Chiral recognition by fullerenes: CHFClBr enantiomers in the C82 cage.

Density-functional theory and symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations on complexes of the enantiomers of CHFClBr with the most stable isomer of C82-3 fullerene show that despite the guests being too large for the host cage, they are nevertheless stabilized by electrostatic interactions. The complexation leads to considerable strain on the cage and the guests accompanied by compression of the bonds of the guest molecule, resulting in considerable complexation-induced changes in the infrared (IR), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and UV-vis spectra. The effect of chiral recognition is pronounced only for the 19F signal in the NMR spectra and in a sign reversal of the rotational strength of the νCH stretching vibration of S-CHFClBr@C82-3 in the VCD spectrum as compared to that of the free guest, making the sign of this band for the C82 complexes with the S- and R-guest enantiomers the same. This is a surprising result since vibrational circular dichroism is considered a reliable method for determining the absolute chirality of small molecules and for establishing dominant conformations in biopolymers.

Structure, NMR and Electronic Spectra of [m.n]Paracyclophanes with Varying Bridges Lengths (m, n = 2-4).

Extending our earlier studies on cyclophanes, we here report the structure, chemical shifts, spin-spin coupling constants, absorption and emission properties of [m.n]paracyclophanes, m, n = 2-4, obtained using a combination of experimental and computational techniques. Accurate values of proton chemical shifts as well as of JHH for the bridges are determined. The experimental chemical shifts, coupling constants, absorption and emission wavelengths are satisfactorily reproduced using density functional theory calculations, using both the B3LYP and ωB97X-D functionals. The geometries predicted using a functional that includes dispersion corrections (ωB97X-D) are in a better agreement with available experimental values than those obtained using the B3LYP method. Up to 8 UV-vis absorption/emission bands have been observed (or anticipated in the region below 200 nm) and assigned on the basis of quantum-chemical calculations. Optimized excited-state geometries showed that the distances between the aromatic bridgehead carbon atoms of all the [m.n]paracyclophanes in the excited state decrease compared to the ground-state geometries by ca. 0.2-0.9 Å, the largest being for [4.4]paracyclophane, though the rather large differences in the calculated emission wavelength compared to experiment cast some doubts on the accuracy of the excited-state geometries.

Structure and NMR spectra of cyclophanes with unsaturated bridges (cyclophenes).

The calculated structures of several known and hypothetical cyclophanes with ethylene bridges (cyclophenes) are reported together with experimental and calculated values of their NMR parameters. Of the exchange-correlation functionals and basis sets used in this work, only the ωB97X-D/6-311++G(2d,2p) and ωB97X-D/cc-pVQZ yielded values of the C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond length close to the experimental data, although significant differences still remain. As far as the NMR parameters are concerned, except for close-lying signals, chemical shifts and coupling constants calculated at the ωB97X-D/cc-pVQZ level reproduce in most cases the experimental trends. Contrary to the calculations of geometries, an agreement between the values of the NMR parameters obtained at ωB97X-D/cc-pVQZ level and the experimental ones is the poorest compared with that of the ωB97X-D/6-311++G(2d,2p) one. Taking into account that the results of the different calculations show the same qualitative trends in most cases, we believe that they correctly describe the structure and properties of the hypothetical molecules studied here.

Structure and NMR spectra of some [2.2]paracyclophanes. The dilemma of [2.2]paracyclophane symmetry.

