Replacement of Carbohydrate Sulfates by Sugar C‐Sulfonic Acid Derivatives

Abstract

3′‐Substituted p‐methoxyphenyl β‐lactosides and one of their 3′‐epimer were synthesized. The common feature of these compounds is the presence of a strong negative charge at position C‐3′ in the form of sulfonic acid moieties. The 3′,4′‐diol derivative of p‐methoxyphenyl lactoside was also glycosylated with the thioglycoside of the sulfoulosonic acid. The two‐regioisomeric trisaccharides were isolated but their deprotection failed. The aim of the present study was to find carbohydrate ligand(s), which can inhibit the adhesion between Helicobacter pylori and the gastrointestinal epithelial cells.     

Synthesis of Bifunctional Azobenzene Glycoconjugates for Cysteine‐Based Photosensitive Cross‐Linking with Bioactive Peptides

Azobenzene linker molecules can be utilized to control peptide/protein function when they are ligated to appropriately spaced amino acid side chains of the peptide. This is because the photochemical E/Z isomerization of the azobenzene N?N double bond allows to switch peptide conformation between folded and unfolded. In this context, we have introduced carbohydrate‐functionalized azobenzene derivatives in order to advance the biocompatible properties of azobenzene peptide linkers. Chloroacetamide‐functionalized and O‐allylated carbohydrate derivatives were synthesized and conjugated with azobenzene to achieve new bifunctional cross‐linkers, in order to allow ligation to cysteine side chains by nucleophilic substitution or thiol‐ene reaction, respectively. The photochromic properties of the new linker glycoconjugates were determined and first ligation reactions performed.     

Voltammetry as a Virtual Potentiometric Sensor in Modelling of a Metal/Ligand System and Refinement of Stability Constants. Part 2

A mathematical conversion of data from nonequilibrium and dynamic voltammetric techniques (direct‐current‐sampled (DC) and differential‐pulse (DP) polarography) into potentiometric, free‐metal‐ion sensor‐type data is described and employed in the study of Bi^III complexes with the ligand picolinic acid (=pyridine‐2‐carboxylic acid) (labile and dynamic metal/ligand system). A novel procedure that allows evaluation of experimental data collected at very low pH values (acid‐base titration) is proposed. Software ESTA dedicated to potentiometry was successfully employed in the refinement operations performed with virtual potentiometric (VP) data obtained from DC and DP polarography, the latter being performed at fixed pH (ligand titration) as well as at fixed [L_T]/[M_T] ratio (acid‐base titration). It was possible to refine stability constants either separately from VP‐DC or VP‐DP, or simultaneously from any combination of VP‐DC and VP‐DP obtained from ligand and/or acid‐base titrations. The concept of VP‐DC or VP‐DP is employed for the first time in the study of an unknown Bi^III/picolinic acid/OH system, and numerous documented and possible advantages are discussed. Five complexes of bismuth, ML, ML₂, ML₃, ML₄, and ML₃(OH) and their stability constants (as log β) 7.48±0.01, 13.94±0.01, 18.10±0.04, 20.47±0.25, and 26.65±0.03, respectively, are reported at 0.5M (Na,H)NO₃ ionic strength and T 298 K. The proposed procedure can be easily utilized also by non‐electrochemists who are interested in, e.g., ligand‐design strategies.     

Influence of Steric Hindrance of N‐Heterocyclic Ancillary Ligands on the Structure and Magnetic Properties of Manganese(II) Coordination Polymers

Three biphenyl‐3,5‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂ L ) based coordination polymers, namely, [Mn₃( L )₃(2,2′‐bpy)₂]_n ( 1 ), {[Mn( L )(phen)] · (MeOH)}_n ( 2 ), and [Mn( L )(dipt)]_n ( 3 ), (2,2′‐bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine, phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline, and dipt = 2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and analyses of their magnetic properties. 1 is a trinuclear manganese structure with a 2D motifs, which can join by hydrogen bond bridges to give 3D supramolecular architectures. 2 has a dinuclear center forming a 1D supramolecular ladder chain. The mononuclear complex 3 displays 1D metal‐organic chains driven by μ₂‐ L linkers. Their structural differences were investigated, revealing that the influence of steric hindrance on the structures of acid‐based coordination polymers is realized through changing the N‐heterocyclic ancillaries of diverse steric hindrance. Obviously, with decreasing of the steric hindrance of the N‐donor ligand, complexes 1 – 3 show structures from 1D to 2D and mononuclear to multinuclear. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that 1 and 2 have dominating antiferromagnetic couplings between metal ions, whereas compound 3 is paramagnetic.     

