-array UV-visible detector positioned downstream of the electrochemical flow cell. The signals were found to be linearly dependent on CD concentration. Because the formation constants of I3- with CD decrease in the order alpha-CD>beta-CD>gamma-CD, alpha-CD was most detectable by the method. Detection limits were 1.0 micromol L(-1) for alpha-CD, 65 micromol L(-1) for monoG1-beta-CD, 100 micromol L(-1) for beta-CD, and 200 micromol L(-1) for gamma-CD.

A unique tetramer of 4 ∶ 5 β-cyclodextrin–ferrocene in the solid state

A single crystal of a unique 4:5 inclusion complex between beta-cyclodextrin and ferrocene was prepared and the structure was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis, showing that four of the five ferrocenes were included in the cavities of four beta-cyclodextrins along the axial orientation of the tetramer, while another was co-included between two beta-cyclodextrins from the equatorial orientation.

New chiral selectors: Design and synthesis of 6-TBDMS-2,3-methyl ?-cyclodextrin 2-2? thioureido dimer and 6-TBDMS-2,3-methyl (or 2-methyl-3-acetyl) ?-cyclodextrin bearing an (R) mosher acid moiety

Cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives are important selectors for analytical chiral recognition. Their enantioselectivities and chemical properties depend on ring size and on nature, number and location of substituents. This paper describes the synthesis of 6-O-TBDMS-2,3-O-methyl beta-cyclodextrins bearing in position 2 either a single (R)-Mosher acid moiety or a second CD unit, in view of their possible application as chiral selectors. Most synthetic steps were successfully carried out under high-intensity ultrasound using a new sonochemical reactor developed in the authors' laboratory. 6-O-TBDMS-2-O-methyl-3-[(S)-2-methylbutyl]-beta-CD was also synthesized and tested with gas chromatography; the enantiorecognition power of the other CD derivatives is also being tested. A computational study of model structures to design these CD derivatives.

Separation of planar chiral ferrocene derivatives on beta-cyclodextrin-based polymer supports prepared via ring-opening metathesis graft-polymerization

A series of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis graft polymerization of various norborn-2-ene (NBE) substituted CDs. Chiral selectors based on endo/exo-6-O-(norborn-2-ene-5-ylmethoxymethylsilyl)-beta-CD, tris(endo/exo-6-O-norborn-2-ene-5-ylmethoxymethylsilyl)-beta-CD, tetrakis(endolexo-6-0-norborn-2-ene-5-ylmethoxymethylsilyl)-beta-CD, hexakis(endo/exo-6-O-norborn-2-ene-5-ylmethoxymethylsilyl)-beta-CD and tetrakis(endo-6-O-norborn-2-ene-5-carboxyl)-beta-CD were grafted onto Nucleosil 300-5 using well-established grafting procedures. CSPs were investigated for their separation capabilities for a series of the planar chiral ferrocene derivatives, rac-ferroceno[2,3a]inden-1-one (1a, 1b), rac-6-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbut-1-yn-1-yl)ferroceno[2,3a]inden-1-one (2a, 2b), rac-ferrocene[2,3a]indene (3a, 3b), rac-endo 1-methoxy-1-allylferroceno[2,3a]indene (4a, 4b) and rac-1,4-dihydroxybutylferrocene (5a, 5b). Compounds la, lb and 2a, 2b bearing a carbonyl group were successfully separated on these CSPs, while compounds 3-5 do not undergo enantioselective interaction under the conditions applied. General aspects of separation as well as mechanistic implementations are discussed.