Density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations of the structure and NMR parameters for highly strained hydrocarbon [2.2]paracyclophane 1 and its three derivatives are presented. The calculated NMR parameters are compared with the experimental ones. By least-squares fitting of the (1)H spectra, almost all J(HH) coupling constants could be obtained with high accuracy. Theoretical vicinal J(HH) couplings in the aliphatic bridges, calculated using different basis sets (6-311G(d,p), and Huz-IV) reproduce the experimental values with essentially the same root-mean-square (rms) error of about 1.3 Hz, regardless of the basis set used. These discrepancies could be in part due to a considerable impact of rovibrational effects on the observed J(HH) couplings, since the latter show a measurable dependence on temperature. Because of the lasting literature controversies concerning the symmetry of parent compound 1, D(2h) versus D(2), a critical analysis of the relevant literature data is carried out. The symmetry issue is prone to confusion because, according to some literature claims, the two hypothetical enantiomeric D(2) structures of 1 could be separated by a very low energy barrier that would explain the occurrence of rovibrational effects on the observed vicinal J(HH) couplings. However, the D(2h) symmetry of 1 with a flat energy minimum could also account for these effects.

Structure and dynamics of [3.3]paracyclophane as studied by nuclear magnetic resonance and density functional theory calculations.

Strained cyclophanes with small (-CH(2)-)(n) bridges connecting two benzene rings are interesting objects of basic research, mostly because of the nonplanarity of the rings and of interference of π-electrons of the latter. For title [3.3]paracyclophane, in solutions occurring in two interconverting cis and trans conformers, the published nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data are incomplete and involve its partially deuterated isotopomers. In this paper, variable-temperature NMR studies of its perprotio isotopomer combined with DFT quantum chemical calculations provide a complete characterization of the solution structure, NMR parameters, and interconversion of the cis and trans isomers of the title compound. Using advanced methods of spectral analysis, total quantitative interpretation of its proton NMR spectra in both the static and dynamic regimes is conducted. In particular, not only the geminal but also all of the vicinal J(HH) values for the bridge protons are determined, and for the first time, complete Arrhenius data for the interconversion process are reported. The experimental proton and carbon chemical shifts and the (n)J(HH), (1)J(CH), and (1)J(CC) coupling constants are satisfactorily reproduced theoretically by the values obtained from the density functional theory calculations.

NMR parameters of two tricyclododecadienes--strained hydrocarbons with close distance between perpendicularly or parallelly arranged double bonds.

Quantum chemical calculations of the hypothetical tricyclo[5.5.0.0(4, 10)]dodeca-1(7),4(10)-diene with a perpendicular arrangement of double bonds and of the known tricyclo[4.2.2.2(2, 5)]dodeca-1,5-diene isomer with the parallel arrangement yield, in agreement with expectations, greater stability of the latter molecule. They reproduce the available experimental results for chemical shifts and coupling constants for the latter molecule. Large calculated values of sigma(Csp2) and those of (1)J(C=C) for both dienes are not due to nonplanar distortions on the double bonds but due to the close distances between them. The calculated NMR parameters of the hypothetical diene could be useful for its future identification as the calculated values of the parameters for 1 are larger than those for 2.

Spatial structure and NMR spectra of strained [2.2.2]cyclophanes.

The chemical shifts and coupling constants in the NMR spectra of the title compounds are influenced by their strain and the proximity of the aromatic rings. These parameters are studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations for 1-4 and measured for 3 and 4. We find that, in spite of the strain, the calculations reproduce the experimental values satisfactorily. This finding is of special importance for novel hypothetical molecules like hexahydrosuperphane 5 for their future identification and in searches of hydrocarbons exhibiting unusual NMR parameters. Our results demonstrate the influence of strain on the parameters studied. Most proton and carbon chemical shifts for the molecules under study having nonplanar aromatic rings differ considerably from the corresponding values for the relatively unstrained trimethylbenzenes and ethylbenzene. In addition, the calculated values of the coupling constants through three bonds in most cases do not follow Karplus relation.

Modeling the structure of fulleranes and their endohedral complexes involving small molecules with nontrivial topological properties.

