Preparation, characterization, and biological activity study of thymoquinone-cucurbit[7]uril inclusion complex.

In this study, the formation of a host-guest inclusion complex between cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and thymoquinone (TQ) was investigated in aqueous solution. The formation of a stable inclusion complex, CB[7]-TQ, was confirmed by using different techniques, such as H NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy. The aqueous solubility of TQ was clearly enhanced upon the addition of CB[7], which provided an initial indication for supramolecular complexation.

Cinnamaldehyde-cucurbituril complex: investigation of loading efficiency and its role in enhancing cinnamaldehyde anti-tumor activity.

This study aimed to clarify the physico-chemical properties of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and cinnamaldehyde (Cinn) inclusion complexes (CB[7]-Cinn) and their resulting antitumor activity. CB[7]-Cinn inclusion complexes were prepared by a simple experimental approach and fully characterized for their stoichiometry, formation constant, particle size and morphology. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to elucidate the stable molecular structures of the inclusion complexes and their precursors and to investigate the probable stoichiometry and direction of interaction using three different DFT functionals at the 6-31G(d,p) basis set.

Modelling the luminescence of iridium cyclometalated complexes encapsulated in cucurbituril.

Iridium(iii) cyclometalated complexes in aqueous solution often display relatively weak luminescence. It has been shown in previous work that this emission can be significantly enhanced (by up to two orders of magnitude) by encapsulation in cucurbit[10]uril (Q[10]). Luminescence lifetime measurements suggest a dynamic self-quenching mechanism is active, possibly due to displacement of an excited guest complex via collision with an unbound complex.

Iridium Cyclometalated Complexes in Host-Guest Chemistry: A Strategy for Maximizing Quantum Yield in Aqueous Media.

The weaker emission typically seen for iridium(III) cyclometalated complexes in aqueous medium can be reversed via encapsulation in cucurbit[10]uril (Q[10]). The Q[10] cavity is shown to effectively maximize quantum yields for the complexes, compared to any other medium. This may provide significant advantages for a number of sensor applications.

Strong enhancement of luminescence from an iridium polypyridyl complex via encapsulation in cucurbituril.

An exceptional, temperature-dependent enhancement of luminescence is reported upon encapsulation of an iridium(III) polypyridyl complex in cucurbit[10]uril (Q[10]). This is the first demonstrated example of a luminescent transition metal complex occupying the Q[10] cavity with this type of differential response.