Specific features of molecular mobility of paramagnetic probe in chiral biomimetic solutions

Abstract

Molecular mobility of a nitroxyl radical (as a paramagnetic probe) in methylcyclohexane (MCH) solutions of chiral biomimetic gelators—trifluoroacetylated amino alcohols (synthetic analogues of biological molecules)—has been studied by monitoring thermally induced changes in EPR spectra. The phase state of the systems has been examined by the low-temperature scanning calorimetry method. There has been found an unusual concentration and temperature dependence of probe species mobility in diluted solutions (10^–2–10^–3 M) of trifluoroacetylated amino alcohols with a molecular weight of no more than 200. From the temperature-induced changes in EPR spectra of the paramagnetic probe in the temperature range 170–290 K, the rotation activation energies of probe species in biomimetic solutions and in the neat solvent. The minimum radical rotation activation energy (2.1 kcal/mol) is observed in the most concentrated gelator solution, whereas in neat MCH, this energy is 3.7 kcal/mol.