Stimuli-responsive host-guest systems based on the recognition of cryptands by organic guests

Biological and related applications of pillar[n]arenes

Pillar[n]arenes are a new class of synthetic supramolecular macrocycles streamlined by their particular pillar-shaped architecture which consists of an electron-rich cavity and two fine-tuneable rims. The ease and diversity of the functionalization of the two rims open possibilities for the design of new architectures, topological isomers, and scaffolds. Significantly, this emerging class of macrocyclic receptors offers a unique platform for biological purposes. This review article covers the most recent contributions from the pillar[n]arene field in terms of artificial membrane transport systems, controlled drug delivery systems, biomedical imaging, biosensors, cell adhesion, fluorescent sensing, and pesticide detection based on host-guest interactions. The review also uniquely describes the properties of sub-units that make pillar[n]arenes suitable for biological applications and it provides a detailed outline for the design of new innovative pillar-like structures with specific properties to open up a new avenue for pillar[n]arene chemistry.

Acid/base-controllable fluorescent molecular switches based on cryptands and basic N-heteroaromatics

Two kinds of fluorescent BMP32C10-based cryptands 1 and 2 have been developed. Cryptand 1 contains a binaphthol group, while cryptand 2 bears a coumarin group in their third arms. Based on this design, novel self-assemblies constructed from cryptand 1 or 2 and basic N-heteroaromatic guests 3-6 were successfully obtained. Moreover, the threading/dethreading processes of the host-guest complexes could be well switched by the alternate addition of acid/base, and accompanied by concurrent changes in fluorescence.

Integrative Self-Sorting: One-Pot Synthesis of a Hetero[4]rotaxane from a Daisy-Chain-Containing Hetero[4]pseudorotaxane

The structural complexity of mechanically interlocked molecules are very attractive to chemists owing to the challenges they present. In this article, novel mechanically interlocked molecules with a daisy-chain-containing hetero[4]rotaxane motif were efficiently synthesized. In addition, a novel integrative self-sorting strategy is demonstrated, involving an ABB-type (A for host, dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8), and B for guest, ammonium salt sites) monomer and a macrocycle host, benzo-21-crown-7 (B21C7), in which the assembled species in hydrogen-bonding-supported solvent only includes a novel daisy-chain-containing hetero[4]pseudorotaxane. The found self-sorting process involves the integrative recognition between B21C7 macrocycles and carefully designed components simultaneously containing two types of secondary ammonium ions and a host molecule, DB24C8 crown ether. The self-sorting strategy is integrative to undertake self-recognition behavior to form one single species of pseudorotaxane compared with the previous report. This self-sorting system can be used for the efficient one-pot synthesis of a daisy-chain-containing hetero[4]rotaxane in a good yield. The structure of hetero[4]rotaxane was confirmed by ¹ H NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization (HR-ESI) mass spectrometry.

4-Methylcoumarin-bridged fluorescent responsive cryptand: from [2+2] photodimerization to supramolecular polymer

A fluorescent responsive BMP32C10-based cryptand host was successfully synthesized by introducing a 4-methylcoumarin group to the third arm of the cryptand. The cryptand was able to undergo [2+2] photodimerization on UV irradiation (λ = 365 nm) and, based on the photodimerization and host-guest interaction, a new supramolecular polymer was constructed in a convenient manner.

Formation of [2]- and [3]Rotaxanes through Bridging under Kinetic and Thermodynamic Control

An efficient synthesis of a doubly stranded [3]rotaxane has been developed through bridging of a pseudo[3]rotaxane featuring two axle components. Reversible azine formation was effective as the bridging reaction. Kinetic and thermodynamic conditions provided the [2]- and [3]rotaxanes, respectively.

Response speed control of helicity inversion based on a "regulatory enzyme"-like strategy

In biological systems, there are many signal transduction cascades in which a chemical signal is transferred as a series of chemical events. Such successive reaction systems are advantageous because the efficiency of the functions can be finely controlled by regulatory enzymes at an earlier stage. However, most of artificial responsive molecules developed so far rely on single-step conversion, whose response speeds have been difficult to be controlled by external stimuli. In this context, developing artificial conversion systems that have a regulation step similar to the regulatory enzymes has been anticipated. Here we report a novel artificial two-step structural conversion system in which the response speed can be controlled based on a regulatory enzyme-like strategy. In this system, addition of fluoride ion caused desilylation of the siloxycarboxylate ion attached to a helical complex, resulting in the subsequent helicity inversion. The response speeds of the helicity inversion depended on the reactivity of the siloxycarboxylate ions; when a less-reactive siloxycarboxylate ion was used, the helicity inversion rate was governed by the desilylation rate. This is the first artificial responsive molecule in which the overall response speed can be controlled at the regulation step separated from the function step.

