Chinese Chemical Letters  2017, Vol. 28 Issue (7): 1375-1379   PDF    
One-pot synthesis of well-organized heteropolyrotaxane via self-sorting strategy
Man-Hua Ding, Xiao-Ming Chen, Lin-Li Tang, Fei Zeng    
Department of Biology and Chemistry, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory Comprehensive Utilization of Dominant Plants Resources in South Hunan, Yongzhou 425199, China
Abstract: Two novel [3]pseudorotaxanes can be selectively synthesized from four components through self-sorting processes, which provides a new strategy for the construction of a well-organized heteropolyrotaxane.
Key words: Self-sorting     Host-guest interactions     One-pot     Crown ether     Polyrotaxanes     Supramolecular chemistry    
1. Introduction

Rotaxane is a type of mechanically interlocked supramolecular system formed by a ring molecule on a dumbbell-shaped linear molecule [1-4]. While polyrotaxanes [5-8] can be consided as a plurality of cyclic molecules on a dumbbell-shaped molecule, which shows not only the unique structural features but also wide potential applications in biology, optoelectronic material and molecular machines. It is worth mentioning that the design and synthesis of molecular machines based on rotaxanes and catenanes was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry [9]. During the past two decades, scientists have paid more and more attentions to prepare functional polyrotaxanes using various macrocyclic molecules, such as cyclodextrins [10, 11], crown ethers [12-16], cucurbiturils [17-19], and so on. Among them, crown ether have attracted increasing interest for their diverse binding selectivities and easy to be prepared. By introducing of host-guest interactions between crown ethers and ammonium salts to prepare polyrotaxane, the "threading-followed-by-stoppering" and template-directed "clipping" approach [20, 21] have been developed. Previously, we reported [22] an efficient and facile method to construct high order polyrotaxane by connecting the "pseudosuitane" complex, which was formed by triptycenederived bis(crown ether) host and a functionalized bis secondary dialkylammonium salts containing an anthracenyl core through host-guest interactions. Recently, Goldup and coworks [23] reported a simple iterative coupling strategy for the synthesis of oligomeric homo-and hetero[n]rotaxanes with precise control over the position of each macrocycle. Although significant efforts have been made, the reports about construction of well-organized AABB-type heteropolyrotaxanes comprising alternative different ring moieties are very limited.

Self-sorting strategy is a quite common and important process in biological systems, which has the unique capability of selective self-assembly in complex mixtures [24-29]. For example, the emergence of "life" efficently employs the principle of self-sorting to afford intricate and functional archetectures with increasing complexity. The process of self-sorting mainly relies on reversible convalent and non-convalent interactions including hydrogenbonding, hydrophobic interactions, π-π interactions, host-guest interactions and metal-ion coordination interactions [30-41]. In 2008, Schalley and coworks [42] reported an efficient integrative self-sorting strategy to construct of cascade-stoppered hetero[3] rotaxane by incorporating two kinds of polyether macrocycles into a single axle molecule with two kinds of secondary ammoniums. Qu [43] empolyed a self-sorting strategy to synthesis of a [c2] daisy-chain-containing hetero[4]rotaxane. Liu and coworks [44] descrided the preparation of a twin-axial hetero[7]rotaxane through the combination of self-assembly and covalent synthetic "click chemistry".

Different from the above reports, we present herein a facile onepot construction of heteropolyrotaxane from two kinds of [3] pseudorotaxanes by combination of self-sorting and cascade-stoppered strategy. In this system, a bisammonium scaffold based on a 9, 10-anthracenyl core guest 3 and a bisammonium scaffold based on a 1, 4-phenyl core guest 4 could complex with dibenzo[24] crown-8 (DB24C8, host 1) and benzo-21-crown-7 (B21C7, host 2) to form 1:2 complexes, respectively. Additionally, the synthesis of heterployrotaxane could be achieved by simply connecting the two formed [3] pseudorotaxanes (Fig. 1).

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Fig. 1. Graphical representation of structures and the proton designations of hosts 1, 2 and guests 3, 4.

