Evidence for covalent binding between copper ions and cyclodextrin cavity: a vibrational circular dichroism study

Evaluation of adsorption ability of cyclodextrin-calixarene nanosponges towards Pb2+ ion in aqueous solution

Different cyclodextrin-calixarene nanosponges (CyCaNSs) have been characterized by means of FFC-NMR relaxometry, and used as sorbents to remove Pb²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. Considering that the removal treatments may involve polluted waters with different characteristics, the adsorption experiments were performed on solutions without and with the addition of background salts, under different operational conditions. The adsorption abilities and affinities of the nanosponges towards Pb²⁺ ions were investigated by measuring the metal ion concentration by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DP-ASV). The acid-base properties of nanosponges and of metal ion as well as their interactions with the other interacting components of the systems have been considered in the evaluation of adsorption mechanism. Recycling and reuse experiments on the most efficient adsorbents were also performed. On the grounds of the results obtained, post-modified CyCaNSs appear promising materials for designing environmental remediation devices.

Cu2O@β-cyclodextrin as a synergistic catalyst for hydroxyl radical generation and molecular recognitive destruction of aromatic pollutants at neutral pH

Wastewater systems contain a large number of compounds, such as anthropogenic aromatic pollutants and natural organic matter (NOM), and usually have pH higher than 4. Fenton-like reaction is the most widespread method for removal of organic pollutants, but their reactivity with H₂O₂ may be inhibited by NOM due to the competition of hydroxyl radicals and chelating agents. In this work, Cu₂O@β-cyclodextrin was developed to achieve the collaboration between molecular recognition and Fenton-like catalysis to destruct aromatic pollutants at neutral pH. In Cu₂O@β-CD, covalent CuOC bond was topotaxially converted from CuCl assisted by β-CD at room temperature. Covalently linked β-CD could keep humic acid from interfering catalytic performance of Cu₂O surfaces and inhibit the leaching of copper. A higher catalytic ability was observed for Cu₂O@β-CD with rate constant 0.0331 min^-1 than Cu₂O (0.0064 min^-1) at neutral pH. A mechanism of synergistic catalysis was proposed on the basis of Cu⁺, β-CD and phenoxo-Cu²⁺ complexes in the Cu₂O@β-CD/BPA/H₂O₂ system. The strategy of coupling molecular recognition into Fenton-like reaction provides an efficient and promising approach to the destruction of aromatic pollutants at neutral pH.

Synthesis, characterization and sorption properties of silica modified with some derivatives of β-cyclodextrin

Nanoporous β-cyclodextrin-containing silicas which differ by functional substituents of wide edge of attached cyclic oligosaccharide molecules (alcohol, bromoacetyl, thiosemicarbazidoacetyl groups) have been synthesized. The structure and chemical composition of the surface, porosity of obtained materials, their chemical and thermal stability have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, nitrogen ad-desorption, elemental and chemical analyses of solid surface. Sorption of trace amounts of cadmium (II) in the presence of ten- and hundred-fold excess of hardness salts by synthesized organosilicas has been studied. It has been demonstrated that the sorption equilibrium is reached after 30 min. The sorption of trace amounts of cadmium (II) from multi-component solutions does not decrease, but even increases in the presence of hardness salts, simulating soft and hard water. Coefficients of distribution and selectivity as well as the sorption parameters of Langmuir and Freundlich equations have been calculated. It was found that the driving force of cadmium (II) sorption on the surface of functional β-cyclodextrin-containing silicas is the formation of inclusion complexes "β-cyclodextrin-nitrate-anion". It has been proved the formation of supramolecular structures on the surface of synthesized organosilicas as a result of cadmium (II) sorption. Chemical composition of supermolecules depends on the structure of surface active centers.

