Diastereoisomer-selective inclusion complexation of Cinchona alkaloids with a modified beta-cyclodextrin: fluorescent behavior enhanced by chiral-tether binding. Short communication.

The molecular 1:1 complexation of cinchona alkaloids by mono(6-deoxy-6-{[(R)-1-(hydroxymethyl)propyl]amino})-beta-cyclodextrin (1) in aqueous solution has been investigated by 2D-NMR, fluorescence titration, and fluorescence-lifetime experiments. Generally, with 1 as the host, in contrast to beta-cyclodextrin proper, strong binding of quinine (2; Ka = 84,200 M(-1)) and quinidine (3; Ka = 27,300 M(-1)) at pH 6.8 was observed, as monitored by an increase in fluorescence intensity, with a fair degree of diastereoisomer discrimination (ca. 3:1). To rationalize these results, two possible cooperative complexation modes, including specific H-bonding interactions to the chiral tether of the cyclodextrin portion, are proposed.