2'-Ribose-ferrocene oligonucleotides for electronic detection of nucleic acids

We have synthesized two novel phosphoramidites with a ferrocenyl moiety at the 2'-ribose position linked through a butoxy linker. Using automated DNA/RNA synthesis techniques, oligonucleotides containing ferrocene at various positions were prepared and characterized by HPLC, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and electrochemistry. Thermal stability studies of the ferrocene-modified DNA duplexes revealed that introduction of one or two ferrocenyl complexes does not result in an observed change of the T(m) values of the corresponding DNA duplexes when compared to the nonmodified hybrids. These data indicate that the introduction of a ferrocenyl group at the 2'-position of the ribose ring containing either a purine or pyrimidine base has no effect on the stability of the modified DNA. The electrochemical behavior of the ferrocene-containing DNA was examined by cyclic voltammetry. The modified 2'-ferrocene-oligonucleotides are electrochemically active and can be used as signaling probes for the electronic detection of nucleic acids on bioelectronic sensors.     

Reversible redox controlled acids for cationic ring-opening polymerization

Advancements in externally controlled polymerization methodologies have enabled the synthesis of novel polymeric structures and architectures, and they have been pivotal to the development of new photocontrolled lithographic and 3D printing technologies. In particular, the development of externally controlled ring-opening polymerization (ROP) methodologies is of great interest, as these methods provide access to novel biocompatible and biodegradable block polymer structures. Although ROPs mediated by photoacid generators have made significant contributions to the fields of lithography and microelectronics development, these methodologies rely upon catalysts with poor stability and thus poor temporal control. Herein, we report a class of ferrocene-derived acid catalysts whose acidity can be altered through reversible oxidation and reduction of the ferrocenyl moiety to chemically and electrochemically control the ROP of cyclic esters.

A class of ferrocene-derived acid catalysts whose acidity can be altered through reversible oxidation and reduction of the ferrocenyl moiety to chemically and electrochemically control the ROP of cyclic esters is reported.     

Anion‐binding properties of two calix[4]arene derivatives containing two ferrocene imine or ferrocene amine units at the upper rim

Calix[4]arene derivatives containing ferrocene units at the upper rim have been synthesized and their anion‐binding and sensing investigated towards anions such as chloride, bromide and hydrogen sulfate by cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical studies show that these redox‐active ligands electrochemically recognize chloride and bromide anions. These compounds have excellent selectivity for chloride and bromide ions, in the comparison with hydrogen sulfate anion. With ferrocenyl Schiff base calix[4]arene 1 an anodic shift as large as 302 mV is observed on addition of four equivalents of Cl⁻ anion. Also electrochemical and UV–vis spectroscopic titrations ferrocenyl calix[4]arene derivatives 1 with chloride and bromide ions and 2 (only with Cl⁻) indicate a 1:1 binding‐stiochiometry. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular batteries: ferrocenylsilylation of dendrons, dendritic cores, and dendrimers: new convergent and divergent routes to ferrocenyl dendrimers with stable redox activity

The ferrocenylsilylation of the phenol triallyl dendron 2, of the phenol nonaallyl dendron 4, and of the 9-, 27-, 81-, and 243-allyl dendrimers 7-10 (monitored by the disappearance of the signals of the olefinic protons in 1H NMR spectra) has been achieved using ferrocenyldimethylsilane 1 and Karstedt's catalyst in diethyl ether at 40 degrees C, yielding the corresponding ferrocenyl dendrons and dendrimers. An alternative convergent synthesis of the nonaferrocenyl dendron 5 was carried out by reaction of the triferrocenyl dendron 2 with a protected triododendron followed by deprotection. Reaction of the nonaferrocenyl dendron 5 with hexakis(bromomethyl)benzene gave the 54-ferrocenyl dendron 6. All the ferrocenyl dendron and dendrimers produce a chemically and electrochemically reversible ferrocenyl oxidation wave at seemingly the same potential. Stable platinum electrodes modified with the high ferrocenyl dendrimers were fabricated. The soluble orange-red ferrocenyl dendrimers can also be oxidized in CH2Cl2 by [NO][PF6] to the insoluble deep blue polyferrocenium dendrimers. For instance, the 243-ferrocenium dendrimer has been characterized by its Mossbauer spectrum, which is of the same type as that of ferrocenium itself. The ferrocenium dendrimers can be reduced without any decomposition back to the ferrocenyl dendrimer, indicating that these multielectronic redoxstable dendrimers behave as molecular batteries.     