A reversible light-responsive assembly system based on host–guest interaction for controlled release

A reversible light-responsive system based on the host–guest interaction between MSN–AZO and AuNP@CD was developed.

Synthesis and investigation of new cyclic molecules using the stilbene scaffold

A new approach to the synthesis of asymmetrical cyclic compounds using a stilbene scaffold has been developed. The use of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate as the catalyst, both with and without paraformaldehyde, allows us to obtain new substituted dioxanes, oxanes, cyclic compounds or dimer. The analysis of products was run using experimental and theoretical methods.

A new approach to the synthesis of asymmetrical cyclic compounds using a stilbene scaffold has been developed.

Regioisomeric cryptand stabilized gold supraspheres and elongated dodecahedron supraparticles for reversible host–guest chemistry

Addition of cryptand regioisomers 1 and 2 to AuNPs produces supraspheres and elongated dodecahedron supraparticles, respectively, apposite for host–guest chemistry.

Barium cation-responsive supra-amphiphile constructed by a new twisted cucurbit[15]uril/paraquat recognition motif in water

A new, strong, and barium cation-responsive host–guest recognition motif based on twisted cucurbit[15]uril and paraquat was established in water.

Thermosensitive Phase Behavior of Benzo-21-crown-7 and Its Derivatives

For designing water-soluble responsive materials, utilizing crown ethers as main building blocks has been rarely explored in contrast to their linear poly(ethylene glycol) counterparts. In the current study, we report the robust thermoresponsive properties of the benzo-21-crown-7 (B21C7) family with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior. Different substituent groups on the benzene ring exhibit significant effects on water solubility and thermoresponsiveness. B21C7 and its cyano derivative display LCST phenomena, while B21C7-based carboxylic acid derivative presents UCST followed by LCST phase behavior. Supramolecular interactions with KCl provide an additional tuning approach for this crown ether system. These results demonstrate that B21C7s can serve as an easily accessible toolbox to develop new thermosensitive systems and prepare thermally responsive materials.

Light-Mediated Reversible Assembly of Polymeric Colloids

This contribution highlights the functionalization of colloidal particles featuring high-symmetry patches with telechelic block copolymers and subsequent reversible self-assembly of the resulting particles into longer chain and branched structures using host-guest complexation. The 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TPM)-based anisotropic particles, obtained through a cluster-encapsulation process, consist of poly(styrene) patches and are site-specifically functionalized with block copolymers bearing pendant viologen or azobenzene motifs. Key to the design is the engineering of heterotelechelic α-hydroxy-ω-formyl-poly(norbornene)s via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The block copolymers feature both main chain anchor points to the particle surface, as well as orthogonal reactive sites for cyanine dye conjugation. The polymeric particles undergo directed and reversible supramolecular assembly in the presence of the host cucurbit[8]uril.

Binding and Selectivity of Essential Amino Acid Guests to the Inverted Cucurbit[7]uril Host

Interactions between inverted cucurbit[7]uril (iQ[7]) and essential amino acids have been studied at pH = 7.0 by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and mass spectrometry. The interactions can be divided into three binding types at pH = 7.0. Experimental results from the present study showed that the host displays a strong binding to the aromatic amino acids, Trp and Phe, and the guests of Lys, Arg, and His lie outside the cavity portal of the host. Meanwhile, the alkyl moieties of the guests Met, Leu, and Ile were accommodated within the cavity of iQ[7], but there was no significant interaction between iQ[7] and Thr or Val. The complexation behavior of iQ[7] with essential amino acids was explored at pH = 3, and the binding of Lys, Arg, and His revealed an unexpected behavior, with their side chains located in the cavity of iQ[7], whereas those of the aromatic Trp and Phe were deeper within the iQ[7] cavity. The alkyl side chains of the guests Met, Leu, Ile, Thr, and Val were also located inside the iQ[7] cavity and formed the host-guest complexes.

