Influence of the Cavity Size of Water-Soluble Cryptophanes on Their Binding Properties for Cesium and Thallium Cations

A Water-Soluble Cryptophane Decorated with Aromatic Amine Groups Shows High Affinity for Cesium and Thallium(I)

An anti-cryptophane decorated with three aromatic amine and three phenol groups shows a high affinity for the cesium and thallium cations in LiOH/H2O (0.1 M). The formation of the complexes was studied by 133Cs NMR and by 205Tl NMR spectroscopy at different temperatures. Characteristic signals for caged cesium and thallium were observed at a high field with respect to the signals of the free cations present in the bulk. Isothermal titration calorimetric experiments performed in LiOH/H2O (0.1 M) and NaOH/KCl buffer (pH = 13) allowed us to determine the parameter of complexation and to ascertain the high affinity of this cryptophane for cesium and thallium. A comparison with other cryptophanes that bind these two cations shows that the introduction of nitrogen atoms into the cryptophane backbone has an effect on the binding properties. The affinity for cesium and thallium(I) ions is in the following order of substitution: OH > NH2 > OCH2COOH. This study paves the way to the design of new efficient host molecules for the extraction of these two cations in aqueous solution.

Understanding the surrounding effects on Raman optical activity signatures of a chiral cage system: Cryptophane-PP-111

Cryptophane molecules are cage-like structures consisting in two hemispheres, each made of three benzene rings. These hemispheres are bound together with three O(CH2)nOlinkers of various lengths giving rise to a plethora of cryptophane derivatives. Moreover, they are able to encapsulate neutral guests: CH2Cl2, CHCl3, …; and charged species: Cs+, Tl+, …. Finally, they exhibit chiroptical properties thanks to the anti arrangement of the linkers between the hemispheres. This work focuses on the Raman optical activity (ROA) signatures of Cryptophane-111 (n=1 for each linker). More specifically, we aim at simulating accurately its ROA spectra with and without a xenon atom inside its cavity. Experimental data (Buffeteau et al., 2017) have already demonstrated the effect of the encapsulation in the low-wavenumbers region. To generate the initial structures, we rely on the novel Conformer-Rotamer Ensemble Sampling Tool (CREST) program, developed by S. Grimme and co-workers. This is required due to the flexibility provided by the linkers. The CREST algorithm seems promising and has already been used to sample the potential energy surface (PES) of target systems before the simulation of their vibrational spectroscopies (Eikås et al., 2022). We observe large similarities between the two sets of conformers (one with and one without Xe encapsulated), demonstrating the robustness of the CREST algorithm. For corresponding structures, the presence of xenon pushed the two hemispheres slightly further apart. After optimization at the DFT level, only one unique conformer has a Boltzmann population ratio greater than 1%, pointing out the relative rigidity of the cage. Based on this unique conformer, our simulations are in good agreement with the experimental data. Regarding xenon encapsulation, the (experimental and theoretical) ROA signatures at low wavenumbers are impacted: slight shifts in wavenumbers are observed as well as a decrease in relative ROA intensity for bands around 150 cm-1. The wavenumber shifts were very well reproduced by our simulations, but the experimental decrease in the ROA intensity was unfortunately not reproduced.

Impact of the Syn/Anti Relative Configuration of Cryptophane-222 on the Binding Affinity of Cesium and Thallium

We report in this article the synthesis, the X-ray crystal structure of compound syn-2, and its binding properties with cesium and thallium in aqueous solution under basic conditions. Compound syn-2 is the diastereomeric compound of anti-1 that shows very high affinity for cesium and thallium in aqueous solution under the same conditions. Despite the close structural similarities that exist between the syn-2 and anti-1 compounds, they show large discrepancy in their ability to bind cesium and thallium cations in the same conditions. Indeed, the syn-2 derivative has a lower affinity for these two cationic species and the binding constants are several orders of magnitude lower than those found for its congener. The large differences in affinity observed with these two compounds can be explained by the relative position of the six hydroxyl groups to each other.

Enantiopure cryptophane derivatives: Synthesis and chiroptical properties

This review addresses the synthesis of enantiopure cryptophane and the study of their chiroptical properties. Cryptophane derivatives represent an important class of macrocyclic compounds that can bind a large range of species in solution under different conditions. The overwhelming majority of these host molecules is chiral, and their chiroptical properties have been thoroughly investigated. The first part of this review is dedicated to the optical resolution and the synthesis of enantiopure cryptophane derivatives. In a second part, the study of the chiroptical properties of these molecular hosts by different techniques such as electronic and vibrational circular dichroism and Raman optical activity is detailed. These techniques allow the determination of the absolute configuration of cryptophane derivatives and provide useful information about their conformation in different conditions.

Thallium(I) Salts: New Partners for Calix[4]pyrroles

Calix[4]pyrrole 1 can form host-guest complexes with certain thallium salts, for example, TlF, not only in the gas phase but also in solution and in the solid state. The complexation of TlF by calix[4]pyrrole 1 was found to promote self-assembly and the formation of well-defined and highly ordered fibrous supramolecular morphologies, as revealed by polarizing microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The findings reported here serve to broaden the scope of cationic substrates that may be complexed as ion pairs by calix[4]pyrrole receptors while setting the stage for the development of new hosts for thallium(I) salts.

