Squalyl Crown Ether Self‐Assembled Conjugates: An Example of Highly Selective Artificial K+ Channels

The natural KcsA K⁺ channel, one of the best‐characterized biological pore structures, conducts K⁺ cations at high rates while excluding Na⁺ cations. The KcsA K⁺ channel is of primordial inspiration for the design of artificial channels. Important progress in improving conduction activity and K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity has been achieved with artificial ion‐channel systems. However, simple artificial systems exhibiting K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity and mimicking the biofunctions of the KcsA K⁺ channel are unknown. Herein, an artificial ion channel formed by H‐bonded stacks of squalyl crown ethers, in which K⁺ conduction is highly preferred to Na⁺ conduction, is reported. The K⁺‐channel behavior is interpreted as arising from discreet stacks of dimers resulting in the formation of oligomeric channels, in which transport of cations occurs through macrocycles mixed with dimeric carriers undergoing dynamic exchange within the bilayer membrane. The present highly K⁺‐selective macrocyclic channel can be regarded as a biomimetic alternative to the KcsA channel.     

Mass spectra of sterically crowded trialkylsilyl derivatives of nucleosides

The electron impact mass spectra of tert-butyldimethylsilyl-, cyclo-tetramethylene-tert-butylsilyl and cyclo-tetramethylene-isopropylsilyl- ether derivatives of ribo- and 2′-deoxyribonucleosides are described in detail. The interpretation of fragmentation pathways of full and mixed derivatives was aided by metastable ion decomposition studies, precise mass and deuterium labelling measurements, and spectra of mixed derivatives containing the ‘passive’ (in these spectra) trimethylsilyl group. The sterically crowded silyl groups have a powerful fragmentation directing effect. Elimination of a bulky radical, R˙ (tert-butyl or isopropyl), from the molecular ion produces the siliconium ion [M? R]⁺, which is the precursor for most of the other prominent ions in the spectra. These arise from ‘siliconium ion rearrangements’ resulting from the interaction of the positively charged siliconium ion center with electron dense regions (i.e. oxygens) in the molecule, to form cyclic silyloxonium ions which subsequently decompose. Since the interacting oxygen and silicon must be sterically accessible, the fragment ion types and their abundances are very dependent upon structure. Consequently, [M? R]⁺ ions formed from 2′, 3′ or 5′-O-silyl groups give rise to different sets of daughter ions which, for the most part, are not found, or have very low abundances, in the mass spectra of underivatized or trimethylsilylated nucleosides. Detailed information on sugar and base moieties and isomeric substitution is readily obtained.     

Mass spectrometry of trialkylsilyl and acyl derivatives of 2′-deoxynucleosides

The electron impact mass spectra of monosilyl and mixed acyl-silyl derivatives of 2′-deoxynucleosides are described in detail. (Silyl = tert-butyldimethylsilyl, cyclo-tetramethylene-isopropylsilyl, or cyclo-tetramethylene-tert-butylsilyl; acyl = acetyl or trifluoroacetyl.) The interpretation of the fragmentation pathways was aided by metastable ion decomposition studies, precise mass and deuterium labelling measurements. Mass spectrally, the acyl substituents are mostly ‘passive’ and have (with possibly one exception) little fragmentation directing capability. In contrast, the silyl groups have powerful fragmentation directing properties. Elimination of the bulky alkyl radical R^˙ (tert-butyl or isopropyl) from the molecular ion produces the siliconium ion, [M–R]⁺, which is the precursor for most of the other prominent ions in the spectra. These arise from ‘siliconium ion rearrangements’ resulting from the interaction of the positively charged siliconium ion centre with the electron dense regions (i.e. oxygens) in the molecule, to form cyclic silyloxonium ions which subsequently decompose. Since the interacting oxygen and silicon must be sterically accessible, the fragment ion types and their abundances are very dependent upon structure. Consequently, [M–R]⁺ ions formed from 3′- or 5′-O-silyl groups give rise to different sets of daughter ions which, for the most part, are not found, or have very low abundances, in the mass spectra of underivatized or trimethylsilylated nucleosides. Detailed information on sugar and base moieties and isomeric substitution is readily obtained.     