Preorganization and Cooperation for Highly Efficient and Reversible Capture of Low-Concentration CO2 by Ionic Liquids

A novel strategy based on the concept of preorganization and cooperation has been designed for a superior capacity to capture low-concentration CO₂ by imide-based ionic liquids. By using this strategy, for the first time, an extremely high gravimetric CO₂ capacity of up to 22 wt % (1.65 mol mol^-1 ) and excellent reversibility (16 cycles) have been achieved from 10 vol. % of CO₂ in N₂ when using an ionic liquid having a preorganized anion. Through a combination of quantum-chemical calculations and spectroscopic investigations, it is suggested that cooperative interactions between CO₂ and multiple active sites in the preorganized anion are the driving force for the superior CO₂ capacity and excellent reversibility.

Photocaged Competitor Guests: A General Approach Toward Light-Activated Cargo Release From Cucurbiturils

A general approach toward the light-induced guest release from cucurbit[7]uril by means of a photoactivatable competitor was devised. An o-nitrobenzyl-caged competitor is photolyzed to generate a competitive guest that can displace cargo from the host macrocycle solely based on considerations of chemical equilibrium. With this method the release of terpene guests from inclusion complexes with cucurbit[7]uril was demonstrated. The binding of the herein investigated terpenes, all being lead fragrant components in essential oils, has been characterized for the first time. They feature binding constants of up to 10⁸  L mol^-1 and a high differential binding selectivity (spanning four orders of magnitude for the binding constants for the particular set of terpenes). By fine-tuning the photoactivatable competitor guest, selective and also sequential release of the terpenes was achieved.

Chiral two bladed ML2 metallamacrocycles: design, structures and solution behavior

Chiral two bladed complexes of [Co(L)₂][BF₄]₂ (1) and [Zn(L)₂][BF₄]₂ (2) containing an atropoisomeric semi-rigid bidentate ligand L were synthesized and characterized. They are obtained as homochiral species but in a racemic mixture via a ligand self-sorting mechanism. These enantiomers can be differentiated in solution using optically active anions.

High-Yielding Syntheses of Crown Ether-Based Pyridyl Cryptands

Pyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (PyTFSI)-templated syntheses of 2,6-pyridyl cryptands of cis(4,4')-dibenzo-30-crown-10 (3a), the p-bromobenzyloxy derivative 3b, bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 (5), cis(4,4')-dibenzo-27S-crown-9 (7), cis(4,4')-dibenzo-27L-crown-9 (9), and cis(4,4')-dibenzo-24-crown-8 (11) are reported. Here we provide a fast (12 h), high-yielding (89%, 74%, 80%, and 62% for 3a, 3b, 5, and 9, respectively) templation method without the use of a syringe pump. The yields for 7 (19%) and 11 (26%) were lower than with the previous pseudo-high-dilution method, indicating ineffective templation in these cases. Coupled with our previously developed templated syntheses of dibenzo crown ethers, this protocol makes powerful cryptand hosts readily available in gram quantities in good yields from methyl 4(or 3)-hydroxy-3(or 4)-benzyloxybenzoate.

Reversible mechanical protection: building a 3D "suit" around a T-shaped benzimidazole axle

The T-shaped benzimidazolium/crown ether recognition motif was used to prepare suit[1]anes. These novel mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) were fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. By conversion to a suit[1]ane, a simple benzimidazole was shown to be protected from deprotonation by strong base. Moreover, it was demonstrated that this unique three-dimensional encapsulation can be made reversible, thus introducing the concept of "reversible mechanical protection"; a protecting methodology that may have potential applications in synthetic organic chemistry and the design of molecular machinery.

Fluorescent Supramolecular Polymeric Materials

Fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials are rising stars in the field of fluorescent materials not only because of the inherent optoelectronic properties originating from their chromophores, but also due to the fascinating stimuli-responsiveness and reversibility coming from their noncovalent connections. Especially, these noncovalent connections influence the fluorescence properties of the chromophores because their state of aggregation and energy transfer can be regulated by the assembly-disassembly process. Considering these unique properties, fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials have facilitated the evolution of new materials useful for applications in fluorescent sensors, probes, as imaging agents in biological systems, light-emitting diodes, and organic electronic devices. In this Review, fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials are classified depending on the types of main driving forces for supramolecular polymerization, including multiple hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking interactions, metal-coordination, van der Waals interactions and host-guest interactions. Through the summary of the studies about fluorescent supramolecular polymeric materials, the status quo of this research field is assessed. Based on existing challenges, directions for the future development of this field are furnished.

