Structure-function relationship of amino acid-[2]rotaxanes

Synthetic methodology was developed to construct amino acid-[2]rotaxanes that have phenylalanine and 3,5-di-tert-butylbenzene as blocking groups and dibenzo-24-crown-8, derivatized with either N-acetylargininyl or a carboxylic group, as the ring. A relative measure of the intramolecular interaction energies between the functional groups in DMSO/water mixtures is obtained by comparing their pK(a) values. Rotaxane structures were investigated through 2D NMR analysis and molecular dynamics simulations. Association constants for complexes of amino acids and rotaxanes in various protonation states were determined in a variety of solvent systems by H-1 NMR analysis. The unique intracomponent interactions that exist in the rotaxanes and their ability to act as artificial receptors are discussed.