Supramolecular assemblies of tripodal porphyrin hosts and C60

The self-assembly of two tripodal porphyrin hosts in the presence of C(60), in the solid state, has been studied using synchrotron X-ray crystallography, and in solution by using (1)H NMR and fluorescence spectroscopies. The binding affinities, stoichiometries and geometries strongly depend on the size of the porphyrin host. Intramolecular and/or intermolecular porphyrin-fullerene interactions are observed in the co-crystallites and in each case, the trimer exhibits a "tweezers-like" structural motif. The solid-state structures of the trimer-fullerene co-crystallites reveal close fullerene-porphyrin and fullerene-fullerene contacts.     

Supramolecular helical porphyrin arrays using DNA as a scaffold

A diphenyl porphyrin substituted nucleotide was incorporated site specifically into DNA, leading to helical stacked porphyrin arrays in the major groove of the duplexes. The porphyrins show an electronic interaction which is significantly enhanced compared to the analogous tetraphenyl porphyrin (TPP) as shown in the large exciton coupling of the porphyrin B-band absorbance. Analogous to the TPP-DNA, an induced helical secondary structure is observed in the single strand porphyrin-DNA. The modified DNA can be hybridised to an immobilised complementary strand leading to fluorescent beads.     

Supramolecular porphyrin assemblies through amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges and fast intra-ensemble excited energy transfer

Well‐defined supramolecular assemblies of Zn and free‐base porphyrins are constructed through the formation of amidinium–carboxylate salt bridges. A one‐to‐one donor–acceptor pair and a four‐to‐one antenna‐type assembly are investigated. The steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence measurements unequivocally showed that efficient singlet–singlet excited energy transfer from the Zn–porphyrin complex to the free‐base porphyrin takes place in these assemblies. Indeed, the observed energy‐transfer rates in both types of assemblies are much faster than those the Förster mechanism would suggest, implying the involvement of an intermolecular through‐bond mechanism.     

Supramolecular aggregates between carboxylate anions and an octaaza macrocyclic receptor

The 28-membered octaazamacrocycle Me2[28]py2N6 was used as a receptor for the molecular recognition of aromatic and aliphatic carboxylate substrates. The receptor-substrate binding behaviour of (H6Me2[28]py2N6)6+ with an aliphatic (-O2C(CH2)nCO2-, n=0 to 4) and an aromatic (phthalate, isophthalate, terephthalate, 4,4'-dibenzoate, benzoate, 3- and 4-nitrobenzoate) series of carboxylate anions was evaluated by 1H NMR spectroscopy (carried out in DMSO-d6 at 300 K). Two association constants were found for most of the studied cases, except for 3- and 4-nitrobenzoate for which only K1 was determined. For oxalate, malonate, benzoate and dibenzoate anions only the beta2 constants could be obtained. The values of the first association constant cover a range from 2.86 to 3.69 (log units), and the second stepwise constant from 2.15 to 2.89 (also in log units). No special selectivity was found but the highest values were determined for adipate and the lowest for the monoprotic 3- and 4-nitrobenzoates. Single crystal X-ray structures of H6Me2[28]py2N6 6+ with terephthalate, 1, and 4,4'-dibenzoate (2) were determined showing supramolecular entities with general formula (H6Me2[28]py2N6).(substrate)2(PF6)2.4H2O. These anions are the building blocks of an extensive 3-D network of hydrogen bonds.     

Chirality amplification of porphyrin assemblies exclusively constructed from achiral porphyrin derivatives.

Two achiral porphyrin derivatives, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-methoxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (TPPOMe) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (TPPOH), were spread onto an air/water interface. The spreading films were transferred onto solid substrates by the Langmuir-Schaefer (LS) method. Although both of the porphyrin derivatives are achiral species, the transferred LS multilayer films shows macroscopic supramolecular chirality, which is suggested to be due to the spontaneous symmetry breaking that occurs at the air/water interface. A strong CD signal is observed from the as-deposited TPPOH LS film, while a relatively weak CD signal is detected from that of TPPOMe. Interestingly, when the TPPOMe LS film was annealed in high vacuum, a significant amplification of the supramolecular chirality is observed. Atomic force microscopy observations confirm that TPPOMe form more ordered aggregates upon annealing. It is suggested that the small amount of chiral assemblies formed in the as-deposited LS film grow into larger ones following the "sergeants and soldiers" principle during the annealing process.     

