Host–guest interaction of hemicucurbiturils with phenazine hydrochloride salt

The host–guest interactions between phenazine hydrochloride salt (PheH+) and hemicucurbit[n]uril (n = 6 or 12) (HemiQ[6 or 12]) have been studied by 1H NMR, UV–vis, IR, mass spectrometry (MS) and quantum chemistry. In 1H NMR spectra, the broadening of proton resonances of the hosts suggests the interactions of PheH+ with HemiQs. The quantitative stabilities of the host–guest systems have been obtained by UV–vis titration experiments, that is, the stoichiometric interactions of PheH+ with HemiQ[6] have been observed with an association constant of Ka = (2.5 ± 1.2) × 106 L mol− 1, while the 2:1 ratio complexes of PheH+ with HemiQ[12] are formed with stepwise association constants of K1 = (9.2 ± 2.8) × 104 L mol− 1 and K2 = (6.4 ± 0.9) × 105 L mol− 1, respectively, which induce a total association constant of Ka = 5.9 × 1010 L2 mol− 2. Both the 1:1 and 2:1 complexes have been detected by MS. Quantum chemistry calculations have been used to understand the static structures and thermodynamic stabilities of the supramolecular assemblies.