Charging Metal-Organic Framework Membranes by Incorporating Crown Ethers to Capture Cations for Ion Sieving

Protein channels on the biofilm conditionally manipulate ion transport via regulating the distribution of charge residues, making analogous processes on artificial membranes a hot spot and challenge. Here, we employ metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) membrane with charge-adjustable subnano-channel to selectively govern ion transport. Various valent ions are binded with crown ethers embedded in the MOF cavity, which act as charged guest to regulate the channels’ charge state from the negativity to positivity. Compared with the negatively charged channel, the positive counterpart obviously enhances Li⁺/Mg²⁺ selectivity, which benefit from the reinforcement of the electrostatic repulsion between ions and the channel. Meanwhile, theoretical calculations reveal that Mg²⁺ transport through the more positively charged channel needed to overcome higher entrance energy barrier than that of Li⁺. This work provides a subtle strategy for ion-selective transport upon regulating the charge state of insulating membrane, which paves the way for the application like seawater desalination and lithium extraction from salt lakes.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butyl and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines

An enantioselective synthesis of sterically congested 1,2-di-tert-butyl and 1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamines has been developed. Thus, diastereomerically pure trans-1-apocamphanecarbonyl-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinones 6 and 7 were successfully prepared by optical resolution of (±)-trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-imidazolidinone using apocamphanecarbonyl chloride (MAC-Cl) followed by stereospecific and stepwise substitution of the dimethoxyl groups using tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl cuprates to provide (4S,5S)-4,5-di-tert-butyl and (4R,5R)-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15, respectively. Furthermore, N-acetyl 4,5-di-tert-butyl and 4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 16a,b were enantioselectively deacetylated using a catalytic oxazaborolidine system to provide enantiopure 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-tert-butyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 19 and 1-p-tolylsulfonyl-4,5-di-(1-adamantyl)-2-imidazolidinones 18 and 20, respectively. Finally, N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2-imidazolidinones 12 and 15 were treated with 30 equiv of Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O to achieve ring cleavage and to provide (1S,2S)-1,2-di-tert-butylethylenediamine 3 and (1R,2R)-1,2-di-(1-adamantyl)ethylenediamine 4.     

Highly diastereoselective 7-endo radical cyclization of ethyl α-methylene-γ-(bromomethyl)dimethylsiloxycarboxylates

The 7-endo radical cyclization of (bromomethyl)dimethylsilyl ethers derived from ethyl γ-hydroxy-α-methylenecarboxylates bearing a bulky γ-substituent such as isopropyl, cyclohexyl, and tert-butyl groups in tetrahydrofuran gave preferentially cyclic silyl ethers bearing the ethoxycarbonyl group anti to the γ-substituents in high yields. Treatment of the cyclic silyl ethers with silica gel gave acyclic ethyl γ-hydroxy-α-[2-(hydroxydimethylsilyl)ethyl]carboxylates. The reduction of the cyclization products with DIBAL followed by Tamao oxidation gave the corresponding acyclic triols.     

Novel fluorene/carbazole hybrids with steric bulk as host materials for blue organic electrophosphorescent devices

The problem of self-quenching in organic electrophosphorescence devices has been extensively studied and partially solved by using sterically hindered spacers in phosphorescent dopants. This paper attempts to address this problem by using sterically hindered host materials. Novel fluorene/carbazole hybrids with tert-butyl substitutions, namely 9,9-bis[4-(3,6-di-tert-butylcarbazol-9-yl)phenyl]fluorene (TBCPF) and 9,9-bis[4-(carbazol-9-yl)phenyl]-2,7-di-tert-butylfluorene (CPTBF), have been synthesized and characterized. The compounds exhibit not only high triplet energy (>2.8 eV), but also high glass transition temperature (>160 °C) and thermal stability. The substitution of inert tert-butyl groups to the carbazole/fluorene rings of these host molecules has a remarkable effect on the corresponding properties of the host materials, i.e. enhancing the thermal and electrochemical stability, weakening the intermolecular packing, and tuning the solid-state emission. Blue electrophosphorescent devices with enhanced performance were prepared by utilizing the sterically hindered host materials. The devices based on the four tert-butyl substituted material TBCPF exhibit unusual tolerance of high dopant concentration up to 20% and marked reduction of efficiency roll-off at higher current, indicating significant suppression of self-quenching effect in organic electrophosphorescent devices by the substitution of steric bulks.     

