Investigation of the composition and formation constant of molecular complexes

Experimental and Computational Models for Side Chain Discrimination in Peptide-Protein Interactions

A bis(18‐crown‐6) Tröger's base receptor and 4‐substituted hepta‐1,7‐diyl bisammonium salt ligands have been used as a model system to study the interactions between non‐polar side chains of peptides and an aromatic cavity of a protein. NMR titrations and NOESY/ROESY NMR spectroscopy were used to analyze the discrimination of the ligands by the receptor based on the substituent of the ligand, both quantitatively (free binding energies) and qualitatively (conformations). The analysis showed that an all‐anti conformation of the heptane chain was preferred for most of the ligands, both free and when bound to the receptor, and that for all of the receptor‐ligand complexes, the substituent was located inside or partly inside of the aromatic cavity of the receptor. We estimated the free binding energy of a methyl‐ and a phenyl group to an aromatic cavity, via CH‐π, and combined aromatic CH‐π and π‐π interactions to be −1.7 and −3.3 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The experimental results were used to assess the accuracy of different computational methods, including molecular mechanics (MM) and density functional theory (DFT) methods, showing that MM was superior.

Modes of Micromolar Host-Guest Binding of β-Cyclodextrin Complexes Revealed by NMR Spectroscopy in Salt Water

Multitopic supramolecular guests with finely tuned affinities toward widely explored cucurbit[n]urils (CBs) and cyclodextrins (CDs) have been recently designed and tested as functional components of advanced supramolecular systems. We employed various spacers between the adamantane cage and a cationic moiety as a tool for tuning the binding strength toward CB7 to prepare a set of model guests with K_CB7 and K_β-CD values of (0.6-5.0) × 10¹⁰ M^-1 and (0.6-2.6) × 10⁶ M^-1, respectively. These accessible adamantylphenyl-based binding motifs open a way toward supramolecular components with an outstanding affinity toward β-cyclodextrin. ¹H NMR experiments performed in 30% CaCl₂/D₂O at 273 K along with molecular dynamics simulations allowed us to identify two arrangements of the guest@β-CD complexes. The approach, joining experimental and theoretical methods, provided a better understanding of the structure of cyclodextrin complexes and related molecular recognition, which is highly important for the rational design of drug delivery systems, molecular sensors and switches.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Nucleophilic Addition of N-tert-Butylhydrazones to Isoquinolinium Ions through Anion-Binding Catalysis

A highly enantio- and diastereoselective thiourea-catalyzed dearomatization of isoquinolines employing N-tert-butylhydrazones as neutral α-azo carbanions and masked acyl anion equivalents has been developed. Experimental and computational data supports the generation of highly ordered complexes wherein the chloride behaves as a template for the catalyst, the hydrazone reagent, and the isoquinolinium cation, providing excellent stereocontrol in the formation of two contiguous stereogenic centers. The ensuing selective and high-yielding transformations provide appealing dihydroisoquinoline derivatives.

Cyclodextrins as inhibitors of the precipitation of riboflavin-5'-phosphate due to presence of zinc chloride: A NMR investigation

Several cyclodextrins (CDs) were probed in order to counteract the precipitation of riboflavin-5'-phosphate (or flavin mononucleotide, FMN-P) due to the presence of divalent cations, by exploiting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy both for quantitative analyses and stereochemical characterizations. Among CDs, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) showed the best solubilizing power in virtue of the formation of a 1-2 FMN-P/β-CD complex, the stereochemistry of which was ascertained by ROESY (Rotating-frame Overhauser Enhanced SpectroscopY) measurements.

TiCl4-promoted condensation of methyl acetoacetate, isobutyraldehyde, and indole: a theoretical and experimental study

A combined DFT and experimental study of the title reaction points to a three-step mechanism: (1) titanium enolate formation, (2) Knoevenagel condensation of enolate and aldehyde, and (3) Michael addition of indole.

Condensation of beta-diester titanium enolates with carbonyl substrates: a combined DFT and experimental investigation

The condensation of dialkyl beta-diesters with various aldehydes promoted by TiCl4 has been studied by DFT approaches and experimental methods, including NMR, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Various possible reaction pathways have been investigated and their energy profiles evaluated to find out a plausible mechanism of the reaction. Theoretical results and experimental evidence point to a three-step mechanism: 1) Ti-induced formation of the enolate ion; 2) aldol reaction between the enolate ion and the aldehyde, both coordinated to titanium; and 3) intramolecular elimination that leads to a titanyl complex. The presented mechanistic hypothesis allows one to better understand the pivotal role of titanium(IV) in the reaction.

Pi-Pi complexation of bupivacaine and analogues with aromatic receptors: implications for overdose remediation

The interaction of the important but often overdosed local anesthetic bupivacaine, its structural analogs 2,6-dimethylaniline, and N-methyl-2,6-dimethylacetanilide, and cocaine, with several electron deficient aromatic moieties were studied primarily by proton NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy. In solution, the anesthetic, its analogs and cocaine are electron donors and form pi-pi charge transfer complexes with strong aromatic acceptors, as monitored by the upfield changes induced in the NMR chemical shifts (delta) and red-shifted UV-vis wavelength (lamda max) absorbance of the acceptors. The equilibrium binding constant, K, was determined from the 1H NMR charge transfer induced chemical shift changes and used to calculate the free energy (deltaG) for complex formation of three acceptor-donor pairs. HPLC results indicate that the concentrations of free bupivacaine, its analogs and of cocaine are reduced from solution via binding to aromatic-functionalized silica.

