Aza-Bambusurils En Route to Anion Transporters

Merging Bambus[6]uril and Biotin[6]uril into an Enantiomerically Pure Monofunctionalized Hybrid Macrocycle

Bambus[6]urils and biotin[6]urils are macrocycles with an exceptional affinity for inorganic anions. Here, we investigated statistical condensation of 2,4-dibenzylglycoluril and d-biotin, monomers of the corresponding macrocycles, to prepare the enantiomerically pure macrocycle 1 containing a single d-biotin and five glycoluril units. Host-guest properties of 1 in chloroform solution and solid state were investigated. The macrocycle 1 bearing a single functional group was employed in the formation of [1]rotaxane utilizing reversible covalent bonds.

Selective Perchlorate Sensing Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy with Self-Assembled Monolayers of semiaza-Bambusurils

In the last two decades, perchlorate salts have been identified as environmental pollutants and recognized as potential substances affecting human health. We describe self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of novel semiaza-bambus[6]urils (semiaza-BUs) equipped with thioethers or disulfide (dithiolane) functionalities as surface-anchoring groups on gold electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) with Fe(CN)6 3-/4- as a redox probe, together with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometry, were employed to characterize the interactions at the interface between the anchoring groups and the metal substrate. Data showed that the anion receptors' packing on the gold strongly depends on the anchoring group. As a result, SAMs of BUs with lipoic amide side chains show a concentration-dependent layer thickness. The BU SAMs are extremely stable on repeated electrochemical potential scans and can selectively recognize perchlorate anions. Our electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies indicated that semiaza-BU equipped with the lipoic amide side chains binds perchlorate (2-100 mM) preferentially over other anions such as F- , Cl- , I- , AcO- , H2 PO4 - , HPO4 2- , SO4 2- , NO2 - , NO3 - , or CO3 2- . The resistance performance is 10 to 100 times more efficient than SAMs containing all other tested anions.

Multistate Redox-Switchable Ion Transport Using Chalcogen-Bonding Anionophores

Synthetic supramolecular transmembrane anionophores have emerged as promising anticancer chemotherapeutics. However, key to their targeted application is achieving spatiotemporally controlled activity. Herein, we report a series of chalcogen-bonding diaryl tellurium-based transporters in which their anion binding potency and anionophoric activity are controlled through reversible redox cycling between Te oxidation states. This unprecedented in situ reversible multistate switching allows for switching between ON and OFF anion transport and is crucially achieved with biomimetic chemical redox couples.

Monofunctionalized Fluorinated Bambusurils and Their Conjugates for Anion Transport and Extraction

Bambusurils are macrocyclic molecules that are known for their high binding affinity and selectivity toward anions. Here, we present the preparation of two bambusurils bearing fluorinated substituents and one carboxylic function. These monofunctionalized bambusurils were conjugated with crown ether and cholesterol units. The resulting conjugates were successfully tested in liquid-liquid extraction of inorganic salts and chloride/bicarbonate transport across lipid bilayers.

semiaza-‎Bambusurils are ‎Anion-Specific ‎Transmembrane Transporters ‎

semiaza-Bambus[6]urils efficiently transport anions across lipid ‎membranes. A systematic modification of their lipophilic side ‎chains to include various alkyl groups and thioethers reveal that ‎the most efficient chloride transporters are...

Inherently Chiral Bambus[4]urils

A new class of bambus[4]urils (BU[4]s) composed of asymmetric N,N'-disubstituted glycoluril subunits with different alkyl groups were designed, synthesized, and fully characterized by NMR techniques and X-ray crystallography. Structural studies showed that four macrocyclic diastereoisomers are possible: two S_n symmetric achiral macrocycles and two macrocycles that are "inherently" chiral. The relative "head-to-tail" arrangement of the N-substituents in Bn₄Me₄BU[4], 5a, clearly observed by X-ray spectroscopy analysis, determines the overall symmetry of the bambusuril structure. Chiral Pr₄Me₄BU[4], 4b, was resolved by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) into its enantiomers, and all four inherently chiral bambusuril pairs (two Pr₄Me₄BU[4] and two Bn₄Me₄BU[4] stereoisomers, 4b, 4d, 5b, and 5d) were clearly observed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy with the aid of (R)-BINOL as a chiral solvating agent. This latter methodology provides a rapid and powerful approach for investigating the enantiopurity of inherently chiral cavitands, which complements and augments the conventional chromatographic approaches.

Clickable Bambusurils to Access Multivalent Architectures

Propargylated bambus[4,6]urils were prepared by an efficient one-step condensation of dipropargylglycoluril with formaldehyde under microwave irradiation. Their functionalization by click chemistry (CuAAC) afforded new multivalent architectures decorated with 8 or 12 ligands. Grafting of glycosides provided water-soluble glycobambus[4,6]uril platforms with glucosyl₁₂BU[6] showing good affinity toward iodide anion in aqueous medium.

