Vieri Fusi

A Macrocyclic Ligand as Receptor and ZnII‐Complex Receptor for Anions in Water: Binding Properties and Crystal Structures

Binding properties of 24,29-dimethyl-6,7,15,16-tetraoxotetracyclo[19.5.5.0(5,8).0(14,17)]-1,4,9,13,18,21,24,29-octaazaenatriaconta-Δ(5,8),Δ(14,17)-diene ligand L towards Zn(II) and anions, such as the halide series and inorganic oxoanions (phosphate (Pi), sulfate, pyrophosphate (PPi), and others), were investigated in aqueous solution; in addition, the Zn(II)/L system was tested as a metal-ion-based receptor for the halide series. Ligand L is a cryptand receptor incorporating two squaramide functions in an over-structured chain that connects two opposite nitrogen atoms of the Me(2)[12]aneN(4) polyaza macrocyclic base. It binds Zn(II) to form mononuclear species in which the metal ion, coordinated by the Me(2)[12]aneN(4) moiety, lodges inside the three-dimensional cavity. Zn(II)-containing species are able to bind chloride and fluoride at the physiologically important pH value of 7.4; the anion is coordinated to the metal center but the squaramide units play the key role in stabilizing the anion through a hydrogen-bonding network; two crystal structures reported here clearly show this aspect. Free L is able to bind fluoride, chloride, bromide, sulfate, Pi, and PPi in aqueous solution. The halides are bound at acidic pH, whereas the oxoanions are bound in a wide range of pH values ranging from acidic to basic. The cryptand cavity, abundant in hydrogen-bonding sites at all pH values, allows excellent selectivity towards Pi to be achieved mainly at physiological pH 7.4. By joining amine and squaramide moieties and using this preorganized topology, it was possible, with preservation of the solubility of the receptor, to achieve a very wide pH range in which oxoanions can be bound. The good selectivity towards Pi allows its discrimination in a manner not easily obtainable with nonmetallic systems in aqueous environment.

CRYPTAND LIGANDS FOR SELECTIVE LITHIUM COORDINATION

Abstract The binding properties, in aqueous solution, toward lithium ion of aza- and azaoxo- macrocycles with cage and cylindrical molecular topology are reviewed. The synthetic procedures and the acid–basic behavior are reported. Most of these compounds are able to selectively encapsulate the small lithium ion in aqueous solution. NMR spectroscopy, mainly 13C and 7Li, has been used to study the encapsulation equilibria. Few crystal structures of lithium complexes, indicating the lithium ion encapsulation have been reported.

Efficient fluorescent sensors based on 2,5-diphenyl[1,3,4]oxadiazole: a case of specific response to Zn(II) at physiological pH.

The coordination properties and photochemical responses of three fluorescent polyamine macrocycles, 9,12,15,24,25-pentaaza-26-oxatetracyclo[21.2.1.0(2,7).0(17,22)]hexaicosa-2,4,6,17,19,21,23,25(1)-octaene (L1), 9,12,15,18,27,28-hexaaza-29-oxatetracyclo[24.2.1.0(2,7).0(20,25)]enneicosa-2,4,6,20,22,24,26,28(1)-octaene (L2), and 9,12,15,18,21,30,31-heptaaza-32-oxatetracyclo[27.2.1.0(2,7).0(23,28)]diatriconta-2,4,6,23,25,27,29,31(1)-octaene (L3), toward Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) are reported. Each ligand contains the 2,5-diphenyl[1,3,4]oxadiazole (PPD) moiety inserted in a polyamine macrocycle skeleton. The stability constants were determined by means of potentiometric measurements in aqueous solution. L1 forms mononuclear complexes only with Cu(II). L2 and L3 form stable mononuclear species with all of the metals, while L3 is able to form dinuclear Cu(II) species. The fluorescence of all ligands was totally quenched by the presence of Cu(II). L2 behaves as an OFF-ON sensor for Zn(II) under physiological conditions, even in the presence of interfering species such as Cd(II) and Pb(II). This ligand combines selective binding of Zn(II) with a highly specific fluorescent response to Zn(II) due to the chelating enhancement of fluorescence (CHEF) effect. The interaction of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) with L3 does not produce an appreciable enhancement of fluorescence at the same pH. The different behavior is attributed to the cavity size of the macrocycle and to the number of amine functions. L2 possesses the best arrangement of these two characteristics, allowing a full participation of all of the amine functions in metal coordination, as shown by the crystal structures of [CuL2(ClO(4))](ClO(4))·H(2)O and [ZnL2Br]Br·H(2)O species; this prevents the PET effect and supplies the higher CHEF effect. The interaction between L2 and Zn(II) can also be observed with the naked eye as an intense sky blue emission.

