Cucurbit[6]uril-based supramolecular frameworks assembled via the outer surface interaction of cucurbit[n]urils

A cucurbit[8]uril based supramolecular assembly and its potential applications for the removal of dye and antibiotic from an aqueous medium

CB[8]-based supramolecular assembly, i.e., 2CB[8]·[ZnCl4]·4H2O (1) (CB[8] = cucurbit[8]uril), was synthesized under solvothermal condition in the presence of [ZnCl4]2- anions as a structure inducer. 1 was applied as a high-efficiency absorbent to remove the commonly used dye amaranth (AMR) and an antibacterial drug of broad-spectrum sulfadiazine sodium (SFZ) from the aqueous solution. It showed an excellent removal rate and could remove 96.08% and 96.21% for AMR and SMZ, respectively. The adsorption behaviors were investigated using FT-IR. The differences in IR spectra revealed that the formation of inclusion complexes is the main driving force of adsorption. The phenyl and sulfonyl or sulfone moieties of AMR and SFZ entered the cavity of CB[8] in 1, and the adsorption mechanism could be due to the formation of inclusion complexes of AMR and SFZ in the CB[8] cavities of 1. This work illustrates the application prospects of CB[8]-based supramolecular assembly in environmental protection.

CdS-Based Catalysts Derived from TMeQ[6]/[CdxCly]n--Based Frameworks for Oxidation Benzylamine

The anion-induced outer surface interaction of Q[n]s is an important driving force in the construction of Q[n]-based supramolecular frameworks. In this work, a symmetric tetramethyl-substituted cucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) is selected as the basic structural block. Using the anion-induced outer surface interaction of Q[n]s derived from [Cd_xCl_y]^n- anions formed by Cd²⁺ cations in a HCl medium, four different TMeQ[6]-[Cd_xCl_y]^n--based supramolecular frameworks are constructed. Three of the most common TMeQ[6]-[Cd_xCl_y]^n--based supramolecular frameworks are selected for further vulcanization, and three different CdS/TMeQ[6]-based framework catalysts with different structures and properties are obtained. The catalytic activities of these three CdS/TMeQ[6]-based framework catalysts are investigated by the coupling photocatalytic reaction of aminobenzyl, and the results showed that the catalytic activities of the three catalysts are all higher than that of pure CdS. Therefore, this work establishes that it is possible to establish a method for synthesizing the Q[n]-based framework-supported catalysts by first synthesizing TMeQ[6]-[Cd_xCl_y]^n--based supramolecular frameworks and then forming Q[n]-based framework supported catalysts by sulfurization or reduction.

A combined crystallography and DFT study on ring-shaped Cucurbit[n]urils: structures, surface character, and host-guest recognition

A combined crystallography and DFT study of cucurbit[n]urils (n = 5-8, 10) was carried out, and PBE0 was certified to be the most rational density functional method for optimization task. Steric hindrance and electronic effect of the hindered lone pair electrons in cucurbit[n]urils were qualitatively measured by bond order analysis, lone pair electron (LP) visualization and electrostatic potential (ESP) study. Together with energy decomposition analysis of some selected host-guest systems, we quantitatively verified the effect of size/cavity and noncovalent interaction in host-guest recognition. This solid study revealed that lone pairs electrons affect not only on host-guest identification mode but also on geometry stability, which pave the avenue for further sophisticated applications.

Preparation and characterization of a new type of symmetrical dicyclopentyl substituted cucurbit[6]uril

A symmetrical dicyclopentyl substituted cucurbit[6]uril (CyP2Q[6]) was synthesized, and crystallized under the conditions of 3 mol/L hydrochloric acid solution and the induction of ZnCl2. The crystal structure was characterized by X-ray single crystal diffractometer, 1H NMR and MS, and the results show that the crystal belongs to the monoclinic crystal system with P21/n space group, a = 13.095 (2), b = 33.002 (6), c = 15.770 (3), α = 90°, β = 102.828(5)°, γ = 90°, Z = 4, and a macroporous honeycomb structure appears in the crystal.