Polymeric porphyrin and metalloporphyrin assemblies in bulk solution

Some water-soluble porphyrins aggregate in aqueous media to form fibrous assemblies. When polynucleotides are used as matrices, porphyrin monomers are aligned at the periphery or intercalated. Porphyrin-porphyrin interactions hardly occur. Metal-metal or metal-ligand-metal interactions have been observed in oxo-oligomers, pyrazine-bridged dimers and radical dimers. β-Substituted metallo-porphyrins, however, form no polymers. The only linear polymerization, which has so far been observed in molecular asemblies, occurs with amphiphilic porphyrin amides, amines and carboxylates and their metal complexes in water and of bacteriochlorophyll in DMF/water. These compounds form long-lived high molecular weight micellar, inverse micellar and vesicular fibers spontaneously in aqueous media. The porphyrin fibers in water are about 4-6 nm thick and up to several of μm long.     

Supramolecular structures and properties models of macrocyclic polymer complexes

Two novel supramolecular complexes of types [Ru(L)(H₂L)Cl·OH₂] and [Ru(HL_n)Cl₃] (where H₂L is a potential tetradentate ligand derived from hydrazine hydrate and diethyl malonate, and HL_n is a potential bidentate ligand derived from coupling of allyl azo‐β‐diketone) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductance and magnetic measurements, followed by ¹H NMR, to determine the effect of substituents on the intramolecular hydrogen bond. The electronic properties and models of the bonding of ligands and complexes were investigated by UV–Vis and IR spectroscopies. The first type of complex contains terminal hydrazinic nitrogen atoms with an unshared electron pair and may take part in nucleophilic condensations. Therefore, the reactions of allyl‐β‐diketone complexes with malonic dihydrazide have also been studied, as these cause ring closure and formation of supramolecular macrocyclic ligand complexes. The wavelengths of the principal electronic absorption peaks have been accounted for quantitatively in terms of crystal field theory, and various parameters have been evaluated. On the basis of the electronic spectra, an octahedral geometry has been established for the polymer complexes C. The macrocyclic polymer complexes D are pentacoordinate, and a trigonal‐bipyramidal environment (D_3h) is suggested for the ruthenium(III) ion. The effect of the Hammett constant on the ligand field parameters is also discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Supramolecular strategies to construct biocompatible and photoswitchable fluorescent assemblies

We designed and synthesized an amphiphilic copolymer with pendant hydrophobic decyl and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) chains along a common poly(methacrylate) backbone. This macromolecular construct captures hydrophobic boron dipyrromethene fluorophores and hydrophobic spiropyran photochromes and transfers mixtures of both components in aqueous environments. Within the resulting hydrophilic supramolecular assemblies, the spiropyran components retain their photochemical properties and switch reversibly to the corresponding merocyanine isomers upon ultraviolet illumination. Their photoinduced transformations activate intermolecular electron and energy transfer pathways, which culminate in the quenching of the boron dipyrromethene fluorescence. As a result, the emission intensity of these supramolecular constructs can be modulated in aqueous environments under optical control. Furthermore, the macromolecular envelope around the fluorescent and photochromic components can cross the membrane of Chinese hamster ovarian cells and transport its cargo unaffected into the cytosol. Indeed, the fluorescence of these supramolecular constructs can be modulated also intracellularly by operating the photochromic component with optical inputs. In addition, cytotoxicity tests demonstrate that these supramolecular assemblies and the illumination conditions required for their operation have essentially no influence on cell viability. Thus, supramolecular events can be invoked to construct fluorescent and photoswitchable systems from separate components, while imposing aqueous solubility and biocompatibility on the resulting assemblies. In principle, this simple protocol can evolve into a general strategy to deliver and operate intracellularly functional molecular components under optical control.     

Synthesis and characterization of coronanes: multicyclopropane-fused macrocyclic arrays

Stepwise macrocyclization of the all syn-trans-1,15-quinquecyclopropanedimethanol (4) with iso- and terephthaloyl chlorides and 4,4'-methanediyl-dibenzoic acid (28) gave the corresponding coronanes 22, 23, and 32. The same protocol was used with all syn-trans-1,21-septecyclopropanedimethanol (5) and 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid to obtain the macrolide 27. Direct macrocyclization of diol 4 and 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarbonyl chloride (33) and 2,2'-bipyridine-4,4'-dicarbonyl chloride (35) gave the coronanes 34 and 36, respectively. Ring closing metathesis (RCM) of the diene 42 using Cl2(Cy3P)2Ru=CHPh (48) (Grubbs's catalyst) gave the macrocyclic lactone 45. The structures of coronanes 22, 23, 32, 34, 36, and 45 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies which showed the cyclopropyl chain to adopt very differing conformations throughout the series. Several of the macrocycles have significant free pathways through their ring centers, and in the case of compound 34 there is a water molecule hydrogen bonded within the ring. This latter compound has the potential to act as a chiral ligand to metal centers.     