In‐ and Out‐of‐Cavity Interactions by Modulating the Size of Ruthenium Metallarectangles

Cationic (arene)ruthenium‐based tetranuclear complexes of the general formula [Ru₄(η⁶‐p‐cymene)₄(μ‐N∩N)₂(μ‐OO∩OO)₂]⁴⁺ were obtained from the dinuclear (arene)ruthenium complexes [Ru₂(η⁶‐p‐cymene)₂(μ‐OO∩OO)₂Cl₂] (p‐cymene=1‐methyl‐4‐(1‐methylethyl)benzene, OO∩OO=5,8‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐naphthoquinonato(2?), 9,10‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐anthraquinonato(2?), or 6,11‐dihydroxynaphthacene‐5,12‐dionato(2?)) by reaction with pyrazine or bipyridine linkers (N∩N=pyrazine, 4,4′‐bipyridine, 4,4′‐[(1E)‐ethene‐1,2‐diyl]bis[pyridine]) in the presence of silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (CF₃SO₃Ag) (Scheme). All complexes 4 – 12 were isolated in good yield as CF₃SO salts, and characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The host–guest properties of the metallarectangles incorporating 4,4′‐bipyridine and (4,4′‐[(1E)‐ethene‐1,2‐diyl]bis[pyridine] linkers were studied in solution by means of multiple NMR experiments (1D, ROESY, and DOSY). The largest metallarectangles 10 – 12 incorporating (4,4′‐[(1E)‐ethene‐1,2‐diyl]bis[pyridine] linkers are able to host an anthracene, pyrene, perylene, or coronene molecule in their cavity, while the medium‐size metallarectangles 7 – 9 incorporating 4,4′‐bipyridine linkers are only able to encapsulate anthracene. However, out‐of‐cavity interactions are observed between these 4,4′‐bipyridine‐containing rectangles and pyrene, perylene, or coronene. In contrast, the small pyrazine‐containing metallarectangles 4 – 6 show no interaction in solution with this series of planar aromatic molecules.     

Molecular Vise Approach to Create Metal‐Binding Sites in MOFs and Detection of Biomarkers

We report a new approach to create metal‐binding site in a series of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), where tetratopic carboxylate linker, 4′,4′′,4′′′,4′′′′‐methanetetrayltetrabiphenyl‐4‐carboxylic acid, is partially replaced by a tritopic carboxylate linker, tris(4‐carboxybiphenyl)amine, in combination with monotopic linkers, formic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, benzoic acid, isonicotinic acid, 4‐chlorobenzoic acid, and 4‐nitrobenzoic acid, respectively. The distance between these paired‐up linkers can be precisely controlled, ranging from 5.4 to 10.8 Å, where a variety of metals, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ag⁺, Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, can be placed in. The distribution of these metal‐binding sites across a single crystal is visualized by 3D tomography of laser scanning confocal microscopy with a resolution of 10 nm. The binding affinity between the metal and its binding‐site in MOF can be varied in a large range (observed binding constants, K_obs from 1.56×10² to 1.70×10⁴ L mol^?1), in aqueous solution. The fluorescence of these crystals can be used to detect biomarkers, such as cysteine, homocysteine and glutathione, with ultrahigh sensitivity and without the interference of urine, through the dissociation of metal ions from their binding sites.     

Synthesis,Characterizations, Magnetism and Thermal Degradation of a 2‐Fold Interpenetrated 3D Cobalt‐Organic Framework

A new coordination polymer, [Co₂(L)₂(4,4′‐bipy)]_n·3nH₂O ( 1 ) based on 5‐(3‐methyl‐5‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl)isophthalic acid (H₂ L ) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, XRPD, IR, and elemental analysis. Temperature‐dependent magnetic susceptibility and thermal degradation for 1 were also studied. The asymmetric unit of compound 1 consists of two crystallographically independent Co(II) ion, two L ^2? ligand, one 4,4′‐bipy ligand, and three lattice water molecules. The 2D triangle networks were linked by the bridging 4,4′‐bipy ligand to give rise to a 2‐fold interpenetrated 3D architecture. The simplest cyclic motif of the 2D networks is a triangle ring consisting of three Co(II) cations and three L ^2? ligands. So we can define Co(II) ions as 4‐connected nodes and the L ^2? ligands as 3‐connected nodes. Thus, the 3D structure can be described as a 2‐fold parallel interpenetrated ins InS 3,4‐conn topology.     