2. Results and discussion

Firstly, the complexation of host 1 and guest 3, host 2 and guest 4 were investigated by 1H NMR spectra. As shown in Fig. 2c, the 1H NMR spectrum of host 1 and guest 3 at a molar ratio of 2:1 in CDCl3/CD3CN (2:3, v/v) solution showed a significantly difference from those of 1 and 3. The signals for the catechol ring protons (H1 and H2) in DB24C8 shifted upfield probably as a consequence of their stacking with the anthracene core of guest 3. It was also of interest to note that the methylene protons (Hc and Hd) adjacent to the NH2+ showed considerable downfield shift owing to the C-H·…O interactions between the benzylic methylene hydrogen atoms and the crown oxygen atoms of the host 1. These results were consistent with the complexation between DB24C8 and bisammonium scaffold based on a 9, 10-anthracenyl core reported by Stoddart and coworks [45], which suggested the formation of [3] pseudorotaxane 12·3 between host 1 and guest 3. Similarly, the formation of [3]pseudorotaxane between host 2 and guest 4 were also studied by 1H NMR spectra. For instance, when 2 and 4 were mixed at a 2:1 molar ratio in CDCl3/CD3CN (2:3, v/v), it was found that the signals from proton Ha' of 4 shifted upfield and the signal from proton Hb' and Hc' adjacent to the NH2+ showed dramatical downfield shift (Fig. 2e), which might be attributed to its hydrogen bonding interactions with crown oxygen atoms of host 2. Moreover, the signals for catechol ring protons (H1' and H2') in B21C7 were also showed considerable shift. These results were consistent with the complexation between host 2 and dibutylammonium salt reported before [46], which indicated the formation of [3] pseudorotaxane 22·4 between host 2 and guest 4.

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Fig. 2. Partial 1H NMR spectra (400 MHz, CD3CN:CDCl3 = 2:3, 295 K) of (a) free host 1, (b)free guest 3, (c) guest 3 and 2.0 equiv of host 1, (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 at a ratio of 2:2:1:1, (e) guest 4 and 2.0 equiv of host 2, (f) free host 2, and (g) free guest 4. [3]0 = [4]0 = 4.0 mmol/L.

On the basis of these results, we further investigated the selfsorting processes of compounds 1-4 by 1H NMR spectra. Two sets of sharp signals, consistent with two discrete [3] pseudorotaxane were observed in 1H NMR spectra. As shown in Fig. 2d, when compounds 1, 2, 3 and 4 at a molar ratio of 2:2:1:1 were mixed in CD3CN:CDCl3 (2:3, v/v), the 1H NMR spectrum featured two sets of sharp signals that correlated well to [3]pseudorotaxanes 12·3 and 22·4 were observed, which suggested that host 1 only forms the complex with 3, while host 2 only complexes with 4. Thus, the selfsorting process in the mixture of four components 1-4 did occure, and two kinds of [3]pseudorotaxane were formed.

The self-sorting behavior between 1, 2, 3 and 4 provided us an opportunity to investigate the construction of heteropolyrotaxane in a one-pot reaction. Since the formed [3] pseudorotaxane 12·3 and 22·4 have two terminal propargyl and azide groups, respectively, we then tried to synthesize the linear heteropolyrotaxane by the high efficient CuAAC 'click' reaction. As shown in Scheme 1, the mixture of 1, 2, 3 and 4 at a molar ratio of 2:2:1:1 in dry CH2Cl2 was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours under nitrogen atmosphere, and it was stirred for another 24 h after the addition of catalytic amount of Cu(CH3CN)4PF6. During the reaction process, the precipite formed, which was filtered and washed with CH2Cl2, CH3OH, H2O, and Et2O sequentially. After drying in vacuo, heteropolyrotaxane 5 was obtained in 76% yield. A control polymer 6 was also prepared by the CuAAC 'click' reaction of 3 and 4 in the absence of hosts 1 and 2. In the 1H NMR spectrum of 5, the signals for the protons of crown ethers emerged at 4.06-3.52 ppm, and the signals corresponding to the protons of 1, 2, 3-triazole could also be found at 8.41 (H3) and 5.08 (H4) ppm, respectively. These results indicated that the heteropolyrotaxane was successfully obtained by the effective CuAAC 'click' reaction between [3]pseudorotaxane 12·3 and 22·4. However, the 1H NMR spectrum of 6 was significantly different from that of 5, which only exhibits the proton signals of monomers and the triazole moieties, suggesting again the formation of heteropolyrotaxane 5 (Fig. 3). This was also confirmed by the results from FT-IR spectrum of 5, in which the peaks at 1102, 2102 and 3446 cm-1 could be found, corresponding to the triazole and azido and unreacted alkynyl groups, respectively. Furthermore, the number-average molecular weight (Mn) and polydispersity index of polymer 5 were determined by gel permeation chromatography as well using polystyrene (PS) as a standard and dimethylformamide (DMF) as the eluent. It was found that the Mn of the polyrotaxane is 8.4 kDa with the polydispersity index (PDI) value of 1.24 (Fig. S7 in Supporting information).

