Compósitos de xerogel de pentóxido de vanádio (VXG) com cucurbit[6]urila (CB[6]), hemicucurbit[6]urila (HCB[6]) e oxovanadio(IV)cucurbit[6]urila (CB[6]VO) em diferentes concentrações foram preparados por mistura mecânica dos macrociclos com o gel de V2O5. Misturas homogêneas foram obtidas para quantidades até 10% em mol de CB[6] e HCB[6], e 1% de CB[6]VO. Estes macrociclos foram intercalados nos espaços interlamelares do VXG como mostram os dados de difração de raios-X (DRX), aumentando o espaço interlamelar e criando dois domínios cristalográficos distintos. As propriedades estruturais e composição destes intercalados foram estudadas por espectroscopia no infravermelho, análise termogravimétrica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microscopia de força atômica. Ensaios eletroquímicos mostraram que a capacidade específica de carga inicial do VXG (158 mA.h.g-1) melhora com a presença de CB[6] (168 mA.h.g-1), da HCB[6] (200 mA.h.g-1), e principalmente com CB[6]VO (230 mA.h.g-1), em filmes finos com baixa concentração dos macrociclos. Isto supera a capacidade de eletrodos de bateria comerciais. Nos intercalados com CB[6] a complexação dos íons Li+ com seus opérculos prejudica a reversibilidade na inserção/desinserção deste íon, diminuindo drasticamente a ciclabilidade de carga/descarga; a presença da HCB[6], que não complexa com o íon Li+, não sustenta a estrutura do VXG ao longo de vários ciclos, por não ser um macrociclo rígido. A presença de CB[6]VO parece estabilizar a estrutura do VXG oferencendo caminhos alternativos na difusão do íon Li+, que não complexa com os opérculos da CB obstruído pelo ion VO2+, aumentando a ciclabilidade, mantendo sua carga específica em aproximadamente 88% após 40 ciclos cronopotenciométricos. / Cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]), hemi-cucurbit[6]uril (HCB[6]), and oxovanadium(IV)cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]VO) vanadium pentoxide composites were prepared in several mole ratios by mechanically mixing the macrocycles and the V2O5 gel. Homogeneous mixtures were obtained for amounts as high as 10% in mol of CB[6] and HCB[6] and 1% of CB[6]VO. These macrocycles were intercalated in VXG interlamellar space as we could demonstrate with X-ray powder diffraction experiments (XRPD),which clearly show basal distance expansions and the formation of two crystallographic domains. The structural properties of such intercalates as well as their composition were studied with infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimmetric analysis, sweeping electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Electrochemical experiments have shown that the initial specific charge capacity of VXG (158 mA.h.g1) was enhanced with the addition of CB[6] (168 mA.h.g1) and HCB[6] (200 mA.h.g1) and even more with (230 mA.h.g1) in thin films with low macrocycle amounts. These capacities exceed commercial batteries electrodes. Complexation of CB[6] with Li+ ions in CB[6]/VXG intercalates reduces considerably the reversibility of insertion/expulsion of this ion, reducing drastically its charge/discharge cyclability. The presence of HCB[6], who does not bind Li+ ions, is not rigid enough to sustain the oxide structure during many cycles. The presence of CB[6]VO seems to stabilize the VXG structure and offers alternative pathways for Li+ diffusion. It does not bind these ions since the occulli are occupied by VO2+ ions, enhancing cyclability. Its specific charge remains as high as 88% of the maximum charge capacity after 40 chronopotentiometric cycles.