Conformational stability and rotational energy barrier of RC60–C60R dimers: hyperconjugation versus steric effect

The conformational stability of 4, 4?? disubstituted HC₆₀?CC₆₀R and RC₆₀?CC₆₀R dimers were calculated at ONIOM approach (AM1:B3LYP/6-31+G**) and density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31G**). The new evidences for stability and rotational energy barriers of these dimers were obtained by natural bond orbital, natural steric and molecular orbital analyses. Based on B3LYP/6-31G** calculations, except for RC₆₀?CC₆₀R (R?=?hydrogen, tert-butyl and trimethylsilyl) where gauche is the most stable conformer, trans is a global energy minimum. The greater stability of the gauche conformer of HC₆₀?CC₆₀H over trans is the result of hyperconjugation, which dominates the instability caused by the steric effect. By increasing the size of the substituent of HC₆₀?CC₆₀R dimers, the trans becomes sterically unstable but the hyperconjugation of bulky substituents dominates (the trans is global energy minimum). The hyperconjugation stability of RC₆₀?CC₆₀R dimers dominates until R?=?iso-propyl (higher stability of trans). In the case of bulky tert-butyl and trimethylsilyl substituents, the steric energy of trans is large and overweighs the hyperconjugation effect. This favors gauche as the most stable conformer. The calculated rotational energy barrier for HC₆₀?CC₆₀R and RC₆₀?CC₆₀R dimers is less than 7.3 and more than 10?kcal/mol, respectively (depending on substitution).     

Drastic solid-state fluorescence enhancement behaviour of imidazo[4,5-a]naphthalene-type fluorescent hosts upon inclusion of polyethers and tert-butyl alcohol

As one of the most promising materials for the construction of desirable solid-state fluorescent system, new solid-state fluorescent host-guest system, which consists of the imidazo[4,5-a]naphthalene-type fluorescent hosts 2 and sterically hindered guest molecules were designed and prepared. The crystals of 2 exhibit sensitive colour change and drastic fluorescence enhancement behaviour upon polyethers (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DGDM), diethylene glycol diethyl ether (DGDE) and diethylene glycol dibutyl ether (DGDB)) or tert-butyl alcohol. A comparison of the X-ray crystal structures of the guest-free and polyether- and tert-butyl alcohol-inclusion compounds indicates that the enclathrated polyether or tert-butyl alcohol molecule decrease the π-stacking between hosts and enlarge the distance between the host-host aromatic planes. On the bases of the spectral data and the crystal structures, the effects of the enclathrated sterically hindered guest on the drastic solid-state fluorescence enhancement behaviour of the host-guest crystals are discussed.     

Highly Selective Artificial Potassium Ion Channels Constructed from Pore‐Containing Helical Oligomers

Potassium ion channels specifically transport K⁺ ions over Na⁺ ions across a cell membrane. A queue of four binding sites in the K⁺ channel pore plays significant roles during highly selective conduction. A kind of aromatic helical oligomer was synthesized that can selectively bind K⁺ over Na⁺. By aromatic stacking of helical oligomers, a type of artificial K⁺ channels with contiguous K⁺ binding sites was constructed. Such artificial channels exhibited exceptionally high K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratios during transmembrane ion conduction.     

X-ray crystal structure of the tetra(tert-butyl)erbate anion and attempts to prepare tetravalent organolanthanide complexes

The new [Li(DME)₃⁺] salt of the previously-known tetra(tert-butyl)erbate(III) anion [Er(t-Bu)₄⁻] has been prepared and structurally characterized. The erbium(III) center is ligated by four tert-butyl groups in an approximately tetrahedral arrangement. The C–Er–C angles between the tert-butyl groups range from 108.8(3)° to 111.2(3)° and the Er–C distances range from 2.352(6) to 2.395(6) Å. The lithium cation is surrounded by three DME molecules, which form a distorted octahedral coordination sphere. Attempts to oxidize the analogous terbate complex [Li(DME)₃][Tb(t-Bu)₄] and its cerium analog to electrically neutral tetra(alkyl)lanthanide(IV) compounds are described.     

