Evidence of anion-induced dimerization of a squaramide-based host in protic solvents

Squaramide-Based Self-Associating Amphiphiles for Anion Recognition

The synthesis and characterisation of two novel self-assembled amphiphiles (SSAs) SQS-1 and SQS-2 are reported. Both compounds, based on the squaramide motif, were fully soluble in a range of solvents and were shown to undergo self-assembly through a range of physical techniques. Self-assembly was shown to favour the formation of crystalline domains on the nanoscale but also fibrillar film formation, as suggested by SEM analysis. Moreover, both SQS-1 and SQS-2 were capable of anion recognition in DMSO solution as demonstrated using 1 H NMR and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, but displayed lower binding affinities for various anions when compared against other squaramide based receptors. In more competitive solvent mixtures SQS-1 gave rise to a colourimetric response in the presence of HPO42- that was clearly visible to the naked eye. We anticipate that the observed response is due to the basic nature of the HPO42- anion when compared against other biologically relevant anions.

Construction of Aromatic Multilayered Structures Based on the Conformational Properties of N,N'-Dimethylated Squaramide

Squaramide is a highly rigid four-membered ring system bearing two carbonyl and two amino groups, and its derivatives have found applications in many fields. We synthesized several N,N'-dimethylated oligosquaramides linked via phenyl groups, and investigated their structures in the crystalline state and in solution. Compounds 1, 2 (bissquaramides), and 13 (trissquaramide) exist as folded structures in the crystalline state, in which the aromatic rings are located in a face-to-face position. In their multilayered structures, the benzene rings are more nearly parallel and are closer to each other, compared with those in N,N'-dimethylated oligoureas. Individual molecules of meta-connected compounds 2 and 13 show a helical structure with all-R or all-S axis chirality, but afford only racemic crystals. The NMR spectra indicated that these compounds retain well-ordered folded structures in solution. The unique steric and electronic properties of N,N'-dimethylated squaramide can provide access to novel functional aromatic multilayered and helical foldamers.

Receptors for sulfate that function across a wide pH range in mixed aqueous-DMSO media

Water soluble squaramide macrocycles (MSQs) display high sulfate binding affinities in aqueous DMSO mixtures. The introduction of pyridine spacers into the macrocycles resulted in increased sulfate binding affinity in comparison to compounds with benzene spacers. [3]MSQ 6 was found to be a selective ligand for SO42- in highly competitive conditions and over a wide pH range (3.2-14).

Phosphate and polyphosphate anion recognition by a dinuclear copper(ii) complex of an unsymmetrical squaramide

At pH = 7.4, ATP⁴⁻ is selectively removed from water containing PhPO₄²⁻, Haep⁻, AMP²⁻ and ADP³⁻ by the studied squaramide-based dicopper(ii) complex.

Cinchona Squaramide-Based Chiral Polymers as Highly Efficient Catalysts in Asymmetric Michael Addition Reaction

We have synthesized novel chiral polymers containing a cinchona-based squaramide in the main chain. We designed a novel cinchona squaramide dimer that contains two cinchona squaramide units connected by diamines. The olefinic double bonds in the cinchona squaramide dimer were used for Mizoroki-Heck (MH) polymerization with aromatic diiodides. The MH polymerization of the cinchona squaramide dimer and aromatic diiodide proceeded well to give the corresponding chiral polymers in good yields. The catalytic activity of the chiral polymers was investigated for asymmetric Michael addition reactions. The effect of the squaramide structure of the polymeric catalyst on the catalytic performance is discussed in detail. We have surveyed the influence of the chiral polymer structure on the catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of the asymmetric reaction. The asymmetric Michael addition of β-ketoesters to nitroolefins was successfully catalyzed by polymeric cinchona squaramide organocatalysts to obtain the corresponding Michael adducts in good yields with excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivities. The polymeric catalysts were insoluble in commonly used organic solvents and easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused several times without the loss of catalytic activity.

A simple ratiometric and colorimetric chemosensor for the selective detection of fluoride in DMSO buffered solution

A derivative of squaramide (cyclobuta[b]quinoxaline-1, 2(3H, 8H)-dione) has been synthesized for the ratiometric and colorimetric sensing of F(-) in aqueous solution in competitive fashion. With F(-), probe 1 showed a highly selective naked-eye detectable color change along with a characteristic UV-Vis absorbance over other tested ions, which probably originates from the deprotonation occurred between 1 and F(-), as proved by the (1)H NMR titration experiments and DFT calculations.

Tetrahedral cage complex with planar vertices: selective synthesis of Pt4L6 cage complexes involving hydrogen bonds driven by halide binding

The first synthesis of tetrahedral cage complexes with four square-planar Pt complexes at the vertex positions was achieved.

