Controlling the size and morphology of supramolecular assemblies of viologen-resorcin[4]arene cavitands.

A novel class of self-assembling nanoparticles is formed with viologen-resorcin[4]arene cavitands; the association model is strongly controlled by their hydrophobicity. Interestingly, the cavitand assemblies are designed through click chemistry to form self-assembled noncovalently connected aggregates through counterion displacement. The iodide and benzoate ions are utilized as strongly polarizable counterions to induce cavitand self-assembly. The counterion-mediated decrease in hydrophilicity of the viologen-resorcin[4]arenes is the underlying trigger to induce particle formation. These particles can be used as nanocontainers and find their applications in delivery systems.

Tunable biomimetic systems based on a novel amphiphilic pyrimidinophane and a helper nonionic surfactant.

Tunable nanosystems based on a novel water insoluble pyrimidinic amphiphile are designed. pH dependent aggregates composed of protonated pyrimidinophane 1 are formed at pH<4, which undergo reversible transition to precipitate at neutral and basic conditions. The approach assuming the application of a helper nonionic surfactant Triton-X-100 (TX-100) is used in this work. Different models of a self-assembly were found depending on the molar ratio of components and solution pH. In the equimolar 1-TX-100 solution, mixed assemblies contributed by aggregated molecules of both TX-100 and cationic form of 1 are formed in acidic conditions. Upon alkalization, deprotonated pyrimidinophane molecules shift toward the micellar core. The assemblies undergo reversible precipitation after 4-5h, while the excess of TX-100 leads to the formation of highly stable mixed aggregates. The acidification-alkalization cycles followed by the aggregation/precipitation and the re-charging of aggregates can be multiply repeated. Surprisingly, stable mixed aggregates are also formed under the excess of pyrimidinophane in both the acidic and alkaline conditions, but at a certain component ratio. They are characterized by the highest micellization degree among all the systems studied. The low concentration threshold of these assemblies in alkali solution is probably due to their nonionic character.

Novel self-assembling system based on resorcinarene and cationic surfactant.

Mixed association of calix[4]resorcinarene with ethyl sulfonate groups on the lower rim and dimethylaminomethyl groups on the upper rim (CR) and cationic surfactant 4-aza-1-hexadecyl-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bromide (DABCO-16) is studied by methods of tensiometry, conductometry, potentiometry and NMR spectroscopy at fixed CR concentration and varied surfactant concentration. Beyond ca. 0.4 mM of DABCO-16, mixed aggregates enriched by CR are proved to be formed due to electrostatic forces, while beyond ca. 5 mM, aggregates enriched by surfactant occur due to the hydrophobic effect. Spectrophotometry monitoring of the solubilization of a hydrophobic dye, Orange OT, demonstrated that only the second type of mixed aggregate enriched by DABCO-16 is capable of binding the organic probe, while the mixed system where the surfactant is a minor component shows no binding capacity towards Orange OT. This finding can be used for the design of nanocontainers with controllable binding/release properties.

Antimicrobial activity of pyrimidinophanes with thiocytosine and uracil moieties.

Reactions of pyrimidinophanes with two 6-methylthiocytosine and one 5(6)-alkyluracil moieties bridged with each other by polymethylene spacers with methyl or nonyl p-toluenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonate and trifluorosulfonate afforded amphiphilic macrocyclic bis-p-toluene-, methane- and trifluorosulfonates. Despite the presence of several reaction centers in the initial pyrimidinophane molecules, protonation and methylation occurred only at the N(1) atom (with quaternization) of the 6-methylthiocytosine moieties. The bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity of the products was estimated. Macrocyclic tosylates exhibit a remarkable selectivity towards Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values comparable with a reference drug. Bacteriostatic activity of the amphiphilic pyrimidinophanes depends on the size of the macrocycles, and the highest activity corresponds to definite lengths of polymethylene bridges. Besides, the antimicrobial activity of the screened pyrimidine derivatives depends on their topology. While macrocyclic tosylates are more active against bacteria than against fungi, acyclic tosylate with the same structural fragments shows a dramatical decrease of MIC towards mold and yeast with respect to the corresponding macrocycle. It is found that macrocyclic and acyclic tosylates in high dilutions decrease the extracellular lipase activity.

pH-controlled photoinduced electron transfer in the [(Mo6Cl8)L6]-calix[4]resorcine-dimethylviologen system.

A pH-controlled photoinduced electron transfer in the supramolecular system [(Mo(6)Cl(8))L(6)]-calix[4]resorcine-dimethylviologen is reported.

GIAO DFT 13C/15N chemical shifts in regioisomeric structure determination of fused pyrazoles.

The combined use of two-dimensional NMR correlation experiments and gauge including atomic orbital density functional theory in (13)C NMR chemical shift (CS) calculations allowed reliable and simple structural determination of regioisomeric heterocyclic systems that originate from the reactions of acylquinolinones with substituted hydrazines. Moreover, the results of differential analysis between the calculated (15)N NMR CSs for hypothetical structures and the experimental data of the title azaheterocyclic systems were even more advantageous with respect to (13)C because there was no need for correlational analysis: structures of the regioisomeric compounds could be determined just by direct comparison.

Nanoreactors based on amphiphilic uracilophanes: self-organization and reactivity study.

New amphiphilic pyrimidinic macrocycles (APMs) with two (APM-1) and three (APM-2) decyl tails have been synthesized by quaternization of the bridged N. Complex examination of the APM-based systems with the help of tensiometry, conductometry, dynamic light scattering, and UV and NMR spectroscopy provides evidence for their aggregation. Calculations based on surface tension isotherms and on packing parameter considerations make it possible to assume a lamellar packing of macrocycles when aggregating. Marked differences in the aggregation behavior of APM-1 and APM-2 have been found. The additives of polyethylenimine (PEI) exert little influence on the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of APM-1, while in the APM-2/PEI systems there occurs a pronounced decrease in the cmc and also a ca. 2-fold decrease in the surface area per molecule. The APM-based assemblies are explored as nanoreactors for the hydrolysis of O-alkyl O-p-nitrophenyl (chloromethyl)phosphonates (alkyl = ethyl, hexyl). The kinetic study reveals a minor rate effect of the APM-1-based systems. In the APM-2-based systems an acceleration of the hydrolysis of both phosphonates occurs as compared to the uncatalyzed process. Within the APM-2 --> APM-2/PEI --> APM-2/PEI/La(III) series, due to the cooperative contributions of the supramolecular, polymer, and homogeneous catalysis, an increase in the catalytic effect is observed from 30 times to 3 orders of magnitude as compared to that of the basic hydrolysis of the substrates.