Molecular Snuggle and Stretch of a Tetraammonium Chain in the Construction of a Hetero-[4]pseudorotaxane with CyclopentanoQ[6] and Classical Q[7]

Gold and Silver Chains from Tetrahydrothiophenocucurbit[6]uril as Au or Ag-Nanoparticles

Tetrahydrothiophenocucurbit[5 and 6]uril has been synthesized from tetrathiophenoglycoluril diether, providing thioether functionality at the exterior equatorial position of the cucurbituril cage. This functionality has been investigated for chemical modification through sulfoxide formation and subsequent Pummerer rearrangement to the acetoxy derivative of the tetrahydrothiophenocucurbit[5]uril. Nanoparticles of Au and Ag were prepared in the presence of tetrahydrothiophenocucurbit[6]uril, which curiously led to the formation of nanoparticle chains, growing in length over days to weeks.

Stimuli-responsive mechanically interlocked molecules constructed from cucurbit[n]uril homologues and derivatives

Cucurbit[n]uril supramolecular chemistry has developed rapidly since 2001 when different cucurbit[n]uril homologues (Q[n]) were successfully separated in pure form. The combination of Q[n] cavity size and various types of external stimuli has given birth to numerous types of Q[n]-based mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs), including (pseudo)rotaxanes, catenanes, dendrimers and poly(pseudo)rotaxanes. In this review article, the important advances in the field of Q[n]-based MIMs over the past two decades are highlighted. This review also describes examples of heterowheel (pseudo)rotaxanes and poly(pseudo)rotaxanes involving Q[n]s, and reflects on the opportunities and challenges of constructing Q[n]-based stimuli-responsive MIMs.

The Cyclobutanocucurbit[5-8]uril Family: Electronegative Cavities in Contrast to Classical Cucurbituril while the Electropositive Outer Surface Acts as a Crystal Packing Driver

The structural parameters for the cyclobutanoQ[5-8] family were determined through single crystal X-ray diffraction. It was found that the electropositive cyclobutano methylene protons (CH2) are important in forming interlinking crystal packing arrangements driven by the dipole-dipole interactions between these protons and the portal carbonyl O of a near neighbor. This type of interaction was observed across the whole family. Electrostatic potential maps also confirmed the electropositive nature of the cyclobutano CH2 but, more importantly, it was established that the cavities are electronegative in contrast to classical Q[5-8], which are near neutral.

The binding behaviours between cyclopentanocucurbit[6]uril and three amino acids

Binding behaviours between cyclopentanocucurbit[6]uril (CyP6Q[6]) and three amino acids have been investigated by means of X-ray crystallography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. The results showed that CyP6Q[6] forms a 1 : 2 inclusion complex with glycine, but 1 : 1 complexes with both leucine and lysine. Whereas the carboxyl group of glycine can enter the interior of the cavity of CyP6Q[6], only the alkyl chains of leucine and lysine can enter this cavity. Interestingly, leucine can adopt two different self-assembly modes upon its interaction with cucurbituril, depending on the external conditions, whereas glycine and lysine do not exhibit such behaviour.

Interaction of the Large Host Q[10] with Metal Polypyridyl Complexes: Binding Modes and Effects on Luminescence

Aqueous solution state host-guest systems have been studied, comprising the large host cucurbit[10]uril with luminescent cationic tris(polypyridyl) (PP) metal complexes [Ru(PP)₃]²⁺ and [Ir(PP)₃]³⁺. All complexes bind strongly with the host, with the overall complex charge and size having a minor effect on affinity but influencing the association dynamics and contribution from higher-order (1:2) host-guest species. The 1:2 species contributes more significantly to the binding equilibrium in the case of [Ru(phen)₃]²⁺. The effect of the host upon emission is highly variable and depends on the electronic structure of the guest. The metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) emission of [Ru(PP)₃]²⁺ is strongly quenched, in contrast to the large enhancements seen previously for MLCT emission of iridium cyclometalated complexes, while the ligand-centered emission of [Ir(PP)₃]³⁺ is little affected. The mechanisms of quenching and enhancement are discussed, together with the implications for the design of larger supramolecular assemblies based on these archetypal emitters.

Symmetrical-Tetramethyl-Cucurbit[6]uril-Driven Movement of Cucurbit[7]uril Gives Rise to Heterowheel [4]Pseudorotaxanes

Two novel heterowheel [4]pseudorotaxanes consisting of cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) and symmetrical-tetramethyl-cucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) were constructed via the multirecognition mechanism, in which Q[7] can rotate freely around the horizontal axis, while TMeQ[6] cannot. In the construction process, due to strong repulsive forces between carbonyl portals of two neighboring wheels, the dethreading and movement of the wheels along the axle was observed. The dissociation of the [4]pseudorotaxanes was also discussed.

The Host–Guest Properties Observed Between the Viologens and Cyclopentanocucurbit[6]uril

The interactions between cyclopentanocucurbit[6]uril (abbreviated as CyP6Q[6]) and a series of dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium and diaryl-4,4′-bipyridinium dicationic guest molecules, where the alkyl group is CH3(CH2)n with n=0–6 (expressed as G1 to G7) and the aryl group is phenylene (G8) and xylene (G9), have been investigated in aqueous solution using 1H NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and electronic absorption spectroscopy. Our results show that G1 and G2 form 1:1 host–guest inclusion complexes with CyP6Q[6], in which the bipyridinium core is partially embedded in the cavity of CyP6Q[6]. G3–G9 form 2:1 dumbbell-type host–guest inclusion complexes, in which the substituents are encapsulated by CyP6Q[6]. At the same time, CyP6Q[6] was compared with several other cucurbit[n]urils (Q[n]s) and their derivatives, such as Q[6], Q[7], and TMeQ[6], which have been reported to interact with this type of guest molecule. In its binding mode, CyP6Q[6] shows many interesting and different properties, and this difference was mainly reflected with G1 and G2.

Supramolecular chemistry of substituted cucurbit[n]urils

This review covers important advances in the field of substituted cucurbit[n]urils.

Study on the Binding Interaction of the α,α',δ,δ'-Tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril With Biogenic Amines in Solution and the Solid State

1H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were utilized to examine the binding interaction of α,α',δ,δ'-tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril (TMeQ[6]) and six biogenic amines (spermine, spermidine, 2-phenethylamine, tyramine, histamine, and tryptamine). Their 1H NMR spectra both at pD = 7 and pD = 3 revealed that four biogenic amines (spermine, spermidine, 2-phenethylamine, and histamine) can fit in the TMeQ[6] cavity, respectively, and other biogenic amines were located outside of the TMeQ[6] portal. In addition, a solid-state evaluation with single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis showed the binding interaction of spermine, spermidine, 2-phenethylamine, and tyramine with TMeQ[6].