Synthesis and Catalytic Use of Gold(I) Complexes Containing a Hemilabile Phosphanylferrocene Nitrile Donor

Removal of the chloride ligand from [AuCl( 1 ‐κP)] ( 2 ) containing a P‐monodentate 1′‐(diphenylphosphanyl)‐1‐cyanoferrocene ligand ( 1 ), by using silver(I) salts affords cationic complexes of the type [Au( 1 )]X, which exist either as cyclic dimers [Au( 1 )]₂X₂ ( 3 a , X=SbF₆; 3 c , X=NTf₂) or linear coordination polymers [Au( 1 )]_nX_n ( 3 a′ , X=SbF₆; 3 b′ , X=ClO₄), depending on anion X and the isolation procedure. As demonstrated for 3 a′ , the polymers can be readily cleaved by the addition of donors, such as Cl^?, tetrahydrothiophene (tht) or 1 , giving rise to the parent compound 2 , [Au(tht)( 1 ‐κP)][SbF₆] ( 5 a ) or [Au( 1 ‐κP)₂][SbF₆] ( 4 a ), respectively, of which the last two compounds can also be prepared by stepwise replacement of tht in [Au( 1 ‐κP)₂][SbF₆]. The particular combination of a firmly coordinated (phosphane) and a dissociable (nitrile) donor moieties renders complexes 3/3′ attractive for catalysis because they can serve as shelf‐stable precursors of coordinatively unsaturated Au^I fragments, analogous to those that result from the widely used [Au(PR₃)(RCN)]X catalysts. The catalytic properties of the Au‐ 1 complexes were evaluated in model annulation reactions, such as the synthesis of 2,3‐dimethylfuran from (Z)‐3‐methylpent‐2‐en‐4‐yn‐1‐ol and oxidative cyclisation of alkynes with nitriles to produce 2,5‐disubstituted 1,3‐oxazoles. Of the compounds tested ( 2 , 3 a′ , 3 b′ , 3 a , 4 a and 5 a ), the best results were consistently achieved with dimer 3 c , which has good solubility in organic solvents and only one firmly bound donor at the gold atom. This compound was advantageously used in the key steps of annuloline and rosefuran syntheses.     

Preparation and Characteristics of Esculin‐Imprinted Polymers

Four molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared in MeOH with esculin (=6,7‐dihydroxycoumarin 6‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranoside)=6‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐7‐hydroxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) as the imprinted molecule, methacrylic acid (=2‐methylprop‐2‐enoic acid; MAA), acrylamide (=prop‐2‐enamide; AM), 4‐vinylpyridine (=4‐ethenylpyridine; 4‐VP), or 2‐vinylpyridine (=2‐ethenylpyridine; 2‐VP) as the functional monomer, respectively, as well as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (=2‐methylprop‐2‐enoic acid ethane‐1,2‐diyl ester; EGDMA) as the cross‐linking agent. The interaction between the template and the functional monomers was investigated by fluorescence and UV spectrophotometry, respectively, which revealed the presence of esculin/monomer complexes in the stoichiometric ratio 1 : 2 in the pre‐polymerization mixture. The resultant polymers were studied in equilibrium binding experiments to evaluate the recognition ability and the binding capacity towards esculin. The results showed that MIP₁, prepared with MAA as the functional monomer, exhibited advantageous characteristics of high binding capacity, optimal imprinting effect, and good selectivity towards esculin. The Scatchard analysis indicated that there are two types of binding sites in MIP₁, and its binding parameters including the apparent maximum numbers of binding sites and the dissociation constants were calculated. Finally, by packing an SPE column (SPE=solid‐phase extraction) with MIP₁, the esculin was separated and enriched successfully by this sorbent from samples of Cortex fraxini, and the average recovery was up to 74.7%.     