Self-assembly of ferrocene-functionalized perylene bisimide bridging ligands with PtII corner to electrochemically active molecular squares

Ferrocenyl-substituted N,N'-di(4-pyridyl)perylene bisimide ligands have been synthesized by the coupling reaction of hydroxyphenoxy-perylene bisimides with ferrocenyl carboxylic acids. By means of metallosupramolecular self-assembly, hitherto unprecedented multiredox active dendritic molecular squares with 16 ferrocene groups positioned in the bridging ligands are prepared from the perylene bispyridyl imide ligands and [Pt(dppp)][(OTf)(2)] (dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphano)propane; OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) corner in high yield. The isolated metallosupramolecular squares were characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H, (31)P[(1)H] NMR, and UV/vis spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the ligands and squares are investigated by cyclic voltammetry as well as spectroelectrochemistry. The results obtained show that the redox behavior of ferrocene units is influenced by the square superstructure. Furthermore, redox titration of free ligand and corresponding molecular square with the one-electron oxidant thianthrenium pentachloroantimonate reveals that ferrocene groups in these structures may be oxidized completely by this oxidant, and highly charged species generated through oxidation of ferrocenyl groups in molecular square cause decomposition of the assembly due to pronounced Coulombic repulsion.     

Thermal immobilization of ferrocene derivatives on (111) surface of n-type silicon: parallel between vinylferrocene and ferrocenecarboxaldehyde

Monolayers attached to a Si(111) surface through Si-C-C or Si-O-C covalent bonds were prepared by the thermally activated reaction (150 degrees C) of vinylferrocene (VFC) or ferrocenecarboxaldehyde (FCA) molecules with hydrogen-terminated Si(111) substrate in order to compare their reactivities. The resulting monolayers gave a couple of redox waves on voltammograms due to ferrocenyl moieties tethered at the surface. The voltammetric quantification revealed that the growth of electrochemically active layers was terminated within 5 h and the final surface coverages of the active ferrocenyl moieties were 58% and 16% for VFC- and FCA-based monolayers, respectively, indicating that the aldehyde molecule is less reactive. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ellipsometry, however, gave an indication that the growth of the VFC layer did not self-terminate and proceeded beyond a monolayer, while this overgrown part of the layer was not electrochemically active.     

Organostannoxane-supported multiferrocenyl assemblies: synthesis, novel supramolecular structures, and electrochemistry

Organostannoxane-based multiredox assemblies containing ferrocenyl peripheries have been readily synthesized by a simple one-pot synthesis, either by a solution method or by room-temperature solid-state synthesis, in nearly quantitative yields. The number of ferrocenyl units in the multiredox assembly is readily varied by stoichiometric control as well as by the choice of the organotin precursors. Thus, the reaction of the diorganotin oxides, R2SnO (R = Ph, nBu and tBu) with ferrocene carboxylic acid affords tetra-, di-, and mononuclear derivatives [{Ph2Sn[OC(O)Fc]2}2] (1), [{[nBu2SnOC(O)Fc]2O}2] (2), [nBu2Sn{OC(O)Fc}2] (3), [{tBu2Sn(OH)OC(O)Fc}2] (4), and [tBu2Sn{OC(O)Fc}2] (5) (Fc = eta(5)C5H4-Fe-eta(5)C5H5). The reaction of triorganotin oxides, R3SnOSnR3 (R = nBu and Ph) with ferrocene carboxylic acid leads to the formation of the mono-nuclear derivatives [Ph3SnOC(O)Fc] (6) and [{nBu3SnOC(O)Fc}(n)] (7). Molecular structures of the compounds 1-4 and 6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The molecular structure of compound 1 is new among organotin carboxylates. In this compound, ferrocenyl carboxylates are involved in both chelating and bridging coordination modes to the tin atoms to form an eight-membered cyclic structure. In all of these compounds, the acidic protons of the cyclopentadienyl groups are hydrogen bonded to the carboxylate oxygens (C-HO) to form rich supramolecular assemblies. In addition to this, pi-pi, T-shaped, L-shaped, and side-to-face stacking interactions involving ferrocenyl groups also occur. Compound 6 shows an interesting and novel intermolecular CO2-pi stacking interaction. Electrochemical analysis of the compounds 1-4, 6, and 7 shows a single, quasi-reversible oxidation peak corresponding to the simultaneous oxidation of four, two, and one ferrocenyl substituents, respectively. Compound 5 shows two quasi-reversible oxidation peaks. This is attributed to the positional difference among the ferrocenyl substituents on the tin atom. Additionally, while compounds 2 and 4 are electrochemically quite robust and do not decompose even after ten continuous CV cycles, compounds 1, and 3, 5-7 start to show decomposition after five cycles.     