A new versatile solvatochromic amino-macrocycle. From metal ions to cell sensing in solution and in the solid state

A new fluorescent NBD-polyaza-macrocycle sensor (L) was synthesized. The coordination of Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) in acetonitrile switches on the fluorescence with different emission wavelengths. Cu(ii) complexes showed solid-state fluorescence. Both L and Cu-complex interact with human cell line (U937) highlighting the cell membrane by fluorescence microscopy.

Macrocyclic Polyamines Containing Phenanthroline Moieties – Fluorescent Chemosensors for H+ and Zn2+ Ions

The macrocyclic ligands L2 and L3, containing a triethylenetetraamine and a tetraethylenepentaamine moiety linked to the methyl groups of 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, bind H+ and Zn2+ ions giving rise to modulation of the fluorescence emission intensity. The equilibrium constants and the enthalpy changes for ligand protonation were determined by means of pH-metric and microcalorimetric methods in 0.1 M Me4NCl solutions at 298.1±0.1 K. Also the stability constants of the Zn2+ complexes were determined under the same experimental conditions. L2 forms only mononuclear complexes, while L3 also forms dizinc(II) species. The phenanthroline group has fluorescence emission properties, but interaction with the lone pairs of benzylic nitrogen atoms produces an efficient quenching of the emission. Such a quenching effect can be avoided by deactivation of the benzylic nitrogen atoms by means of protonation or Zn2+ complexation. Hence, L2 and L3 behave as chemosensor for H+ and Zn2+, the photochemical properties of the ligands being modulated by the formation of different protonated and complexed species. In the case of L3, the fluorescence emission is also controlled by the metal to ligand molar ratio, because of the formation of an emissive binuclear complex.

New branched macrocyclic ligand and its side-arm, two urea-based receptors for anions: synthesis, binding studies and crystal structure

The synthesis and characterization of the two new hosting molecules for anions 4(N),10(N)-bis-[2-(4-nitrophenylureido)acetamido]-1,7-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L1) and 1-((diethylcarbamoyl)methyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)urea (L2) are reported. L1 is a branched tetraazamacrocycle bearing two p-nitrophenylureido groups as side-arms, whereas L2 has the same linear chain and binding moiety of L1 side-arm. The best synthetic routes for use in obtaining L1 were explored, affording the synthesis of the new intermediate 4, a versatile building block for further functionalized branched macrocyclic hosts. The binding properties of both ligands towards the halides series and acetate anions (G) were investigated by NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy in a dimethyl sulfoxide–0.5% water solution. Both ligands interact with F−, Cl− and AcO− while Br− and I− did not. The NMR experiments proved that the binding occurs via H-bond to the ureido fragments. Fluoride anion is basic enough to deprotonate the ureido group of both ligands, thus preventing the determination of the addition constants to both ligands; this was instead possible for Cl− and AcO−. L1 forms G–L species of 1 : 1 ([GL1]) and 2 : 1 ([G2L1]) stoichiometry while L2 forms only the 1 : 1 [GL2] species. The higher value of the formation constant of the [AcOL1]−vs. the [AcOL2]− species (log K = 5.5 vs. 2.8 for the reaction AcO− + L = AcOL−) suggested that both side-arms of L1 cooperate in binding acetate; this does not occur with Cl−. The results confirmed that this tetraaza-macrocyclic base acts as a preorganizing scaffold for side-arms when they are linked to it via an amide function. The crystal structure of L2·H2O is also reported.