Carbohydrate–Lipid Interactions: Affinities of Methylmannose Polysaccharides for Lipids in Aqueous Solution

The interactions between 3‐O‐methyl‐mannose polysaccharides (MMPs), extracted from Mycobacterium smegmatis (consisting of a mixture of MMP‐10, ‐11, ‐12 and ‐13) or obtained by chemical synthesis (MMP‐5_s, ‐8_s, ‐11_s and ‐14_s), and linear saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (FAs), and a commercial mixture of naphthenic acids (NAs) in aqueous solution at 25 °C and pH 8.5 were quantified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). Association constants (K_a) for MMP binding to four FAs (myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid and trans‐parinaric acid) were measured by using an indirect ESI‐MS assay, the “proxy protein” method. The K_a values are in the 10⁴–10⁵ M ^?1 range and, based on results obtained for the binding of the synthetic MMPs with palmitic acid, increase with the size of the carbohydrate. Notably, the measured affinity of the extracted MMPs for trans‐parinaric acid is two orders of magnitude smaller than the reported value, which was determined by using a fluorescence assay. Using a newly developed competitive binding assay, referred to as the “proxy protein/proxy ligand” ESI‐MS method, it was shown that MMPs bind specifically to NAs in aqueous solution, with apparent affinities of approximately (5×10⁴) M ^?1 for the mixture of NAs tested. This represents the first demonstration that MMPs can bind to hydrophobic species more complex than those containing linear alkyl/alkenyl chains. Moreover, the approach developed here represents a novel method for probing carbohydrate–lipid interactions.     

Methylene‐Bridged Metallocenes with 2,2′‐Methylenebis[1H‐inden‐1‐yl] Ligands: Synthesis,Characterization, and Polymerization Catalysis of a Synthetically Simple Class of C2‐ and C2v‐Symmetric ansa‐Metallocenes

The acid‐catalyzed reaction between formaldehyde and 1H‐indene, 3‐alkyl‐ and 3‐aryl‐1H‐indenes, and six‐membered‐ring substituted 1H‐indenes, with the 1H‐indene/CH₂O ratio of 2 : 1, at temperatures above 60° in hydrocarbon solvents, yields 2,2′‐methylenebis[1H‐indenes] 1 – 8 in 50–100% yield. These 2,2′‐methylenebis[1H‐indenes] are easily deprotonated by 2 equiv. of BuLi or MeLi to yield the corresponding dilithium salts, which are efficiently converted into ansa‐metallocenes of Zr and Hf. The unsubstituted dichloro{(1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,3a,3′a,7a,7′a‐η)‐2,2′‐methylenebis[1H‐inden‐1‐yl]}zirconium ([ZrCl₂( 1′ )]) is the least soluble in organic solvents. Substitution of the 1H‐indenyl moieties by hydrocarbyl substituents increases the hydrocarbon solubility of the complexes, and the presence of a substituent larger than a Me group at the 1,1′ positions of the ligand imparts a high diastereoselectivity to the metallation step, since only the racemic isomers are obtained. Methylene‐bridged ‘ansa‐zirconocenes’ show a noticeable open arrangement of the bis[1H‐inden‐1‐yl] moiety, as measured by the angle between the planes defined by the two π‐ligands (the ‘bite angle’). In particular, of the ‘zirconocenes’ structurally characterized so far, the dichloro{(1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,3a,3′a,7a,7′a‐η)‐2,2′‐methylenebis[4,7‐dimethyl‐1H‐inden‐1‐yl]}zirconium ([ZrCl₂( 5′ )] is the most open. The mixture [ZrCl₂( 1′ )]/methylalumoxane (MAO) is inactive in the polymerization of both ethylene and propylene, while the metallocenes with substituted indenyl ligands polymerize propylene to atactic polypropylene of a molecular mass that depends on the size of the alkyl or aryl groups at the 1,1′ positions of the ligand. Ethene is polymerized by rac‐dichloro{(1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,3a,3′a,7a,7′a‐η)‐2,2′‐methylenebis[1‐methyl‐1H‐inden‐1‐yl]}zirconium ([ZrCl₂( 2′ )])/MAO to polyethylene waxes (average degree of polymerization ca. 100), which are terminated almost exclusively by ethenyl end groups. Polyethylene with a high molecular mass could be obtained by increasing the size of the 1‐alkyl substituent.     