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Scheme 1. Synthesis of heteropolyrotaxane 5.

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Fig. 3. Partial 1H NMR spectra (400 MHz, DMSO-d6, 295 K) of (a) polymer 5, and (b) polymer 6.

3. Conclusion

In conclusion, the self-sorting principle afforded a highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of well-organized heteropolyrotaxane. Four components could selectively selfassemble into two novel [3]pseudorotaxanes driven by host-guest interactions as well as size and steric-effect controlled selfsorting processes. Host 1 was selectively complex with guest 3 and Host 2 was selectively bound with guest 4 to form of [3] pseudorotaxanes 12·3 and 22·4, respectively. By the highly efficient CuAAC reaction, a linear main-chain heteropolyrotaxane 5 could be conveniently synthesized in excellent yield. By employing this strategy, the construction of complex multicomponent interlocked molecules, particularly when encoded with multiple molecular information, has turned out to be feasible and practicable. Further studies on functionalized polyrotaxanes directed by multiple self-sorting processes are under investigation in our laboratory.

4. Experimental

1H NMR spectra was recorded on a Bruker DMX400 NMR spectrometer. FT-IR spectrum was determined by Nicolet Is50 FTIR Spectrometer. The Mn and polydispersity index of polymer 5 were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) (Waters Co.) using polystyrene (PS) as standard and dimethylformamide (DMF) as eluent.

4.1. Synthesis of polymer 5

A mixture of 1 (89.8 mg, 0.2 mmol), 2 (71.3 mg, 0.2 mmol), 3 (81.7 mg, 0.1 mmol) and 4 (59.5 mg, 0.1 mmol) in dichloromethane (20 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 4 h under nitrogen atmosphere, and then stirred for another 24 h after the addition of Cu(CH3CN)4PF6 (112.3 mg, 0.3 mmol). During the reaction process, the precipitation was formed, which was filtered and washed with CH2Cl2, CH3OH, H2O, and Et2O, respectively, and then dried in vacuo to give pale green powder (229.7 mg, 76%). FT-IR: ν≡C-H = 3446 cm-1, νN3 = 2102 cm-1, νtrizole = 1102 cm-1. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6, 295 K): δ 8.41 (br s, 3H), 8.30-8.18 (br m, 9H), 7.61-7.41 (br m, 19H), 7.06-6.38 (br m, 40H), 5.52 (br s, 3H), 5.15-5.08 (br m, 10H), 4.46 (br s, 13H), 4.06-3.52 (br m, 86H), 3.03(br s, 6H), 2.08-1.99(br m, 7H). GPC data: Mn = 8.4 KDa, PDI = 1.24.

4.2. Synthesis of polymer 6

A mixture of 3 (70.0 mg, 0.086 mmol), 4 (51.0 mg, 0.086 mmol) and Cu(CH3CN)4PF6 (96.2 mg, 0.26 mmol) in dichloromethane (20 mL) was stirred at room temperature for 24 h under nitrogen atmosphere. During the reaction process, the precipitation was formed, which was filtered and washed with CH2Cl2, CH3OH, H2O, and Et2O, respectively, and then dried in vacuo to give yellow powder (102.5 mg, 78%). FT-IR: ν≡C-H = 3460 cm-1, νN3 = 2121 cm-1, νtrizole = 1103 cm-1. 1H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6, 295 K): δ 8.31 (br s, 10H), 7.59-7.45 (br m, 21H), 7.11-7.09 (br m, 6H), 5.16 (br s, 6H), 4.83 (br s, 6H), 4.48 (br s, 7H), 4.09 (br s, 10H), 2.82 (br s, 4H), 2.12 (br s, 8H).

Acknowledgments

We thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21602055) and Sci-Tech Innovation Teams in Universities of Hunan Province for financial support.

Appendix A. Supplementary data

Supplementary data associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cclet.2017.03.009.

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