The preparation of multimetallic complexes using sterically bulky N-centred tripodal dialkyl phosphino ligands

Sterically bulky monodentate and bidentate phosphines have been widely used as ligands for metal complexation and catalyst formation. Bulky tridentate phosphine ligands are however much rarer and have not been widely investigated even though they may be considered attractive ligands for coordination chemistry studies and catalysis. Here we report the synthesis of two new N-centred tripodal phosphine ligands bearing bulky cyclohexyl and tert-butyl groups. The coordination chemistry of the cyclohexyl triphosphine ligand N(CH₂PCy₂)₃ (4) was investigated and found to react with Mo and W hexacarbonyls preferentially forming bidentate metal tetracarbonyl complexes [Mo(CO)₄{N(CH₂PCy₂)₃-κ²P}] (6) and [W(CO)₄{N(CH₂PCy₂)₃-κ²P}] (7) over the expected facial capping tridentate complexes. The steric bulk of the cyclohexyl groups on the phosphorus atoms is sufficient to prevent the third arm of the ligand from coordinating and adopting the required geometry for facial coordination. This ‘steric control’ at the metal centre results in the third arm remaining freely available for further metal coordination. The coordination chemistry of this free phosphine arm on complexes 6 and 7 was investigated further and used to prepare a series of gold, platinum and silver multimetallic complexes. The X-ray crystal structures of the resulting mixed bi and trimetallic complexes [W(CO)₄{N(CH₂PCy₂)₃-κ²P}AuCl] (8), [[Mo(CO)₄{N(CH₂PCy₂)₃-κ²P}]₂(μ-PtCl₂)] (9) and [[W(CO)₄{N(CH₂PCy₂)₃-κ²P}]₂(μ-Ag)]ClO₄ (11) are reported.     

Synthesis of a ferrocenyl uracil PNA monomer for insertion into PNA sequences

The deprotection of the tert-butyl group of a ferrocenyl uracil Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) monomer, Fmoc-aeg(R)-O^tBu (1) was achieved using a two step synthesis involving hydrolysis in basic conditions to give first the zwitterion of ⁺NH₃-aeg(R)-O⁻ (7). Compound 7 was reacted in situ with N-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyloxy)succinimide to obtain the expected compound Fmoc-aeg(R)-OH (2) (Abbreviations: Aeg = (2-aminoethyl)-glycine; Fmoc = 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl; O^tBu = tert-butyl; R = 5-(N-ferroce-nylmethylbenzamido)uracyl).     

In situ study of the interaction between <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl chloride and aluminum activated with liquid In-Ga eutectic

The interaction between tert-butyl chloride and activated aluminum was studied by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy near room temperature (18–25°C). A long induction period of ∼240–260 min was observed. The ionic aluminum chloride complexes [Al _n Cl_3n+1]⁻ (n = 1, 2) and the molecular species AlCl₃ were identified at the activated aluminum/tert-butyl chloride interface during the reaction. The formation of the ion in the AlCl₄⁻ ion in the liquid medium and the presence of the same ion and a molecular AlCl₃-tert-butyl chloride complex in the resinous products of the reaction were confirmed by ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy. The reaction products were analyzed qualitatively by GC/MS. The reactivities of activated aluminum and anhydrous aluminum chloride toward tert-butyl chloride under the same conditions were compared. A distinctive feature of the interaction activated aluminum and tert-butyl chloride is the dominant formation of the AlCl₄⁻ ion. By contrast, the interaction between aluminum chloride and tert-butyl chloride yields the polynuclear ion Al₂Cl₇⁻ and, likely, Al₃Cl₁₀⁻.     

Highly Selective Transmembrane Transport of Exogenous Lithium Ions through Rationally Designed Supramolecular Channels

Lithium ions have been applied in the clinic in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In this work, we report artificial supramolecular lithium channels composed of pore-containing small aromatic molecules. By adjusting the lumen size and coordination numbers, we found that one of the supramolecular channels developed shows unprecedented transmembrane transport of exogenous lithium ions with a Li⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio of 23.0, which is in the same level of that of natural Na⁺ channels. Furthermore, four coordination sites inside channels are found to be the basic requirement for ion transport function. Importantly, this artificial lithium channel displays very low transport of physiological Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions. This highly selective Li⁺ channel may become an important tool for studying the physiological role of intracellular lithium ions, especially in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.     

Dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes of hydrazone phenolate ligands - syntheses and activities in catalytic oxidation reactions

The new cis-dioxomolybdenum (VI) complexes [MoO₂(L²)(H₂O)] (2) and [MoO₂(L³)(H₂O)] (3) containing the tridentate hydrazone-based ligands (H₂L² = N'-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-4-methylbenzohydrazide and H₂L³ = N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-(hydroxyimino)propanehydrazide) have been synthesized and characterized via IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic activities of complexes 2 and 3, and the analogous known complex [MoO₂(L¹)(H₂O)] (1) (H₂L¹ = N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-4-methylbenzohydrazide) have been evaluated for various oxidation reactions, viz. oxygen atom transfer from dimethyl sulfoxide to triphenylphosphine, sulfoxidation of methyl-p-tolylsulfide or epoxidation of different alkenes using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as terminal oxidant. The catalytic activities were found to be comparable for all three complexes, but complexes 1 and 3 showed better catalytic performances than complex 2, which contains a more sterically demanding ligand than the other two complexes.     