A novel three‐dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer based on 3,3′‐{[1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoic acid and 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene: synthesis,crystal structure and photocatalytic properties

A novel three‐dimensional (3D) Zn^II coordination polymer, namely, poly[[[1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene](μ₃‐3,3′‐{[1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoato)zinc(II)] 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene], {[Zn(C₂₂H₁₆O₆)(C₁₆H₁₂N₂)]·C₁₆H₁₂N₂}_n or {[Zn(PMBD)(DPB)]·DPB}_n, 1 , where H₂PMBD is 3,3′‐{[1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoic acid and DPB is 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene, has been synthesized by self‐assembly using zinc nitrate, a semi‐rigid dicarboxylic acid and a nitrogen‐containing ligand. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination indicates that 1 possesses an intriguing 3D architecture with a 4‐connected uninodal cds topology, which is constructed from dinuclear {Zn₂} clusters and V‐shaped PMBD^2? linkers. Compound 1 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity on the degradation of the organic dyes Rhodamine B (RhB), Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and Methyl Red (MR).     

Novel Bleomycin Analogues: Synthesis,Antitumor Activity,and Interaction with DNA

The novel analogues 11 – 16 of bleomycin A₆ ( 3 ) were obtained by selective protection of the primary‐amine function of the β‐aminoalaninamide moiety of 3 by means of coordination with Cu^II ions, condensation with an aliphatic or aromatic acid R′COOH in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and demetalization (Scheme). The antitumor activity against HeLa and BGC‐823 in vitro, binding property with CT‐DNA, and cleavage potency towards pBR322 DNA were also studied (Tables 1–3). All the compounds 11 – 16 displayed significant antitumor activity, which was enhanced as the hydrophobicity of the C‐terminus substituent R′ increased, but decreased as the DNA‐binding affinity increased. There was a negative relationship between DNA‐cleavage potency and binding affinity to DNA in this series of compounds.     

Synthesis,structural characterization,antimicrobial, antioxidant and DNA binding studies of some novel homo‐binuclear Schiff base metal (II) complexes

A novel bi‐nucleating Schiff base ligand, 6,6′‐(((1E,1′E)‐thiophene‐2,5‐diylbis (methaneylylidene))bis (azaneylylidene))bis (3,4‐dimethylaniline), and five binuclear M (II) complexes were synthesized. The bi‐nucleating Schiff base ligand and its metal complexes were characterized using various physicochemical techniques, e.g. elemental analyses, spectroscopic methods, conductivity and magnetic moment measurements. The low molar conductance of the complexes in dimethylsulfoxide shows their non‐electrolytic nature. The antibacterial activities were screened against pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus subtilis). The antifungal activity was screened against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Rhizoctonia bataicola. The antimicrobial activity data showed that the metal complexes are more potent than the parent Schiff base ligand against microorganisms. The antioxidant activities of the synthesized compounds were investigated through scavenging activity against 2,2‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl, superoxide anion, hydroxyl and 2,2′‐ azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) radicals. The complexes have superior radical scavenging activity than the free ligand and the scavenging effects of the Cu (II) complex are stronger than those of the other complexes. DNA binding studies were performed using electronic spectroscopy, fluorometric competition studies and viscosity measurements. The data indicated that there is a marked enhancement in biocidal activity of the ligand under similar experimental conditions because of coordination with metal ions.     

Optical Activity in the Near‐IR Region: The λ=980 nm Multiplet of Chiral Yb3+ Complexes

We used a very simplified electrostatic model based on charge and polarizability of atoms and groups on an organic ligand around a lanthanide ion to predict the near‐infrared electronic circular dichroism (NIR ECD) spectra of Yb³⁺ (a monoelectronic ion). We tuned our method by using two widely different complexes. The first was the heterobimetallic species CsYb(hfbc)₄ [hfbc=(?)‐3‐heptafluorobutyrylcamphorate], in which the ligand is a diketonate and, as such, is endowed with a chromophore with strong UV absorption (π–π^*). Its oxygen atoms define a square antiprism, which provides a symmetric coordination polyhedron. The second system was Yb DOTMA [DOTMA=(1R,4R,7R,10R)‐α,α′,α′′,α′′′‐tetramethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid], a chiral Yb analogue of Gd DOTA (DOTA=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid), in which the ligand lacks relevant electronic transitions and provides a dissymmetric cage. The relative weights of dynamic (ligand polarization) and static contributions to Yb NIR ECD were evaluated, and the spectra appear to have been well predicted by theory through the introduction of a heuristic weight factor. To validate the approach and to confirm the value of the weight factor, we applied it to two other compounds, namely, Na₃Yb(BINOLate)₃ and Yb(BINOLAM)₃ [BINOLate=2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl; BINOLAM=3,3′‐bis(diethylaminomethyl)‐1‐1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol].     

