Spectrophotometric determinations of binding constants between cyclodextrins and aromatic nitrogen substrates at various pH values

The inclusion capacity of native β-cyclodextrin (1) and mono-(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin (2) versus aromatic compounds having a nitro or an amino group or both has been investigated at three different pH values. Molecular interactions in inclusion complexes have also been investigated by means of molecular mechanics (MM2/QD) models. Electrostatic and van der Waals interactions and the formation of a hydrogen bond between the donor amino group and the oxygen atom of the secondary hydroxyl group seem to be the more important contributions in determining complex stability.