Large Conformational Change in the Isomerization of Flexible Crown Ether Observed at Low Temperature

J Phys Chem A. 2022 Jul 14;126(27):4359-4366. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c02271. Epub 2022 Jul 5.

Abstract

The dynamic processes of conformational changes of supramolecules are important to understand the motion in synthetic supramolecules. Although a host-guest complex is the most basic supramolecule, a detailed mechanism of its conformational changes has rarely been studied. Here, we observed the large conformational change of a dibenzo-24-crown-8 complex with four guest ions (Ag+, Na+, K+, and NH4+) at low temperature in the gas phase. The isomerization between the two types of conformers, which have different distances between the two benzene rings, proceeds even at 86 K. Using variable-temperature ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) at 100-210 K, the activation energy for the isomerization is determined to be rather small (4.8-9.0 kJ mol-1). Reaction pathway calculations revealed that the isomerization is caused by the sequential rotation of two single bonds in the crown ether ring. The present cryogenic IM-MS study of the host-guest complexes at the molecular level opens an approach to detailed understanding of the motion in supramolecules.

MeSH terms

  • Crown Ethers* / chemistry
  • Ions
  • Isomerism
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Crown Ethers
  • Ions