A tetraphenylethene-based hexacationic molecular cage with an open cavity

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Molecular Recognition
• Biophysical Chemistry

Background:

• Tetraphenylethene derivatives are known for their unique photophysical properties.
• Host-guest chemistry is crucial for molecular recognition and sensing.
• Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) plays vital roles in biological redox reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel hexacationic molecular cage based on tetraphenylethene.
• To investigate the host-guest recognition capabilities of the synthesized cage for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide molecules.
• To explore the differential responses of the cage towards NADH and NAD+.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a tetraphenylethene-based hexacationic molecular cage.
• Host-guest complexation studies in aqueous solution.
• Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to probe molecular interactions.
• Fluorescence spectroscopy to monitor binding events.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of a hexacationic molecular cage (1) with an open cavity.
• Demonstrated 1:2 and 1:1 host-guest recognition for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH and NAD+).
• Observed distinct Circular Dichroism and fluorescence responses for NADH versus NAD+ binding.
• The cage functions effectively in aqueous media.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized molecular cage exhibits selective host-guest recognition for NADH and NAD+.
• The differential spectroscopic responses provide a basis for distinguishing between these two important biomolecules.
• This work contributes to the development of advanced molecular sensors for biologically relevant analytes.