Organofluorosilanes as Model Compounds for 18F‐Labeled Silicon‐Based PET Tracers and their Hydrolytic Stability: Experimental Data and Theoretical Calculations (PET=Positron Emission Tomography)

Water stable! Radiochemists have recently discovered silicon chemistry as a tool for the introduction of ¹⁸F into biomolecules for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. ¹⁸F‐labeled PET tracers must be stable towards defluorination under physiological conditions. Here, a theoretical model of organofluorosilane hydrolysis is developed that correlates with the experimentally determined hydrolytic half‐lives and allows estimation of the stability of newly designed compounds (see scheme).

     

Radiofluorination of a Pre‐formed Gallium(III) Aza‐macrocyclic Complex: Towards Next‐Generation Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Agents

As part of a study to investigate the factors influencing the development of new, more effective metal‐complex‐based positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents, the distorted octahedral complex, [GaCl(L)]?2 H₂O has been prepared by reaction of 1‐benzyl‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane‐4,7‐dicarboxylic acid hydrochloride (H₂L?HCl) with Ga(NO₃)₃?9 H₂O, which is a convenient source of Ga^III for reactions in water. Spectroscopic and crystallographic data for [GaCl(L)]?2 H₂O are described, together with the crystal structure of [GaCl(L)]?MeCN. Fluorination of this complex by Cl^?/F^? exchange was achieved in high yield by treatment with KF in water at room temperature over 90 minutes, although the reaction was complete in approximately 30 minutes if heated to 80 °C, giving [GaF(L)]?2 H₂O in good yield. The same complex was obtained by hydrothermal synthesis from GaF₃?3 H₂O and Li₂L, and has been characterised by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹⁹F{¹H} NMR spectroscopy and ESI⁺ MS. Radiofluorination of the pre‐formed [GaCl(L)]?2 H₂O has been demonstrated on a 210 nanomolar scale in aqueous NaOAc at pH 4 by using carrier‐free ¹⁸F^?, leading to 60–70 % ¹⁸F‐incorporation after heating to 80 °C for 30 minutes. The resulting radioproduct was purified easily by using a solid‐phase extraction (SPE) cartridge, leading to 98–99 % radiochemical purity. The [Ga¹⁸F(L)] is stable for at least 90 minutes in 10 % EtOH/NaOAc solution at pH 6, but defluorinates over this time scale at pH of approximately 7.5 in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or human serum albumin (HSA). The subtle role of the Group 13 metal ion and co‐ligand donor set in influencing the pH dependence of this system is discussed in the context of developing potential new imaging agents for PET.     

Energy Transfer in Aminonaphthalimide‐Boron‐Dipyrromethene (BODIPY) Dyads upon One‐ and Two‐Photon Excitation: Applications for Cellular Imaging

Aminonaphthalimide–BODIPY energy transfer cassettes were found to show very fast (k_EET≈10¹⁰–10¹¹ s^?1) and efficient BODIPY fluorescence sensitization. This was observed upon one‐ and two‐photon excitation, which extends the application range of the investigated bichromophoric dyads in terms of accessible excitation wavelengths. In comparison with the direct excitation of the BODIPY chromophore, the two‐photon absorption cross‐section δ of the dyads is significantly incremented by the presence of the aminonaphthalimide donor [δ≈10 GM for the BODIPY versus 19–26 GM in the dyad at λ_exc=840 nm; 1 GM (Goeppert–Mayer unit)=10^?50 cm⁴ s molecule^?1 photon^?1]. The electronic decoupling of the donor and acceptor, which is a precondition for the energy transfer cassette concept, was demonstrated by time‐dependent density functional theory calculations. The applicability of the new probes in the one‐ and two‐photon excitation mode was demonstrated in a proof‐of‐principle approach in the fluorescence imaging of HeLa cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the merging of multiphoton excitation with the energy transfer cassette concept for a BODIPY‐containing dyad.     

