The prospect of selective recognition of nerve agents with modular basket-like hosts. A structure-activity study of the entrapment of a series of organophosphonates in aqueous media.

We designed, prepared, and characterized three cup-shaped cavitands 1-3 for trapping organophosphonates (O═PR(OR')2, 118-197 Å(3)) whose shape and size correspond to G-type chemical warfare agents (132-186 Å(3)). With the assistance of computational (molecular dynamics) and experimental ((1)H NMR spectroscopy) methods, we found that host [1-H3](3+) orients its protonated histamine residues at the rim outside the cavity, in bulk water. In this unfolded form, the cavitand traps a series of organophosphonates 5-13 (K(app) = 87 ± 1 to 321 ± 6 M(-1) at 298.0 K), thereby placing the P-CH3 functional group in the inner space of the host. A comparison of experimental and computed (1)H NMR chemical shifts of both hosts and guests allowed us to derive structure-activity relationships and deduce that, upon the complexation, the more sizable P-OR functional groups in guests drive organophosphonates to the northern portion of the basket [1-H3](3+). This, in turn, causes a displacement of the guest's P-CH3 group and a contraction of the cup-shaped scaffold. The proposed induced-fit model of the recognition is important for turning these modular hosts into useful receptors capable of a selective detection/degradation of organophosphorus nerve agents.