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Pablo Ballester

Publications and source records attributed to Pablo Ballester.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Rational design, synthesis, and application of a new receptor for the molecular recognition of tricarboxylate salts in aqueous media.

A rational design of a tripodal receptor for the molecular recognition of tricarboxylate salts in aqueous media, based on squaramide, has been performed using high-level DFT calculations (RI-BP86/SVP level of theory) in solution using the COSMO treatment, including some preliminary ab initio calculations at the higher RI-MP2/TZVP level of theory, comparing the ability of squaramide to bind carboxylate salts with two widely used guanidinium salts. The tripodal receptor has been synthesized using a new methodology that has been recently reported by some of us, and its capability of recognizing several mono-, di-, and tricarboxylate salts has been studied experimentally by means of microcalorimetry experiments in a very high competitive media, H(2)O:EtOH 1:3. These experiments give enthalpic and entropic data, which are unfortunately scarce in the literature of molecular recognition of anions. Finally, a fluorimetric ensemble of the receptor with fluorescein has been found to be useful for the fluorimetric determination of zinc citrate in a commercial toothpaste using competition assays.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2006

MP2 study of cation-(pi)n-pi interactions (n = 1-4).

Ab initio calculations at the MP2(full)/6-31++G**, RI-MP2(full)/6-31++G**, and RI-MP2(full)/6-311++G(2d,2p) levels of theory demonstrate important synergic effects between two noncovalent interactions that involve aromatic rings, that is, cation-pi and pi-pi interactions. The presence of a cation interacting with the pi cloud of an aromatic ring favors the face-to-face stacking interaction with additional aromatic rings. This effect is extended in the space up to five stacked aromatic rings.

Letter↗
PubMed2006

DABCO-Induced self-assembly of a trisporphyrin double-decker cage: thermodynamic characterization and guest recognition.

This paper describes the thermodynamic characterization of the self-assembly of a Zn trisporphyrin induced by coordination with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) to form a stable 2:3 double-decker molecular coordination cage that recognizes benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides. The self-assembly process has been studied using UV-vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopy and quantitatively characterized in terms of a single stability constant that describes the strength of the individual coordination interactions and two effective molarities (EM) that describe the additional stability imparted by intramolecular cyclization. The EM values of the two consecutive cyclic intramolecular interactions are very similar. At micromolar concentrations, the formation of the fully assembled coordination cage is highly favored over the formation of intermediate species stabilized by fewer interactions, and so self-assembly is an all-or-nothing process. In contrast, at millimolar concentrations, the relative stability of intermediate species increases, leading to a stepwise self-assembly process, and a 2:2 intermediate can be clearly identified using (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The molecular recognition of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides by the cage was investigated using (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The tricarboxamides bind inside the central cavity of the cage complex, and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) allowed the quantification of the stoichiometry and binding affinities.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Ab initio study of [n.n]paracyclophane (n = 2, 3) complexes with cations: unprecedented through-space substituent effects.

Several cation-pi complexes between substituted [n.n]paracyclophanes (n = 2, 3) and cations have been studied using high level ab initio calculations. The chemical substitution at the aromatic ring that is not interacting with the cation has a strong influence upon the binding energy. This strong through-space substituent effect has been studied using the "atoms-in-molecules" theory, which has been found useful to explain the energetic results.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Structurally simple, modular amino alcohols for the recognition of carboxylic acids. Application to the development of a new chiral solvating agent.

[structure: see text] Two flexible receptors for carboxylic acids, based on 1-amino-3-fluoro-2-alcohol functional arrays and built on aminomethylpyridine platforms, are described. The C(2)-symmetric one [from 2,6-bis(aminomethyl)pyridine] has been shown to be an efficient CSA due to its ability to form geometrically different diastereomeric complexes enabling the discrimination between the enantiomers of a series of carboxylic acid in the (1)H NMR spectra.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Approximate additivity of anion-pi interactions: an ab initio study on anion-pi, anion-pi(2) and anion-pi(3) complexes.

We have studied the additivity of the anion-pi interaction using high level ab initio calculations. We have optimized chloride and bromide complexes with one, two and three aromatic units (such as trifluoro-s-triazine and s-triazine). We have analyzed the interaction using the atoms in molecules theory and studied the charge transfer using several methods for deriving atomic charges. The results revealed additivities of both the geometries and the binding energies. We have also proposed a neutral receptor for chloride based on multiple anion-pi interactions. Finally, we have simulated solvent effects within the self-consistent reaction field model.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Self-assembly, binding, and dynamic properties of heterodimeric porphyrin macrocycles.