Water-Soluble Calix[4]resorcarenes as Enantioselective NMR Shift Reagents for Aromatic Compounds

A tetra L-prolinylmethyl derivative of a tetra-sulfonated calix[4]resorcarene (1) is an effective chiral NMR solvating agent for water-soluble compounds with phenyl, pyridyl, bicyclic aromatic, or indole rings. These aromatic compounds form host-guest complexes with the calix[4]resorcarene in water. Complexation of substrates with the calix[4]resorcarene is likely promoted by hydrophobic effects, and bicyclic substrates have association constants with the calix[4]resorcarene larger than those of similar phenyl-containing compounds. Aromatic resonances of the substrates show substantial upfield shifts because of shielding from the aromatic rings of the calix[4]resorcarene, and several resonances in the 1H NMR spectra typically exhibit enantiomeric discrimination. The extent of enantiomeric discrimination depends in part on interactions of the substituent groups of the substrates with the prolinylmethyl groups of the calix[4]resorcarene. The effectiveness of a calix[4]resorcarene prepared from N-methyl-L-alanine (2) as a chiral NMR discriminating agent is compared to the L-prolinylmethyl derivative.

An Enantioselective NMR Shift Reagent for Cationic Aromatics

[structure: see text] The water-soluble tetra l-prolinylmethyl derivative of a tetrasulfonated calix[4]resorcarene is an effective chiral NMR solvating agent for compounds with bicyclic aromatic or indole rings. Complexation of bicyclic substrates with the calix[4]resorcarene is likely promoted by hydrophobic effects. The bicyclic substrates have larger association constants with the calix[4]resorcarene than similar phenyl-containing compounds. Substantial enantiomeric discrimination is observed for several resonances in the (1)H NMR spectra of these substrates.

Nickel(II) Cyclidenes with Appended Ethylpyridine Receptor Centers as Molecular Tweezers for Dicarboxylic Acids

A series of 14-, 15-, and 16-membered nickel(II) cyclidene macrocycles appended with 2-aminoethyl(2-pyridine) receptors I-III, respectively, were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography and NMR techniques. The 14- and 15-membered macrocycles I and II exist in a planar or extended Z-configuration, whereas the 16-membered macrocycle III was saddle shaped and had two asymmetric configurations in the unit cell (IIIa in a "capped" configuration and IIIb in an "open" configuration). Variable-temperature (1)H NMR studies of III in CD(3)CN were conducted (25-65 degrees C), and at room temperature, the interconversion between capping and uncapping is slow on the NMR time scale, resulting in a broad spectrum, whereas at 65 degrees C, interconversion was fast. (1)H NMR binding studies indicated I-III bind unsaturated dicarboxylic acids in a 1:1 stoichiometry with binding constants approaching 400 M(-)(1) in CD(3)CN, and the binding strength was dependent on the shape of the macrocyclic cyclidene platforms, whereas monocarboxylic acids were not bound. Generally, the planar 14-membered cyclidene I bound diacids the weakest and the 16-membered cyclidene III bound diacids the strongest. The presence of nuclear Overhauser effect spectrometry cross peaks in a 20 mM solution of 1:1 II-maleic acid indicates that the binding mode is ditopic with the guest being encapsulated by the aminoethylpyridine arms above the macrocyclic framework.

Complexation of several fungicides with beta-cyclodextrin: determination of the association constants and isolation of the solid complexes

The formation of inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin was studied for several popular fungicides of different types: prochloraz, 2-phenylphenol, thiophanate methyl, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and benalaxyl. Phase solubility diagrams showed that in all cases complexation takes place, leading to an important increase of water solubility in prochloraz and benalaxyl. Equilibrium association constants could be determined from the phase solubility data and from NMR titrations in the case of 2-phenylphenol. Because of the low solubility of the complex formed between 8-hydroxyquinoline and beta-cyclodextrin, the corresponding association constant could not be determined. The solid complexes of fungicide-cyclodextrin were prepared and isolated by different methods. The isolation of real complexes and not physical mixtures was confirmed in the cases of prochloraz, 2-phenylphenol, and benalaxyl by differential scanning calorimetry.

Complexation of several benzimidazole-type fungicides with alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins

The potential increase in water solubility of three benzimidazole-type fungicides (thiabendazole, carbendazim, and fuberidazole) due to complexation with alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins was investigated. Fluorescence emission spectra of the fungicides in the presence of different concentrations of the cyclodextrins were measured. Analysis of these spectra by the method of principal components global analysis (PCGA) yielded precise values for the association constants and the emission spectra of the fungicide-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. Phase-solubility diagrams confirmed the formation of inclusion complexes between each of the fungicides and beta-cyclodextrin and showed significant increases of their solubilities due to complexation.