Novel chiral imidazole cyclophane receptors: synthesis and enantioselective recognition for amino acid derivatives

Modulating Helix-Preference of an Axially-Twisted Molecular Scaffold Through Diastereomeric Salt Formation with Tartaric Acid Stereoisomers

Herein, we designed a chiral, axially-twisted molecular scaffold (ATMS) using pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (PDC) unit as pivot, chiral trans-cyclohexanediamine (CHDA) residues as linkers, and pyrene residues as fluorescent reporters. R,R-ATMS exclusively adopted M-helicity and produced differential response in UV-vis, fluorescence, and NMR upon addition of tartaric acid (TA) stereoisomers allowing naked-eye detection and enantiomeric content determination. Circular dichroism (CD) profile of R,R-ATMS underwent unique changes during titration with TA stereoisomers - while loss of CD signal at 345 nm was observed with equimolar D-TA and meso-TA, inversion was seen with equimolar L-TA. Temperature increase weakened these interactions to partially recover the original CD signature of R,R-ATMS. 2D NMR studies also indicated the significant structural changes in R,R-ATMS in the solution state upon addition of L-TA. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) studies on the crystals of the R,R-ATMS⊃D-TA salt revealed the interacting partners stacked in arrays and ATMS molecules stabilized by π-π stacking between its PDC and pyrene residues. Contrastingly, tightly-packed supramolecular cages comprised of four molecules each of R,R-ATMS and L-TA were seen in R,R-ATMS⊃L-TA salt, and the ATMS molecules contorted to achieve CH-π interactions between its pyrene residues. These results may have implications in modulating the helicity of topologically-similar larger biomolecules.

Selective Synthesis of Novel Multiimidazole Ligands

Novel ligands containing di- to tetra-imidazole rings have been synthesised. 2,2′-Biimidazole was chosen as a dimeric analogue of imidazole which extended the range of ligands.

Imidazole derivatives: a comprehensive survey of their recognition properties

Due to its amphoteric nature the imidazole ring can function as selective and effective anion and/or cation and even neutral organic molecules receptor system. As a result, the design of new multichannel imidazole-based receptors capable of recognizing different types of analytes is strongly demanded. This review summarizes the most recent and relevant advances in this area.

Synthesis of chiral calix[4]arenes bearing aminonaphthol moieties and their use in the enantiomeric recognition of carboxylic acids

Two armed chiral calix[4]arenes 8-16 functionalized at the lower rim with chiral aminonaphthol units have been prepared and the structures of these receptors characterized by FTIR, (1)H, and (13)C, DEPT and COSY NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The enantioselective recognition of these receptors with various carboxylic acids has been studied by (1)H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The receptors exhibited different chiral recognition abilities towards the enantiomers of racemic materials and formed 2 : 1 or 1 : 1 complexes between host and guest. It was also demonstrated that chiral calix[4]arenes 9 and 16 could be used as chiral NMR solvating agents to determine the enantiomeric purity of mandelic acid.

(S)-2-(1H-Imidazol-1-yl)-3-phenyl-propanol

In the title compound, C₁₂H₁₄N₂O, the middle C atom in the propanol chain is a chiral center and possesses an S absolute configuration, according to the synthesis. In the crystal structure, inter­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into a chain along the b axis.

Facile, Mild, and Highly Enantioselective Alkynylzinc Addition to Aromatic Aldehydes by BINOL/N-Methylimidazole Dual Catalysis

The dual Lewis acid/base catalytic system, generated from N-methylimidazole (NMI), (R)-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol [(R)-BINOL], and Ti(OiPr)4, effectively catalyzes the enantioselective alkynylation of aldehydes in the presence of Et2Zn in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities of up to 94% ee at room temperature. The mild reaction conditions make it possible to use functional alkynes in this asymmetric addition.