Compósitos de xerogel de pentóxido de vanádio (VXG) com cucurbit[6]urila (CB[6]), hemicucurbit[6]urila (HCB[6]) e oxovanadio(IV)cucurbit[6]urila (CB[6]VO) em diferentes concentrações foram preparados por mistura mecânica dos macrociclos com o gel de V2O5. Misturas homogêneas foram obtidas para quantidades até 10% em mol de CB[6] e HCB[6], e 1% de CB[6]VO. Estes macrociclos foram intercalados nos espaços interlamelares do VXG como mostram os dados de difração de raios-X (DRX), aumentando o espaço interlamelar e criando dois domínios cristalográficos distintos. As propriedades estruturais e composição destes intercalados foram estudadas por espectroscopia no infravermelho, análise termogravimétrica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microscopia de força atômica. Ensaios eletroquímicos mostraram que a capacidade específica de carga inicial do VXG (158 mA.h.g-1) melhora com a presença de CB[6] (168 mA.h.g-1), da HCB[6] (200 mA.h.g-1), e principalmente com CB[6]VO (230 mA.h.g-1), em filmes finos com baixa concentração dos macrociclos. Isto supera a capacidade de eletrodos de bateria comerciais. Nos intercalados com CB[6] a complexação dos íons Li+ com seus opérculos prejudica a reversibilidade na inserção/desinserção deste íon, diminuindo drasticamente a ciclabilidade de carga/descarga; a presença da HCB[6], que não complexa com o íon Li+, não sustenta a estrutura do VXG ao longo de vários ciclos, por não ser um macrociclo rígido. A presença de CB[6]VO parece estabilizar a estrutura do VXG oferencendo caminhos alternativos na difusão do íon Li+, que não complexa com os opérculos da CB obstruído pelo ion VO2+, aumentando a ciclabilidade, mantendo sua carga específica em aproximadamente 88% após 40 ciclos cronopotenciométricos. / Cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]), hemi-cucurbit[6]uril (HCB[6]), and oxovanadium(IV)cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]VO) vanadium pentoxide composites were prepared in several mole ratios by mechanically mixing the macrocycles and the V2O5 gel. Homogeneous mixtures were obtained for amounts as high as 10% in mol of CB[6] and HCB[6] and 1% of CB[6]VO. These macrocycles were intercalated in VXG interlamellar space as we could demonstrate with X-ray powder diffraction experiments (XRPD),which clearly show basal distance expansions and the formation of two crystallographic domains. The structural properties of such intercalates as well as their composition were studied with infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimmetric analysis, sweeping electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Electrochemical experiments have shown that the initial specific charge capacity of VXG (158 mA.h.g1) was enhanced with the addition of CB[6] (168 mA.h.g1) and HCB[6] (200 mA.h.g1) and even more with (230 mA.h.g1) in thin films with low macrocycle amounts. These capacities exceed commercial batteries electrodes. Complexation of CB[6] with Li+ ions in CB[6]/VXG intercalates reduces considerably the reversibility of insertion/expulsion of this ion, reducing drastically its charge/discharge cyclability. The presence of HCB[6], who does not bind Li+ ions, is not rigid enough to sustain the oxide structure during many cycles. The presence of CB[6]VO seems to stabilize the VXG structure and offers alternative pathways for Li+ diffusion. It does not bind these ions since the occulli are occupied by VO2+ ions, enhancing cyclability. Its specific charge remains as high as 88% of the maximum charge capacity after 40 chronopotentiometric cycles.

This thesis is a report on the design, synthesis and molecular structure of a set of chiral Co(III) metal complexes, in the solution and solid state. The complexes that have been synthesised will potentially intercalate between the base pairs of DNA. The structure of the bound tetradentate ligand, S,S-picchxnMe2 in the solid state was investigated to determine the flexibility of this seemingly rigid ligand. The bidentate ligands, R- and S-glu, were also bound to the Co complex and the differences in the tetradentate ligand were observed. The differences observed in the bonded tetradentate ligands were due to the chirality of the bonded amino acid. The aromatic amino acids, R- and S-phe, were used as bidentate ligands because of their ability to intercalate with DNA. Several scientific experiments were conducted and the results analysed in great depth / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The synthesis of four homologous anthraquinones (AQ I-IV) bearing increasing lengths of polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chains and their binding to AT- and GC-rich DNA hairpins are reported. The molecules were designed such that the cationic charge is at a constant position and the ethylene glycol units chosen to allow significant increases in size with minimal changes in hydrophobicity. The mode and affinity of binding were assessed using circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The binding affinity decreased as the AQ chain length increased along the series with both AT- and GC-rich DNA. ITC measurements showed that the thermodynamic parameters of AQ I-IV binding to DNA exhibited significant enthalpy-entropy compensation. The enthalpy became more favorable while the entropy became less favorable. The correlation between enthalpy and entropy may involve not only the side chains, but also changes in the binding of water and associated counterions and hydrogen bonding. The interactions of AQ I-IV with GC-rich DNA have been studied via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The geometry, conformation, interactions, and hydration of the complexes were examined. As the side chain lengthened, binding to DNA reduced the conformational space, resulting in an increase in unfavorable entropy. Increased localization of the PEG side chain in the DNA groove, indicating some interaction of the side chain with DNA, also contributed unfavorably to the entropy. The changes in free energy of binding due to entropic considerations (-3.9 to -6.3 kcal/mol) of AQ I-IV were significant. The kinetics of a homologous series of anthraquinone threading intercalators, AQT I-IV with calf thymus DNA was studied using the stopped-flow. The threading mechanisms of the anthraquinones binding to DNA showed sensitivity to their side chain length. Fitting of the kinetic data led to our proposal of a two step mechanism for binding of AQT I, bearing the shortest side chain, and a three step mechanism for binding of the three longer homologs. Binding involves formation of an externally bound anthraquinone-DNA complex, followed by intercalation of the anthraquinone for AQT I-IV, then isomerization to another complex with similar thermodynamic stability for AQT II-IV.