Equatorial Sulfur Atoms in Bambusurils Spawn Cavity Collapse

This study confirms the hypothesis that bambusurils (BUs) with equatorial sulfur atoms cannot assume an anion-binding jigger conformation due to strong intramolecular van der Waals attractive interactions. NMR, X-ray crystallography, and computation with newly synthesized eq-semithio-BU[4] and ax-semiaza-eq-semithio-BU[4]s indicate that they all assume compact conformations. Intramolecular distances and a torsional angle serve as reliable indicators of the conformation of any BU. Chemoselective alkylation at the peripheral (equatorial) thiourea functions provides a convenient entry to novel hetero-BUs.

Glycoluril derived cucurbituril analogues and the emergence of the most recent example: tiarauril

Cucurbituril analogues can bear some of the chemical and physical characteristics of their parental origin and are derived wholly or in part from glycolurils (including homologues).

Intramolecular van der Waals Interactions Challenge Anion Binding in perthio-Bambusurils

Bambusurils (BUs) are known to be rigid cavitands that feature an extended, jigger-like conformation, and the BU[6]s strongly bind anions within their hydrophobic cavity. These features are not necessarily shared by the family of perthio-BUs. This study reveals that perthio-BUs assume a compact conformation and perthio-BU[6]s are poor anion binders, crystallizing as anion-free species from solutions containing halide salts. Computational studies show that the equatorial sulfur atoms compete against guest anions for binding with the glycoluril methine groups via strong van der Waals (vdW) attractive interactions. These competitive contacts not only account for the diminished anion-binding of perthio-BUs, but also explain their compact conformation. The semithio- and perthio-BU[4]s form linear coordination polymers with Hg^II in the solid-state regardless of their intrinsic molecular conformation. The strong involvement of sulfur atoms in intramolecular interactions differentiates the equatorial from the axial (peripheral) heteroatoms, thus offering chemoselective and regioselective transformations.

Formation and trapping of the thermodynamically unfavoured inverted-hemicucurbit[6]uril

Formation of inverted-cis-cyclohexanohemicucurbit[6]uril (i-cis-cycHC[6]), with up to 33% isolated yield, can be induced at the expense of thermodynamically favoured cis-cycHC[6]. Reaction selectivity is governed by the solution-based template-aided dynamic combinatorial chemistry and continuous precipitation of the formed macrocycles. Different binding affinities of three diastereomeric cycHC[6]s with trifluoroacetic acid is demonstrated.

A novel near-infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for cyanide and its bioimaging applications

A new near-infrared ratiometric type fluorescent probe was prepared. 3-formyl BODIPY derivatives without substituent group in the 2, 6-position was obtained through DDQ oxidation reaction. Furthermore, it reacted with indole salt to produce probe. This probe bears indolium group as the recognition site and the 3-formyl-BODIPY as fluorophore. The specific detection of cyanide was conducted the nucleophilic attack of cyanide toward the indolium group of the probe, breaking the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect and generating a ratio change in the fluorescence signal. The probe has high selectivity and sensitivity for cyanide. Moreover, cell experiments indicated this probe was benign to HepG-2 cells, and has the potential application in imaging CN^- in living HepG-2 cells.

Unsubstituted Bambusurils: Post-Macrocyclization Modification of Versatile Intermediates

A new bambusuril derivative, (H)BU[6], lacking substituents on the ureidic nitrogen atoms, has been isolated and characterized. This macrocycle was prepared by the deprotection of bambusuril (PMB)BU[6]. (H)BU[6] is attractive for use as a starting compound for the preparation of other bambusuril derivatives, which was demonstrated via propargylation and the copper-catalyzed click reaction performed on the macrocycle.

Synthesis of glycolurils and their analogues

Glycolurils — tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d]imidazole-2,5(1H,3H)-diones — have found widespread applications in various fields of science and technology. Among them, there are pharmacologically active compounds (antibacterial, nootropic, neurotropic agents, etc.), explosives, gelators, etc. They are used as building blocks in supramolecular chemistry. Therefore, the development of new methods for the synthesis of glycolurils and their analogues has constantly attracted the attention of researchers. In this review, we analyze various approaches to the synthesis of glycolurils and their analogues. The review covers both classical reactions of ureas and related compounds with α-dicarbonyl compounds or with 4,5-dihydroxyimida-zolidin-2-ones (-thiones) and their imino analogues and new original reactions of 4,5-dihydroxyimidazolidin-2-ones (-thiones), imidazolinones and their bicyclic analogues with ureas and KNCS in the presence of acids, condensations of 1,4-disubstituted 1,4-diaza-1,3-dienes with isocyanic and/or isothiocyanic acids or isocyanates, triazine ring contraction in imidazotriazines to give the imidazolidine ring, and transformations of urazoles.

The bibliography includes 129 references.

Semithiobambus[6]uril is a transmembrane anion transporter

Bambus[6]uril analogs are excellent anion binders but only the sulfur analog is also an effective anion transporter capable of polarizing lipid membranes through selective anion uniport.