Antonella Dalla Cort

“Inherent chirality” and curvature

“Inherent chirality” in molecules like calix[4]arenes, fullerenes, and uranyl-salophen complexes can be related to the presence of curvature. This observation serves as a basis for the introduction of a new chirality descriptor.

Specific Supramolecular Interactions between Zn2+-Salophen Complexes and Biologically Relevant Anions

Recognition of inorganic phosphates PO(4)(3-), P(2)O(7)(4-), and P(3)O(10)(5-) and nucleotides AMP(2-), ADP(3-), and ATP(4-) by Zn(2+)-salophen complexes 1 and 2 in ethanol was investigated by different spectroscopic techniques. (31)P NMR and mass spectrometry showed that anions of both series are bound by 1 and 2, while absorption and emission studies revealed that only nucleotides produce relevant changes in the spectral properties of the two hosts. (1)H NMR studies proved that the adenine aromatic group is involved in the complexation, thus pointing out the role of supramolecular ditopic receptors played by salophen derivatives toward this class of biologically relevant substrates. The lifetime of the photogenerated triplet state of the Zn(2+)-salophen compounds was measured by nanosecond laser flash photolysis, and the observed changes upon increasing the concentration of nucleotides allowed the identification of the formation of a 1:0.5 host/guest intermediate complex additionally to the formation of a 1:1 complex.

Zinc–salophen complexes as selective receptors for tertiary amines

Zinc–salophen compounds 1–3 incorporating in the given order 1,2-diaminobenzene, 2,3-diaminonaphthalene, and 9,10-diaminophenantrene moieties were synthesised. Their binding properties toward a series of tertiary amines were assessed by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy in chloroform solution. Unprecedented selectivities of quinuclidine vs. triethylamine higher than 105 were recorded, thereby revealing the dramatic influence of steric effects on axial coordination of tertiary amines. X-Ray diffraction analyses showed that in the solid state compound 2 is dimeric, but its 1 : 1 quinuclidine complex is monomeric. Strong indications were obtained that both free receptors and their amine adducts are monomeric in dilute chloroform solution.

Cation-π interactions between neutral calix[5]arene hosts and cationic organic guests

Abstract The binding properties of the 1,3-bridged calix[5]crowns 1–3 towards a number of quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, and iminium ions have been investigated by 1H NMR in CDCl3 solution, where the sole driving force for association is provided by cation-π interactions. We have found that the cavity of a calix[5]arene fixed in a cone-like conformation provides a fairly efficient, but rather unselective, receptor site for quaternary salts. The conformationally mobile p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene (4) is in general a much less efficient binder than the more preorganized calixcrowns, but displays a remarkable selectivity towards N-methylquinuclidinium ion that is believed to arise from a good complementarity between the globe-shaped guest and the highly adaptable host. The adverse effect on complexation of the p-tert-butyl groups at the upper rim has been assessed by comparing the binding properties of 1 vs. its de-tert-butylated analogue 3. Furthermore, some information on the importance of counterion and solvent effects have been obtained.

Anion recognition in water with use of a neutral uranyl-salophen receptor.

A new water-soluble uranyl-salophen complex incorporating two glucose units has been synthesized. This neutral derivative shows noteworthy binding affinity for fluoride in water thanks to the Lewis acid-base interaction occurring between the metal and the anion. Such interaction is strong enough to overcome the high hydration enthalpy of fluoride. Moreover this complex effectively binds hydrogen phosphate and exhibits remarkably strong association for nucleotide polyanions ADP(3-) and ATP(4-).

Specific recognition of fluoride anion using a metallamacrocycle incorporating a uranyl-salen unit

The design and synthesis of a novel fluoride receptor that uses a salen-complexed Lewis acidic uranyl center as the sole binding site is reported here. This receptor binds fluoride anions in DMSO with a high affinity constant (K > 106 M−1) and exhibits a negligible affinity (K < 10 M−1) towards otherwise effective competitors, such as acetate, phosphate and cyanide anions.

A Simple and Convenient Method for Cleavage of Silyl Esthers

Abstract Cleavage of silyl ethers can be efficiently effected using FeCl3, SnCl2, Cu(NO3)2 and Ce(NO3)3 at room temperature.

A new water soluble Zn-salophen derivative as a receptor for α-aminoacids: Unexpected chiral discrimination†

A new water soluble zinc-salophen complex with appended D-glucose moieties was synthesized and characterized. Its binding properties toward six aminoacids were investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometric titrations. Association constants showed to be unfavorably affected by increasing steric hindrance of the side chain. Quite surprisingly, different association constants were measured for the L and D enantiomers. These data suggest that aminoacids are bound via two interactions, zinc-carboxylate coordination and two hydrogen bonds between the ammonium group of the aminoacid and two oxygen atoms of one D-glucose moiety. Such conclusion is supported by the result of semiempirical (PM3) calculations. Notably, the K(L)/K(D) value of 9.6 observed for the association of phenylalanine rivals with the highest values found for the chiral recognition of aminoacids in water.

Molecular Recognition of Carbonyl Compounds by Uranyl-salophen Based Neutral Receptors Driven by Van Der Waals Forces

The complexation of the salophen-uranyl metallocleft 2 and of its half-cleft analogue 3 with enones and other carbonyl compounds was assessed in chloroform by UV-Vis titration and, occasionally, by FT-IR measurements. Complexes with receptors 2 and 3 are in all cases more stable than those with the control unsubstituted uranyl-salophen 1 , showing that in addition to the primary binding force provided by coordination of the carbonyl oxygen to the uranium, a significant driving force for complexation, typically in the range of 2-3 kcal/mol, results from van der Waals interactions of the guest with the aromatic walls. Replacement of the phenyl group in 3 with larger aromatic residues to give 4 and 5 , led to enhanced complex stabilities, due to more extended contact surfaces between host and guest.

Fluoride-responsive organogelator based on oxalamide-derived anthraquinone

Anthraquinone derived oxalamide gelator 1 forms with aromatic solvents and alcohols very stable gels which selectively respond to the presence of fluoride anion by colour change and/or gel-to-sol transition.