Tunable electronic coupling in iron-chromium mixed-valence ions of methylated Cp-indene ligands

A series of heterobimetallic η⁶-[(ferrocenyl)indene]-Cr(CO)₃ complexes differing for the position of the ferrocenyl group, 1-(ferrocenyl)indene and 2-(ferrocenyl)indene, and the degree of indene methylation (tetramethyl- and hexamethyl-) have been prepared and studied with the aim to stabilise the mono- and dications generated by chemical and electrochemical oxidation, and at same time to tune the metal-metal electronic coupling in the mixed-valence cations. The magnitude of electronic delocalisation and spin density in the cations have been monitored by means of optical techniques (UV-Vis, near-IR, mid-IR) and EPR spectroscopy. The results have been rationalised in the framework of Marcus-Hush theory and at quantum chemistry level by DFT and TD-DFT methods, establishing that a metal-to-metal electronic coupling occurs the magnitude of which depends on the degree of indene methylation.     

Ditopic redox-active polyferrocenyl zinc(II) dithiocarbamate macrocyclic receptors: synthesis, coordination and electrochemical recognition properties

The synthesis of a range of ditopic polyferrocenyl zinc(II) dithiocarbamate macrocyclic receptors containing ferrocene groups on the macrocycle's periphery and/or as part of the cyclic cavity is reported. The assemblies have been characterised by a range of spectroscopic techniques, electrochemical studies and in two cases by X-ray structure determination. The ability of these host systems to bind and sense electrochemically anionic guest species, isonicotinate and benzoate, and neutral 4-picoline guest was examined by 1H NMR and cyclic voltammetric titration studies. The strongest association was found between the isonicotinate anion and a dinuclear zinc(II) receptor whose macrocyclic cavity is of complementary size to complex this bidentate guest species in a cooperative manner. Cyclic voltammetric studies demonstrated that all receptors can electrochemically sense the binding of isonicotinate and benzoate via significant cathodic perturbations of the respective ferrocene redox couple.     

Synthesis,Redox Activity of Rigid Ferrocenyl Dendrimers,and Isolation of Robust Ferricinium and Class‐II Mixed‐Valence Dendrimers

The coupling reactions of ethynylferrocene with trihalogenoarenes do not lead to ethynylferrocenyl arenes that are soluble enough to form the basis of a suitable construction of stiff ferrocenylethynyl arene‐cored dendrimers, which explains the previous lack of reports on stiff ferrocenyl dendrimers. However, rigid ferrocenyl‐terminated dendrimers have been synthesized from 1,3,5‐tribromo‐ and triiodobenzene through Sonogashira and Negishi reactions with 1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethyl‐1′‐ethylnylferrocene ( 1 a ), according to 1→2 connectivity. With compound 1 a , the construction of a soluble dendrimer ( 10 a ) that contained 12 ethynylpentamethylferrocenyl termini was achieved. Stiff dendrimer 10 a shows a single, reversible cyclic voltammetry (CV) wave (with adsorption), which disfavors the hopping heterogeneous electron‐transfer mechanism that is postulated for redox‐terminated dendrimers that contain flexible tethers. The selectivity of these Sonogashira reactions allows the synthesis of an arene‐cored dendron ( 2 c ) that contains both ethynylferrocenyl and 1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethyl‐ferrocenylethynyl redox groups, thus leading to the construction of a dendrimer ( 7 c ) that contains both types of differently substituted ferrocenyl groups with two well‐separated reversible CV waves. Upon selective oxidation, this mixed dendrimer ( 7 c ) leads to a class‐II mixed‐valence dendrimer, 7 c [PF₆]₃, as shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy, whereas oxidation of the related fully pentamethylferrocenylated dendrimer ( 7 a ) leads to the all‐ferricinium dendrimer, 7 a [PF₆]₆.     