A new three‐dimensional cobalt(II) coordination polymer based on V‐shaped 3,4′‐oxydibenzoate: synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties

A new coordination polymer (CP), namely poly[(μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine)(μ₃‐3,4′‐oxydibenzoato)cobalt(II)], [Co(C₁₄H₈O₅)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]_n or [Co(3,4′‐obb)(4,4′‐bipy)]_n ( 1 ), was prepared by the self‐assembly of Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with the rarely used 3,4′‐oxydibenzoic acid (3,4′‐obbH₂) ligand and 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) under solvothermal conditions, and has been structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography and powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction reveals that each Co^II ion is six‐coordinated by four O atoms from three 3,4′‐obb^2? ligands, of which two function as monodentate ligands and the other as a bidentate ligand, and by two N atoms from bridging 4,4′‐bipy ligands, thereby forming a distorted octahedral CoN₂O₄ coordination geometry. Adjacent crystallographically equivalent Co^II ions are bridged by the O atoms of 3,4′‐obb^2? ligands, affording an eight‐membered Co₂O₄C₂ ring which is further extended into a two‐dimensional [Co(3,4′‐obb)]_n sheet along the ab plane via 3,4′‐obb^2? functioning as a bidentate bridging ligand. The planes are interlinked into a three‐dimensional [Co(3,4′‐obb)(4,4′‐bipy)]_n network by 4,4′‐bipy ligands acting as pillars along the c axis. Magnetic investigations on CP 1 disclose an antiferromagnetic coupling within the dimeric Co₂ unit and a metamagnetic behaviour at low temperature resulting from intermolecular π–π interactions between the parallel 4,4′‐bipy ligands.     

Oligonucleotides Containing Novel 4′‐C‐ or 3′‐C‐(Aminoalkyl)‐Branched Thymidines

The synthesis of four novel 3′‐C‐branched and 4′‐C‐branched nucleosides and their transformation into the corresponding 3′‐O‐phosphoramidite building blocks for automated oligonucleotide synthesis is reported. The 4′‐C‐branched key intermediate 11 was synthesized by a convergent strategy and converted to its 2′‐O‐methyl and 2′‐deoxy‐2′‐fluoro derivatives, leading to the preparation of novel oligonucleotide analogues containing 4′‐C‐(aminomethyl)‐2′‐O‐methyl monomer X and 4′‐C‐(aminomethyl)‐2′‐deoxy‐2′‐fluoro monomer Y (Schemes 2 and 3). In general, increased binding affinity towards complementary single‐stranded DNA and RNA was obtained with these analogues compared to the unmodified references (Table 1). The presence of monomer X or monomer Y in a 2′‐O‐methyl‐RNA oligonucleotide had a negative effect on the binding affinity of the 2′‐O‐methyl‐RNA oligonucleotide towards DNA and RNA. Starting from the 3′‐C‐allyl derivative 28 , 3′‐C‐(3‐aminopropyl)‐protected nucleosides and 3′‐O‐phosphoramidite derivatives were synthesized, leading to novel oligonucleotide analogues containing 3′‐C‐(3‐aminopropyl)thymidine monomer Z or the corresponding 3′‐C‐(3‐aminopropyl)‐2′‐O,5‐dimethyluridine monomer W (Schemes 4 and 5). Incorporation of the 2′‐deoxy monomer Z induced no significant changes in the binding affinity towards DNA but decreased binding affinity towards RNA, while the 2′‐O‐methyl monomer Z induced decreased binding affinity towards DNA as well as RNA complements (Table 2).     