Film techniques for vibrational circular dichroism measurements

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra in the 1800-900 cm(-1) region have been measured recently for protein films and for carbohydrate films prepared from aqueous solutions. In addition to the advantages of avoiding the interference from strong infrared absorption of water at 1650 cm(-1) and requiring a two-orders-of-magnitude-smaller amount of sample for film measurements (than those required for the same in water solutions), the VCD bands in film measurements are found to be the same as those in solution measurements and to be independent of film orientation. This latter observation indicated the possibility for routine VCD measurements in the film state. In this manuscript we report different film techniques for VCD measurements. These techniques include preparation of supported films, free-standing films, film-on-film, and facilitation of film formation for substances that otherwise do not form amorphous films. The experimental data for films prepared by each of these techniques are presented and the relative merits of these different methods are discussed.

Supramolecular structures on silica surfaces and their adsorptive properties

The study of adsorptive and chemical immobilization of beta-cyclodextrin on a surface of hydroxylated silicas with various porous structure is described. Using IR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetrical analysis with a programmed heating, and chemical analysis of the silica surface, it is shown that the process of adsorption-desorption of beta-cyclodextrin depends on the porous structure of the silica. The reaction of esterification was used for chemical grafting of beta-cyclodextrin on the surface of hydroxylated silicas. Hydrolytic stability of silicas chemically modified by beta-cyclodextrin apparently is explained by simultaneous formation of chemical and hydrogen bonds between surface silanol groups and hydroxyl groups of beta-cyclodextrin. The uptake of the cations Cu(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) and the anions Cr(VI) and As(V) by silicas modified with beta-cyclodextrin is investigated as a function of equilibrium ion concentrations. The increase of ion uptake and selectivity of ion extraction in comparison with starting silicas is established. It is due to the formation of surface inclusion complexes of the "host-guest" type in which one molecule of beta-cyclodextrin interacts simultaneously with several ions.

Vibrational circular dichroism of carbohydrate films formed from aqueous solutions

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra in the entire 2000-900 cm(-1) region have been recorded, for the first time, for films of carbohydrates prepared from aqueous solutions. Eight different carbohydrates, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-glucose, cyclomaltohexaose, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside, beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-D-glucose, beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-glucose, D-glucose, and both enantiomers of 6-deoxygalactose and of allose, were investigated. The VCD spectra obtained for films are found to be identical to the corresponding spectra obtained for aqueous solutions of carbohydrates. These measurements demonstrate several advantages of significant importance. The strong infrared absorption of water has prevented, in the past, the pursuit for routine applications of VCD in determining the structures of carbohydrates in aqueous solutions. This limitation is not present for film studies because water solvent is removed in the process of preparing the films. Also, strong infrared absorption of water at 1650 cm(-1) requires the use of very short-pathlength (6 microm) cells for measurements on aqueous solutions. This requirement and concomitant inconveniences (such as laborious assembling of a demountable liquid cell or purchasing an expensive variable pathlength liquid cell) have been eliminated for film measurements. The removal of interfering water absorption in film studies resulted in higher light throughput and better signal-to-noise ratios for VCD measurements. Another point of significance is that the amount of carbohydrate sample required for VCD measurements on films is approximately one to two orders of magnitude smaller than that required for corresponding VCD measurements on aqueous solutions. Since carbohydrate samples can now be studied as films, VCD spectroscopy becomes much more broadly applicable for carbohydrates than previously believed. The present work, in combination with other film measurements in our laboratory, indicate that VCD studies on films can be used more generally, providing a convenient and powerful approach for probing structural information for biologically important compounds.

The complexation of metal cations by d-galacturonic acid: a spectroscopic study

Solid complexes of D-galacturonic acid (GalA) with cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and oxovanadium(IV) (1-4) were prepared and characterised. The metal-to-ligand molar ratio was 1:2 for complexes 1-3 and 1:1 for complex 4. The alpha- and beta-anomers of GalA were detected in all the complexes in solid state and in solutions. An addition of small amounts of the paramagnetic complexes to the D2O solution of pure ligand led to NMR line broadening of some 1H and 13C nuclei. This broadening was sensitive to the anomeric state of GalA in the case of complexes 1 and 4. NMR and vibrational spectroscopic data indicate the formation of carboxylate complexes of all the cations, while noncarboxylic oxygens are also involved into the metal bonding in some cases. VCD spectra of complexes 1-4 in D2O and Me2SO-d6 solutions confirm that GalA carboxylic group may participate in the formation of optically active species around the metal cation. Possible ways of GalA coordination by metal cations of this study were proposed and discussed.

