Hydrolysis and Enantiodiscrimination of (R)- and (S)-Oxazepam Hemisuccinate by Methylated β-Cyclodextrins: An NMR Investigation

Chiral Discrimination Mechanisms by Silylated-Acetylated Cyclodextrins: Superficial Interactions vs. Inclusion

Cyclodextrin derivatives constitute a powerful class of auxiliary agents for the discrimination of apolar chiral substrates. Both host–guest inclusion phenomena and interactions with the derivatizing groups located on the surface of the macrocycle could drive the enantiodiscrimination; thus, it is important to understand the role that these processes play in the rational design of new chiral selectors. The purpose of this study is to compare via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy the efficiency of silylated-acetylated α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins in the chiral discrimination of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(fluoromethoxy)-3-methoxypropane (compound B) and methyl 2-chloropropionate (MCP). NMR DOSY (Diffusion Ordered SpectroscopY) experiments were conducted for the determination of the bound molar fractions and the association constants, whereas ROESY (Rotating-frame Overhauser Enhancement SpectroscopY) measurements provided information on the hosts’ conformation and on the interaction phenomena with the guests. Compound B, endowed with fluorinated moieties, is not deeply included due to attractive Si-F interactions occurring at the external surface of the cyclodextrins. Therefore, a low selectivity toward the size of cyclodextrin cavity is found. By contrast, enantiodiscrimination of MCP relies on the optimal fitting between the size of the guest and that of the cyclodextrin cavity.

NMR Investigation of the Supramolecular Complex Formed by a Phenylboronic Acid-Ferrocene Electroactive Probe and Native or Derivatized β-Cyclodextrin

Specifically designed electrochemical sensors are standing out as alternatives to enzyme-based biosensors for the sensing of metabolites. In our previous works, we developed a new electrochemical assay based on cyclodextrin supramolecular complexes. A ferrocene moiety (Fc) was chemically modified by phenylboronic acid (4-Fc-PB) and combined with two different kinds of cyclodextrins (CDs): β-CD and β-CD modified by a dipicolylamine group (dpa-p-HB-β-CDs) for the sensing of fructose and adenosine-triphosphate (ATP), respectively. The aim of the present work is to better comprehend the features underlining the aforementioned complex formation. For the first time, a study about inclusion phenomena between the 4-Fc-PB electroactive probe with β-CD and with dpa-p-HB-β-CD was performed by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. In particular, we focused on providing insights on the interaction involved and on the calculation of the binding constant of 4-Fc-PB/β-CD supramolecular complex, and elucidation about a drift in the time observed during the control experiments of the electrochemical measurements for the 4-Fc-PB/dpa-p-HB-β-CD supramolecular complex. In this sense, this paper represents a step further in the explanation of the electrochemical results obtained, pointing out the nature of the interactions present both in the formation of the inclusions and in the sensing with the analytes.