Synthesis of new ethynylbipyridine-linked mono- and bis-tetrathiafulvalenes: electrochemical, spectroscopic, and Ru(II)-binding studies

Two new ethynylbipyridine-linked mono- and bis-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives, together with a Ru(II) complex, were synthesized using Sonogashira coupling reactions and characterized by UV/vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. They display a clear electrochemically amphoteric behavior consisting of two reversible single-electron oxidation waves (typical for TTF derivatives) and one reversible single-electron reduction wave (bpy) and act as donor-acceptor (D-A) systems. Furthermore, for the Ru(II) complex, a quite intense fluorescence originating from the ³MLCT state is observed.     

A Convenient Method of Synthesis of Ferrocenylethynyl Ketones

It is well known that molecules possessing extensive conjugated π-electron systems exhibit large non-linear optical properties,[1,2] but the compounds of ferrocenylethynyl ketones have not been reported so far. We now reported preparation of some ferrocenylethyl ketones. These new ethynylketones containing ferrocenyl were prepared conveniently via coupling reaction catalyzed by PdCl2(PPh3)2/PdBzCl(PPh3)2-CuI from ferrocenylethyne and acyl chlorides. This coupling reaction proceeded smoothly in argon and free-water atmosphere at room temperature and gave coupling products in satisfactory yields. All products were characterized by 1H NMR, MS, IR and UV spectra.     

Highly regioselective, catalytic asymmetric reductive coupling of 1,3-enynes and ketones

[reaction: see text] Highly regioselective, catalytic asymmetric reductive coupling reactions of 1,3-enynes and ketones have been achieved using catalytic amounts of Ni(cod)(2) and a P-chiral, monodentate ferrocenyl phosphine ligand. These couplings represent the first examples of catalytic, intermolecular reductive coupling of alkynes and ketones, enantioselective or otherwise, and afford synthetically useful 1,3-dienes possessing a quaternary carbinol stereogenic center in up to 70% ee.     

Electrochemical anion recognition with ferrocene functionalised macrocycles

The syntheses and characterization of two new redox active cyclam ligands ferrocenylmethyl-(6-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-6-yl)-amine (L3) and 1,1'-ferrocenylmethyl-bis(6-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradec-6-yl)-amine (L4) are reported. The compounds each possess a ferrocenyl group bearing one (L3) or two (L4) appended macrocycles linked by their exocyclic amino groups and the crystal structures of both compounds have been determined. Anion binding of L3 and L4 was investigated by electrochemical titrations where H-bonding to each macrocycle causing a shift in the Fc+/0 redox potential was used as a reporter of guest binding. The Zn(II) complex of L3 has also been isolated and characterized structurally. These compounds were analysed for their capacity to electrochemically recognize anions in both aqueous and non-aqueous solution. We have found that L3, L4 and [ZnL3]2+ sense Cl- and AcO- anions in MeCN-CH2Cl2, a function that is lost in aqueous solution.     

Multivalent dendrimers at molecular printboards: influence of dendrimer structure on binding strength and stoichiometry and their electrochemically induced desorption

A fundamental understanding of multivalency can have a profound influence on bottom-up nanofabrication. For this purpose, three different types of ferrocenyl (Fc) functionalized dendrimers of generations 1-5 with various spacer groups were adsorbed at self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of heptathioether-functionalized beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) on gold. The dendrimers formed kinetically stable supramolecular assemblies at the betaCD host surface having up to eight multivalent supramolecular interactions, but could be efficiently removed from the host surface by electrochemical oxidation of the Fc end groups. Dendrimer desorption and re-adsorption could be repeated a number of times without significant decomposition of the system. The stoichiometries of the dendrimers at the surface were determined using cyclic voltammetry (CV). These were quantitatively confirmed for the lower generations by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) titrations of the dendrimers to the betaCD SAM. Measuring CV and SPR simultaneously gave crucial mechanistic information on the electrochemically induced desorption of the dendrimers from the host surface. The redox-active dendrimers effectively blocked the host surface for binding other molecules, e.g. adamantyl-functionalized dendrimers, but electrochemically induced release of the blocking layer revealed the host surface to which the adamantyl dendrimers could then bind.     

Donor–acceptor ferrocenyl triazines: synthesis and properties

A series of star shaped donor–π–acceptor type symmetrical triazine was designed and synthesized by the Pd-catalysed Sonogshira cross coupling reaction. The ferrocenyl moiety with different spacer groups acts as donor and 1,3,5-triazine as acceptor. The photophysical results show intramolecular charge transfer from ferrocene to the 1,3,5-triazine unit. The cyclic voltammetric analysis reveals substantial donor–acceptor interaction. The triazines exhibit good thermal stability with high decomposition temperature.     

