Cucurbituril hosts as promoters of aggregation induced emission of triphenylamine derivatives

Three ligands bearing triphenylamine as a core and one, two or three acyclic polyamine chains, TPA1p, TPA2p and TPA3p, respectively, have been studied by potentiometric and photophysical (UV-Vis, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence) techniques. The host-guest interaction with cucurbit[7]uril, CB7, has been investigated in aqueous solution showing aggregation induced emission behaviour when encapsulated into a CB7 cavity. From fluorescence emission it is revealed that the charged polyamine chains are the unit entering into CB7 and from the Job plots the stoichiometries are found to vary from 1 : 1 to 1 : 3 L : CB7 ratios. Interactions of the charged amines with the portals of CB7 restrict rotation of the benzene units in the triphenylamine backbone (free rotor effect), decreasing the radiationless internal conversion channel at the expense of the enhancement of fluorescence. Dynamic light scattering and resonance Rayleigh scattering experiments show that TPA3p-CB7 complexes involve formation of aggregates with a mean size of 126 ± 5 nm and a dispersity factor of 0.117, indicating a monodisperse distribution and supporting the important conclusions of this work: formation of emissive aggregates through the AIE effect.

One-Pot Dual C-C Coupling Reaction via Site Selective Cascade Formation by PdII -Cryptate of an Amino-Ether Heteroditopic Macrobicycle

Selectivity of aryl iodo over ethynyl iodo toward the Suzuki cross coupling reaction is explored by utilizing a palladium complex of amino-ether heteroditopic macrobicycle. Subsequently, unreacted ethynyl iodide undergoes homocoupling reaction in the same catalytic atmosphere, thereby representing a cascade dual C-C coupling reaction. Furthermore, this approach is extended for novel one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes.

FRET based ratiometric switch for selective sensing of Al3+ with bio-imaging in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

FRET based ratiometric switch for selective sensing of Al³⁺ with bio-imaging in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Guest-induced supramolecular chirality transfer in [2]pseudorotaxanes: experimental and computational study

To reveal the factors governing the chirality transfer from a chiral unimolecule to a supramolecular assembly, we constructed a series of [2]pseudorotaxanes through the intermolecular noncovalent interaction of a pair of chiral binaphthalene crown ethers with achiral secondary ammonium salts with different chromophores, and found that the binaphthalene groups can induce new circular dichroism (CD) signals only in the [2]pseudorotaxane structures between the host crown ethers and the guest molecule with the anthryl group. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations show that the generation of the new CD signal is mainly due to the intermolecular chiral induction between the anthryl group in the guest and the naphthalene groups in the host.

Constructing “breathing” dynamic skeletons with extra π-conjugated adsorption sites for iodine capture

Radioiodine (¹²⁹I and ¹³¹I) emission from the nuclear waste stream has aroused enormous apprehension because of its quick diffusion and radiological contamination. Conventional porous adsorbents such as zeolites and carbon with rigid skeletons and constant pore volumes reveal a limited performance for reliable storage. Here, a series of soft porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) with additional π-conjugated fragments is disclosed to serve as physicochemical stable media. Due to the flexibility of the tertiary amine center, the PAF products provide sufficient space for the binding sites, and thus exhibit a considerable capability for iodine capture from both gaseous and soluble environments. The obtained capacity of PAFs is ca. 1.6 times higher than that of PAF-1 which possesses similar aromatic constituents featuring an ultra-large specific surface area (BET = 5600 m² g⁻¹). The novel paradigm of dynamic frameworks is of fundamental importance for designing adsorbents to treat environmental pollution issues.

A series of soft porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) with additional π-conjugated fragments provides sufficient space for the binding sites which serve as physicochemical stable mediums for radioiodine.

Enhanced fluorescence of aqueous BODIPY by interaction with cavitand cucurbit[7]uril

Host–guest interactions of the host cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) with a water soluble cationic BODIPY dye 2 are scarcely reported.

FRET based selective and ratiometric detection of Al(iii) with live-cell imaging

A cell permeable FRET based platform for dual mode ‘naked-eye’in vitroandin vivodetection of Al³⁺over other common ions (including trivalent ions).

