Host-Guest Complexations of Amine Boranes and Isoelectronic/Isostructural Quaternary Alkylammonium Cations by Cucurbit[7]uril in Aqueous Solution

The host-guest complexation of six amine boranes (R3NBH3) by the macrocyclic host molecule cucurbituril (CB) in aqueous solution has been investigated using 1H and 11B NMR spectroscopy. The limiting complexation-induced 1H and 11B chemical shift changes indicate that the amine boranes are included in the hydrophobic cavity of the host molecule. The host-guest stability constants for neutral R3NBH3∙CB complexes (in the range of 105-107) have been determined by 1H NMR competition experiments and are compared with the corresponding values for the isoelectronic/isostructural R3NCH3∙CB complexes. Ammonia borane (H3NBH3) does not form a host-guest complex with CB. The trends in the host-guest stability constant with the guest molar volume are examined, and the stability is ascribed to the hydrophobic effect (packing coefficient) and quadrupole-dipole interactions.