Heidi Mansikkamäki

Self-assembling resorcinarene capsules: solid and gas phase studies on encapsulation of small alkyl ammonium cations

The self-assembling process of unsubstituted resorcinarenes (1, 2 and 3) to dimeric capsules encapsulating small tetra-alkyl ammonium cations 4–7 has been studied in solid and gaseous states by X-ray crystallographic and mass spectrometric methods. Hydrogen bonding and cation-π interaction as well as the proper encapsulation in the empty cavity of the capsule appear to be the most important interactions in the capsule formation process. Competitive mass spectrometric studies clearly indicated preference of the tetramethyl ammonium cation (4) over tetraethyl ammonium cation (6) and especially tetrabutyl ammonium cation (7). The crystal structures of altogether eight dimeric capsules of resorcinarenes 1–3 with cations 4 and 5 were determined. In the solid state, the alkyl chain length of the host affects the crystal packing significantly. However, ethyl resorcinarene (2) is the only host, which binds the spherical halide anion (Cl− or Br−) in between the lower rim alkyl chains.

Weak interactions between resorcinarenes and diquaternary alkyl ammonium cations

The interactions of resorcin[4]arenes 1 with alkyl ammonium cations bearing a 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) scaffold (32+, 42+ and 52+) were analyzed in the solid state by X-ray crystallography, in solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and in the gas phase by ESI-TOF mass spectrometry. The results are complemented with AM1 calculations and compared to previous reports on complexation studies of resorcinarenes with quaternary alkyl ammonium cations. The NMR titration results indicate that there are hardly any differences in the binding of the quaternary tetramethyl ammonium cation 2+ and the diquaternary N,N’-dimethyl DABCO dication 42+. The large N,N’-dibenzyl DABCO dication 52+ has two potential sites for inclusion, that is, the aryl groups and the central cationic part, and the complexation and interactions of both sites with 1 were verified in the NMR studies as well as in the solid state structures.

Encapsulation of diquats by resorcinarenes: a novel staggered anion-solvent mediated hydrogen bonded capsule.

Crystallisation studies of ethyl resorcinarene with diquats 2b and 3a (1,4-dimethyl-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane dibromide and 1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane dichloride, respectively) resulted in hydrogen bonded molecular capsules in which the cations are encapsulated in between the cavities of two resorcinarene molecules and anions are located in the middle of the lower rim ethyl chains.

C-Methyl resorcin[4]arene packing motifs with alkyl ammonium salts: From molecular capsules to channels and tubes

A variety of packing motifs of C-methyl resorcinarene were obtained when complexed with small alkyl ammonium salts of different size and shape. Using bromide and chloride salts of the small quaternary alkyl ammonium cations, tetramethyl ammonium and dimethyldiethyl ammonium, leads to a grid-like packing of solvent mediated dimeric capsules while the use of salts of larger diquaternary cations bearing a 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) scaffold produces solvent/anion mediated chains and channels or tubular structures. The connecting interactions between resorcinarenes in each structure are hydrogen bonding and/or π⋯π interactions.

Crystal structures of O-acetylated 2-acylamino-2-deoxy-d-galactose derivatives

The X-ray structures of 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside derivatives with four different 2-(acylamino) substituents have been determined with Mo K(alpha) radiation at 123 K. The structure of the 2-acetylamino derivative and of its acyl-homologs with a 2-(propanoylamino)-, 2-(butanoylamino)-, and 2-(2-methyl-propanoylamino)-group crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2. The pyranose unit of all compounds has the usual 4C(1) shape. The different orientations of the 6-O-acetyl-groups are discussed. Conformations of the acylamino-group are compared to those found in the crystal structure of N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine.