Understanding the role of cyclodextrins in the self-assembly, crystallinity, and porosity of titania nanostructures.

A series of mesoporous titania photocatalysts with tailorable structural and textural characteristics was prepared in aqueous phase via a colloidal self-assembly approach using various cyclodextrins (CDs) as structure-directing agents. The photocatalysts and the structure-directing agents were characterized at different stages of the synthesis by combining X-ray diffraction, N2-adsorption, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and surface tension measurements. The results demonstrate that the cyclic macromolecules efficiently direct the self-assembly of titania colloids, resulting in a fine-tuning of the crystal phase composition, crystallite size, surface area, particle morphology, pore volume, and pore size. Depending on the chemical nature of the substituents in the cyclodextrin ring, synergistic or competitive effects arising from the adsorption capacity of these cyclic oligosaccharides onto titania surface, surface-active properties, and ability to aggregate in water by intermolecular interactions were found to substantially impact the characteristics of the final material. We propose that, in contrast to the native cyclodextrins, which tend to favor the local agglomeration of titania nanoparticles due to the strong intermolecular interactions, the substitution of hydroxyl groups by a relatively large number of methoxyl or 2-hydropropoxyl ones in the ß-CD derivatives allows for creating smoother interfaces, thus facilitating the self-assembly of the colloids in a more homogeneous network. The photocatalytic activity of those titania materials was evaluated in the photodegradation of a toxic herbicide, phenoxyacetic acid, and was correlated to the structural and textural characteristics of the photocatalysts.

Synthesis, surface tension properties and antibacterial activities of amphiphilic D-galactopyranose derivatives.

Several amphiphilic d-galactopyranose derivatives were synthesized in which the glycosidic moiety was separated from the hydrophobic alkyl chain (along 8 or 12 carbon atoms) by a spacer arm (butyl, butynyl or benzyl) in order to increase their surfactant properties and to obtain new antibacterial compounds. The surface tensions of the products were analyzed by Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) and γCMC measurements and the antimicrobial activities were assayed against 10 bacterial species by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination in liquid broth. The introduction of an aliphatic spacer arm increased the amphiphilic properties of the compounds and the CMC values were 40-500 times lower than their analogs without spacer arm. In the same manner, the spacer arms significantly increased the antibacterial power of the compounds. The products 4d and 4e exhibiting a C12 alkyl chain and an aliphatic spacer arm (butyl and butynyl) were the best surfactants (CMC = 0.023 and 0.032 mmol/L, respectively) and presented also the best antibacterial activities (MIC = 15.62 and 3.91 µg/mL for Micrococcus luteus, respectively). But the antibacterial activity of the newly synthesized products seemed to depend more on the cell wall composition of the bacteria than only on the amphiphilic character of the compounds.

Phosphane-based cyclodextrins as mass transfer agents and ligands for aqueous organometallic catalysis.

The replacement of hazardous solvents and the utilization of catalytic processes are two key points of the green chemistry movement, so aqueous organometallic catalytic processes are of great interest in this context. Nevertheless, these processes require not only the use of water-soluble ligands such as phosphanes to solubilise the transition metals in water, but also the use of mass transfer agents to increase the solubility of organic substrates in water. In this context, phosphanes based on a cyclodextrin skeleton are an interesting alternative since these compounds can simultaneously act as mass transfer agents and as coordinating species towards transition metals. For twenty years, various cyclodextrin-functionalized phosphanes have been described in the literature. Nevertheless, while their coordinating properties towards transition metals and their catalytic properties were fully detailed, their mass transfer agent properties were much less discussed. As these mass transfer agent properties are directly linked to the availability of the cyclodextrin cavity, the aim of this review is to demonstrate that the nature of the reaction solvent and the nature of the linker between cyclodextrin and phosphorous moieties can deeply influence the recognition properties. In addition, the impact on the catalytic activity will be also discussed.

Aqueous biphasic hydroformylation in the presence of cyclodextrins mixtures: evidence of a positive synergistic effect.

Mixtures of randomly methylated cyclodextrins of various sizes have been evaluated in the rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of higher olefins in an aqueous biphasic medium. A marked positive non-linear effect on 1-tetradecene conversion is observed when the CD molar ratio in the mixture is modified. The formation of 2:1 ternary inclusion complexes between RAME-CDs and the olefin is supposed to be responsible for the extra conversion observed.

How cyclodextrins can mask their toxic effect on the blood-brain barrier.

The toxicity of monosubstituted n-alkyldimethylammonium-beta-cyclodextrins (DMA-C(n)-CD with n=2, 4 and 12) towards endothelial cells of an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was evaluated and compared to that of the native beta-CD. DMA-C(12)-CD was found to be non-toxic below 10mM due to the self-inclusion of the alkyl chain in the CD cavity. A high percentage of passage (30%) of DMA-C(12)-CD through the endothelial cells has been measured.