Selective Capture of Thallium and Cesium by a Cryptophane Soluble at Neutral pH

We report in this article the synthesis of an asymmetrical cryptophane derivative (possessing only C₃-symmetry) bearing three phenol groups and three other carboxylic acid functions, each of these groups on the aromatic rings. Thanks to isothermal titration calorimetry experiments, we show that this compound binds large monovalent cations, such as Cs⁺ and Tl⁺, with a binding constant significantly lower than its congeners bearing a larger number of phenol groups grafted on the benzene rings. However, higher selectivity for Cs⁺ and Tl⁺ was observed with this compound since it does not show any affinity for other alkali cations. More importantly, due to the greater solubility of this derivative in pure water, we show for the first time that effective thallium(I) complexation takes place at neutral pH. This result demonstrates that cryptophane derivatives decorated with a higher number of phenol groups are promising host molecules for removing traces of thallium(I) from aqueous phases at neutral pH or above.

Thermodynamic Contribution of Water in Cryptophane Host-Guest Binding Reaction

A detailed examination of binding thermodynamics is undertaken for the interaction between rubidium ion and a water-soluble cryptophane molecule using isothermal titration calorimetry. The equilibrium-binding quotient for this host-guest pair decreases with increasing product formation. When analyzed with a thermodynamic framework that considers water explicitly in the governing equation, the shift in equilibrium is ascribed to an unfavorable change in the free energy of solvation upon formation of the inclusion complex. A van't Hoff analysis of the binding data, as well as an observation of aggregation between inclusion complexes, suggests that charge-charge interactions between rubidium ion and the phenolate groups of the cryptophane host provide the driving force for association in water that overcomes a large and unfavorable change in solvent enthalpy.

Chiroptical properties of cryptophane-111

How the presence or not of solvent molecules inside the cavity of enantiopure cryptophanes affects their chiroptical properties.

Applications of isothermal titration calorimetry - the research and technical developments from 2011 to 2015

Isothermal titration calorimetry is a widely used biophysical technique for studying the formation or dissociation of molecular complexes. Over the last 5 years, much work has been published on the interpretation of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) data for single binding and multiple binding sites. As over 80% of ITC papers are on macromolecules of biological origin, this interpretation is challenging. Some researchers have attempted to link the thermodynamics constants to events at the molecular level. This review highlights work carried out using binding sites characterized using x-ray crystallography techniques that allow speculation about individual bond formation and the displacement of individual water molecules during ligand binding and link these events to the thermodynamic constants for binding. The review also considers research conducted with synthetic binding partners where specific binding events like anion-π and π-π interactions were studied. The revival of assays that enable both thermodynamic and kinetic information to be collected from ITC data is highlighted. Lastly, published criticism of ITC research from a physical chemistry perspective is appraised and practical advice provided for researchers unfamiliar with thermodynamics and its interpretation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthesis of Cryptophanes with Two Different Reaction Sites: Chemical Platforms for Xenon Biosensing

We report the synthesis of new water-soluble cryptophane host molecules that can be used for the preparation of (129)Xe NMR-based biosensors. We show that the cryptophane-223 skeleton can be modified to introduce a unique secondary alcohol to the propylenedioxy linker. This chemical functionality can then be exploited to introduce a functional group that is different from the six chemical groups attached to the aromatic rings. In this approach, the generation of a statistical mixture when trying to selectively functionalize a symmetrical host molecule is eliminated, which enables the efficient large-scale production of new cryptophanes that can be used as chemical platforms ready to use for the preparation of xenon biosensors. To illustrate this approach, two molecular platforms have been prepared, and the ability of these new derivatives to bind xenon has been investigated.

Immobilization of cryptophane derivatives onto SiO2/Au and Au substrates

The synthesis of a cryptophane molecule bearing five methoxy substituents and an alkanethiol chain, 4, as well as its subsequent grafting onto a gold surface, is reported. Immobilization of cryptophane derivatives onto silica (SiO2/Au) surfaces was also performed by reacting a cryptophane molecule bearing one or six acid functions, 5 or 6, respectively, with an amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) was used to characterize the two types of cryptophane monolayers. Surface coverage of cryptophane monolayers was estimated by comparing the PM-IRRAS intensity of cryptophane bands with that calculated from the optical constants of pentamethoxy-cryptophane for a compact monolayer. A very efficient grafting of 4 onto a gold surface was found, with a surface coverage close to 100%. On the other hand, the reaction of mono-acid, 5, or hexa-acid, 6, cryptophanes with amino-terminated SAM was less efficient, since the surface coverage did not exceed 15%. Finally, a good surface coverage (75%) was also obtained by using a cysteamine coupling agent to modify 5 before its grafting onto a gold surface.

Rim-functionalized cryptophane-111 derivatives via heterocapping, and their xenon complexes

Rim-functionalization of cryptophane-111 narrows the achievable conformational range of the cage, resulting in unprecedentedly crowded Xe@cryptophane complexes.