Cucurbituril-Mediated Catalytic Hydrolysis: A Kinetic and Computational Study with Neutral and Cationic Dioxolanes in CB7

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) catalyzes the acid hydrolysis of alkoxyphenyldioxolanes bearing both neutral and cationic alkoxy groups. The magnitude of the catalytic effect depends on the dioxolane structure, as reflected by both the CB7 binding constants and the catalysis rate constants. However, there is no clear relationship in such a way that increasing the binding affinity (cationic dioxolanes or large alkoxy groups) does not enhance the catalytic effect. The A-1 mechanism for dioxolane hydrolysis involves the protonation and formation of a carbocation by protonated dioxolane ring opening. Supramolecular catalysis takes place through the formation of the ternary complex dioxolane@CB7@H3O+, where the hydronium ion is stabilized by hydrogen bonding with the carbonyl groups of the CB7 portal. The ternary complex evolves to a binary complex by protonation of dioxolane and release of a water molecule. It is important to note that these structures are only stable in the presence of CB7 and not in bulk water. The c...