A Practical One-Pot Synthesis of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracers via Nickel-Mediated Radiofluorination

Invited for this months cover picture is the group of Professor Bernd Neumaier at the Institute of Radiochemistry and Experimental Molecular Imaging at the University Clinic of Cologne. The cover picture shows the differences in brain metabolism of a healthy young and a healthy old subject, as well as a patient suffering from Parkinsons disease (left to right) uncovered by 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA-positron emission tomography (PET). Morbus Parkinson occurs when nerve cells that produce dopamine begin to die. The shortage of dopamine leads to movement problems in affected individuals. 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA is extensively used to evaluate the progression of Parkinsons disease. Bold stick projections of this PET tracer, as well as a neuronal network, are seen in the background. Unfortunately, conventional procedures to produce 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA are cumbersome. Thus, several recent developments aim at the simplification of this radiosynthesis. In our work, we studied the applicability of the recently reported Ni-mediated radiofluorination approach for daily routine production of 6-[¹⁸F]FDOPA. For more details, see the Full Paper on p. 457 ff.     

Boron‐Ketoiminate‐Based Polymers: Fine‐Tuning of the Emission Color and Expression of Strong Emission Both in the Solution and Film States

In this research, the synthesis of boron‐ketoiminate‐containing polymers is reported with large molecular weights ( = 20 000) and their optical properties are examined by UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence spectrometries. It is shown that the polymers exhibit strong emission both in the solution and solid states (Φ _PL,THF = 0.46–0.80, Φ _PL,film = 0.13–0.38). These optical properties can be explained by a donor–acceptor interaction between the boron ketoiminate and the electron‐donating comonomer such as fluorene or bithiophene. Furthermore, in the solid states, their emission colors can be successfully tuned from blue to orange by the substituents on the nitrogen atom with the difference of the steric hindrance (λ _PL,THF = 464–546 nm, λ _PL,film = 486–604 nm).

     

Air‐Stable Spirofluorene‐Containing Ladder‐Type Bis(alkynyl)borane Compounds with Readily Tunable Full Color Emission Properties

A series of air‐stable spiro‐fused ladder‐type boron(III) compounds has been designed, synthesized, and the electrochemistry and photophysical behavior have been characterized. By simply varying the substituents on the pyridine ring and extending the π‐conjugation of the spiro framework, the emission color of these compounds can be easily fine‐tuned spanning the visible spectrum from blue to red. All compounds exhibit a broad and structureless emission band across the entire visible region, assigned as an intramolecular charge‐transfer transition originating from the thiophene of the spiro framework to the pyridine‐borane moieties. In addition, these compounds demonstrate high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 0.81 in dichloromethane solution and 0.86 in doped thin films. Some of the compounds have also been employed as emissive materials, in which solution‐processed organic light‐emitting devices (OLEDs) with tunable emission colors spanning the visible spectrum from blue, green to red have been realized, demonstrating the potential applications of these boron compounds in OLEDs.     

Determination of Selenium with a Poly(1,8‐diamino‐naphthalene)‐Modified Electrode

The performance of a poly(1,8‐diaminonaphthalene)‐modified electrode for the determination of the Se(IV) ion in an aqueous medium was investigated with anodic stripping voltammetry without the pretreating of the sample. The experimental parameters for the analysis of Se(IV) were optimized and the characteristics of this polymer‐modified electrode were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry. The Se(IV) ions were chemically deposited onto the surface of the pDAN‐Au electrode in an acidic medium. The detection limit employing the anodic stripping differential pulse voltammetry was 9.0×10^?9 M for Se(IV) with 4.4 % of RSD. Satisfactory result for the determination of Se(IV) was acquired employing a certified standard urine reference material, SRM's 2670 (trace element in urine) with 4.1 ppb of SD.     

Mitochondria‐Targeted Cancer Therapy Using a Light‐Up Probe with Aggregation‐Induced‐Emission Characteristics

Subcellular organelle‐specific reagents for simultaneous tumor targeting, imaging, and treatment are of enormous interest in cancer therapy. Herein, we present a mitochondria‐targeting probe (AIE‐mito‐TPP) by conjugating a triphenylphosphine (TPP) with a fluorogen which can undergo aggregation‐induced emission (AIE). Owing to the more negative mitochondrial membrane potential of cancer cells than normal cells, the AIE‐mito‐TPP probe can selectively accumulate in cancer‐cell mitochondria and light up its fluorescence. More importantly, the probe exhibits selective cytotoxicity for studied cancer cells over normal cells. The high potency of AIE‐mito‐TPP correlates with its strong ability to aggregate in mitochondria, which can efficiently decrease the mitochondria membrane potential and increase the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells. The mitochondrial light‐up probe provides a unique strategy for potential image‐guided therapy of cancer cells.     