Cell uptake and localization studies of squaramide based fluorescent probes

Cell internalization is a major issue in drug design. Although squaramide-based compounds are receiving much attention because of their interesting bioactivity, cell uptake and trafficking within cells of this type of compounds are still unknown. In order to monitor the cell internalization process of cyclosquaramide compounds we have prepared two fluorescent probes by covalently linking a fluorescent dye (BODIPY derivative or fluorescein) to a noncytotoxic cyclosquaramide framework. These two probes (C2-BDP and C2-FITC) rapidly internalize across live cell membranes through endocytic receptor-mediated mechanisms. Due to its higher fluorescence and photochemical stability, C2-BDP is a superior dye than C2-FITC. C2-BDP remains sequestered in late endosomes allowing their fast and selective imaging in various live cell types. Cyclosquaramide-cell membrane interactions facilitate cell uptake and have been investigated by binding studies in solution as well as in live cells. Cyclosquaramide 1 (C2-BDP) can be used as a highly fluorescent probe for the rapid and selective imaging of late endosomes in live cells.

Anion-induced dimerization in p-squaramidocalix[4]arene derivatives

Spherical anions induce the dimerization of calix[4]arene derivatives 3 and 4 bearing squaramide moieties at the exo rim (p-squaramidocalixarenes). (1)H NMR titration experiments showed that unlike the distal isomer 3, proximal p-squaramidocalixarene 4 is also able to form dimeric complexes with trigonal-planar anions.

The squaramide versus urea contest for anion recognition

The interaction of a neutral squaramide-based receptor, equipped with two 4-nitrophenyl substituents (R(sq)), with halides and oxoanions has been studied in MeCN. UV/Vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy titration experiments clearly indicated the formation of 1:1 hydrogen bonding [R(sq)X](+) complexes with all the investigated anions. X-ray diffraction studies on the chloride and bromide complex salts confirmed the 1:1 stoichiometry and indicated the establishment of bifurcated hydrogen-bond interactions between the squaramide-based receptor and the halide anion that involved both 1) amide N-H and 2) aryl proximate C-H fragments, for a total of four bonds. Probably due to the contribution of C-H fragments, complexes of R(sq) with halides are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude more stable than the corresponding ones with the analogous urea-based receptor that contains two 4-nitrophenyl substituents (R(ur)). In the case of oxoanions, R(sq) forms complexes, the stability of which decreases with the decreasing basicity of the anion (H(2)PO(4) (-)>NO(2) (-) approximately HSO(4) (-)>NO(3) (-)), and is comparable to that of complexes of the urea-based receptor R(ur). Such a behaviour is ascribed to the predominance of different contributions: electrostatic interaction for halides, acid-to-base 'frozen' proton transfer for oxoanions. Finally, with the strongly basic anions F(-) and CH(3)COO(-), R(sq) first gives genuine hydrogen-bond complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry; then, upon addition of a second anion equivalent, it undergoes deprotonation of one N--H fragment, with the simultaneous formation of the dianion hydrogen-bond complexes, [HF(2)](-) and [CH(3)COOHCH(3)COO](-), respectively. In the case of the urea-based derivative R(ur), deprotonation takes place with fluoride but not with acetate. The apparently higher Brønsted acidity of R(sq) with respect to R(ur) reflects the capability of the squaramide receptor to delocalise the negative charge formed on N--H deprotonation over the cyclobutene-1,2-dione ring and the entire molecular framework.

A survey of the year 2007 literature on applications of isothermal titration calorimetry

Elucidation of the energetic principles of binding affinity and specificity is a central task in many branches of current sciences: biology, medicine, pharmacology, chemistry, material sciences, etc. In biomedical research, integral approaches combining structural information with in-solution biophysical data have proved to be a powerful way toward understanding the physical basis of vital cellular phenomena. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a valuable experimental tool facilitating quantification of the thermodynamic parameters that characterize recognition processes involving biomacromolecules. The method provides access to all relevant thermodynamic information by performing a few experiments. In particular, ITC experiments allow to by-pass tedious and (rarely precise) procedures aimed at determining the changes in enthalpy and entropy upon binding by van't Hoff analysis. Notwithstanding limitations, ITC has now the reputation of being the "gold standard" and ITC data are widely used to validate theoretical predictions of thermodynamic parameters, as well as to benchmark the results of novel binding assays. In this paper, we discuss several publications from 2007 reporting ITC results. The focus is on applications in biologically oriented fields. We do not intend a comprehensive coverage of all newly accumulated information. Rather, we emphasize work which has captured our attention with originality and far-reaching analysis, or else has provided ideas for expanding the potential of the method.