Factors influencing anion binding stoichiometry : the subtle influence of electronic effects

Six new, charge-neutral norbornene-based receptors 1a,1b– 3a,3b were prepared, and their ability to interact with simple anions in DMSO was investigated using 1H NMR and UV/ Vis spectroscopy. Binding of dihydrogenphosphate by the six receptors appeared to be based solely on steric constraints. In contrast, the binding stoichiometry of 3a and 3b to acetate was controlled by subtle electronic factors.

Bis-thiourea macrocycles incorporating fused [n]polynorbornanes: binding of flexible versus rigid dicarboxylates

Two macrocyclic bis-thiourea hosts 5 and 6 were constructed and their interactions with two dicarboxylates of similar size (pimelate = flexible and terephthalate = rigid) were evaluated using 1H NMR titration techniques. In contrast to previous work with thiourea functionalised [n]polynorbornanes (where a notable increase in H:G affinity was noted for the rigid guest), the new macrocyclic hosts, in particular host 6, bind pimelate more strongly than terephthalate (for 6 binding pimelate log Ka = 4.7, terephthalate log Ka = 3.7). A binding arrangement in which the flexible dicarboxylate is ‘perched’ above the macrocycle is proposed to justify these results.