Host-guest interaction between cucurbit[6]uril and chain amino acids

The interaction between cucurbit[6]uril and chain amino acids was studied via fluorescence probe method, molecular simulation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The experimental results of this work show that the cucurbit[6]uril host possesses a strong binding force with the chain amino acids leucine and methionine, and can form a host–guest inclusion complex. At the same time, the side chain alkyl moieties of the guests leucine, methionine and valine are contained in the hydrophobic cavity of cucurbit[6]uril, but the host–guest interaction between cucurbit[6]uril and valine molecule is weak.