Thierry Brotin

A novel small molecular luminescent gelling agent for alcohols

2,3-Bis-n-decyloxyanthracene can form thermoreversible gels with alcohols at very low concentrations; electronic absorption spectra and fluorescence emission studies suggest that the network of the gel consists of head-to-tail assemblies of the aromatic component coexisting with the alcohol, the organization of the system essentially relying upon dipolar forces and van der Waals interactions.

Raman optical activity of enantiopure cryptophanes.

Raman optical activity (ROA) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to determine the absolute configuration of enantiopure cryptophane molecules and to obtain conformational information about their three ethylenedioxy linkers. ROA spectra recorded in chloroform solution for the two resolved enantiomers of cryptophanes derivatives bearing five (2), six (1), nine (3 and 4), and 12 (5) methoxy substituents are presented for the first time. The number of methoxy substituents (cryptophanes 1, 3, and 5) and the arrangement of the three linkers (anti for 3 and syn for 4) are two important parameters that significantly affect the ROA spectra. DFT calculations, at the B3PW91/6-31G** level, for cryptophane bearing six methoxy substituents establish, besides the absolute configuration, the preferential all-trans conformation of the ethylenedioxy linkers of the chloroform-cryptophane complex. This study shows that the ROA/DFT approach exhibits a higher selectivity for the conformation of the linkers than vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) associated with theoretical calculations.

Inclusion of Chloromethane Guests Affects Conformation and Internal Dynamics of Cryptophane-D Host

Cryptophane-D is composed of two nonequivalent cyclotribenzylene caps bound together by three OCH2CH2O bridges in a syn arrangement. Host-guest complexes with chloroform and dichloromethane were investigated in solution by NMR spectroscopy. Variable temperature NMR (1)H and (13)C spectra showed effects of chemical exchange between the free and bound guest and of conformational exchange for the host, strongly and specifically affected by guest binding. We found in particular that the carbon-13 chemical shifts for the linkers connecting the two cyclotribenzylene units are very informative. The NMR results were supported by DFT calculations. The guest exchange was also studied quantitatively, either by EXSY measurements (for chloroform as guest) or by line-shape analysis (for dichloromethane as guest). In the case of chloroform guest, we also investigated cross-relaxation between the guest and host protons, as well as carbon-13 longitudinal relaxation and heteronuclear NOE at three different fields. The results were interpreted in terms of orientation and dynamics of the guest inside the host cavity. Putting together various types of evidence resulted in remarkably detailed insight into the process of molecular recognition of the two guests by cryptophane-D host.

ELECTRONIC ABSORPTION PROPERTIES OF SYMMETRICAL DIALKOXYANTHRACENES. LINEAR DICHROISM AND MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM

Abstract— Linear dichroism (LD) and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) of symmetrical dialkoxy‐anthracenes and some related compounds were recorded in an attempt to elucidate electronic absorption properties and assign the nature of the lowest singlet excited state, recognized to control both the fluorescence and the photodimerization of anthracenes. The spectroscopic measurements proved that the lowest electronic transition is of the 1La type in all the compounds. The peculiar photoreactivity pattern is therefore governed by factors other than an inversion of the order of the 1La and 1Lb states and may be related to electronic density repartition on the different positions of the anthracene nucleus dictated by the position of the electron‐donating substituents.

Chiroptical Properties of Cryptophane-223 and -233 Investigated by ECD, VCD, and ROA Spectroscopy

Enantiopure cryptophane derivatives 1 and 2, possessing linkers of different nature (ethylenedioxy and propylenedioxy) connecting the two cyclotribenzylenes (CTB) units, were separated by HPLC using chiral stationary phases. X-ray crystallographic structures of the four enantiomers (+)-1, (-)-1, (+)-2, and (-)-2 have been obtained, allowing the unambiguous determination of their absolute configuration (AC) in the solid state. The chiroptical properties of compounds 1 and 2 were determined from polarimetry, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and Raman optical activity (ROA) experiments and were compared to those of cryptophane-A (3) derivative. VCD, ROA and ECD spectra of 1 and 2 were calculated by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, respectively, to confirm the AC of the cryptophane derivatives in solution. The (+)-PP and (-)-MM configurations were established for compounds 1 and 2 in chloroform solution, as already reported for the two enantiomers of 3. This result is in agreement with the X-ray structures of the two enantiomers of 1 and 2.

Immobilization of Cryptophane Derivatives onto SiO2/Au and Au Substrates

The synthesis of a cryptophane molecule bearing five methoxy substituents and an alkanethiol chain, 4, as well as its subsequent grafting onto a gold surface, is reported. Immobilization of cryptophane derivatives onto silica (SiO2/Au) surfaces was also performed by reacting a cryptophane molecule bearing one or six acid functions, 5 or 6, respectively, with an amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) was used to characterize the two types of cryptophane monolayers. Surface coverage of cryptophane monolayers was estimated by comparing the PM-IRRAS intensity of cryptophane bands with that calculated from the optical constants of pentamethoxy-cryptophane for a compact monolayer. A very efficient grafting of 4 onto a gold surface was found, with a surface coverage close to 100%. On the other hand, the reaction of mono-acid, 5, or hexa-acid, 6, cryptophanes with amino-terminated SAM was less efficient, since the surface coverage did not exceed 15%. Finally, a good surface coverage (75%) was also obtained by using a cysteamine coupling agent to modify 5 before its grafting onto a gold surface.

Chemical Shielding Anisotropies for Chloroform Exchanging between a Free Site and a Complex with Cryptophane-D: A Cross-Correlated NMR Relaxation Study.

The case of (13)C-labeled chloroform exchanging between a free site in solution and the encaged site within the cryptophane-D cavity is investigated using the measurements of longitudinal cross-correlated relaxation rates, involving the interference of the dipole-dipole and chemical shielding anisotropy interactions. A compact theoretical expression is provided, along with an experimental protocol, based on INEPT (insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization)-enhanced double-quantum-filtered inversion recovery measurements. The analysis of the build-up curves results in a set of cross-correlated relaxation rates for both the (13)C and (1)H spins at the two sites. It is demonstrated that the results can be given a consistent interpretation in terms of molecular-level properties, such as rotational correlation times, the Lipari-Szabo order parameter, and interaction strength constants. The analysis yields the bound-site carbon-13 chemical shielding anisotropy, ΔσC = -58 ± 8 ppm, in good agreement with most recent liquid-crystal measurements and the corresponding proton shielding anisotropy, ΔσH = 14 ± 2 ppm.