Host-Guest Interactions with Hydrophobic Cyclophanes in Aqueous Media

Abstract

Hydrophobic cyclophanes containing amide nitrogens in a rigid macrocyclic skeleton and flexible hydrocarbon chains, branched out at such nitrogen atoms, were prepared and their substrate-binding behavior was studied in aqueous media. The fluorescence spectroscopy was primarily adopted for the investigation of host-guest interactions by the aid of various hydrophobic probes. These host molecules provide cavities that are deep and hydrophobic enough to incorporate hydrophobic substrates of various bulkiness through an induced-fit mechanism originated from the flexible character of the alkyl branches. In addition to the hydrophobic interaction, the roles of electrostatic and charge-transfer interactions in molecular recognitions were clarified. Much hydrophobic, less polar, and highly viscous binding sites for hydrophobic guest molecules were provided by the octopus azaparacyclophane bearing eight hydrocarbon chains and the tetraazacyclotetradecane-capped azaparacyclophane having four flexible hydrocarbon chains connecting both macrocycles.