基于钌多吡啶类配合物的DNA分子光开关及生物传感研究

DNA结构具有多态性,利用小分子化合物对不同结构的DNA分子进行识别及调控具有重要的生物学意义.本文主要针对近年来钌多吡啶配合物作为DNA分子光开关的研究进行综述,内容包括DNA分子光开关的机制,不同结构DNA的分子光开关,DNA分子光开关的开关循环控制策略和钌多吡啶类配合物及与纳米材料相结合作为生物传感器的研究.     

pH-Triggered Molecular Switch Toward Texture-Regulated Zn Anode

Zn electrodes in aqueous media exhibit an unstable Zn/electrolyte interface due to severe parasitic reactions and dendrite formation. Here, a dynamic Zn interface modulation based on the molecular switch strategy is reported by hiring γ-butyrolactone (GBL) in ZnCl₂/H₂O electrolyte. During Zn plating, the increased interfacial alkalinity triggers molecular switch from GBL to γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). GHB strongly anchors on Zn surface via triple Zn−O bonding, leading to suppressive hydrogen evolution and texture-regulated Zn morphology. Upon Zn stripping, the fluctuant pH turns the molecular switch reaction off through the cyclization of GHB to GBL. This dynamic molecular switch strategy enables high Zn reversibility with Coulombic efficiency of 99.8 % and Zn||iodine batteries with high-cyclability under high Zn depth of discharge (50 %). This study demonstrates the importance of dynamic modulation for Zn electrode and realizes the reversible molecular switch strategy to enhance its reversibility.     

Digital processing with a three-state molecular switch

Certain molecular switches respond to input stimulations producing detectable outputs. The interplay of these signals can be exploited to reproduce basic logic operations at the molecular level. The transition from simple logic gates to complex digital circuits requires the design of chemical systems able to process multiple inputs and outputs. We have identified a three-state molecular switch that responds to one chemical and two optical inputs producing two optical outputs. We have encoded binary digits in its inputs and outputs applying positive logic conventions and demonstrated that this chemical system converts three-digit input strings into two-digit output strings. The logic function executed by the three-state molecular switch is equivalent to that of a combinational logic circuit integrating two AND, two NOT, and one OR gate. The three states of the molecular switch are a colorless spiropyran, a purple trans-merocyanine, and its yellow-green protonated form. We have elucidated their structures by X-ray crystallography, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, COSY and NOE experiments, as well as density functional calculations. The three input stimulations controlling the interconversion of the three states of the molecular switch are ultraviolet light, visible light, and H(+). The two outputs are the absorption bands in the visible region of the two colored states of the molecular switch. We have monitored the switching processes and quantified the associated thermodynamic and kinetic parameters with the aid of (1)H NMR and visible absorption spectroscopies.     

Visible-Light-Driven Halogen Bond Donor Based Molecular Switches: From Reversible Unwinding to Handedness Inversion in Self-Organized Soft Helical Superstructures

Visible-light-driven molecular switches endowing reversible modulation of the functionalities of self-organized soft materials are currently highly sought after for fundamental scientific studies and technological applications. Reported herein are the design and synthesis of two novel halogen bond donor based chiral molecular switches that exhibit reversible photoisomerization upon exposure to visible light of different wavelengths. These chiral molecular switches induce photoresponsive helical superstructures, that is, cholesteric liquid crystals, when doped into the commercially available room-temperature achiral liquid crystal host 5CB, which also acts as a halogen-bond acceptor. The induced helical superstructure containing the molecular switch with terminal iodo atoms exhibits visible-light-driven reversible unwinding, that is, a cholesteric–nematic phase transition. Interestingly, the molecular switch with terminal bromo atoms confers reversible handedness inversion to the helical superstructure upon irradiation with visible light of different wavelengths. This visible-light-driven, reversible handedness inversion, enabled by a halogen bond donor molecular switch, is unprecedented.     

