Inhibition of C(2)-H Activity on Alkylated Imidazolium Monocations and Dications upon Inclusion by Cucurbit[7]uril.

The inclusions of 1-methyl-3-alkylimidazolium cations (ICn+, n = 4, 6, and 8) and 3,3'-bis(3-(1-methylimidazolium))-1,n-alkane (DICn2+, n = 4, 6, and 8) in the macrocyclic cucurbit[7]uril result in a decrease (up to 25-fold) of the C(2)-H/D exchange rate constants and an increase in the C(2)-H pKa values (ΔpKa = 0.34 to 1.45). The alkyl chain lengths were found to play an important role in the extent of C(2)-H activity inhibition, upon complexation with cucurbit[7]uril.

Encapsulation of Vitamin B(1) and Its Phosphate Derivatives by Cucurbit[7]uril: Tunability of the Binding Site and Affinity by the Presence of Phosphate Groups.

Vitamin B1 (1) and its phosphate derivatives, thiamine monophosphate (2) and thiamine pyrophosphate (3), are shown to form stable 1:1 host-guest complexes with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) in aqueous solution. The binding sites of CB[7] on these guests shift from the ethylthiazolium region of 1 to the pyrimidine moiety of 2 and 3 due to the presence of phosphate groups, leading to variations of binding affinities as well as C(2)-H/D exchange rate constants and C(2)-H pKa values with these guest molecules.

Cucurbit[n]uril type hosts for the reversal of steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents.

The ideal neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) is regarded as being a non-depolarizing equivalent of succinylcholine, having a rapid onset and short duration of action, with minimal side effects. In the absence of a single drug, the administration of an aminosteroid NMBA, such as rocuronium, followed by reversal using an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, such as neostigmine, is commonly employed. A different and safer approach to rapidly reversing the action of the NMBA, by encapsulating it with a macrocyclic or acyclic host molecule, such as the cyclodextrin sugammadex or more recently, cucurbituril-type hosts such as cyclic cucurbit[7]uril and the acyclic glycoluril tetramer calabadion 1, is described.

Cucurbit[7]uril host-guest complexes and [2]pseudorotaxanes with N-methylpiperidinium, N-methylpyrrolidinium, and N-methylmorpholinium cations in aqueous solution.

The formations of host-guest complexes between cucurbit[7]uril and a series of N-substituted N-methylpiperidinium, N-methylpyrrolidinium, and N-methylmorpholinium cations in aqueous solution have been investigated using (1)H NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Dications comprising the N-methylheterocyclic head groups, bridged by a decamethylene chain, form sequential 1 : 1 ([2]pseudorotaxanes) and 2 : 1 host-guest complexes with cucurbit[7]uril. The cucurbituril initially resides over the decamethylene chain, however with further additions of the host molecule a translocation of the hosts to the cationic N-heterocyclic head groups occurs. The order of the magnitude of the cucurbituril host-guest stability constants, determined by competitive (1)H NMR binding experiments, follows the trend in the hydrophobicity of the quaternary ammonium cations.

Selective molecular recognition of methylated lysines and arginines by cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[7]uril in aqueous solution.

Cucurbit[7]uril selectively binds the epigenetic mark N(ε),N(ε),N(ε)-trimethyllysine (LysMe(3), K(CB[7]) = (1.8 ± 0.6)× 10(6) dm(3) mol(-1)) by 3500-fold over lysine ((5.3 ± 0.7) × 10(2) dm(3) mol(-1)) in aqueous solution, using ion-dipole interactions and the hydrophobic effect, rather than cation-π interactions, as in the "aromatic cages" of p-SO(3)-calix[4]arene hosts or chromodomain proteins which recognize LysMe(3). The trend in K(CB[7]) of LysMe(3) > LysMe(2) > LysMe > Lys follows the recognition pattern of the chromodomain HP1 and other LysMe(n) protein readers. With CB[6], protonation of the guest carboxylate group is required for the formation of inclusion complexes with the LysMe(n) series. The CB[7] host also displays modest selectivity between the asymmetric ((2.0 ± 0.3) × 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1)) and symmetric ((6.1 ± 0.6) × 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1)) dimethylarginines, both of which bind more strongly than the parent arginine or monomethylarginine.

Host-guest complexations of local anaesthetics by cucurbit[7]uril in aqueous solution.

The cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) host molecule forms very stable host-guest complexes with the local anaesthetics procaine (K(CB[7]) = (3.5 +/- 0.7) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1)), tetracaine (K(CB[7]) = (1.5 +/- 0.4) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1)), procainamide (K(CB[7]) = (7.8 +/- 1.6) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1)), dibucaine (K(CB[7]) = (1.8 +/- 0.4) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1)) and prilocaine (K(CB[7]) = (2.6 +/- 0.6) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1)) in aqueous solution (pD = 4.75). The stability constants are 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than the values reported for binding by the comparably sized beta-cyclodextrin host molecule. The inclusion by CB[7] raises the first pK(a) values of the anaesthetics by 0.5-1.9 pK units, as the protonated forms are bound more strongly in acidic solution. The complexation-induced chemical shift changes in the guest proton resonances provide an indication of the site(s) of binding and the effects of protonation on the location of the binding sites.

Cucurbit[7]uril host-guest complexes of cholines and phosphonium cholines in aqueous solution.

The neutral host cucurbit[7]uril forms very stable complexes with a series of cationic cholines (R(3)NCH(2)CH(2)OR'(+)) and their phosphonium analogues (R(3)PCH(2)CH(2)OR'(+)) (R(3) = Me(3), Et(3), or Me(2)Bz, or R(3)N = quinuclidinium, and R' = H, COCH(3), CO(CH(2))(2)CH(3), or PO(3)H), and (+/-)-carnitine, in aqueous solution. The complexation behaviour has been investigated using (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopies, and ESI mass spectrometry. The complexation-induced chemical shift changes of the guests clearly indicate the effects of replacing the N(CH(3))(3)(+) end group by P(CH(3))(3)(+), and changing the nature of R on the position of the guest with respect to the CB[7] cavity and its polar portal-lining carbonyl groups. This study demonstrates that molecular recognition of cholines in aqueous solution is achievable with a neutral host without the need for aromatic walls for cation-pi interactions.

Host-guest complexes and pseudorotaxanes of cucurbit[7]uril with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Pseudorotaxanes may be assembled in aqueous solution using dicationic acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as succinylcholine, BW284c51, and alpha,omega-bis(trialkylammonium)alkane dications (or their phosphonium analogues), as bolaform axles and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) as the wheel. With the exceptions of the shorter [(CH(3))(3)N(CH(2))(n)N(CH(3))(3)](2+) (n = 6, 8) dications, the addition of a second CB[7] results in the translocation of the first CB[7], such that the hydrophobic -NR(3)(+) and -PR(3)(+) end groups (R = Me or Et) are located in the cavities of the wheels, while the central portion of the axles extend through the CB[7] portals into the bulk solvent. In the case of the [Quin(CH(2))(10)Quin](2+) (Quin = quinuclidinium) dication, the CB[7] host(s) resides only on the quinuclidinium end group(s). The 1:1 host-guest stability constants range from 8 x 10(6) to 3 x 10(10) M(-1) and are dependent on both the nature of the end group as well as the length and hydrophobicity of the central linker. The magnitude of the stability constants for the 2:1 complexes closely follow the trend observed previously for CB[7] binding with the NR(4)(+) and PR(4)(+) cations.

Cucurbit[7]uril host-guest and pseudorotaxane complexes with alpha,omega-bis(pyridinium)alkane dications.

The host molecule cucurbit[7]uril forms very stable host-guest complexes (1:1 and 2:1) and [2]pseudorotaxanes with alpha,omega-bis(pyridinium)alkane dications in aqueous solution. With the dications containing pyridinium, 2- and 3-picolinium, and 4-dimethylaminopyridinium end groups and a hexyl chain, [2]pseudorotaxanes are formed with one equivalent of CB[7] positioned over the central chain. A second equivalent of CB[7] encapsulating one of the end groups results in the translocation of the first CB[7] to the other end group. For the dications with these end groups, the 2:1 host-guest complexes exhibit stability constants which are considerably smaller than the 1:1 values as the result of steric and electronic repulsions between the two CB[7] hosts.

Stabilization of the base-off forms of vitamin B(12) and coenzyme B(12) by encapsulation of the alpha-axial 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole ligand with cucurbit[7]uril.