'In' and 'out' isomers of perhydrogenated fullerenes and endohedral fullerene complexes have only recently been incorporated into the realm of topological chemistry. The 'in' isomers are, until now, purely hypothetical while for the latter group mostly studied are the complexes with metal ions that can be obtained during the fullerenes manufacturing. Much more difficult to obtain are the complexes with small molecules buried inside fullerene cages produced by laborious synthesis involving opening the cage, inserting the guest into it, and closing the cage chemically. This complicated procedure has only recently been accomplished for a hydrogen molecule put in the C60. Two H2 molecules inside the opened C70 cage and H2O in the opened C60 have been also reported recently. Model calculations, when carefully applied, allow one to predict the possibility of obtaining endohedral fullerene complexes with small molecules and 'in' isomers of perhydrogenated fullerenes. However, such systems are too large to be reliably handled by quantum calculations. Interestingly, such a simple method as molecular mechanics seems much more trustworthy.

Determination of association constants at moderately fast chemical exchange: complexation of camphor enantiomers by alpha-cyclodextrin.

Association constants in weak molecular complexes can be determined by analysis of chemical shifts variations resulting from changes of guest to host concentration ratio. In the regime of very fast exchange, i.e., when exchange rate is several orders of magnitude larger than the Larmor angular frequency difference of the observed resonance in free and complexed molecule, the apparent position of averaged resonance is a population-weighted mean of resonances of particular forms involved in the equilibrium. The assumption of very fast exchange is often, however, tacitly admitted in literature even in cases where the process of interest is much slower than required. We show that such an unjustified simplification may, under certain circumstances, lead to significant underestimation of association constant and, in consequence, to non-negligible errors in Gibbs free energy under determination. We present a general method, based on iterative numerical NMR line shape analysis, which allows one for the compensation of chemical exchange effects, and delivers both the correct association constants and the exchange rates. The latter are not delivered by the other mentioned method. Practical application of our algorithm is illustrated by the case of camphor-alpha-cyclodextrin complexes.

Applications of 3D printing in healthcare.

3D printing is a relatively new, rapidly expanding method of manufacturing that found numerous applications in healthcare, automotive, aerospace and defense industries and in many other areas. In this review, applications in medicine that are revolutionizing the way surgeries are carried out, disrupting prosthesis and implant markets as well as dentistry will be presented. The relatively new field of bioprinting, that is printing with cells, will also be briefly discussed.

Water solubilization, determination of the number of different types of single-wall carbon nanotubes and their partial separation with respect to diameters by complexation with eta-cyclodextrin.

Complexation of single-wall carbon nanotubes with 12-membered cyclodextrins enables not only their solubilization in water but also their partial separation with respect to diameters and determination of the number of nanotube types on the basis of NMR spectra.

1H and (13)C NMR and Molecular Dynamics Study of Chiral Recognition of Camphor Enantiomers by alpha-Cyclodextrin.

1H and (13)C NMR spectra of the complexes of camphor enantiomers with alpha-cyclodextrin in D(2)O manifest splittings due to chiral recognition. The complexes were found to be of 1:2 guest-to-host stoichiometry. Free energies of the complex formation obtained from (1)H NMR titration data are equal to -7.95 +/- 0.09 kcal mol(-)(1) for the complex with (1S,4S)- and -7.61 +/- 0.06 kcal mol(-)(1) for that with (1R,4R)-enantiomer. Thus, the free energy difference between the complexes is equal to 0.34 +/- 0.11 kcal mol(-)(1), with the complex involving the (1S,4S)-camphor more stable. A strong positive cooperativity of the guests binding has been found. In agreement with experimental results, molecular dynamics simulations yielded greater stability of the complex with (1S,4S)-camphor. However, they reproduced only qualitatively the experimental trend since the corresponding difference in average energies obtained from molecular dynamic simulations carried out in a water solution is equal to 5 kcal/mol with the CVFF force field.

Carbon Nanotube Container: Complexes of C50H10 with Small Molecules.