Nanocaged platforms: modification, drug delivery and nanotoxicity. Opening synthetic cages to release the tiger

Nanocages (NCs) have emerged as a new class of drug-carriers, with a wide range of possibilities in multi-modality medical treatments and theranostics. Nanocages can overcome such limitations as high toxicity caused by anti-cancer chemotherapy or by the nanocarrier itself, due to their unique characteristics. These properties consist of: (1) a high loading-capacity (spacious interior); (2) a porous structure (analogous to openings between the bars of the cage); (3) enabling smart release (a key to unlock the cage); and (4) a low likelihood of unfavorable immune responses (the outside of the cage is safe). In this review, we cover different classes of NC structures such as virus-like particles (VLPs), protein NCs, DNA NCs, supramolecular nanosystems, hybrid metal-organic NCs, gold NCs, carbon-based NCs and silica NCs. Moreover, NC-assisted drug delivery including modification methods, drug immobilization, active targeting, and stimulus-responsive release mechanisms are discussed, highlighting the advantages, disadvantages and challenges. Finally, translation of NCs into clinical applications, and an up-to-date assessment of the nanotoxicology considerations of NCs are presented.

Dual-pH responsive host–guest complexation between a water-soluble pillar[9]arene and a 2,7-diazapyrenium salt

The host–guest complexation between a water-soluble pillar[9]arene and a 2,7-diazapyrenium salt not only can be controlled by the sequential addition of an acid and a base but also can be switched through the sequential addition of a base and an acid.

Taco complex-templated highly regio- and stereo-selective photodimerization of a coumarin-containing crown ether

We design a coumarin-containing bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10 derivative which efficiently controls the regio- and stereo-selectivity of the photodimerization of its two terminal coumarin groups templated by taco-type host–guest complex formation to selectively produce the syn-head-to-tail cryptand isomer in quantitative yield.

Supramolecular polymers based on a pillar[5]arene-fused cryptand: design, fabrication and degradation accompanied by a fluorescence change

Novel supramolecular polymers based on a pillar[5]arene-fused cryptand have been constructed easily and conveniently, in which three orthogonal interactions were combined together.

End-to-end assembly and disassembly of gold nanorods based on photo-responsive host–guest interaction

The end-to-end assembly and disassembly of gold nanorods were realized via HS-β-CD recognition and controllable by both UV light irradiation and guest competition.

Carboxylatopillar[n]arenes: a versatile class of water soluble synthetic receptors

Carboxylatopillar[n]arenes (CP[n]As, n = 5, 6, 7, 9, 10) constitute a family of water soluble synthetic receptors. These receptors are excellent hosts for a wide range of cationic organic molecules and have shown promising application in the fields of stimuli-responsive supramolecular assemblies, targeted drug delivery vehicles and sensors. Analogous metal-coordinated prismatic structures have shown excellent affinities for analytes.

One-, two-, and three-dimensional hierarchical self-assembly of non-amphiphilic low-entropy chains from nanotubes to nanoribbons and porous net-sheets

The association of some small molecules such as benzene and phthalimide with non-amphiphilic homopolymeric low-entropy chains such as PVAc, PVA, PVP, and PNIPAM has been realized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer reaction (RAFT) method.

Visible-light responsive hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers based on ortho-tetrafluorinated azobenzene

Visible-light responsive hydrogen-bonded supramolecular polymers have been fabricated, whose properties could be regulated through the visible-light-triggered photoisomerization of the ortho-tetrafluorinated azobenzene.

Controlling the photochemical reaction of an azastilbene derivative in water using a water-soluble pillar[6]arene

A host–guest system in water based on a water-soluble pillar[6]arene and an azastilbene derivative, (E)-4,4′-dimethyl-4,4′-diazoniastilbene diiodide, has been constructed. Then this water-soluble pillar[6]arene was successfully used to control the photohydration of the azastilbene derivative in water as a “protective agent”.