Synthesis and structural and DNA binding studies of mono‐ and dinuclear copper(II) complexes constructed with ─O and ─N donor ligands: Potential anti‐skin cancer drugs

Mononuclear and dinuclear copper(II) complexes with thiophenecarboxylic acid, [Cu(3‐TCA)₂(2,2′‐bpy)] ( 1 ), [Cu(3‐Me‐2‐TCA)₂(H₂O)(2,2′‐bpy)] ( 2 ), [Cu(5‐Me‐2‐TCA)₂(H₂O)(2,2′‐bpy)] ( 3 ) and [Cu₂(2,5‐TDCA)(DMF)₂(H₂O)₂(2,2′‐bpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 4 ) (where 3‐TCA = 3‐thiophenecarboxylic acid; 3‐Me‐2‐TCA = 3‐methyl‐2‐thiophenecarboxylic acid; 5‐Me‐2‐TCA = 5‐methyl‐2‐thiophenecarboxylic acid; 2,5‐TDCA = thiophene‐2,5‐dicarboxylic acid; 2,2′‐bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridyl; DMF = N,N‐dimethylformamide), were synthesized. Compounds 1 – 4 were extensively characterized using both analytical and spectroscopic methods. Additionally, the solid‐state structures of 1 and 4 were unambiguously established from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The hexacoordinated Cu(II) centre in 1 (CuO₄N₂) is a distorted octahedral geometry whereas the pentacoodinated 4 (CuO₃N₂) has distorted square pyramidal geometry. Compounds 1 and 4 exhibit intermolecular hydrogen bonding which leads to the formation of two‐ and three‐dimensional supramolecular architectures, respectively. Spectrophotometric and computational investigations suggest that these compounds bind with DNA in minor groove binding such that K_b = 4.9 × 10⁵ M^?1 and K_sv = 3.4 × 10⁵ M^?1, and binding score of ?5.26 kcal mol^?1. The binding affinity of these complexes to calf thymus DNA is in the order 2 > 3 > 4 > 1 . Methyl‐substituted thiophene ring increases the DNA binding affinity whereas unsubstituted thiophene ring DNA binding rate is reduced. The methyl group on the thiophene ring would sterically hinder π–π stacking of the ring with DNA base pairs, and subsequently they are involved in hydrophobic interaction with the DNA surface rather than partial intercalative interaction. Compounds 1 – 4 show pronounced activity against B16 mouse melanoma skin cancer cell lines as measured by MTT assay yielding IC₅₀ values in the micromolar concentration range. The compounds could prove to be efficient anti‐cancer agents, since at a concentration as low as 2.1 μg ml^?1 they exerted a significant cytotoxic effect in cancer cells whereas cell viability was not affected in normal cells.     

Quadruplex–Duplex Junction: A High-Affinity Binding Site for Indoloquinoline Ligands

A parallel quadruplex derived from the Myc promoter sequence was extended by a stem-loop duplex at either its 5′- or 3′-terminus to mimic a quadruplex–duplex (Q–D) junction as a potential genomic target. High-resolution structures of the hybrids demonstrate continuous stacking of the duplex on the quadruplex core without significant perturbations. An indoloquinoline ligand carrying an aminoalkyl side chain was shown to bind the Q–D hybrids with a very high affinity in the order K_a≈10⁷ m ⁻¹ irrespective of the duplex location at the quadruplex 3′- or 5′-end. NMR chemical shift perturbations identified the tetrad face of the Q–D junction as specific binding site for the ligand. However, calorimetric analyses revealed significant differences in the thermodynamic profiles upon binding to hybrids with either a duplex extension at the quadruplex 3′- or 5′-terminus. A large enthalpic gain and considerable hydrophobic effects are accompanied by the binding of one ligand to the 3′-Q–D junction, whereas non-hydrophobic entropic contributions favor binding with formation of a 2:1 ligand-quadruplex complex in case of the 5′-Q–D hybrid.     

Chemical and Structural Stability of Zirconium‐based Metal–Organic Frameworks with Large Three‐Dimensional Pores by Linker Engineering

The synthesis of metal–organic frameworks with large three‐dimensional channels that are permanently porous and chemically stable offers new opportunities in areas such as catalysis and separation. Two linkers (L1=4,4′,4′′,4′′′‐([1,1′‐biphenyl]‐3,3′,5,5′‐tetrayltetrakis(ethyne‐2,1‐diyl)) tetrabenzoic acid, L2=4,4′,4′′,4′′′‐(pyrene‐1,3,6,8‐tetrayltetrakis(ethyne‐2,1‐diyl))tetrabenzoic acid) were used that have equivalent connectivity and dimensions but quite distinct torsional flexibility. With these, a solid solution material, [Zr₆O₄(OH)₄(L1)_2.6(L2)_0.4]?(solvent)_x, was formed that has three‐dimensional crystalline permanent porosity with a surface area of over 4000 m² g^?1 that persists after immersion in water. These properties are not accessible for the isostructural phases made from the separate single linkers.