Visible‐Light‐Driven Halogen Bond Donor Based Molecular Switches: From Reversible Unwinding to Handedness Inversion in Self‐Organized Soft Helical Superstructures

Visible‐light‐driven molecular switches endowing reversible modulation of the functionalities of self‐organized soft materials are currently highly sought after for fundamental scientific studies and technological applications. Reported herein are the design and synthesis of two novel halogen bond donor based chiral molecular switches that exhibit reversible photoisomerization upon exposure to visible light of different wavelengths. These chiral molecular switches induce photoresponsive helical superstructures, that is, cholesteric liquid crystals, when doped into the commercially available room‐temperature achiral liquid crystal host 5CB, which also acts as a halogen‐bond acceptor. The induced helical superstructure containing the molecular switch with terminal iodo atoms exhibits visible‐light‐driven reversible unwinding, that is, a cholesteric–nematic phase transition. Interestingly, the molecular switch with terminal bromo atoms confers reversible handedness inversion to the helical superstructure upon irradiation with visible light of different wavelengths. This visible‐light‐driven, reversible handedness inversion, enabled by a halogen bond donor molecular switch, is unprecedented.     

Small Janus dimer as electric field manipulated molecular clam switch and electric information storage unit

A small Janus molecular dimer, as external electric field (F_z) manipulated both a molecular clam switch and a novel electric information storage unit, is found by quantum chemical computations for the first time. The molecular clam switching is intriguing and reversible. A critical F_z value of 95 × 10⁻⁴ au causes a dramatically open change in conformation from Closed form to Open form. And a small reversed electric field of F_z = −10 × 10⁻⁴ au performs a close change from Open form to Closed form. In the switching process, owing to the existence of a great electric dipole moment (μ) contrast between 0 and 22.13 D, the molecular clam switch may serve as an electric information storage unit. Gratifyingly, the reading, writing, and erasing of binary information on the electric information storage unit are easy. And further calculations show that Janus graphene fragment dimer can also serve as a molecular clam switch. Thus, this work proposes a new molecular switch prototype in the invention of artificial molecular machines, and a novel electric information storage unit in the field of molecular electronics.     

光敏开关及其在化学生物学中的应用*

近年来随着生物医学技术的发展,人们需要越来越细致地在分子水平上研究各种生命过程。为了能够实现实时原位地观察活细胞或组织中的生命化学过程,需要使用以物理方法来选择性激活的分子探针。以共聚焦激光技术为基础的光敏开关能很好地解决这一问题。迄今,发展和用于光敏开关的光敏剂已成为化学生物学研究的重要方向。本文重点总结了各种可应用于共聚焦激光系统的单、双光子光敏基团（单光子的光敏基团主要有：硝基苯类、香豆素类等;双光子光敏基团主要有：香豆素类、喹啉类及吲哚衍生物类）以及这几类光敏基团在化学生物学中的应用。     

The destabilization of hydrogen bonds in an external E-field for improved switch performance

The effect of an electric field on a recently proposed molecular switch based on a quinone analogue was investigated using next-generation quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) methodology. The reversal of a homogenous external electric field was demonstrated to improve the “OFF” functioning of the switch. This was achieved by destabilization of the H atom participating in the tautomerization process along the hydrogen bond that defines the switch. The “ON” functioning of the switch, from the position of the tautomerization barrier, is also improved by the reversal of the homogenous external electric field: this result was previously inaccessible. The “ON” and “OFF” functioning of the switch was visualized in terms of the response of the most preferred directions of motion of the electronic charge density to the applied external field. All measures from QTAIM and the stress tensor provide consistent results for the factors affecting the “ON” and “OFF” switch performance. Our analysis therefore demonstrates use for future design of molecular electronic devices. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

自旋交叉配合现象与分子电子器件

自旋交叉配合物在热、压力或光诱导自旋交叉现象的同时会伴随着其它一些协同效应，比如配合物颜色的改革、存在着大的热滞后效应等，这些协同效应是单个分子或分子集合体作为热开关、光开关和信息存储元件材料的基础。因此，自旋交叉配合物是开发新型的热开关、光开关和信息存储元件材料的理想分子体系。本文概述了自旋交叉现象的研究历史、现状和未来的发展趋势。讨论了影响配合物自旋交叉性质的各种内在的和外部的因素，总结了目前用于研究自旋交叉现象的各种现代测试技术。最后，展望了自旋交叉配合物在分子电子器件方面的应用前景。     

Aptamer Biosensor for Selective and Rapid Determination of Insulin

Insulin plays an important role in glucose metabolism and its detection in biological fluids is of interest. In this study, a triple-helix molecular switch was employed for the simple, sensitive, and rapid determination of insulin. The triple-helix molecular switch was composed of a target specific aptamer sequence flanked by two arm segments and a dual-labeled oligonucleotide acting as a signal transduction probe. This approach takes advantage of unique properties of aptamers and triple-helix molecular switches such as high affinity, selectivity, and stability. In the absence of insulin, the fluorescence of triple-helix molecular switch is on. Upon addition of insulin, the aptamer binds to its target, leading to the release of the signal transduction probe, folding of the signal transduction probe to a stem loop structure, and the quenching of the fluorescence. This sensor showed a high selectivity toward insulin and a limit of detection as low as 9.97 nM. The sensor was employed for the determination of insulin in biological samples. This platform may be generalizable for a variety of molecules.     

