Head-to-tail Aggregates of Sulfonatomethylated Calix[4]resorcinarene in Aqueous Solutions

Abstract

Two amphiphilic water-soluble sulfonatomethylated calix[4]resorcinarene derivatives were studied by various ¹H NMR techniques (¹H NMR titration, 2D NOESY, NMR diffusion measurements). The derivative with methyl moieties at the lower rim (1) was found to be non-aggregated in the range 0–10 mM in aqueous solutions. Lengthening of the lower rim substituent to pentyl (2) results in self-aggregation of 2 in aqueous solutions with the aggregation number varying from 3 at 1 mM to 20 at 10 mM. The 2D NOESY ¹H NMR spectroscopy data reveal an unusual head-to-tail packing mode in aqueous solutions, resulting from the cooperative effect of weak hydrophobic interactions. Binding of guests (tetramethylammonium and N-methylpyridinium) results in additional stabilization of the aggregates whilst the head-to-tail packing mode of the aggregate is retained.

Keywords:

• Supramolecular chemistry
• Self-aggregate
• Hydrophobic interaction
• NMR spectroscopy

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by RFBR grants 05-03-32558 and 04-03-32909.