Macrocycle
A macrocycle is, as defined by IUPAC, "a cyclic macromolecule or a macromolecular cyclic portion of a molecule." In the chemical literature, organic chemists may consider any molecule containing a ring of nine or more atoms to be a macrocycle.[citation needed] Coordination chemists generally define a macrocycle more narrowly as a cyclic molecule with three or more potential donor atoms that can coordinate to a metal center. A well-known example is the group of drugs known as macrolides.
A cyclic macromolecule or a macromolecular cyclic portion of a macromolecule.
Notes
1. A cyclic macromolecule has no end-groups but may nevertheless be regarded as a chain.
2. In the literature, the term macrocycle is sometimes used for molecules of low relative molecular
mass that would not be considered macromolecules. [1]
Macrocycle effect
The macrocyclic effect was discovered in 1969. Coordination chemists study macrocycles with three or more potential donor atoms in rings of greater than nine atoms as these compounds often have strong and specific binding with metals. This property of coordinating macrocyclic molecules is the macrocycle effect. It is a special example of the chelate effect.
Synthesis
Macrocycles are generally synthesized from smaller, usually linear, molecules.
Historical uses
Macrocycles have been in use for several decades as synthetic dyes. Phthalocyanine is a porphyrin analogue, which is arguably the most useful, in uses as dyes and pigments since their discovery in 1928, due to their dark blue colour. There are however many other uses for them. Their name comes from their synthetic precursor, phthalodinitrile.
Biological macrocycles
- Heme, the active site in the hemoglobin (the protein in blood that transports oxygen), is a porphyrin containing iron.
- Chlorophyll, the green photosynthetic pigment found in plants, contains a chlorin ring.
- Vitamin B12 contains a corrin ring.
Related molecular categories
- Ligand: an atom, ion or functional group that is bonded to one or more central atoms or ions.
- Chelate: a multidentate ligand, containing more than one donor atom.
- Cryptand: a macrocycle with multiple loops (e.g. bicyclic).
- Rotaxane: macrocycle(s) stuck on a stick, generally freely
- Catenane: interlocked molecular rings (like a chain).
- Molecular knot: a molecule in the shape of a knot such as a trefoil knot.
References
- ↑ "Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)". Pure and Applied Chemistry 68 (12): 2287–2311. 1996. doi:10.1351/pac199668122287.
- ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "macrocycle".
- ^ Milgrom, L.R (1997). The Colours of Life: An Introduction to the Chemistry of Porphyrins and Related Compounds. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-855380-3. (hardbound) ISBN 0-19-855962-3 (pbk.)
- ^ D. K. Cabbines and D. W. Margerum (1969). "Macrocyclic effect on stability of copper(II) tetramine complexes". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 91: 6540-6541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja01051a091
- ^ Melson, G.A., Ed. (1979). Coordination Chemistry of Macrocyclic Compounds. New York: Plenum Press. ISBN 0-306-40140-1.
- ^ Jung, J.E.; Seung, S.Y., Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society 2002, 23(10) 1483-1486.
See also
- Cyclic compound
- Effective molarity
- Macrocyclic Stereocontrol
Further reading
- Chambron, J-C.; Dietrich-Buchecker, C.; Hemmert, C.; Khemiss, A-K.; Mitchell, D.; Sauvage, J-P.; Weiss, J. (1990). "Interlacing molecular threads on transition metals". Pure Appl. Chem. 62 (6): 1027–34. doi:10.1351/pac199062061027.