Interactions of the aromatic cavity of rigid calix[4]arene cone conformers with acid CH3 and CH2 containing guests in apolar solvents

A theoretical study of methylation and CH/π interactions in DNA intercalation: methylated 1,10-phenanthroline in adenine–thymine base pairs

This work shows that quality is better that quantity to estabilize the intercalation of methylated phen.

An unprecedented porphyrin-pillar[5]arene hybrid ditopic receptor

A porphyrin-pillar[5]arene hybrid host compound with a ditopic receptor nature was synthesized for the first time, which combines a neutral 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)butane guest by means of its two active centers to form a stable supramolecular complex.

The CH/π hydrogen bond in chemistry. Conformation, supramolecules, optical resolution and interactions involving carbohydrates

The CH/π hydrogen bond is an attractive molecular force occurring between a soft acid and a soft base. Contribution from the dispersion energy is important in typical cases where aliphatic or aromatic CH groups are involved. Coulombic energy is of minor importance as compared to the other weak hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bond nature of this force, however, has been confirmed by AIM analyses. The dual characteristic of the CH/π hydrogen bond is the basis for ubiquitous existence of this force in various fields of chemistry. A salient feature is that the CH/π hydrogen bond works cooperatively. Another significant point is that it works in nonpolar as well as polar, protic solvents such as water. The interaction energy depends on the nature of the molecular fragments, CH as well as π-groups: the stronger the proton donating ability of the CH group, the larger the stabilizing effect. This Perspective focuses on the consequence of this molecular force in the conformation of organic compounds and supramolecular chemistry. Implication of the CH/π hydrogen bond extends to the specificity of molecular recognition or selectivity in organic reactions, polymer science, surface phenomena and interactions involving proteins. Many problems, unsettled to date, will become clearer in the light of the CH/π paradigm.

Studies on inclusion complexes of calix[4]arenes capped by diamide bridges with small organic molecules

The inclusion of small neutral organic guests (acetonitrile, toluene, pyrazine, butylamine, nitromethane) by cyclic calix[4]arene diamide receptors was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The binding constants determined by (1)H NMR titration, and the results obtained by T(1) relaxation measurements and DOSY confirm the importance of the acidity of the C-H bond of the guests and highlight the role of steric interactions including conformational properties of the receptors in the recognition process.

Molecular dynamics of a calix[4]arene-containing polymer in dichloromethane solution: ability of the solvent molecules to fill the cavity of the macrocycle

The structure and dynamics of the dichloromethane solvent around the calix[4]arene units contained in the molecular actuator poly(calix[4]arene bis-bithiophene) have been examined using a 1-micros molecular dynamics simulation. Results indicate that a solvent molecule fills the cavity associated to the cone conformation of the macrocycle during a significant period of time, especially when the actuator is not contracted. The position of such solvent molecule presents a fourfold symmetry with a maximum orientation toward the center of each ring contained in the calix[4]arene. Frequently, the solvent molecule located inside the cavity is rapidly exchanged for another molecule of the bulk. Thus, the number of dichloromethane molecules that reside more than 0.5 ns inside the cavity is relatively small. Finally, we detected that a significant number of solvent molecules are able to migrate from the cavity of one calix[4]arene to the cavity/ies of other/s, suggesting that the dynamics of the bulk solvent is important for the formation of these inclusion complexes.

Monocopper center embedded in a biomimetic cavity: from supramolecular control of copper coordination to redox regulation

The electrochemical behavior of diversely substituted Cu-N3-calix[6]arene, enzyme-like, "funnel" complexes is analyzed. The Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox process is regulated by the supramolecular organization of the Cu coordination. The presence of a "shoetree" alkyl nitrile guest molecule inside the host cavity is a prerequisite for a dynamic redox behavior. Combination of supramolecular CH-pi weak interactions with the calixarene cavity and electronic/steric effects from the N3 substituting groups (pyridine, imidazole, pyrrolidine) enforces the preferential geometrical pattern adopted by Cu. This dictates the pathway of the electron-transfer process and, thus, the thermodynamics and kinetics of the redox reaction in the framework of a square-scheme mechanism. The present observations recall strongly the redox control exerted by the protein matrix on copper proteins through biological concepts such as induced fit mechanism, protein foldings, and entatic and allosteric effects.

Monitoring the formation of TTF dimers by Na+ complexation

The formation of the two dimeric species [(TTF)2]+* and (TTF+*)2 can be monitored by complexation of Na+ on a calix[4]arene-TTF assembly.

Electrochemical behavior of the tris(pyridine)-Cu funnel complexes: an overall induced-fit process involving an entatic state through a supramolecular stress

The electrochemical behavior of the tris(pyridine) calix[6]arene Cu adducts is unique as compared to that of most classical Cu complexes in a strain-free environment. The presence of MeCN buried inside the cavity is a prerequisite for a quasi-reversible behavior in a dynamic mode. The CV behavior assisted by simulation outlines that the coordination adaptability of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox states is completely reversed, with a Td geometry enforced at either redox states. Hence, the supramolecular control of the Cu coordination by a protein-like pocket determines the dynamics of the electron transfer process, its thermodynamics, and the kinetics of the reorganizational barrier and generates a preorganized state for oxidation. This redox behavior corresponds to an overall induced-fit process generating a truly entatic highly oxidizing Cu(II) state through a protein-like strain by involvement of the secondary coordination sphere.

Synthesis of Cavity Extended Cyclotriveratrylenes

Aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction of cyclotriguaiacylene 1 with fluorobenzene derivatives bearing electron-withdrawing groups X (CHO, COCH(3), CN, NO(2)) in the para position gives a series of cyclotriveratrylene derivatives (3a-d), where the X substituents can be transformed to hydrogen-bond donor groups to afford new CTV-based heteroditopic receptors. The substituents of compounds 3a-d favor the facile demethylation reaction of the CTV derivatives. Attempts to perform alkylation reactions on derivatives (8c,d) evidenced the formation of a stereoisomeric mixture of symmetrical and unsymmetrical compounds.