Calixarenes as hosts for ammonium cations: a quantum chemical study and mass-spectrometric investigations

Sensing of Ce(iii) using di-naphthoylated oxacalix[4]arene via realistic simulations and experimental studies

Here, we report a fluorescent sensor for the detection of Ce(iii) using di-naphthoylated oxacalix[4]arene (DNOC).

Deep-cavity cavitand octa acid as a hydrogen donor: photofunctionalization with nitrenes generated from azidoadamantanes

1-azidoadamantane and 2-azidoadamantane form a 1:1 complex with hosts octa acid (OA) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) in water. Isothermal titration calorimetric measurements suggest these complexes to be very stable in aqueous solution. The complexes have been characterized by (1)H NMR in solution and by ESI-MS in gas phase. In both phases, the complexes are stable. Irradiation of these complexes (λ > 280 nm) results in nitrenes via the loss of nitrogen from the guest azidoadamantanes. The behavior of nitrenes within OA differs from that in solution. Nitrenes included within octa acid attack one of the four tertiary benzylic hydrogens present at the lower interior part of OA. While in solution intramolecular insertion is preferred, within OA intermolecular C-H insertion seems to be the choice. When azidoadamantanes included in CB7 were irradiated (λ > 280 nm) the same products as in solution resulted but the host held them tightly. Displacement of the product required the use of a higher binding guest. In this case, no intermolecular C-H insertion occurred. Difference in reactivity between OA and CB7 is the result of the location of hydrogens; in OA they are in the interior of the cavity where the nitrene is generated, and in CB7 they are at the exterior. Reactivity of nitrenes within OA is different from that of carbenes that do not react with the host.

Capsular complexes of nonpolar guests with octa amine host detected in the gas phase

Nanocapsules, made up of the deep cavitand octa amine and several guests, were prepared in aqueous acidic solution and were found to be stable in the gas phase as detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The observed gas phase host-guest complexes contained five positive charges and were associated with several acid molecules (HCl or HBr).

Host-guest hydrogen atom transfer induced by electron capture

1,n-Alkanediammonium cations in noncovalent complexes with two dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether (DBCE) ligands undergo an unusual intramolecular tandem hydrogen atom and proton transfer to the crown ether ligand upon charge reduction by electron capture. Deuterium labeling established that both migrating hydrogens originated from the ammonium groups. The double hydrogen transfer was found to depend on the length of the alkane chain connecting the ammonium groups. Ab initio calculations provided structures for select alkanediammonium.dibenzo-18-crown-6-ether complexes and dissociation products. This first observation of an intra-complex hydrogen transfer is explained by the unusual electronic properties of the complexes and the substantial hydrogen atom affinity of the aromatic rings in the crown ligand.

A kinetic study of guest displacement reactions on a host-guest complex with a photoswitchable calixarene

The displacement processes of several guests, incorporated in a calixarene host system, were investigated in the gas phase by electrospray ionization-Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (ESI-FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. The complexes resulting from a resorcin[4]arene host with ammonia and sec-butylamine guests were isolated in an ICR-cell, separately using both states of the photoswitch as well as two reference systems for the open and closed forms of the photoswitchable host. The isolated complexes were forced to exchange the guest by using methylamine, ethylamine and sec-butylamine, resulting in different reaction rates for all the measured systems. Especially, the reaction rates of both states of the photoswitch are dependent on the provided guest. Potential side effects like proton exchanges were examined by an H/D-exchange experiment. The results were investigated and supported by quantum chemical calculations (DFT).

Reverse engineering of an affinity-switchable molecular interaction characterized by atomic force microscopy single-molecule force spectroscopy

Tunable and switchable interaction between molecules is a key for regulation and control of cellular processes. The translation of the underlying physicochemical principles to synthetic and switchable functional entities and molecules that can mimic the corresponding molecular functions is called reverse molecular engineering. We quantitatively investigated autoinducer-regulated DNA-protein interaction in bacterial gene regulation processes with single atomic force microscopy (AFM) molecule force spectroscopy in vitro, and developed an artificial bistable molecular host-guest system that can be controlled and regulated by external signals (UV light exposure and thermal energy). The intermolecular binding functionality (affinity) and its reproducible and reversible switching has been proven by AFM force spectroscopy at the single-molecule level. This affinity-tunable optomechanical switch will allow novel applications with respect to molecular manipulation, nanoscale rewritable molecular memories, and/or artificial ion channels, which will serve for the controlled transport and release of ions and neutral compounds in the future.

Macrotricycles Featuring a π-Basic Tetrahedral Cavity: Preference for NH4+ Detected by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Cation-pi interactions play an important role in biology. The title compounds are C3-symmetric macrotricycles built from resorcinol, a pi electron-rich arene. They were prepared in up to 18% yield by intramolecular cyclization of 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzene tripods bearing pendant resorcinol groups, with methylene acetal bridges. Positive ESI-MS showed that these receptors recognize NH4+ over K+, and poorly respond to the large t-BuNH3+ cation, suggesting that they bind NH4+ intramolecularly, presumably via cation-pi interactions.