The cucurbituril ‘portal’ effect

para-Phenylenediamine Dimer as a Redox-Active Guest for Supramolecular Systems

Redox-active components are highly valuable in the construction of molecular devices. We combined two p-phenylenediamines (p-PDA) with a biphenyl (BiPhe) unit to prepare a supramolecular guest 4 consisting of three binding sites for cucurbit[7/8]uril (CBn) and/or cyclodextrins (CD). Supramolecular properties of 4 were investigated using NMR, UV-vis, mass spectrometry and isothermal titration calorimetry. Our analysis revealed that 4 forms higher-order host-guest complexes, wherein a CD unit occupies the central BiPhe site, secured by two CBn units at the terminal p-PDA sites. Additionally, 1 : 1 complexes with α-CD and β-CD, a 1 : 2 complex with γ-CD and 2 : 1 complexes with CB7 and CB8 were identified. Through UV-vis and cyclic voltammetry, redox processes leading to the formation of a stable, deep blue dication diradical of 4 are elucidated. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that CB7 selectively protects oxidised 4 from reduction in the presence of a reducing agent. The supramolecular and redox properties of the structural motif represented by 4 render it an interesting candidate for the construction of supramolecular devices.

Controlling the structure and photophysics of fluorophore dimers using multiple cucurbit[8]uril clampings

A modular strategy has been employed to develop a new class of fluorescent molecules, which generates discrete, dimeric stacked fluorophores upon complexation with multiple cucurbit[8]uril macrocycles. The multiple constraints result in a “static” complex (remaining as a single entity for more than 30 ms) and facilitate fluorophore coupling in the ground state, showing a significant bathochromic shift in absorption and emission. This modular design is surprisingly applicable and flexible and has been validated through an investigation of nine different fluorophore cores ranging in size, shape, and geometric variation of their clamping modules. All fluorescent dimers evaluated can be photo-excited to atypical excimer-like states with elongated excited lifetimes (up to 37 ns) and substantially high quantum yields (up to 1). This strategy offers a straightforward preparation of discrete fluorophore dimers, providing promising model systems with explicitly stable dimeric structures and tunable photophysical features, which can be utilized to study various intermolecular processes.

Dimerisation of a wide range of fluorophores through multiple CB[8] clampings leads to constrained intracomplex motion and distinct photophysical properties.

Directional Self-Sorting with Cucurbit[8]uril Controlled by Allosteric π-π and Metal-Metal Interactions

To maximize Coulombic interactions, cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) typically forms ternary complexes that distribute the positive charges of the pair of guests (if any) over both carbonylated portals of the macrocycle. We present here the first exception to this recognition pattern. Platinum(II) acetylides flanked by 4'-substituted terpyridyl ligands (tpy) form 2:1 complexes with CB[8] in an exclusively stacked head-to-head orientation in a water/acetonitrile mixture. The host encapsulates the pair of tpy substituents, and both positive Pt centers sit on top of each other at the same CB[8] rim, leaving the other rim free of any interaction with the guests. This dramatic charge imbalance between the CB[8] rims would be electrostatically penalizing, were it not for allosteric π-π interactions between the stacked tpy ligands, and possible metal-metal interactions between both Pt centers. When both tpy and acetylides are substituted with aryl units, the metal-ligand complexes form 2:2 assemblies with CB[8] in aqueous medium, and the directionality of the assembly (head-to-head or head-to-tail) can be controlled, both kinetically and thermodynamically.

A gold-nanoparticle stoppered [2]rotaxane

The construction of molecular machines has captured the imagination of scientists for decades. Despite significant progress in the synthesis and studies of the properties of small-molecule components (smaller than 2-5 kilo Dalton), challenges regarding the incorporation of molecular components into real devices are still eminent. Nano-sized molecular machines operate the complex biological machinery of life, and the idea of mimicking the amazing functions using artificial nano-structures is intriguing. Both in small-molecule molecular machine components and in many naturally occurring molecular machines, mechanically interlocked molecules and structures are key functional components. In this work, we describe our initial efforts to interface mechanically-interlocked molecules and gold-nanoparticles (AuNPs); the molecular wire connecting the AuNPs is covered in an insulating rotaxane-layer, thus mimicking the macroscopic design of a copper wire. Taking advantage of recent progress in the preparation of supramolecular complexes of the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) macrocycle, we have prepared a bis-thiol functionalised pseudo-rotaxane that enables us to prepare a AuNP-stoppered [2]rotaxane in water. The pseudo-rotaxane is held together extremely tightly (Ka > 1013 M-1), Ka being the association constant. We have studied the solution and gas phase guest-host chemistry using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. The bis-thiol functionalised pseudo-rotaxane holds further a ferrocene unit in the centre of the rotaxane; this ferrocene unit enables us to address the system in detail with and without CB[7] and AuNPs using electrochemical methods.

Insights into the Difference Between Rotaxane and Pseudorotaxane

Rotaxane and pseudorotaxane are two types of mechanically interlocked molecular architectures, and there is a clear topological difference and boundary between them. In this work, a "suggested [2]rotaxane 1⊂α-CD" was constructed based on axle molecule 1 bearing two terminal ferrocene groups and a wheel component α-cyclodextrin (α-CD), but the result obtained indicated that the ferrocene group cannot prevent α-CD dethreading under UV irradiation. That is, 1⊂α-CD is just a pseudo[2]rotaxane. Furthermore, the two ferrocene groups in 1⊂α-CD were encapsulated by two cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) units to obtain a heteropseudo[4]rotaxane 1⊂α-CD⋅2CB[7]. This heteropseudo[4]rotaxane displayed high stability towards harsh temperatures and the isomerization of azobenzene in 1, so it can be regarded as a [2]rotaxane. In this [2]rotaxane, the stoppers are not the bulky groups covalently bonded to the axle, but the cyclic CB[7] units connected through noncovalent interactions.

Construction of protein assemblies by host–guest interactions with cucurbiturils

Protein assembly is important in nature and bionics. Herein, we have reviewed the recent progress in protein assemblies induced by cucurbituril-based supramolecular interactions and their applications.

Experimental Binding Energies in Supramolecular Complexes

On the basis of many literature measurements, a critical overview is given on essential noncovalent interactions in synthetic supramolecular complexes, accompanied by analyses with selected proteins. The methods, which can be applied to derive binding increments for single noncovalent interactions, start with the evaluation of consistency and additivity with a sufficiently large number of different host-guest complexes by applying linear free energy relations. Other strategies involve the use of double mutant cycles, of molecular balances, of dynamic combinatorial libraries, and of crystal structures. Promises and limitations of these strategies are discussed. Most of the analyses stem from solution studies, but a few also from gas phase. The empirically derived interactions are then presented on the basis of selected complexes with respect to ion pairing, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic contributions, halogen bonding, π-π-stacking, dispersive forces, cation-π and anion-π interactions, and contributions from the hydrophobic effect. Cooperativity in host-guest complexes as well as in self-assembly, and entropy factors are briefly highlighted. Tables with typical values for single noncovalent free energies and polarity parameters are in the Supporting Information.

Cucurbiturils: from synthesis to high-affinity binding and catalysis

Major developments in the synthesis of cucurbiturils and applications related to their high-affinity binding and catalysis have recently taken place.