Chiral Photoresponsive Tetrathiazoles That Provide Snapshots of Folding States

Herein, we designed chiral photoresponsive tetra(2‐phenylthiazole)s, which induce a diastereoselective 6π‐electrocyclization reaction in a helically folded structure to freeze the conformational interconversions. The folding conformation with one helical turn of tetra(2‐phenylthiazole)s was supported by multiple intramolecular noncovalent interactions including vicinal S???N interheteroatom interactions and CH–π and π–π stacking interactions between nonadjacent units, as found in X‐ray crystal structures as well as quantum chemical calculations. The introduction of a chiral group at both ends of tetra(2‐phenylthiazole) dictates the preferential folding into a one‐handed helix conformation by the simultaneous operation of S???O and multiple CH–π interactions that involve the chiral end groups. Since the tetra(2‐phenylthiazole)s possess two equivalent photoreactive 6π‐electron systems and the folded conformation is suitable for photoinduced electrocyclization reaction, they undergo a photocyclization reaction in a stereoselective manner to memorize the chirality of the helix in a resulting diastereomeric closed form.     

Mixed Oligoureas Based on Constrained Bicyclic and Acyclic β‐Amino Acids Derivatives: On the Significance of the Subunit Configuration for Folding

The combination of a non‐functionalized constrained bicyclo[2.2.2]octane motif along with urea linkages allowed the formation of a highly rigid 2.5_12/14 helical system both in solution and the solid state. In this work, we aimed at developing stable and functionalized systems as promising materials for biological applications in investigating the impact of this constrained motif and its configuration on homo and heterochiral mixed‐oligourea helix formation. Di‐, tetra‐, hexa‐, and octa‐oligoureas alternating the highly constrained bicyclic motif of (R) or (S) configuration with acyclic (S)‐β³‐amino acid derivatives were constructed. Circular dichroism (CD), NMR experiments, and the X‐ray crystal structure of the octamer unequivocally proved that the alternating heterochiral R/S sequences form a stable left‐handed 2.5‐helix in contrast to the mixed (S/S)‐oligoureas, which did not adopt any defined secondary structure. We observed that the (?)‐synclinal conformation around the C_α? C_β bond of the acyclic residues, although sterically less favorable than the (+)‐synclinal conformation, was imposed by the (R)‐bicyclic amino carbamoyl (BAC) residue. This highlighted the strong ability of the BAC residue to drive helical folding in heterochiral compounds. The role of the stereochemistry of the BAC unit was assessed and a model was proposed to explain the misfolding of the S/S sequences.     

7,7,8,8‐Tetraaryl‐o‐quinodimethane Stabilized by Dibenzo Annulation: A Helical π‐Electron System That Exhibits Electrochromic and Unique Chiroptical Properties

When two benzene rings are fused to a tetraaryl‐o‐quinodimethane skeleton, sterically hindered helical molecules 1 acquire a high thermodynamic stability. Because the tetraarylbutadiene subunit contains electron‐donating alkoxy groups, 1 undergo reversible two‐electron oxidation to 2 ²⁺, which can be isolated as deeply colored stable salts. Intramolecular transfer of the point chirality (e.g., sec‐butyl) on the aryl groups to helicity induces a diastereomeric preference in dications 2 b ²⁺ and 2 c ²⁺, which represents an efficient method for enhancing circular‐dichroism signals. Thus, those redox pairs can serve as new electrochiroptical response systems. X‐ray analysis of dication 2 ²⁺ revealed π–π stacking interaction of the diarylmethylium moieties, which is also present in solution. The stacking geometry is the key contributor to the chirosolvatochromic response.     

Dendron to Central Core S1–S1 and S2–Sn (n>1) Energy Transfers in Artificial Special Pairs Containing Dendrimers with Limited Numbers of Conformations

Two dendrimers consisting of a cofacial free‐base bisporphyrin held by a biphenylene spacer and functionalized with 4‐benzeneoxomethane (5‐(4‐benzene)tri‐10,15,20‐(4‐n‐octylbenzene)zinc(II)porphyrin) using either five or six of the six available meso‐positions, have been synthesized and characterized as models for the antenna effect in Photosystems I and II. The presence of the short linkers, ‐CH₂O‐, and long C₈H₁₇ soluble side chains substantially reduces the number of conformers (foldamers) compared with classic dendrimers built with longer flexible chains. This simplification assists in their spectroscopic and photophysical analysis, notably with respect to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Both steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopic measurements indicate that the cofacial free bases and the flanking zinc(II)–porphyrin antennas act as energy acceptor and donor, respectively, following excitation in either the Q or Soret bands of the dendrimers. The rate constants for singlet electronic energy transfer (k_EET) extracted from the S₁ and S₂ fluorescence lifetimes of the donor in the presence and absence of the acceptor are ≤ (0.1–0.3)×10⁹ and ～2×10⁹ s^?1 for S₁→S₁ (range from a bi‐exponential decay model) and about 1.5×10¹² s^?1 for S₂→S_n (n>1). Comparisons of these experimental data with those calculated from Förster theory using orientation factors and donor–acceptor distances extracted from computer modeling suggest that a highly restricted number of the many foldamers facilitate energy transfer. These foldamers have the lowest energy by molecular modeling and consist of one or at most two of the flanking zinc porphyrin antennas folded so they lie near the central artificial special pair core with the remaining antennas located almost parallel to and far from it.     

