Lenka Dastychová

Rotaxanes Capped with Host Molecules: Supramolecular Behavior of Adamantylated Bisimidazolium Salts Containing a Biphenyl Centerpiece

Bisimidazolium salts with one central biphenyl binding site and two terminal adamantyl binding sites form water-soluble binary or ternary aggregates with cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with rotaxane and pseudorotaxane architectures. The observed arrangements result from cooperation of the supramolecular stopper binding strength and steric barriers against free slippage of the CB7 and β-CD host molecules over the bisimidazolium guest axle.

Cubane Arrives on the Cucurbituril Scene

Cubane, an intriguing chemical curiosity first studied in the early 1960s, has become a valuable structural motif and has recently been involved in the structures of a great number of prospective compounds. The first dicationic supramolecular guest 5 is prepared and derived from a 1,4-disubstituted cubane moiety, and its binding behavior toward cucurbit[n]urils (CBn) and cyclodextrins (CD) is studied. The bisimidazolium salt 5 forms 1:1 inclusion complexes with CB7, CB8, and β-CD with the respective association constants (6.7 ± 0.5) × 1011 M-1, (1.5 ± 0.2) × 109 M-1, and <102 M-1 in water. The solid-state structures of the 5@CB7 and 5@CB8 complexes are also reported.

Di-μ-chlorido-bis-[diacetonitrile-chlorido-oxidovanadium(IV)].

The title compound, [V2Cl4O2(CH3CN)4], is a centrosymmetric dinuclear VIV complex associated with four molecules of acetonitrile. The coordination around both VIV atoms is essentially square-planar, involving three Cl atoms and one O atom [maximum deviation = 0.017 (3) Å for the O atom]. The augmented octahedral coordination of the metal atom is completed by the N atoms of acetonitrile ligands. The VIV atoms are linked by two Cl atoms, acting as bridging atoms. The crystal studied was a non-merohedral twin with a ratio of the two twin components of 0.8200 (3):0.1800 (3). Although Cl and O atoms are present as potential acceptors in the title compound, no hydrogen bonds were observed in the crystal structure.