Boron‐Containing Protoporphyrin IX Derivatives and Their Modification for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: Synthesis,Characterization, and Comparative In Vitro Toxicity Evaluation

A novel series of boronated porphyrins for potential use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for tumor suppression is described. Protoporphyrin IX {i.e., bis(α‐methyl‐β‐pentylethylether)protoporphyrin IX, and bis(α‐methyl‐β‐dodecanylethylether)protoporphyrin IX} bearing polyhedral borane anions (B₁₂H₁₁SH^2?, B₁₂H₁₁NH₃^?, or B₁₂H₁₁OH^2?) were synthesized with reasonable yields. Modification of the protoporphyrin IX structure was achieved by variation of the lengths of the alkyl chains (pentyl and dodecanyl) attached through ether linkages to the former vinyl groups. The goal of this modification was to develop boronated porphyrins with chemical and physical properties that differed from those of protoporphyrin IX. Performance of an MTT assay with each derivative revealed that the synthesized boronated porphyrins showed low cytotoxicities in a variety of cancer cells. Of these compounds, B₁₂H₁₁NH₂^2?‐conjugated porphyrin induced a significant increase in the level of boron accumulation and PDT efficacy against HeLa cells.     

Metal Complexes of a Boron‐Dipyrromethene (BODIPY)‐Tagged N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) as Luminescent Carbon Monoxide Chemodosimeters

Several metal complexes with a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)‐functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand 4 were synthesized. The fluorescence in [( 4 )(SIMes)RuCl₂(ind)] complex is quenched (Φ=0.003), it is weak in [( 4 )PdI₂(Clpy)] (Φ=0.033), and strong in [( 4 )AuI] (Φ=0.70). The BODIPY‐tagged complexes can experience pronounced changes in the brightness of the fluorophore upon ligand‐exchange and ligand‐dissociation reactions. Complexes [( 4 )MX(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)] (M=Rh, Ir; X=Cl, I; Φ=0.008–0.016) are converted into strongly fluorescent complexes [( 4 )MX(CO)₂] (Φ=0.53–0.70) upon reaction with carbon monoxide. The unquenching of the Rh and Ir complexes appears to be a consequence of the decreased electron density at Rh or Ir in the carbonyl complexes. In contrast, the substitution of an iodo ligand in [( 4 )AuI] by an electron‐rich thiolate decreases the brightness of the BODIPY fluorophore, rendering the BODIPY as a highly sensitive probe for changes in the coordination sphere of the transition metal.     

Solvatochromism,Reversible Chromism and Self‐Assembly Effects of Heteroatom‐Assisted Aggregation‐Induced Enhanced Emission (AIEE) Compounds

Two compounds, 9,10‐bis[2‐(quinolyl)vinyl]anthracene (BQVA) and 9,10‐bis[2‐(naphthalen‐2‐yl)vinyl]anthracene (BNVA), have been synthesised and investigated. Both of them have aggregation‐induced enhanced emission (AIEE) properties. Heteroatom‐assisted BQVA shows solvatochromism, reversible chromism properties and self‐assembly effects. When increasing the solvent polarities, the green solution of BQVA turns to orange with a redshift of the fluorescence emission wavelengths from λ=527 to 565 nm. Notably, BQVA exhibits reversible chromism properties, including mechano‐ and thermochromism. The as‐prepared BQVA powders show green fluorescence (λ_em=525 nm) and the colour can turn into orange (λ_em=573 nm) after grinding. Interestingly, the orange colour can return at high temperature. Based on these reversible chromism properties, a simple and convenient erasable board has been designed. Different from BQVA, non‐heteroatom‐assisted BNVA has no clear chromic processes. The results obtained from XRD, differential scanning calorimetry, single‐crystal analysis and theoretical calculations indicate that the chromic processes depend on the heteroatoms in BQVA. Additionally, BQVA also exhibits excellent self‐assembly effects in different solvents. Homogeneous nanospheres are formed in mixtures of tetrahydrofuran and water, which are then doped into silica nanoparticles and treated with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane to give amino‐functionalised nanoparticles (BQVA?AFNPs). The BQVA?AFNPs could be used to stain protein markers in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Isolation of a Bis(oxazol‐2‐ylidene)–Phenylborylene Adduct and its Reactivity as a Boron‐Centered Nucleophile

An isolable phenylborylene species supported by two oxazol‐2‐ylidene ligands was synthesized and structurally characterized. Computational studies revealed the presence of lone‐pair electrons on the boron atom in this molecule; therefore, there are eight electrons around the three‐coordinate boron center. The nucleophilic property was confirmed by the reactions with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and [(thf)Cr(CO)₅], which gave the corresponding conjugate acid and a chromium–borylene complex, respectively.     

“Design” of Boron‐Based Compounds as Pro‐Nucleophiles and Co‐Catalysts for Indium(I)‐Catalyzed Allyl Transfer to Various Csp3‐Type Electrophiles

We have recently uncovered a general indium(I)‐catalyzed method for allylations and propargylation of acetals and ketals with a water‐ and air‐stable allyl boronate. By using a more reactive allyl borane, we have successfully extended this methodology to the more challenging C C coupling with ethers. Herein, we report an improved methodology for the indium(I)‐catalyzed allylation of acetals and ethers, through combination of the allyl boronate with a commercially available “hard” Lewis acid, B‐methoxy‐9‐BBN (BBN=borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane), as an effective co‐catalyst. Significantly, our work highlights for the first time the correlation between the Lewis acidity of “electrophilic” boron‐based compounds and their “nucleophilic” reactivity in Csp³–Csp³ couplings, catalyzed by a “soft” low‐oxidation main group metal. In addition, we also report several applications of these methodologies to the selective synthesis of various carbohydrate derivatives.     

Selective Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Ethanol on a Boron‐ and Nitrogen‐Co‐doped Nanodiamond

Electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to ethanol, a clean and renewable liquid fuel with high heating value, is an attractive strategy for global warming mitigation and resource utilization. However, converting CO₂ to ethanol remains great challenge due to the low activity, poor product selectivity and stability of electrocatalysts. Here, the B‐ and N‐co‐doped nanodiamond (BND) was reported as an efficient and stable electrode for selective reduction of CO₂ to ethanol. Good ethanol selectivity was achieved on the BND with high Faradaic efficiency of 93.2 % (−1.0 V vs. RHE), which overcame the limitation of low selectivity for multicarbon or high heating value fuels. Its superior performance was mainly originated from the synergistic effect of B and N co‐doping, high N content and overpotential for hydrogen evolution. The possible pathway for CO₂ reduction revealed by DFT computation was CO₂→*COOH→*CO→*COCO→*COCH₂OH→*CH₂OCH₂OH→CH₃CH₂OH.     

Panchromatic Light Capture and Efficient Excitation Transfer Leading to Near‐IR Emission of BODIPY Oligomers

All‐BODIPY‐based (BODIPY=boron‐dipyrromethene) donor–acceptor systems capable of wide‐band absorbance leading to efficient energy transfer in the near‐IR region are reported. A covalently linked 3‐pyrrolyl BODIPY–BODIPY dimer building block bearing an ethynyl group at the meso‐aryl position is synthesized and coupled with three different monomeric BODIPY/pyrrolyl BODIPY building blocks with a bromo/iodo group under Pd⁰ coupling conditions to obtain three covalently linked 3‐pyrrolyl‐BODIPY‐based donor–acceptor oligomers in 19–29 % yield. The oligomers are characterized in detail by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, and optical spectroscopy. Due to the presence of different functionalized BODIPY derivatives in the oligomers, panchromatic light capture (300–725 nm) is witnessed. Fluorescence studies reveal singlet–singlet energy transfer from BODIPY monomer to BODIPY dimer leading to emission in the 700–800 nm range. Theoretical modeling according to the Förster mechanism predicts ultrafast energy transfer due to good spectral overlap of the donor and acceptor entities. Femtosecond transient absorption studies confirm this to be the case and thus show the relevance of the currently developed all‐BODIPY‐based energy‐funneling supramolecular sytems with near‐IR emission to solar‐energy harvesting applications.