The stability of complexes of a recently synthetized (Scott et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2011, 134, 107) opened nanocontainer C50H10 with several guest molecules, H2, N2, CO, HCN, H2O, CO2, CS2, H2S, C2H2, NH3, CH4, CH3CN, CH3OH, CH3CCH, 2-butyne, methyl halides, and with noble gas atoms, has been examined by means of symmetry-adapted perturbation theory of intermolecular interactions, which fully incorporates all important energy components, including a difficult dispersion term. All complexes under scrutiny have been found stable for all studied guests at 0 K, but entropic effects cause many of them to dissociate into constituent molecules under standard conditions. The estimation of temperature at which the Gibbs free energy ΔG = 0 revealed that the recently observed (Scott et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2011, 134, 107) complex CS2@C50H10 is the most stable at room temperature while the corresponding complexes with HCN and Xe guests should decompose at ca. 310 K and that with CO2 at room temperature (ca. 300 K). In agreement with the ΔG estimation, molecular dynamics simulations performed in vacuum for the CS2@C50H10 complex predicted that the complex is stable but decomposes at ca. 350 K. The MD simulations in CHCl3 solution showed that the presence of solvent stabilizes the CS2@C50H10 complex in comparison to vacuum. Thus, for the complexes obtained in solution the CO2 gas responsible for the greenhouse effect could be stored in the C50H10 nanotube.

Small Molecules in C60 and C70: Which Complexes Could Be Stabilized?

The recent syntheses of complexes involving some small molecules in opened fullerenes and those of hydrogen molecule(s) in C60 and C70 are accompanied in the literature by numerous computations for endohedral fullerene complexes which cope with the problem of the stability of these complexes. In this contribution, stabilization energies of endohedral complexes of C60 and C70 with H2, N2, CO, HCN, H2O, H2S, NH3, CH4, CO2, C2H2, H2CO, and CH3OH guests have been estimated using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory, which, contrary to the standard DFT and some other approaches, correctly describes the dispersion contribution of the host-guest interactions. On the basis of these calculations, the endohedral complexes with all these guests were found stable in the larger fullerene, while the C60 cage was found too small to host the latter four molecules. Except for H2 and H2CO, a stabilization effect for most guests in the C60 cage is about 30 kJ/mol. For H2 and H2O guests, a typical supramolecular effect is observed; namely, the stabilization in the smaller cage is equal to or larger than that in the larger C70 host. Except for the water molecule where the induction interaction plays a non-negligible role, in all complexes the main stabilization effect comes from the dispersion interaction. The information on the stability of hypothetical endohedral fullerene complexes and physical factors contributing to it can be of importance in designing future experiments contributing to their applications.

Carbon-13 NMR relaxation study of the internal dynamics in cyclodextrins in isotropic solution.

(13)C nuclear spin relaxation processes in seven cyclodextrins (from six-membered alpha to twelve-membered eta) were investigated in (2)H(2)O solution at multiple magnetic fields. Detailed analysis of (13)C longitudinal relaxation in laboratory and rotating frames and (13)C{(1)H} nuclear Overhauser enhancement in these molecules yielded their rotational diffusion tensors and a semiquantitative picture of their internal dynamics.

Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory Applied to Endohedral Fullerene Complexes: A Stability Study of H2@C60 and 2H2@C60.

Because of difficulties in a description of host-guest interactions, various theoretical methods predict different numbers of hydrogen molecules which can be inserted into the C60 cavity, ranging from one to more than 20. On the other hand, only one H2 molecule inside the C60 fullerene has been detected experimentally. Moreover, a recently synthesized H2@C70 complex prevails in the mixture formed with 2H2@C70. To get a deeper insight into the stability of the complexes created from C60 and hydrogen molecules, we carried out highly accurate calculations for complexes of one or two hydrogen molecules with fullerene applying symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) and a large TZVPP basis set for selected points on the potential energy surfaces of H2@C60 and 2H2@C60. The electron correlation in the host and guests has been treated by density functional theory. Our calculations yield the stability of the recently synthesized H2@C60 complex. In addition, for all tried positions of the H2 dimer inside the C60 cage, the 2H2@C60 complex has been characterized by a positive interaction energy corresponding to the instability of this species. Contrary to the conclusions of several theoretical studies, this finding, as well as model considerations and literature experimental data, indicates that only one hydrogen molecule can reside inside the C60 cage. The calculated energy components have been analyzed to identify the most important contributions to the interaction energy. Supermolecular interaction energies obtained with MP2, SCS-MP2, and DFT+Disp methods are also reported and compared to those of DFT-SAPT. The DFT-SAPT interaction energy has also been calculated for several points on the potential energy surface for a larger 2H2@C70 complex, confirming, in agreement with recent experimental findings, that this species is stable. The DFT-SAPT approach has been used for the first time to obtain interaction energies for van der Waals endohedral complexes, demonstrating that the method is capable of handling such difficult cases.

