abstract
The macrobicycle derived from bis-tren and containing diphenoxy groups as spacers, L(1), was synthesized and used as receptor for anions. The binding ability of the new receptor for some aromatic carboxylates [phthalate (ph(2-)), isophthalate (iph(2-)), terephthalate (tph(2-)), benezenetricarboxylate (btc(3-)), and the herbicide 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylate (ATCP(-))], and the aliphatic cyclohexanetricarboxylate (ch(3-)) anions was evaluated by potentiometric measurements and molecular dynamic simulation in solution. The association constants were determined by potentiometry in H(2)O/MeOH (1:1 v/v) at 298.2 K and 0.10 mol dm(-3) in KCl. The strongest association was found with btc(3-) anion and the effective binding constants at pH 5.5 follow the order: btc(3-)>tph(2-)>ph(2-) approximate to iph(2-)>ch(3-) approximate to ATCP(-). Molecular dynamics simulations carried out for the associations of (H(6)L(1))(6+) with btc(3-), tph(2-) and iph(2-) in the same mixture of solvents indicated that these anions interact with the receptor by a combination of electrostatic and multiple N-H center dot center dot center dot O=C hydrogen bond interactions. It was also verified that in the recognition process the tph(2-) remained encapsulated over the entire time of simulation while the btc(3-) is partially inserted into the receptor cavity with one carboxylate group largely exposed to water solvent molecules, and iph(2-) anion exhibited an intermediate binding behaviour. The free energy difference between btc(3-) and iph(2-) associations estimated by free energy calculations is in excellent agreement with the difference found from the experimental values for the corresponding association constants, which indicates that the unconstrained molecular dynamics simulations carried out with these two anions are realistic pictures of their molecular recognition processes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
keywords
POLYAMMONIUM RECEPTORS; AQUEOUS-SOLUTION; RECOGNITION; WATER; CYCLOPHANE; COORDINATION; MACROCYCLES; SELECTIVITY; METHANOL; CRYPTAND
subject category
Chemistry
authors
Carvalho, S; Delgado, R; Felix, V
our authors
Sílvia Cristina Ferreira de Carvalho
Post-doc Fellowship