Design and synthesis of Tröger's base ditopic receptors: host-guest interactions, a combined theoretical and experimental study

Two flexible Tröger's base ditopic receptors C4TB and C5TB incorporating monoaza crown ether were designed and synthesized for bisammonium ion complexation. A comprehensive study of host-guest interactions was established by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Bisammonium chloride (A1) with a shorter alkyl chain spacer showed the highest affinity for the receptors. M06-2X/cc-pVTZ calculations including the solvent effects on host-guest complexes were employed to explain and rationalize the experimental trends. The short N-H···O or N-H···N hydrogen-bond distances observed in the range of 1.71-1.98 Å indicate the existence of a strong charge assisted hydrogen bonding between the host and the guest. The unusual behaviour (higher binding constant) of A5 in (1)H NMR titration is traced to the conformational folding of the guest.

Photo-responsive pseudorotaxanes and assemblies

Optical responses for understanding the dynamic conformational change(s) in solution during the stimuli responsive complexation and decomplexation process(es) in a supramolecular assembly.

Effect of molecular-level insulation on the performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell: fluorescence studies in solid state

The performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) that is based on the host-guest encapsulation of 5-[4-diphenylamino)phenyl]thiophene-2-cyanoacrylic acid (L1) inside β-cyclodextrin hosts has been tested. The formation of the complex in the solid state and when adsorbed on TiO(2) was characterized using steady and picosecond time-resolved emission techniques, as well as time dependent DFT calculations. The molecular-level insulation has led to a small enhancement in the energy-conversion performance of the fabricated DSSC with the best results being an increase in the open circuit voltage (Voc) from 0.7 to 0.8 V. The importance of the present investigation lies in the unique spectroscopic characterizations of the examined materials in the solid state.

Evaluation of weak interactions in [2]pseudorotaxanes

Viologens readily thread bis-p-phenylene crown ethers to form [2]pseudorotaxanes. However, the binding of sterically hindered 3,3'-dimethylviologens is very weak. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the additional energy cost of "flattening" is substantial, 55 kJ mol(-1), and prevents the formation of a stable host-guest complex. The structures of [2]pseudorotaxanes determined by X-ray crystallography are in good agreement with the NMR characterisation and DFT results. Their association constants and thermodynamic parameters in solution were measured by using a dilution method and, for the first time, by host-guest nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) correlations. The NOE approach was subsequently applied to study the sterically hindered analogues and it was shown that the binding in 3,3'-dimethyl-N,N-dibenzyl [2]pseudorotaxane is by 8.5 kJ mol(-1) weaker than in its regular analogue. The proposed technique helps to quantify weak interactions in [2]pseudorotaxanes and can be applied to other host-guest complexes.

Molecular luminogens based on restriction of intramolecular motions through host–guest inclusion for cell imaging

We developed a new strategy to restrict the motions of AIE molecules through host–guest inclusion, affording new molecular luminogens.

FRET based ‘red-switch’ for Al3+ over ESIPT based ‘green-switch’ for Zn2+: dual channel detection with live-cell imaging on a dyad platform

Our designed chemosensor, rhodamine-HBT-dyad (RHD), selectively detects two biologically important ions (Al³⁺ and Zn²⁺) at two different wavelengths (red and green, respectively) through FRET and ESIPT in vitro and in vivo.

Rational adjustment of multicolor emissions by cucurbiturils-based host-guest chemistry and photochemistry

The host-guest chemistry of cucurbiturils and the photochemistry of azastilbene derivatives are combined for the rationally adjusting multicolor emissions through forming different host-guest complexes and their corresponding photochemical products. Cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) can bind with azastilbene derivatives to form supramolecular polymers emitting orange light. The supramolecular polymers further facilitate the [2 + 2] cycloaddition of C═C bonds in azastilbenes by UV irradiation, emitting blue light. Different from CB[8], cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) encapsulates azastilbene derivatives to form a dumbbell-shaped host-guest complex, emitting dark-purple light. This dumbbell-shaped host-guest complex undergoes cis-isomerization after UV irradiation, thus emitting green light. Therefore, this strategy is promising for fabricating advanced stimuli-responsive fluorescent materials.