Angewandte
Chemie
containing 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, and 1-amino-4-
butanol suitable for X-ray analysis were all obtained by
diffusion of hexane into chloroform solutions (see the
Supporting Information). The three structures possess
almost identical unit cells and are essentially superimposable
(Figure 2). The polar hydroxy or amine groups of the guests
are hydrogen bonded to the NH functions of a 2,6-pyridine-
dicarboxamide (dN-O/N: 2.91–3.11 , N-H-O/N: 143–1608).
molecules, two of which are also bound to the 2,6-pyridine-
dicarboxamide units. The central part of the capsule contains
one water molecule. One of the two peripheral water
molecules is found at the same position as the hydroxy
groups of the other guests. However, the other water
molecule is found at a position offset by over 1.5 from
the position occupied by hydroxy and amine functions in the
other complexes (Figure 2b). A closer look at the structure
reveals that this peculiar position in fact results from a
significant conformation change in the aryl–amide backbone
that in all cases adjust the position of 2,6-pyridinedicarbox-
amide units within hydrogen-bonding distance of the guest
(Figure 2b). This ability of the helical capsule to adjust
bending angles at the aryl–amide linkage and adapt its
conformation to the presence of one or another guest is a new
element in the field of aromatic amide foldamers, which are
generally depicted as rather rigid structures. It also represents
a new type of induced fit that could be compared to that of a
snake around its prey.
The crystal structures of 1 shed light on a number of NMR
results including the diastereotopic motifs in the guestsꢀ
signals, the slow guest binding and release which require
considerable conformational changes of the capsule, and the
probably impossible flip-flop motion of the guests within the
helix cavity. The structures also fully validate the initial
design. They show that 1 completely surrounds its guests and
confirm the respective role of each aromatic monomer in the
sequence. Terminal Q units cap the helix hollow and prevent
hybridization of the helix into a duplex.[6,8c] Pyridine units
define a binding site for polar hydroxy or amine moieties, and
QF and AF units provide a nonpolar environment in the center
of the sequence. On this basis, capsules with a high affinity for
1,5-pentanediol or 1,6-hexanediol might be designed through
the incorporation of additional QF units.
In conclusion, this study illustrates how sequence–struc-
ture–function relationships can be rationally established using
codes that are different from those nature uses. In addition to
the remarkable binding properties of 1, it clearly appears that
sequences slightly longer than 1 will accommodate more
challenging guests and possibly help mediate some chemical
transformations. Ultimately, the ability to tune the groups that
converge towards the cavity of molecular capsules, as made
possible by our design, may become a critical advantage to
implement function. Our current efforts concentrate on
developing strategies towards the synthesis of even larger
helical capsules and at unraveling the recognition modes
between the capsule inner wall and guest molecules.
Figure 2. Solid-state structures of host–guest complexes of 1. a) Side
views of CPK and stick representations of 1 containing 4-amino-1-
butanol. Q and P monomers are shown in blue and red, respectively.
QF and AF monomers are shown in gray. Isobutyl side chains and
included solvent molecules have been removed for clarity. b) Overlay
of the solid-state structures of 1 containing 4-amino-1-butanol, 1,4-
butanediol, 1,3-propanediol, and three water molecules. The latter
complex is shown in orange while the three former complexes are
depicted using dark and light blue. The blue helix backbone represents
the backbones of the three former complexes which are essentially
superimposable. All six terminal Q units, isobutyl side chains, hydro-
gen atoms, and included solvent molecules have been removed for
clarity. The structure on the right depicts a top view of the upper three
P units and the nearby guest heteroatoms (N or O) using the same
color code. This structure clearly shows that one water molecule
(orange sphere) occupies an offset position with respect to hydroxy
and amine functions in other complexes.
The methylene units are surrounded by a ring of fluorine
atoms of the host. The guestsꢀ butyl chains are slightly bent in
close to an eclipsed conformation (C-C-C-C torsion: 1448 and
1158 for 1,4-butanediol and 4-amino-1-butanol, respectively).
This conformation may explain the high affinity of 1 for cis-2-
butene-1,4-diol, which already has a similar shape. In contrast,
the propyl chain of 1,3-propanediol adopts an extended, all-
anti conformation. As a result, although it has one less CH2
unit, 1,3-propanediol is located in the center of the capsule. It
does not shift towards one end and its terminal oxygen atoms
occupy positions very near those of the two longer guests.
The structure of a crystal of 1 grown in the absence of any
specific guest but in the presence of a large excess of water
could also be resolved. The unit cell parameters are slightly
but reproducibly different from those of the first three
structures. This latter capsule contains exactly three water
Received: February 7, 2008
Published online: April 28, 2008
Keywords: helical structures · molecular recognition ·
.
structure elucidation · supramolecular chemistry
[1] Foldamers:Structure, Properties and Applications (Eds.: S.
Hecht, I. Huc), Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2007; C. M. Goodman,
252; D. J. Hill, M. J. Mio, R. B. Prince, T. S. Hughes, J. S. Moore,
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 4153 –4156
ꢀ 2008 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
4155