Calix[4]arene-Based Triple-Stranded Metallohelicate in Water

The title complex is a triple-stranded metallohelicate organized by the self-assembly of 5,17-difunctionalized calix[4]arenes and metal cations with octahedral coordination geometry. Due to hydrophilic triethylene glycol chains on the lower rim of the calix[4]arene, the metallohelicate can encapsulate cationic guests in water. NMR and UV-vis titration experiments reveal that the metallohelicate captures a pyridinium guest with an alanine derivative to form a host-guest complex with a host-guest ratio of 1 : 1. CD spectroscopy confirms the bias of the P- and M-helical sense of the metallohelicate by the captured guest. The metallohelicate captures two molecules of dicationic N,N'-dimethyl-DABCO and monocationic N-methyl quinuclidine, exhibiting a positive allosteric effect. H-1 NMR titration experiments indicate that the bound guests are in close proximately to the aromatic rings of the ligands. Molecular mechanics calculations based on the UV-vis and NMR observations suggest that the first guest preorganizes the conformation of the metallohelicate to facilitate access of the second guest to the cavity.

Automated summary

In this study, a triple-stranded metallohelicate was formed by self-assembly of 5,17-difunctionalized calix[4]arenes and metal cations, showing good encapsulation properties and selectivity. CD spectroscopy confirmed the preference of the metallohelicate for guest molecules. NMR, UV-vis experiments, and molecular mechanics calculations revealed the interaction mechanism between the metallohelicate and guest molecules.