title: Control of the ketone to gem-diol equilibrium by host-guest interactions.
abstract: In water, N-methyl-4-(p-substituted benzoyl)pyridinium cations, BP-X, exist in equilibrium with their hydrated forms (gem-diols), whose concentrations depend on the para substituent (-X). In the presence of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), the benzoyl group shows a preference for the CB[7] cavity, and the ketone to gem-diol equilibrium is shifted toward the keto form, meaning that the stabilization realized through hydrophobic interactions of the benzoyl group in the CB[7] cavity exceeds the hydrogen-bonding stabilization of the gem-diols in the aqueous environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 211-63, Jordan.
authors.forename: Abdel Monem M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rawashdeh
authors.forename: Arumugam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thangavel
authors.forename: Chariklia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sotiriou-Leventis
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leventis