四硫富瓦烯及其衍生物在分子开关领域的研究进展

四硫富瓦烯(TTF)及其衍生物由于具有特殊的结构和性质, 在分子开关、分子传感器、光信息存储和非线性光学等领域显示出诱人的应用前景. 综述了近几年TTF及其衍生物在分子开关领域的最新研究进展.     

Unidirectional redox-stimulated movement around a C-C single bond

A remarkable challenge for the design of molecular machines is the realization of a synchronized and unidirectional movement caused by an external stimulus. Such a movement can be achieved by a unidirectionally controlled change of the conformation or the configuration. Biphenol derivatives are one possibility to realize a redox-driven unidirectional molecular switch. For this reason, a 4,4'-biphenol derivative was fixed to a chiral cyclopeptidic scaffold and stimulated by chemical oxidants and reduction agents. The conformation of the switch was determined by DFT calculations by using B3LYP and the 6-31G* basis set. The switching process was observed by UV and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic measurements. Several oxidation agents and various conditions were tested, among which (diacetoxy)iodobenzene (DAIB) in methanol proved to be the best. In this way it was possible to synthesize a redox-stimulated molecular switch with a movement that is part of a rotation around a biaryl binding axis.     

1,2‐Dithienyldicyanoethene‐Based,Visible‐Light‐Driven,Chiral Fluorescent Molecular Switch: Rewritable Multimodal Photonic Devices

Reported here is the first example of a 1,2‐dithienyldicyanoethene‐based visible‐light‐driven chiral fluorescent molecular switch that exhibits reversible trans to cis photoisomerization. The trans form in solution almost completely transforms into the cis form, accompanied by a 10‐fold decrease in its fluorescence intensity within 60 seconds when exposed to green light (520 nm). The reverse isomerization proceeds upon irradiation with blue light (405 nm). When doped into commercially available achiral liquid crystal hosts, this molecular switch efficiently induces luminescent helical superstructures, that is, a cholesteric phase. The intensity of the circularly polarized fluorescence as well as the selective reflection wavelength of the induced cholesteric phases can be reversibly tuned using visible light of two different wavelengths. Optically rewritable photonic devices using cholesteric films containing this molecular switch are described.     

1,2‐Dithienyldicyanoethene‐Based,Visible‐Light‐Driven,Chiral Fluorescent Molecular Switch: Rewritable Multimodal Photonic Devices

Reported here is the first example of a 1,2‐dithienyldicyanoethene‐based visible‐light‐driven chiral fluorescent molecular switch that exhibits reversible trans to cis photoisomerization. The trans form in solution almost completely transforms into the cis form, accompanied by a 10‐fold decrease in its fluorescence intensity within 60 seconds when exposed to green light (520 nm). The reverse isomerization proceeds upon irradiation with blue light (405 nm). When doped into commercially available achiral liquid crystal hosts, this molecular switch efficiently induces luminescent helical superstructures, that is, a cholesteric phase. The intensity of the circularly polarized fluorescence as well as the selective reflection wavelength of the induced cholesteric phases can be reversibly tuned using visible light of two different wavelengths. Optically rewritable photonic devices using cholesteric films containing this molecular switch are described.     

Detection of T4 DNA ligase using a solid-state electrochemiluminescence biosensing switch based on ferrocene-labeled molecular beacon

A solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensing switch based on special ferrocene-labeled molecular beacon (Fc-MB) has been successfully developed for T4 DNA ligase detection. Such special switch system consisted of two main parts, an ECL substrate and an ECL intensity switch. The ECL substrate was made by modifying the complex of Au nanoparticle and Ruthenium (II) tris-(bipyridine) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-AuNPs) onto Au electrode. A molecular beacon labeled by ferrocene as the ECL intensity switch. The molecular beacon is designed with special base sequence, which could combine with its target biomolecule via the reaction of the repair and recombination of nucleic acids by DNA ligase. During the reaction, the molecular beacon opened its stem-loop, and the labeled Fc was consequently kept away from the ECL substrate. Such structural change resulted in an obvious increment in ECL intensity due to the decreased Fc quenching effect to the ECL substrate. The analysis results are sensitive and specific.     

