Host molecules, cyclic

In mimicking this type of function, noncyclic artificial carboxylic ionophores having two terminal groups of hydroxyl and carboxylic acid moieties were synthesized and the selective transport of alkali metal cations were examined by Yamazaki et al. 9 10). Noncyclic polyethers take on a pseudo-cyclic structure when coordinating cations and so it is possible to achieve the desired selectivity for specific cations by adjusting the length of the polyether chain 2). However, they were not able to observe any relationship between the selectivity and the structure of the host molecules in an active transport system using ionophores 1-3 10). (Table 1)... 

Fig. 4. Inclusion cage of Dianin s compound (5). The matrix is constructed via a cyclic H-bonded hexagonal system of host molecules (on top and on bottom of the macrocage O atoms as bold dots, H-bonds as dotted lines) bulky parts of the host molecules interlock (equatorial of the cage). The cage can be filled with molecules of fitting size (e.g. one molecule of chloroform) (Adapted from Ref. 16)...

In addition to macrocyclic hosts discussed above, many other molecules capable of selective complexation have been synthesized. They belong to so-called macrocyclic chemistry [30] encompassing crown ethers discussed in this Chapter, cryptands 61-63 [21], spherands 70 [31], cyclic polyamines 71 [32], calixarenes 18 [5], and other cyclophane cages such as 72 [33] to name but a few. Hemicarcerand 5 [2b] discussed in Chapter 1 and Section 7.3 also belongs to this domain. Typical macrocyclic host molecules are presented in Chapter 7. 

A similar chiral environment is given by inclusion to cyclodextrins (CDs), cyclic oligosaccharides (3). The outside of the host molecule is hydrophilic and the inside hydrophobic. The diameters of the cavities are approximately 6 (a), 7-8 (j3), and 9-10 A (7), respectively. Reduction of some prochiral ketone-j3-CD complexes with sodium boro-hydride in water gives the alcoholic products in modest ee (Scheme 2) (4). On the other hand, uncomplexed ketones are reduced with a crystalline CD complex of borane-pyridine complex dispersed in water to form the secondary alcohols in up to 90% ee, but in moderate chemical yields. Fair to excellent enantioselection has been achieved in gaseous hydrohalogenation or halogenation of a- or /3-CD complexes of crotonic or methacrylic acid. These reactions may seem attractive but currently require the use of stoichiometric amounts of the host CD molecules. 

Model systems have been developed for many of these ion-transport mechanisms in the context of bioorganic chemistry. Examples are the cyclic peptides, described by M. R. Ghadiri et al., that have antibiotic activity similar to that of ionophores, a property that is most probably caused by the ability of these peptides to self-assemble inside biological membranes into channels [1], Other compounds able to induce the formation of membrane pores are the bouquet-molecules introduced by J.-M. Lehn [2]. Artificial / -barrels have been developed by S. Matile s group [3]. Many host molecules used in bioorganic chemistry can serve as carriers for ions across membranes and have even made possible the development of systems with which active ion transport can be achieved [4]. 

To date the chiral host molecules most frequently used are the cyclic amylose oligomers or cyclodextrins (Cy), and the work in homogeneous solutions parallels the work done where they are used as chiral stationary phases [5,27], Among the major reasons for the choice are the ready availability of the compounds in relatively high chemical and optical purity and the convenience of the complexation reactions ... 

Other Host Molecules - Building Three-Dimensional Cavities Cyclophanes are cyclic hosts made from aromatic rings that mainly recognize hydrophobic guest molecules. Three-dimensional cavities can be constructed by attaching tails, walls and caps to the cyclic hosts. 

The cyclic oligosaccharide cyclodextrins and the cychc ohgopeptide vali-nomycin were recognized as naturally occurring host molecules in he 1950s. Pedersen s discovery of crown ether in 1967 opened the door to research on... 

Crown ethers were the first artificial host molecules discovered. They were accidentally found as a byproduct of an organic reaction. When Pedersen synthesized bisphenol, contaminations from impurities led to the production of a small amount of a cyclic hexaether (Fig. 2.1). This cychc compound increased the solubihty of potassium permanganate in benzene or chloroform. The solubility of this cyclic compound in methanol was enhanced in the presence of sodiiun ion. Based on the observed phenomena, Pedersen proposed that a complex structure was formed where the metal ion was trapped in a cavity created by the cychc ether. At that time, it was already known that naturally occurring ionophores such as valinomycin incorporated specific metal ions to form stable complexes because of this, compounds able to selectively include metal ions were the source of much attention from researchers. Pedersen called the cychc compound a crown ether, because the cychc host wears the ion guest like a crown. 

As mentioned above, some naturally occurring cyclic hosts that possess molecular recognition capabilities were known before crown ethers (the first artificial host molecules) were discovered. For example, the cyclic oligopeptide valinomycin and the cyclic oligosaccharide cyclodextrin were found to bind to specific guest molecules. The chemical modification of cyclodextrin was particularly well-researched, and artificially modified cyclodextrins became one of the most important compoimds used in host-guest chemistry. 

The most commonly used host molecules are the cyclodextrins. These cyclic oligomers of glucose are relatively soluble in water and have cavities large enough to accept nonpolar portions of common drug molecules. The naturally occurring cyclodextrins... 

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