The complexation behavior of cyclodextrins (CDs) with a dumbbell molecule possessing ferrocene (Fc) moieties at both the ends (FcC10Fc) was investigated by 1 H NMR, two-dimensional rotating frame Overhauser spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. ¡-CD includes the cyclopentadienyl rings of the Fc moiety shallowly from the wider side but not the decamethylene (C10) moiety, whereas ¢-CD and £-CD include not only the Fc moiety but also the C10 moiety. These observations indicate that the Fc moiety can pass through ¢-CD and £-CD cavities but not the ¡-CD cavity.Biological systems maintain their living activities using supramolecular assemblies responsive to external stimuli, which are responsible for various functions.13 These biological stimuli-responsive supramolecular assemblies have inspired a number of research groups to devote their efforts to construction of artificial supramolecular assemblies responsive to external stimuli, e.g., temperature, pH, chemicals, and light.
422Compared to thermo-, pH-, chemical-, and photo-responsive supramolecular assemblies, redox-responsive ones have been an underexamined subject of investigation, although redox stimulus is promising because it can be provided not only chemically by adding oxidants or reductants but also electrochemically by applying a potential.
2325Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligomers of D-(+)-glucopyranose units linked through an ¡-1,4-glycoside bond (Scheme 1). CDs of 6, 7, and 8 glucopyranose units are called ¡-CD, ¢-CD, and £-CD, respectively. CDs are toroidal with narrower primary hydroxy and wider secondary hydroxy sides. The most important features of CDs are their hydrophilic exterior and hydrophobic cavity, and thus CDs recognize hydrophobic compounds of size and shape matching their cavity to form inclusion complexes in aqueous media. Since CDs are soluble in water and nontoxic, they are investigated widely as a building block for supramolecular assemblies.
2634A number of examples of CD-based supramolecular assemblies responsive to external stimuli have been also reported. 2731,33,34 It is known that CDs and ferrocene are a molecular recognition pair responsive to redox stimulus: CDs interact with the reduced form, ferrocene, to form inclusion complexes, but not with the oxidized form, ferrocenium.3554 Using pairs of CDs and ferrocene moieties, redox-responsive hydrogel, 55 controlled release, 56 and vesicle 53 have been realized. In order to construct more sophisticated redox-responsive supramolecular assemblies, e.g., Janus [2]rotaxanes and molecular shuttles, it is necessary to obtain fundamental data including not only how strong they interact (i.e., association constants) but also whether or not a ferrocene moiety can pass through the cavity of CDs. To the best of our knowledge however, there has been no research clarifying the latter point. To obtain experimental evidence for whether or not a certain moiety can pass through the cavity of CDs, the behavior of complex formation of CDs with a dumbbell molecule...