1,10-Dimethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane L and 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16,19-heptaazacyclohenicosane L1: two new macrocyclic receptors for ATP binding. Synthesis, solution equilibria and the crystal structure of (H4L)(ClO4)4

The synthesis of two new methylated ligands 1,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane L and 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16,19-heptaazacyclohenicosane L1 is described. Basicity constants and protonation enthalpies of both ligands have been determined by potentiometric and microcalorimetric measurements in 0.15 mol dm–3 NaClO4 at 298.1 K. The protonated forms of these cyclic polyamines bind ATP in solution. The equilibrium constants of the species formed have been determined (0.15 mol dm–3 NaClO4, 298.1 K). The results presented for L and L1 are compared with those previously obtained for the related ligands 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane, 1,4,7,10,13,16,19-heptaazacyclohenicosane and 1,4,7,13-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane. Among these macrocycles Lis a selective receptor for ATP binding.The crystal structure of the compound (H4L)(ClO4)4[space group P21/c, a= 9.257(4), b= 8.600(2). c= 17.990(10)A, β= 101.74(4)°, V= 1402(1)A3, Z= 2] shows that the four charged ammonium groups point inside the macrocyclic cavity.

Multi-use NBD-based tetra-amino macrocycle: fluorescent probe for metals and anions and live cell marker.

Ligand L (4-(7-nitrobenzo[1,2,5]oxadiazole-4-yl)-1,7-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetra-azacyclododecane) is a versatile fluorescent sensor useful for Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) metal detection, as a building block of fluorescent metallo-receptor for halide detection, and as an organelle marker inside live cells. Ligand L undergoes a chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect upon metal coordination in acetonitrile solution. In all three complexes investigated the metal cation is coordinatively unsaturated; thus, it can bind secondary ligands as anionic species. The crystal structure of [ZnLCl](ClO(4)) is discussed. Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes are quenched upon halide interaction, whereas the [CdL](2+) species behaves as an OFF-ON sensor for halide anions in acetonitrile solution. The mechanism of the fluorescence response in the presence of the anion depends on the nature of the metal ion employed and has been studied by spectroscopic methods, such as NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis and fluorescence techniques and by computational methods. Subcellular localization experiments performed on HeLa cells show that L mainly localizes in spot-like structures in a polarized portion of the cytosol that is occupied by the Golgi apparatus to give a green fluorescence signal.

Proton inclusion properties of a new azamacrocycle. Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of [H3L][Cl]3·2H2O (L = 4,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazabicyclo [5.5.2] tetradecane)

Abstract Macrocyclic compounds have been extensively investigated, the interest for this huge class of compounds spans from fundamental research to specific industrial applications. 1 – 8 We have recently published a few papers on small macrocycles having cage-like molecular topology.9 – 19 They present special proton-transfer properties and in few cases they are strong, selective lithium binders in aqueous solution.14,15,17 The three-dimensional cavity present in these compounds is achieved by connecting two secondary nitrogen atoms of a tetraazamacrocycle with different bridging groups (see Fig 1). Molecular topology and nature of donor atoms are the most important elements influencing the chemical properties of this class of compounds. For these reasons we are continuing our investigations on these compounds by systematically changing the bridging unit; we report here the synthesis and chemical properties of the new cage 4,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazabicyclo[5.5.2]-tetradecane, abbreviated as L.

Direct Preparation of Unsymmetrical Difunctionalized Cyclen Derivatives by an Ugi Multicomponent Reaction

A new and efficient synthetic protocol for the preparation of unsymmetrical difunctionalized cyclen and its close derivatives using a modified Ugi reaction (N-split Ugi) is described. The scope of this methodology is further extended by the successful use of various isocyanides, highly functionalized carboxylic acids, and aldehydes.