Facile synthesis of optically active imidazole derivatives

Five optically active imidazole derivatives have been synthesized via a facile 4-step reaction sequence starting from commercially available and inexpensive N-Cbz amino acids. While microwave assisted condensation was unsuccessful, the condensation of the corresponding alpha-bromoketones with formamidine acetate in liquid ammonia was revealed to be a useful method for the synthesis of such imidazole derivatives. The derivatives thus prepared are structurally-related to histamine.

“Naked-Eye” Detection of Histidine by Regulation of CuII Coordination Modes

The association of various alpha-amino acids with four new, coordinatively unsaturated metal complexes ([Cu(5)]2+, [Cu(6)]2+, [Cu(7)]2+, and [Zn(8)]2+) was examined. The receptors [Cu(5)]2+ and [Cu(7)]2+ were found to discriminate histidine (His) from other zwitterionic alpha-amino acids by means of indicator-displacement assays (IDAs) using 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein as an indicator in buffered methanol/water (3:1) solvent. The colorimetric detection of His was achieved by using this IDA method, which appears to owe its selectivity to a unique process involving disruption of the host complex to form a 2:1 His/Cu(II) complex rather than simple indicator displacement. The occurrence of distinct intermolecular coordination processes in response to the introduction of a different amino acid is observed. X-ray crystal structures of the host metal complexes were obtained and exhibit the adoption of a variety of coordination geometries about the metal center.

Colorimetric Enantiodiscrimination of α-Amino Acids in Protic Media

A new method is described for the determination of optical purity of alpha-amino acid samples in protic media. No derivatization of the analyte or multistep synthesis is required, and high accuracy is obtained from the colorimetric output. Chiral discrimination is achieved through the use of an optically pure trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-derived Cu(II)-containing host that differentiates amino acid enantiomers by a factor of about 2. Enantioselective signaling arises from the implementation of an indicator displacement assay based on competitive Cu(II) coordination involving the chiral Cu(II)-containing host, the amino acid guest, and a metal ion indicator. The molecular structure of the host/guest complex was determined by X-ray analysis and exhibits chelation of the Cu(II) center by the amino acid to provide substrate organization.

Amino Acid Binding by 2-(Guanidiniocarbonyl)pyridines in Aqueous Solvents: A Comparative Binding Study Correlating Complex Stability with Stereoelectronic Factors

A series of guanidiniocarbonylpyridine receptors has been synthesized, and these compounds bind amino acids (carboxylate forms) in aqueous DMSO with association constants ranging from K = 30 to 460 M(-1) as determined by NMR titration experiments. The differences in the complex stabilities can be correlated with steric and electrostatic effects with the aid of calculated complex structures. For example, the electrostatic repulsion between the pyridine nitrogen lone pair and the bound carboxylate makes anion binding less efficient than with the analogous pyrrole receptors previously introduced by us for carboxylate binding in water. Furthermore, steric interactions between the receptor side chain as in 2 b and the bound substrate also disfavor complexation.

Polyfunctionalized macrocycles demonstrate enantioselective and ditopic binding properties

A pair of enantioselective, ditopic macrocycles is described; the receptors bind chiral ammonium cations in a manner that depends on the stereochemistry of the cation as well as the nature of its counter anion.

Enantioselective recognition of ammonium perchlorate salts by optically active monoaza-15-crown-5 ethers

Chiral monoaza-15-crown-5 ethers (1, 2) were prepared from (R)-(-)-2-amino-1-butanol in high yield. The chiral monoaza-15-crown-5 ethers were purified directly as NaClO(4) complexes. Molecular recognition by these chiral monoaza-crown ethers of (R)- and (S)-PhEtHClO(4) and (R)- and (S)-NapEtHClO(4) as characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy. The order of enantiomeric selectivity is (R)- > (S)- PhEtHClO(4) and (S)- > (R)-NapEtHClO(4) for 1. In the case of 2 it was (R)- > (S)-PhEtHClO(4) and (R)- > (S)- NapEtHClO(4). The cavity of macrocycle and steric hindrance of the benzene units appears to play an important role in recognition.