Photo‐/Baso‐Chromisms and the Application of a Dual‐Addressable Molecular Switch

Two typical molecular switches of spiropyran (SP) and benzoxazine (OX) were fused by sharing an indole to achieve a new dual‐addressable molecular switch (SP‐OX‐NO₂). Through proper molecular modification with NO₂, the transformation from merocyanine (MC) to ring‐closed SP or ring‐closed OX can be controlled separately with visible light or base stimuli in solution, respectively, and these processes are verified by UV‐vis and NMR spectroscopy as well as control experiments. The cis‐merocyanine (cis‐MC) form is involved in the basochromic process in solution. DFT calculation suggests that the bidirectional switching property of the fused SP‐OX molecular switch can be controlled separately, when the OX isomer is more stable than the deprotonated SP isomer. Because of the significant color variations in solution, the simple dual‐addressable switch has been further successfully applied to construct a multicolor reversible display on paper.     

Chiral induction by seeding surface assemblies of chiral switches

It is demonstrated by scanning tunneling microscopy that coadsorption of a molecular chiral switch with a complementary, intrinsically chiral induction seed on the Au(111) surface leads to the formation of globally homochiral molecular assemblies.     

An Hg2+-gated chiral molecular switch created by using binaphthalene molecules with two anthracene units and two 1,3-dithiole-2-thione (1,3-dithiole-2-one) units

By integrating the features of anthracene, 1,3-dithiole-2-thione, and binaphthalene units, (S)-1 and its analogue (S)-2, which contains two 1,3-dithiole-2-one units instead of 1,3-dithiole-2-thione, were studied for creating a new molecular regulation system and building a gated chiral molecular switch. The results show that the photodimerization is controlled by the remote functional-group transformation of C=S into C=O, thus providing an elegant example of molecular regulation. The photodimerization of two anthracene units induces circular dichroism (CD) spectral variation. Overall, the CD spectrum can be remotely modulated by Hg2+ in (S)-1, which leads to an Hg2+-gated chiral molecular switch.     

A High Contrast Tri‐state Fluorescent Switch: Properties and Applications

A high contrast tri‐state fluorescent switch (FSPTPE) with both emission color change and on/off switching is achieved in a single molecular system by fusing the aggregation‐induced emissive tetraphenylethene (TPE) with a molecular switch of spiropyran (SP). In contrast to most of the reported solid‐state fluorescent switches, FSPTPE only exists in the amorphous phase in the ring‐closed form owing to its highly asymmetric molecular geometry and weak intermolecular interactions, which leads to its grinding‐inert stable cyan emission in the solid state. Such an amorphous phase facilitates the fast response of FSPTPE to acidic gases and induces the structural transition from the ring‐closed form to ring‐open form, accompanied with the “Off” state of the fluorescence. The structural transition leads to a planar molecular conformation and high dipole moment, which further results in strong intermolecular interactions and good crystallinity, so when the acid is added together with a solvent, both the ring‐opening reaction and re‐crystallization can be triggered to result in an orange emissive state. The reversible control between any two of the three states (cyan/orange/dark) can be achieved with acid/base or mechanical force/solvent treatment. Because of the stable initial state and high color contrast (Δλ=120 nm for cyan/orange switch, dark state Φ_F<0.01 %), the fluorescent switch is very promising for applications such as displays, chemical or mechanical sensing, and anti‐counterfeiting.     

AND molecular logic gates based on host-guest complexation operational in live cells

We report supramolecular AND logic gates based on host-guest complexation between acid-labile acyclic cucurbit[n]uril(CB[n]) molecular container and Na Cl O-responsive dye. Supramolecular AND logic gate is turned on due to acid-triggered degradation of molecular container and the release of the dye, followed by Na Cl O-induced fluorescence “switch on” effect of the dye. The reason for AND molecular logic gate is discovered to be the combination of oxidation inhibition and fluorescence “switch of...