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) forms very stable complexes with the alpha-axial 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (alpha-DMB) nucleotide base when dissociated from the Co(III) center in vitamin B(12) (CNCbl, K(CB[7]) = (7.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1)) and coenzyme B(12) (AdoCbl, K(CB[7]) = (3.02 +/- 0.35) x 10(6) dm(3) mol(-1)). The inclusion of alpha-DMB ligand facilitates its release from the metal center and its subsequent protonation, with significantly higher pK(base-off) values of 3.77 and 6.61, than determined for the free CNCbl (0.11) and AdoCbl (2.67), respectively. Addition of CB[7] to the base-on form of CNCbl at pH 2 provides for a direct measurement of the rate constant for the dissociation of the alpha-DMB ligand from the Co center (k = (4.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(-2) s(-1), DeltaH = 93 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = +41 +/- 6 J K(-1) mol(-1)). The beta-axial 5'-deoxyadenosyl ligand (beta-Ado) on coenzyme B(12) is bound more weakly by a second CB[7] host (K(CB[7]) = (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1)), however inclusion of the beta-Ado ligand has no effect on the kinetics of its heterolytic photodissociation from the Co(III) center.

3-Amino-1-methyl-pyrazin-1-ium iodide.

In the cation of the title compound, C(5)H(8)N(3) (+)·I(-), the C-N(H(2)) bond distance [1.338 (8) Å] is at the lower end of the range for aryl amines. In the crystal structure, cations and anions are linked via N-H⋯I hydrogen bonds, forming centrosymmetric four-component clusters.

Encapsulation of charge-diffuse peralkylated onium cations in the cavity of cucurbit[7]uril.

Cucurbit[7]uril binds, with considerable size selectivity, NR(4)(+), PR(4)(+), and SR(3)(+) cations (R=Me, Et, (n)Pr, (n)Bu), with the smaller guests inside its cavity, rather than at the carbonyl-lined portals.

Cucurbit[7]uril host-guest complexes of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist ranitidine.

The macrocyclic host cucurbit[7]uril forms very stable complexes with the diprotonated (K(CB[7])(1) = 1.8 x 10(8) dm(3) mol(-1)), monoprotonated (K(CB[7])(2) = 1.0 x 10(7) dm(3) mol(-1)), and neutral (K(CB[7])(3) = 1.2 x 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1)) forms of the histamine H(2)-receptor antagonist ranitidine in aqueous solution. The complexation behaviour was investigated using (1)H NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy as a function of pH and the pK(a) values of the guest were observed to increase (DeltapK(a1) = 1.5 and DeltapK(a2) = 1.6) upon host-guest complex formation. The energy-minimized structures of the host-guest complexes with the cationic guests were determined and provide agreement with the NMR results indicating the location of the CB[7] over the central portion of the guest. The inclusion of the monoprotonated form of ranitidine slows the normally rapid (E)-(Z) exchange process and generates a preference for the (Z) isomer. The formation of the CB[7] host-guest complex greatly increases the thermal stability of ranitidine in acidic aqueous solution at 50 degrees C, but has no effect on its photochemical reactivity.

Cucurbit[7]uril host-guest complexes with small polar organic guests in aqueous solution.

The host-guest stability constants for the inclusion of a series of small neutral polar organic guests in cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) have been determined in aqueous solution by (1)H NMR titrations. The dependence of the stability constant on the nature of the guests indicates that hydrophobic and dipole-quadrupole interactions are responsible for the binding. The complexation-induced chemical shift changes in the guest proton resonances, coupled with energy-minimization calculations, suggest that the guests are located such that their dipole moment is aligned perpendicular with the quadrupole moment of the CB[7] host. The stability constants for acetone and acetophenone decrease in the presence of Na(+) or K(+) cations as a result of cation capping of the CB[7] portals.

Binding modes of cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[7]uril with a tetracationic bis(viologen) guest.

Binding behaviors of two cucurbit[n]urils (CB[n]) hosts with the [CH3bpy(CH2)6bpyCH3]4+ (bpy = 4,4'-bipyridinium) guest were investigated by 1H NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS experiments. While the CB[6] and CB[7] form [2]pseudorotaxanes with the host located over the hexamethylene chain of the guest, only the CB[7] forms a [3]pseudorotaxane with both host molecules residing over the bipyridinium groups. The initial CB[7] host vacates the inclusion of the hexamethylene chain as a result of the electrostatic and steric repulsions that would arise in simultaneous binding of adjacent aliphatic and aromatic portions of the guest.

