Supramolecular chemistry: Enveloping molecules with molecules - Press seminar held

On November 21, a press seminar was held by Assistant Professor Masahiro Yamashina of the School of Science.

Typically, molecules are composed of strong covalent bonds and function as individual units. However, when multiple atoms or molecules are joined by weak bonds such as electrostatic interaction, they are called supramolecules. Molecules with nano-sized spaces (host molecules) are capable of trapping other molecules using supramolecular force. Unlike single molecules, supramolecules have unique properties as aggregates.

The following three topics were discussed at the seminar:

1.

Overview of supramolecular chemistry (The supramolecular chemistry around us)

2.

Unique spatial functions produced by the nanospaces in molecular capsules

3.

Unusual nano-sized space surrounded by antiaromatic molecules

Yamashina explained the research findings in an easy-to-understand way using models of molecular capsules. Members of the press showed keen interest and contributed to a lively discussion.

1.

Overview of supramolecular chemistry (The supramolecular chemistry around us)

The field of supramolecular chemistry started in 1967 when Charles Pedersen discovered crown-shaped host molecules called Crown ethers¹. One host molecule commonly used in daily life is cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrins have a structure where glucose is bound in a donut shape, allowing them to take various organic molecules into their lipophilic cavities. For example, cyclodextrins can take in excess fat from meals, allowing it to be discharged from the body. They can also take in bitter components to prevent bitterness. In this way, host molecules with nanospaces have the unique ability to (1) envelop other molecules and (2) change the properties of the enveloped molecules. Because of this, researchers around the world have created various host molecules, and there is ongoing research to understand their properties.

2.

Unique spatial functions produced by nanospaces in molecular capsules

In 2011, Michito Yoshizawa, an associate professor at the Institute of Innovative Research, successfully created a capsule host molecule (molecular capsule) composed of Anthracene². Yamashina and Yoshizawa found that this molecular capsule provides the following functions by enveloping other molecules: stabilization of unstable molecules, unique fluorescence, precise molecular recognition, biomimetic functions, unique structural conversion, and spatial reaction.

-Stabilizing unstable molecules

It was discovered that molecules that are unstable in light and heat (radical initiators) become dramatically more stable when incorporated into molecular capsules. This is because the encapsulated compound is protected from light by the light-absorbing effect of the molecular capsule (light shielding effect). In addition, when a compound is unstable due to heat, the heat causes the chemical bonds of the compound to expand, and after a certain point, the bonds are broken and degraded. However, in the limited space of molecular capsules, the bonds cannot be extended, so it becomes stable in heat. This is known as the compression effect, and makes it over 700 times more stable than normal.

• Stabilization of Highly Reactive Reagents upon Encapsulation | Tokyo Tech News

-Precise molecular recognition

The male hormone testosterone, and the female hormones progesterone and estradiol have very similar structures. Proteins are able to accurately identify these slight differences, but this was difficult to achieve using artificial host molecules. In contrast, it was found that a molecular capsule created by Yoshizawa envelops testosterone with an accuracy of over 98%. Using this property in combination with fluorescent molecules, it is possible to detect even trace (nanogram-scale) amounts of testosterone contained in urine.

• Biomimetics: Artificial receptor distinguishes between male and female hormones | Tokyo Tech News

3.

Unusual nanosized space surrounded by antiaromatic molecules

This study was conducted with Professor Jonathan Nitschke of the University of Cambridge. Most host molecules until now have been composed of aromatic molecules³. Conversely, antiaromatic molecules⁴, which have the opposite properties of aromatic molecules, are extremely unstable and had not been previously used as host molecule material. The recently developed molecule Norcorrole⁵ is a relatively stable antiaromatic molecule. Therefore, Yamashina, Nitschke, and colleagues created a molecular cage composed of antiaromatic molecules using norcorrole and studied its spatial properties. They found that the magnetic effect of the antiaromatic molecules gives the internal space of the molecular cage a special property called an "anti-shielding space." Other molecules enveloped in this space behave in ways unlike those in the (shielded) space created with aromatic host molecules. Yamashina, et al. were the first to construct a host molecule using antiaromatic species and clarify its properties through experiments.

What next?

Enveloping molecules with molecules. Including the examples introduced here, nano-sized spaces have the ability to change the properties of other molecules. In other words, it is possible to derive completely different properties from the same molecule by changing the shape and spatial properties of the host molecule. And there are a huge number of combinations. In the future, the research is expected to create new value for molecules previously considered ordinary. Applications in various fields are expected, such as in self-healing materials and ultrasensitive drug detection methods.

• Creating a nanospace like no other | Tokyo Tech News
• Toyota Laboratory
• Researcher Profile | Tokyo Tech STAR Search - Masahiro Yamashina
• Department of Chemistry, School of Science