The family of cucurbit[n]uril hosts has shattered the notion that high binding affinities can only be reached when molecules of biological origin are involved. In particular, cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) reaches binding affinities with suitable guests that exceed those accessible with the biochemical avidin-biotin host-guest pair. Equilibrium association constant (K) values as large as 1017 M-1have been observed between CB7 and suitable cationic, hydrophobic guests. The high thermodynamic stability of these inclusion complexes provides them long lifetimes and gives rise to properties rarely observed with other supramolecular complexes. For instance, with ditopic guests, that is, guests having two possible binding sites for CB7, it is possible to observe the two microscopic complexes that can be formed, even with techniques as slow as NMR spectroscopy or voltammetry. These phenomena will be discussed in detail, paying attention to the kinetics of inter-conversion between microscopic complexes. The electrochemical properties of these complexes will also be surveyed.

Properties of highly stable cucurbit[<i>n</i>]uril complexes

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Properties of highly stable cucurbit[n]uril complexes