Cucurbit[8]uril/cucurbit[7]uril controlled off/on fluorescence of the acridizinium and 9-aminoacridizinium cations in aqueous solution.

The blue fluorescence of acridizinium bromide (ADZ+) and the green fluorescence of 9-aminoacridizinium bromide (AADZ+) in aqueous solutions can be almost entirely switched off upon the double inclusion of these guests in the cavity of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) owing to the formation of a nonfluorescent, noncovalent dimer complex, and then fluorescence can be effectively restored by adding cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) to the complex because it competitively extracts the fluorophores out of the CB[8] cavity.

Kinetics of the electron self-exchange and electron-transfer reactions of the (trimethylammonio)methylferrocene host-guest complex with cucurbit[7]uril in aqueous solution.

The electron self-exchange rate constants for the (trimethylammonio)methylferrocene(+/2+) couple (FcTMA+/2+) have been measured in the absence and presence of the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) host molecule in aqueous solution, using 1H NMR line-broadening experiments. The very strong binding of the ferrocene to CB[7] results in slow exchange of the guest on the NMR time scale, such that resonances for both the free and bound forms of the reduced ferrocene can be observed. The extents of line broadening in the resonances of the two forms of the guest in the presence of the FcTMA2+ species can be monitored independently, allowing for the determination of the rate constants for the possible self-exchange pathways involving the bound and free forms of both the oxidized and reduced members of the redox couple. The encapsulation of both the reduced and oxidized forms of the ferrocene increases the rate constant (25 degrees C) from (2.1+/-0.1)x10(6) M-1 s-1 (for FcTMA+/2+) to (6.7+/-0.7)x10(6) M(-1) s(-1) (for {FcTMA.CB[7]}+/2+), whereas inclusion of the reduced form only decreases the rate constant to (6+/-1)x10(5) M(-1) s(-1). The changes in the exchange rate constants upon inclusion of the reactants are related to the effects of CB[7] acting as an outer, second-coordination sphere and are compared to those observed previously for the electron-exchange process in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin and p-sulfonated calix[6]arene hosts. The binding of FcTMA+ and hydroxymethylferrocene to CB[7] significantly reduces the rate constants for their oxidations by the bis(2,6-pyridinedicarboxylato)cobaltate(III) ion (which does not bind to CB[7]) as a result of reduced thermodynamic driving forces and steric hindrance to close approach of the oxidant to the encapsulated ferrocenes.

Inhibition of C(2)-H/D exchange of a bis(imidazolium) dication upon complexation with cucubit[7]uril.

Inclusion of the alpha,alpha'-bis(3-(1-methylimidazolium))-p-xylene dication in cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7], K(CB[7]) = (4.3 x 10(9) M(-1)), with C-H...O=C hydrogen bonding between the guest C(2)-protons and the carbonyl oxygens of the host portals, inhibits the H/D exchange for the C(2)-proton with k(OD) (25 degrees C, D2O) decreasing from 1.2 x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1) (pKa = 22.3) in the absence of CB[7] to 0.9 M(-1) s(-1) (pKa = 25.4) in the presence of 1.1 equiv. CB[7].

Cucurbit[7]uril mediates the stereoselective [4+4] photodimerization of 2-aminopyridine hydrochloride in aqueous solution.

The 2:1 guest-host complex of 2-aminopyridine hydrochloride with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) undergoes a stereoselective [4+4] photodimerization reaction in aqueous solution to yield exclusively the anti-trans isomer of 4,8-diamino-3,7-diazatricyclo[4.2.2.2(2,5)]dodeca-3,7,9,11-tetraene, and in the absence of CB[7], the photochemical reaction produces the anti-trans and syn-trans photodimers in a 4:1 ratio. In addition, encapsulation of the photodimer product in the CB[7] cavity stabilizes it with respect to the otherwise observed rearomatization to the 2-aminopyridine monomer at room temperature.

A green to blue fluorescence switch of protonated 2-aminoanthracene upon inclusion in cucurbit[7]uril.

The inclusion of protonated 2-aminoanthracene in the cavity of cucurbit[7]uril increases its pKa values in the ground and excited states, resulting in the disappearance of the green emission of the neutral excited state and the significant enhancement of the blue emissions from the protonated excited state guest.