An HPLC study of cooperative guest binding by a covalently linked b-cyclodextrin dimer

Abstract

<jats:p> The complexation of the anions of Methyl Orange (MO¯) (1) and Indomethacin (Ind-) (2) by the β-cyclodextrin dimer (3) has been studied by means of high-performance liquid chromatography. The cyclodextrin annuli are shown to jointly act as a single binding site for complexation of MO¯ (1). Thus the association constants of (3·3±0·3) × 103 and (220±20) × 103 dm3 mol−1 for the 1 : 1 complexes with β-cyclodextrin and the dimer (3), respectively, indicate very strong cooperative binding by the annuli of the linked species. By contrast, the complexation of Ind¯ (2) by the cyclodextrin dimer (3) is characterized by two independent binding sites. This lack of cooperative binding is reflected in the association constant for the 1 : 1 complex in each binding site, which at (1·3±0·1) × 103 dm3 mol−1 is little greater than that of (0·7±0·05) × 103dm3 mol−1 for the complex with β-cyclodextrin.</jats:p>