Synthesis of novel p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene derivatives and their cation binding ability: chromogenic effect upon side arms binding

A series of novel double-armed calix[4]arene derivatives, i.e. 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl -25,27-bis[2-[(2-hydroxy-5-(4-nitroazo)benzylidene)amino]ethoxy]-26,28-dihydroxy-calix[4]-arene (4), 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-bis[2-[(2-hydroxy-5-(2-nitroazo)benzylidene) amino]ethoxy]-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (5), 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-bis[2-[(2-hydroxy-5-(4-chloroazo)benzylidene)amino]ethoxy]-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (6), have been synthesized as an selective chromoionophore for Na⁺. The complexation behavior of ligands 4-6 with alkali metal ions Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺and Cs⁺ has been evaluated by using UV-Vis spectrometry in CH₃CN-H₂O (99:1/V:V) solution at 25°C. The UV-Vis spectra show that the complexation of 4-6 with Na⁺exhibits obvious bathochromic shifts (λ_max 379→480 nm) and there is a unique color change in the solution from yellow to red upon complexation. The binding constants for Na⁺ are higher than that of other alkali metal ions, giving the highest cation selectivity up to 7 for Na⁺/K⁺. The binding ability and photophysical behavior of alkali cations by calix[4]arene derivatives 4-6 are discussed from the point of view of substituted effects at the lower rim of parent calix[4]arene and size-fit concept between host calix[4]arenes and guest cations.     

Steric control in the reactions of 3-pyrazolecarboxylic acid with diorganotin dichlorides

Reaction of 3-pyrazolecarboxylic acid (LH₂) with dibenzyltin dichloride (Bn₂SnCl₂) in the presence of potassium hydroxide afforded a 2D-coordination polymer, [{(Bn₂Sn)₂(μ-L)(μ-LH)(μ-OH)}₂]_n (1), which crystallizes as an ethanol solvate. The repeat unit of the coordination polymer 1 is a tetrameric motif which contains two pairs of centrosymmetrically related dimeric stannoxanes; in the latter the two tin atoms are connected to each other by a μ-OH and a η²-μ-pyrazole ligand. The tetrameric units are linked to each other by the bridging coordination action of the pyrazolecarboxylate ligand to generate a 2D-coordination polymer. An analogous reaction of LH₂ with the sterically encumbered t-Bu₂SnCl₂ afforded the monomeric dinuclear compound [{(t-Bu₂Sn)₂(μ-L)(LH)(μ-OH)}]·H₂O (2). In the latter the two tin atoms are linked to each other by a bridging hydroxide as well as a pyrazole ligand affording a 6-membered ring. The steric hindrance of the tert-butyl groups seems to prevent the elaboration of this unit into a coordination polymer. Both 1 and 2 have been characterized by single crystal X-ray, NMR and ESI-MS studies.     

The first stable examples of compounds containing both diazonium and acyl azide,and synthesis of a new pyrazino[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-4(6H)-one heterocyclic system

The first stable compound containing both N₂⁺BF₄^? and CON₃ functional groups – 8-azidocarbonyl-3-(tert-butyl)-4-oxo-4,6-dihydropyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazine-7-diazonium tetrafluoroborate was synthesized, and its stability and reactivity discussed. The Curtius rearrangement of 7-azido-3-(tert-butyl)-4-oxo-4,6-dihydropyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazine-8-carbonylazide was investigated, and the synthesis of a novel heterocyclic system –pyrazino[2′,3′:3,4]pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-4(6H)-one is described.     

Remote steric effect on the regioselectivity of Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation

Studies on the regioselectivities for the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) of conjugated dienoates, trienoates, dienones and dienamides are described. Excellent regioselectivities were obtained in straight chain dienoates, all trienoates, ketones and amides. The remote branched iso-propyl and tert-butyl groups of dienoates greatly lowered the normally excellent regiocontrol. This observation is rationalized in terms of substrate conformational changes, and the steric interaction between the branched methyl group of iso-propyl or tert-butyl groups and the ethyl group on the (DHQD)₂PHAL ligand.