Synthesis of novel ferrocene containing vic-dioxime ligands and their Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes: Spectral, electrochemical and biological activity studies

Two new vic-dioxime ligands bearing an important redox-active substituent, anti-β-ferrocenylethylaminoglyoxime (1a) and anti-β-ferrocenylethylaminophenylglyoxime (1b), have been synthesized, and their Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) (2a-4a, 2b-4b) complexes were obtained. The composition and structure of the products were determined by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), mass spectrometry (MS), one-dimensional (1D) ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and two-dimensional (2D) heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) techniques. The redox behaviors of the ligands and their complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), which revealed that all the ferrocenyl redox centers are electrochemically independent and undergo a quasi-reversible oxidation at similar potentials. Also, antibacterial activity was studied against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Streptococcus mutans RSHM 676, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The antimicrobial test results indicated that all the compounds have mild levels of antibacterial activity against both gram negative and gram-positive bacterial species.     

A kinetically stabilized ferrocenyl diphosphene: synthesis, structure, properties, and redox behavior

A new, stable ferrocenyl diphosphene [Tbt-P==P-Fc] (1) (Tbt=2,4,6-tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]phenyl, Fc = ferrocenyl) was synthesized by the dehydrochlorination reaction of the corresponding diphosphane, [Tbt-P(H)-P(Cl)-Fc] (8), with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in good yield. Diphosphene 1 is very stable in the solid state and also in solution. In the 31P NMR spectrum (C6D6), diphosphene 1 showed a low-fielded AB quartet at delta 501.7 and 479.5 ppm with the coupling constant 1J(PP)=546 Hz, which is characteristic of an unsymmetrically substituted trans-diphosphene. The molecular structure of 1 was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis, which showed a trans-diphosphene with a C-P-P-C torsion angle of 177.86(17) degrees . The phosphorus-phosphorus bond length of 1 [2.0285(15) A] which is considerably shorter than the typical P-P single-bond lengths (ca. 2.22-2.24 A) and within the range of reported P=P double-bond lengths (1.985-2.051 A) for diaryl diphosphenes, evidenced the P=P double-bond character of 1 in the solid state. In addition, the cyclic voltammograms of 1 showed reversible reduction and oxidation couples at -1.95 and +0.34 V versus SCE, respectively. The electrochemical results for 1 were reasonably supported by the DFT calculations, which suggested that the LUMO and HOMO orbitals should be mainly pi* orbital of the diphosphene moiety and d orbitals of the iron(II) atom, respectively.     

Exploration of electronically interactive cyclic porphyrin arrays

We have explored a variety of covalently and non-covalently assembled cyclic porphyrin arrays mainly as biomimetic models of light harvesting antenna in photosynthetic systems. The key reaction is Ag(I)-promoted coupling reaction of 5,15-diaryl zinc(II) porphyrin that provides a meso–meso linked diporphyrin. An advantage of this coupling reaction is its extremely easy extension to higher porphyrin arrays, since longer porphyrin arrays have practically the same reactivity as that of the monomer. On the basis of this strategy, we have prepared cyclic porphyrin arrays including directly meso–meso linked porphyrin rings CZ4–CZ8, large porphyrin wheels C12ZA and C24ZB, and three-dimensional porphyrin boxes D1–D3. Efficient excitation energy transfer along these cyclic porphyrin arrays has been revealed by the time-resolved transient absorption and fluorescence measurements.     

Intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded versus copper(II) coordinated mono- and bis-phenoxyl radicals

Ligands bearing two salicylidene imine moieties substituted in ortho and para positions by tert-butyl groups have been electrochemically oxidized into mono- and bis-phenoxyl radicals. The process involves an intramolecular proton coupled to electron transfer and affords a radical in which the oxygen atom is hydrogen-bonded to a protonated ammonium or iminium group. A weak intramolecular dipolar interaction exists between the two phenoxyl moieties in the bis-radical species. The copper(II) complexes of these ligands have been characterized and electrochemically oxidized. The mono-phenoxyl radical species are X-band EPR silent. The bis-phenoxyl radical species exhibits a (S= 3/2) ground state: it arises from a ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the two spins of the radicals and that of the copper(II) when the spacer is rigid enough; a flexible spacer such as ethylidene induces decomplexation of at least one phenoxyl group. Metal coordination is more efficient than hydrogen-bonding to enhance the chemical stability of the mono-phenoxyl radicals.