On the mechanism of action of gated molecular baskets: The synchronicity of the revolving motion of gates and in/out trafficking of guests.

We used dynamic (1)H NMR spectroscopic methods to examine the kinetics and thermodynamics of CH(3)CCl(3) (2) entering and leaving the gated molecular basket 1. We found that the encapsulation is first-order in basket 1 and guest 2, while the decomplexation is zeroth-order in the guest. Importantly, the interchange mechanism in which a molecule of CH(3)CCl(3) directly displaces the entrapped CH(3)CCl(3) was not observed. Furthermore, the examination of the additivity of free energies characterizing the encapsulation process led to us to deduce that the revolving motion of the gates and in/out trafficking of guests is synchronized, yet still a function of the affinity of the guest for occupying the basket: Specifically, the greater the affinity of the guest for occupying the basket, the less effective the gates are in "sweeping" the guest as the gates undergo their revolving motion.

Controlling the dynamics of molecular encapsulation and gating.

This critical review describes mechanisms by which guest molecules enter and depart molecular capsules. The discussion focuses on presenting gated molecular encapsulation, i.e., trapping and releasing of guest molecules at rates that are controlled by conformational changes in the host's structure. Developing quantitative rules that describe the gating are, at present, a matter of scientific curiosity but could play an important role in building more effective catalysts, drug-delivery devices or membranes (105 references).

Gated molecular recognition and dynamic discrimination of guests.

Some highly efficient enzymes, e.g., acetylcholinesterase, use gating as a tool for controlling the rate by which substrates access their active site to direct product formation. Mastering gated molecular encapsulation could therefore be important for manipulating reactivity in artificial environments, albeit quantitative relationships that describe these processes are unknown. In this work, we examined the interdependence between the thermodynamics (DeltaG(o)) and the kinetics (DeltaG(in)(double dagger) and DeltaG(out)(double dagger)) of encapsulation as mediated by gated molecular basket 1. For a series of isosteric guests (2-6, 106-107 A(3)) entering/exiting 1, we found a linear correlation between the host-guest affinities (DeltaG(o)) and the free energies of the activation (DeltaG(in)(double dagger) and DeltaG(out)(double dagger)), which was fit to the following equation: DeltaG(double dagger) = rhoDeltaG(o) + delta. Markedly, the kinetics for the entrapment of smaller guest 7 (93 A(3)) and bigger guest 8 (121 A(3)) did not follow the free energy trends observed for 2-6. Thus, it appears that the kinetics of the gated encapsulation mediated by 1 is a function of the encapsulation's favorability (DeltaG(o)) and the guest's profile. When the size/shape of guests is kept constant, a linear dependence between the encapsulation potential (DeltaG(o)) and the rate of guests' entering/departing basket (DeltaG(in/out)(double dagger)) holds. However, when the potential (DeltaG(o)) is fixed, the basket discriminates guests on the basis of their size/shape via dynamic modulation of the binding site's access.

Tuning the rate of molecular translocation.

Gated molecular baskets can be functionalized to tune the conformational dynamics of the gates, installed at their rim, and thereby to adjust the time that a guest molecule spends inside their cavity.

Four-state switching characteristics of a gated molecular basket.

The development of working molecular devices relies on the ability to extrinsically modulate function via structure. We have found that gated molecular basket 1 can be reversibly interconverted among four unique structural states (see above). Controlling the relative population of these states, the recognition characteristics of the basket can be finely tuned.

Molecular encapsulation via metal-to-ligand coordination in a Cu(I)-folded molecular basket.

A molecular basket, composed of a semirigid C3v symmetric tris-norbornadiene framework and three pyridine flaps at the rim, has been shown to coordinate to a Cu(I) cation and thereby fold in a multivalent fashion. The assembly was effective (Ka = 1.73 +/- 0.08 x 10(5) M(-1)) and driven by enthalpy (DeltaH(o) = -7.2 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol, DeltaS(o) = -0.25 eu). Variable temperature (1)H NMR studies, assisted with 2D COSY and ROESY investigations, revealed the existence of Cu(I)-folded basket 10b with a molecule of acetonitrile occupying its interior and coordinated to the metal. Interestingly, 10b is in equilibrium with Cu(I)-folded 10a , whose inner space is solvated by acetone or chloroform. The incorporation of a molecule of acetonitrile inside 10a was found to be driven by enthalpy (DeltaH(o) = -3.3 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol), with an apparent loss in entropy (DeltaS(o) = -9.4 +/- 0.4 eu); this is congruent with a complete immobilization of acetonitrile and release of a "loosely" encapsulated solvent molecule during 10a/b interconversion. From an Eyring plot, the activation enthalpy for incorporating acetonitrile into 10a was found to be positive (DeltaH(double dagger) = 6.5 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol), while the activation entropy was negative (DeltaS(double dagger) = -20 +/- 2 eu). The results are in agreement with an exchange mechanism whereby acetonitrile "slips" into an "empty" basket through its side aperture. In fact, DFT (BP86) calculations are in favor of such a mechanistic scenario; the calculations suggest that opening of the basket's rim to exchange guests is energetically demanding and therefore less feasible.

Prospects in controlling morphology, dynamics and responsiveness of supramolecular polymers.

The programmed assembly of molecules into supramolecular polymers is of great interest for developing stimuli-responsive "smart" materials. Controlling the morphology, dynamics and responsiveness of such materials is essential for future applications. It, however, necessitates fundamental understanding of non-covalent forces that direct the ordering of molecules in complex environments. This paper highlights recent progress in the area and anticipates further directions.