Smart Macrocyclic Molecules: Induced Fit and Ultrafast Self-Sorting Inclusion Behavior through Dynamic Covalent Chemistry

A family of macrocycles with oligo(ethylene glycol) chains, 4O, 5O, and 6O, was developed to construct a series of new incorporated macrocycles through dynamic covalent chemistry. These flexible macrocycles exhibited excellent self-sorting abilities with diamine compounds, which depended on the induced-fit rule. For instance, the host macrocycles underwent conformational modulation to accommodate the diamine guests, affording [1+1] intramolecular addition compounds regardless of the flexibility of the diamine. These macrocycles folded themselves to fit various diamines with different chain length through modulation of the flexible polyether chain, and afforded intramolecular condensation products. However, if the chain of the diamine was too long and rigid, oligomers or polymers were obtained from the mixture of the macromolecule and the diamine. All results demonstrated that inclusion compounds involving conformationally suitable aromatic diamines were thermodynamically favorable candidates in the mixture due to the restriction of the macrocycle size. Furthermore, kinetic and thermodynamic studies of self-sorting behaviors of both mixed 4O-5O and 4O-6O systems were investigated in detail. Finally, theoretical calculations were also employed to further understand such self-sorting behavior, and indicated that the large enthalpy change of H2NArArNH2@4O is the driving force for the sorting behavior. Our system may provide a model to further understand the principle of biomolecules with high specificity due only to their conformational self-adjusting ability.