1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts and spin-spin coupling constants in trans- and cis-decalins.

The NMR parameters characterizing the spectra of trans- and cis-decalins were determined from theoretical calculations and experimental spectra. The calculated values of the shielding constants are in good agreement with the measured chemical shifts, with a small but noticeable difference in accuracy for the bridgehead atoms. Of all the spin-spin coupling constants, only most of (1)J(C,C) and (1)J(C,H) values could be extracted from the spectra, and the corresponding computed values are in good agreement with experiment. It appears that the applied density functional theory (DFT) approach overestimates slightly the J(C,C) coupling and underestimates the differences between one-bond (1)J(C,H) coupling constants. For all these constants [J(C,C), J(C,H) and J(H,H)] through one to three bonds, which could not be obtained experimentally, the predicted values are in good agreement with the general rules relating spin-spin coupling to the number and spatial arrangement of the intervening bonds.

Manifestation of chiral recognition of camphor enantiomers by alpha-cyclodextrin in longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates of the corresponding 1:2 complexes and determination of the orientation of the guest inside the host capsule.

The 1:2 complexes of camphor enantiomers with alpha-cyclodextrin in (2)H(2)O manifest differences in longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates of camphor methyl protons owing to chiral recognition. The relaxation data obtained at two magnetic fields were quantitatively analyzed using the model of anisotropic overall tumbling with internal motion. In experimental conditions (guest-to-host ratio = 1:20, T = 300.6K), all camphor molecules are complexed. The complexes are not rigid but the rotational diffusion of camphor enantiomers embedded inside the capsules formed by two alpha-cyclodextrin hosts is well outside the extreme narrowing region. Both differences in the anisotropic overall tumbling and internal rotation of all methyl groups participate in enantiomeric differentiation of the relaxation rates. Anisotropic tumbling of camphor molecules provides information on the orientation of the guest in the host capsule that for the complex under study could not be obtained by other methods.

NMR studies of chiral recognition by cyclodextrins.

Chiral recognition by cyclodextrins is of considerable importance, especially for pharmaceutical industry, in view of the possible side effects of the second enantiometer of chiral drugs. In general, it manifests itself in all NMR parameters (chemical shifts, coupling constants, NOE and ROE effects, and relaxation rates) on one hand. On the other hand, it allows one to determine the thermodynamic parameters characterizing diastereomeric complexes formed by cyclodextrins with enantiomeric guests. After an introduction and a general discussion of NMR manifestations of chiral recognition by cyclodextrin, the existing literature data on this problem will be discussed herein. Chirality 16:90-105, 2004.

On the impossibility of determination of stepwise binding constants for the 1 : 2 complex of (+)-camphor with alpha-cyclodextrin.

Knowledge of stepwise binding constants for complexes with higher than 1:1 stoichiometry would allow one to study the cooperativity of their formation. However, a detailed analysis of partitioning of the overall binding constant beta 12 determined by NMR titrations for the 1:2 complex of (+)-camphor with alpha-cyclodextrin into the stepwise ones K1 and K2 carried out analogously to published procedures revealed that the partitioning cannot be carried out unequivocally for K1 << K2. The programs for partitioning cannot be used as a black box and a satisfactory reproduction of the experimental dependence of relative shifts as a function of relative CD concentration should not be the only criterion of the reliability of the stepwise binding constants obtained using such programs.