Preparation and chiral recognition of a novel chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography, based on mono(6A-N-allylamino-6A-deoxy)-perfunctionalized β-cyclodextrin and covalently bonded silica gel

A novel chiral stationary phase (CSP) was prepared by immobilizing mono(6A-N-allylamino-6A-deoxy)-perphenylcarbamoylated beta-cyclodextrin onto the surface of silica gel via hydrosilylation. The chromatographic properties of this column were tested with a wide range of structurally diverse racemic compounds and drugs under reverse phases. Separation mechanisms involved are also discussed.

Interaction of β-cyclodextrin with cadmium(II) ions

Reduction of Cd(II) on a dropping mercury electrode was used to study interaction of beta-cyclodextrin with Cd(II) ions. It was found that Cd(II) forms Cdbeta-CD(OH)(2)(2-) hydroxy-complex with the anion of beta-cyclodextrin in alkaline solutions (pH>11), the logarithm of stability constant being 10.4+/-0.1 (20 degrees C; I=1.0). The calculated value of the diffusion coefficient equal to 1.0x10(-6)cm(2)/s shows a large size Cd(II) complex species formation in alkaline solutions containing beta-CD.

Interactions of cyclodextrins with aromatic compounds studied by vibrational circular dichroism spectroscopy

The host/guest complexation between cyclodextrins (CDs) and aromatic compounds was studied by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy in mid-IR region. Benzoic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, and 2,6-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid acting as the guests with aromatic skeleton, cause the significant changes in VCD patterns of CD, which indicate that the secondary hydroxyl groups of the CDs are involved in the host/guest complexation. In addition, the intensities and dissymmetry factors (deltaA/A) of the VCD bands, which belong to skeletal CD vibrations, depend on the sizes of the guest molecules. Our results indicate that the formation of the CD inclusion complexes can be followed by VCD spectroscopy.

Interaction of lead(II) with beta-cyclodextrin in alkaline solutions

Polarographic and UV-spectrophotometric investigations of Pb(II) complex formation with beta-cyclodextrin have showed that the complexation of Pb(II) ions begins at pH >10. The formation of lead(II) 1:1 complex with the beta-cyclodextrin anion was observed at pH 10-11.5. The logarithm of the stability constant of this complex compound is 15.9+/-0.3 (20 degrees C, ionic strength 1.0), and the molar extinction coefficient value is ca. 5500 (lambda(max)=260 nm). With further increase in solution pH the Pb-beta-cyclodextrin complex decomposes and converts to Pb(OH)(2) or Pb(OH)(3)(-) hydroxy-complexes. This process occurs with a decrease in Pb(II) complexation degree. The latter result could be explained by a decrease in the beta-cyclodextrin anion activity. Neither Pb(OH)(2) nor Pb(OH)(3)(-) encapsulation into beta-CD cavity was observed.

Determination of structural peculiarities of dexran, pullulan and gamma-irradiated pullulan by Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy

Deconvoluted IR-absorbance spectra of dextran, pullulan and gamma-irradiated pullulan were analyzed in order to find the most specific spectral peculiarities that allow one to obtain information about the structure and conformation of these macromolecules in solvents that exhibit different influences on the system of intra- and intermolecular interactions. The changes in intensity and width of the IR bands at about 1040, 1020 and, in the case of pullulan, also at 996 cm(-1), were related to changes in conformation and short-range interactions of the polysaccharides. Furthermore, certain bands within the 1200-900 cm(-1) region were considered as a characteristic for the type of glycosidic linkage. The results of the FTIR spectroscopy study allowed one to suggest a predominant cleavage of the alpha-(1-->4) linkages upon the radiation-chemical destruction of pullulan.