Controlled Dynamic Helicity of a Folded Macrocycle Based on a Bisterephthalamide with a Twofold Z‐Shaped Structure

Dynamic helicity in a folded macrocycle and control of the helical preference are described. We designed macrocycle 1 with a dual mode of folding through the integration of two flexible units that are arranged twice to form a cyclic structure. As a folding unit, we used a terephthalamide skeleton and a Z‐shaped hydrocarbon: the former acted as a control unit to induce a preference of a particular sense of dynamic helicity and the latter was just a spacer. A terephthalamide unit provided a binding site for capturing a ditopic hydrogen‐bonding guest when it adopted helically folded syn forms (M/P). Thus, only the terephthalamide unit controlled the helical sense of dynamic helicity in a folded macrocycle through the supramolecular transmission of chirality upon complexation with a chiral ditopic guest. In addition, chirality on a host could also contribute to the control of the helical preference in a folded macrocycle, which led to exceptionally enhanced chiroptical signals.     

Chiral Monolithic Absorbent Constructed by Optically Active Helical‐Substituted Polyacetylene and Graphene Oxide: Preparation and Chiral Absorption Capacity

Chiral monolithic absorbent is successfully constructed for the first time by using optically active helical‐substituted polyacetylene and graphene oxide (GO). The preparative strategy is facile and straightforward, in which chiral‐substituted acetylene monomer (Ma), cross‐linker (Mb), and alkynylated GO (Mc) undergo copolymerization to form the desired monolithic absorbent in quantitative yield. The resulting monoliths are characterized by circular dichroism, UV–vis absorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT‐IR, Raman, energy‐dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), XPS, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. The polymer chains derived from Ma form chiral helical structures and thus provide optical activity to the monoliths, while GO sheets contribute to the formation of porous structures. The porous structure enables the monolithic absorbents to demonstrate a large swelling ratio in organic solvents, and more remarkably, the helical polymer chains provide optical activity and further enantio‐differentiating absorption ability. The present study establishes an efficient and versatile methodology for preparing novel functional materials, in particular monolithic chiral materials based on substituted polyacetylene and GO.

     

CuS nanodots-loaded biohybrid magnetic helical microrobots with enhanced photothermal performance

Magnetic helical microrobots swimming at low Reynolds numbers have attracted much interest because of their great potentials for biomedical applications. However, to endow them with sophisticated function integration toward targeted disease treatment still remains a major challenge. Here, we proposed a novel strategy of using Spirulina scaffolds to fabricate biohybrid magnetic helical microrobot (BMHM) with enhanced photothermal performance to fight against cancer cells and pathogenic bacteria. For the first time, CuS nanodots were densely and uniformly loaded intracellularly inside Spirulina cells after permeabilization, and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were subsequently deposited on the cell walls for magnetization. The BMHMs could be actuated forward at a high velocity and flexibly steered under rotating magnetic fields. Rapid and great photothermal temperature raise with robust cycling stability was achieved under 808 nm near-infrared laser irradiation. The BMHMs showed good biocompatibility with minor toxicity to HeLa cancer cells and Escherichia coli bacteria. Moreover, significant photothermal performance was further verified via a series of experiments for anticancer therapy and bacteria killing. Because of the remarkable features and facile cost-effective fabrication, the BMHMs demonstrated great potentials as an integrated microrobot platform for future anticancer and antibacteria applications.     

Helical Carbon and Graphite Films Prepared from Helical Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) Films Synthesized by Electrochemical Polymerization in Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystals

Helical carbon and graphite films from helical poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (H‐PEDOT) films synthesized through electrochemical polymerization in a chiral nematic liquid‐crystal (N*‐LC) field are prepared. The microscope investigations showed that the H‐PEDOT film synthesized in the N*‐LC has large domains of one‐handed spiral morphology consisting of fibril bundles. The H‐PEDOT films exhibited distinct Cotton effects in circular dichroism spectra. The highly twisted N*‐LC with a helical pitch of smaller than 1 μm produced the H‐PEDOT film with a highly ordered morphology. The spiral morphologies with left‐ and right‐handed screws were observed for the carbon films prepared from the H‐PEDOT films at 800 °C and were well correlated with the textures and helical pitches of the N*‐LCs. The spiral morphologies of the precursors were also retained even in the graphite films prepared from the helical carbon films at 2600 °C.     

Growth Actuated Bending and Twisting of Single Crystals

Crystals of a variety of substances including elements, minerals, simple salts, organic molecular crystals, and high polymers forgo long‐range translational order by twisting and bending as they grow. These deviations have been observed in crystals ranging in size from nanometers to centimeters. How and why so many materials choose dramatic non‐crystallographic distortions is analyzed, with an emphasis on crystal chemistries that give rise to stresses operating either on surfaces of crystallites or within the bulk.     

A 1D/2D Helical CdS/ZnIn2S4 Nano‐Heterostructure

Multidimensional nano‐heterostructures (NHSs) that have unique dimensionality‐dependent integrative and synergic effects are intriguing but still underdeveloped. Here, we report the first helical 1D/2D epitaxial NHS between CdS and ZnIn₂S₄. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the mismatches in lattice and dangling bonds between 1D and 2D units govern the growth procedure. The resulting well‐defined interface induces the delocalized interface states, thus facilitate the charge transfer and enhance the performance in the photoelectrochemical cells. We foresee that the mechanistic insights gained and the electronic structures revealed would inspire the design of more complex 1D/2D NHSs with outstanding functionalities.