The formation of inclusion complexes between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and ferrocene and its derivatives has been investigated. The X-ray crystal structure of the 1:1 inclusion complex between ferrocene and CB[7] revealed that the guest molecule resides in the host cavity with two different orientations. Inclusion of a set of five water-soluble ferrocene derivatives in CB[7] was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and calorimetric and voltammetric techniques. Our data indicate that all neutral and cationic guests form highly stable inclusion complexes with CB[7], with binding constants in the 10(9)-10(10) M(-)(1) and 10(12)-10(13) M(-1) ranges, respectively. However, the anionic ferrocenecarboxylate, the only negatively charged guest among those surveyed, was not bound by CB[7] at all. These results are in sharp contrast to the known binding behavior of the same guests to beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), since all the guests form stable inclusion complexes with beta-CD, with binding constants in the range 10(3)-10(4) M(-1). The electrostatic surface potentials of CB[6], CB[7], and CB[8] and their size-equivalent CDs were calculated and compared. The CD portals and cavities exhibit low surface potential values, whereas the regions around the carbonyl oxygens in CBs are significantly negative, which explains the strong affinity of CBs for positively charged guests and also provides a rationalization for the rejection of anionic guests. Taken together, our data suggest that cucurbiturils may form very stable complexes. However, the host-guest interactions are very sensitive to some structural features, such as a negatively charged carboxylate group attached to the ferrocene residue, which may completely disrupt the stability of the complexes.

The binding interactions between the host cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and a series of linear guests containing bis(pyridinium)-1,4-xylylene and/or 4,4'-bipyridinium residues were investigated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. CB7 was found to exhibit considerable binding selectivity for bis(pyridinium)-1,4-xylylene over 4,4'-bipyridinium sites. New pseudo-rotaxane and rotaxane compounds were synthesized utilizing the host-guest interactions between CB7 and the surveyed guests. [structure: see text]

[structure: see text] Host-guest interactions between cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) and a series of dialkyl-4,4'-bipyridinium (viologen) dicationic guests were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. CB7 includes the aromatic nucleus of short chain viologens, but the mode of interaction is different with longer chain viologens due to the favorable hydrophobic interactions between the terminal alkyl substituents and the inner cavity of the host. A new pseudorotaxane was designed and synthesized on the basis of viologen-CB7 binding interactions.

The dimerization of dendrimers that contain a single 4,4′‐bipyridinium (viologen) unit, upon one‐electron reduction, is strongly enhanced by the presence of the host cucurbit[8]uril. This behavior is attributed to the formation of a stable inclusion complex between the host and two π‐stacked viologen radical‐cation guests—the one‐electron‐reduced form of viologen (see scheme).

Erheblich vereinfacht wird die Dimerisierung von Dendrimeren mit einer einzigen 4,4′‐Bipyridinium(Viologen)‐Einheit nach Einelektronenreduktion durch den Wirt Cucurbit[8]uril. Als Grund dafür wird die Bildung eines stabilen Einschlusskomplexes zwischen dem Wirt und zwei π‐gestapelten Viologen‐Radikalkationen – der einelektronenreduzierten Form von Viologen – angenommen (siehe Bild).