A series of heterodimeric tetralactam macrocycles have been self-assembled using two kinetically labile zinc porphyrin-pyridine interactions. The stability constants have been determined by UV-vis titrations in CHCl3. The stability constants depend on the degree of preorganization of the linker units connecting the interacting groups. The ability of the self-assembled macrocycles to bind a terephthalamide guest was also investigated. One of the macrocycles was used for the construction of a [2]rotaxane. The dynamic properties of this system provide insight into the exchange mechanisms that operate in complex noncovalent assemblies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Structure and binding energy of anion-pi and cation-pi complexes: a comparison of MP2, RI-MP2, DFT, and DF-DFT methods.

Several complexes of benzene with cations, hexafluorobenzene with anions, 1,3,5-trifluorobenzene with cations and anions, and s-triazine with cations and anions have been evaluated and compared at the MP2 and resolution of the identity MP2 (RI-MP2) levels. The RI-MP2 method is considerably faster than the MP2 and the interaction energies and equilibrium distances are almost identical for both methods. A similar result is found when comparing DFT and density fitting DFT (DF-DFT) levels. Therefore RI-MP2 and DF-DFT methods are well suited for the study of ion-pi interactions.

Anions↗
PubMed2005

DABCO-directed self-assembly of bisporphyrins (DABCO=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane).

Three isomeric zinc bisporphyrins have been prepared by covalently linking together two aminoporphyrins with an isophthalic acid derivative. The porphyrins differ in the substitution pattern on the meso phenyl groups, that is, ortho, meta, or para. Titrations carried out by UV-visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy have been used to map out the stabilities and the stoichiometries of the complexes formed with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in chloroform. The ortho- and meta-substituted bisporphyrins form 1:1 intramolecular sandwich complexes. The para-substituted bisporphyrin cannot adopt the cofacial conformation required for this type of complex and forms a higher order 2:2 intermolecular assembly, which is stable over a wide range of DABCO concentrations.

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy↗
PubMed2004

Conformational preferences and self-template macrocyclization of squaramide-based foldable modules.

Secondary squaramides have considerable potential as hydrogen bond donors and acceptors. In CHCl(3) both, anti- and syn-squaramide rotamers are observed by NMR. The energetic barrier for anti/syn mutual interconversion determined by complete band shape analysis is approximately 63 kJ mol(-1). As in proline derivatives, a low rotational barrier is crucial for the design of foldable modules. In this paper, folding based on the low rotational barrier of squaramides is driven by donor atoms (N or O) located in the gamma position of an alkyl chain of a secondary squaramide. We demonstrate that the resulting minimal module exists as a folded conformer through the formation of a nine-membered ring stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Molecular mechanics calculations and NMR studies support the existence of these folded conformers. The intramolecularly hydrogen bonded conformers are clearly visible even in CHCl(3)-EtOH mixtures. Folding occurs even in pure ethanol. As an indirect test, we studied the effectiveness of macrocyclization reactions in pure ethanol that require an effective templating effect to take place. The high yields obtained support the dominant role of a folded conformer even in this solvent.

Catalysis↗
PubMed2003

Reactivity and molecular recognition: amine methylation by an introverted ester.

We report a host molecule with an inwardly directed methyl ester and its reaction with a series of tertiary amines. The reaction product is a complex of the host carboxylate with a guest quaternary ammonium salt. The rate of the reaction is highly dependent on the suitability of the amine to occupy the host cavity and the intrinsic reactivity of the resulting complex. A kinetic study of the reaction of 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol to produce choline gives the activation parameters DeltaH = 25.1 +/- 0.5 kcal mol-1 and DeltaS = 12 +/- 2 cal mol-1 K-1. The complex, once formed, is poised to reach the transition state; a rate acceleration of greater than 2 x 104 fold is estimated when compared with similar reactions having no supramolecular effects.

Amines↗
PubMed2003

Molecular acrobatics: self-assembly of calixarene-porphyrin cages.

Calix[4]arenes equipped with two and four zinc porphyrins have been prepared, and they show remarkable flexibility in their self-assembly properties with the bidentate ligand DABCO. The calix-bisporphyrin forms a 2:2 complex with DABCO, generating a large cavity that has the potential to act as a supramolecular host. The calix-tetraporphyrin, on the other hand, forms four different complexes with DABCO depending on the stoichiometry and concentration. During the course of a titration, all four complexes are populated, leading to large conformational changes and the formation of both intramolecular and intermolecular calix-tetraporphyrin-DABCO sandwich complexes. The system was fully characterized using a combination of UV-visible and (1)H NMR spectroscopy to identify the complexes. At a calix-tetraporphyrin:DABCO ratio of 2:4, the major species is dimeric cage assembly that features a large internal cavity for guest complexation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Dual binding mode of s-triazine to anions and cations.

Ab initio calculations were performed on complexes between cations and s-triazine, which has a small and positive quadrupole moment. Minimum energy pi-complexes were found between s-triazine and cations. Minimum pi-complexes with anions were previously reported. This ability of s-triazine to form stable complexes with either anions or cations is studied using several theoretical methods. A likely explanation of this duality is the stabilization obtained from the ion-induced polarization. [structure: see text]

Journal Article↗