Supramolecular assemblies of organogelators featuring benzimidazole and long-chain pyridine dicarboxyamide

Two organogelators, CO-01 and CO-03 , featuring benzimidazole and long-chain pyridine carboxyamide groups were prepared and their physical properties were fully explored. CO-01 and CO-03 are capable of transforming various organic solvents to organogels. The morphologic investigations of these organogels have shown that the supramolecular assemblies, in the forms of fibers and spheres, are readily generated from the aggregates of CO-01 and CO-03 . The sol–gel interconversion can be readily achieved by tuning the gelator concentration and temperature. By manipulating the redox state of anthraquinone group in CO-03 , the gel–sol transition for the organogels of CO-03 can be reversibly tuned by either chemical or electrochemical oxidation/reduction reactions. The presence of polarized imidazole and amide N–H groups allows anion-induced gel collapse. The accompanying colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent responses of gels CO-01 and CO-03 to F⁻ and CN⁻ render these organogelators being sensitive and selective anion probes.     

POCl3-mediated H-bonding-directed one-pot synthesis of macrocyclic pentamers, strained hexamers and highly strained heptamers

Previously we have shown that POCl3-mediated H-bonding-directed one-pot macrocyclization allows for the highly selective preparation of five-residue macrocycles as the predominant product with low yields of hexamers and an undetectable occurrence of both tetramers and heptamers.Replacing the interiorly arrayed methyl groups with ethyl groups in these 4-7 residue macrocycles alters the relative stability order among them.Specifically,ethoxy-substituted six-residue macrocycle,rather than pentamer,turns out to be computationally the most stable,suggesting that ethoxy-containing hexamer possibly can be formed as the major product under suitable conditions.We have investigated this possibility by varying reaction temperatures and concentrations,invariably affording pentamer as the major macrocycle with strained circular hexamers and highly strained circular heptamers produced in substantial amounts.This discrepancy can be reasonably explained on the basis of bimolecular reactions between two oligomers higher than monomers via kinetic simulations.In this scenario,the acyclic pentamer is kinetically "trapped" to undergo an intramolecular cyclization to yield circular pentamer,rather than to produce acyclic hexamer.As a result,acyclic hexamer precursor is generated largely from sterically demanding bimolecular reactions between a dimer and a tetramer,or between two trimers that are kinetically slower than the pentamer-producing chain-growth reactions.We additionally found that one-pot macrocyclization proceeds to the largest extent at 40 ℃,an intriguing finding that highlights the low reactivities of acid chloride and amine groups in these H-bond-enforced acyclic oligomeric intermediates.     

Relationship between two-photon absorption and the pi-conjugation pathway in porphyrin arrays through dihedral angle control

Recently, covalently linked or self-assembled porphyrin array systems have attracted much attention for their enhanced two-photon absorption (TPA) behaviors. In this study, we have investigated the TPA properties of various dihedral angle controlled, directly linked porphyrin dimers and arrays to elucidate the relationship between the pi-conjugation pathway and TPA properties. We have demonstrated a strong correlation between pi-conjugation (aromaticity) and TPA properties in porphyrin assemblies.     

Synthesis and ligand binding properties of triptycene-linked porphyrin arrays

Multiporphyrin arrays are a complex class of molecules with numerous potential applications in energy transfer, photomedicine, and light harvesting. We have developed a facile/versatile route to a class of triptycene-linked porphyrin arrays via both Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling methods, which makes use of the rigid three-pronged orientation of triptycene to construct trimeric porphyrin arrays linked either in the meso or β-position with various linker groups. In order to understand the properties of these potential antenna systems and probe their potential applications, the coordination behavior of zinc(II) derivatives with mono- and bidentate N-donor ligands was investigated. Depending on ligand concentration, both one- and two-point binding was observed with a bidentate ligand. Also/in addition, different cavity sizes, obtained by the use of different linker groups, resulted in differences in the binding properties of each trimeric system.     

Porphyrin-DNA conjugates: porphyrin induced adenine-guanine homoduplex stabilization and interduplex assemblies

DNA has found widespread uses as a nanosized scaffold for assembly of patterned multichomophoric nanostructures. Herein we report the synthesis, self-assembly, stability, and spectroscopic studies of short alternating non-self-complementary DNA sequences 5'-(dGdA)(4) and 5'-(dAdG)(4) with non-charged tetraarylporphyrins covalently linked to the 5' position of deoxyadenosine or deoxyguanosine via a phosphate or amide linker. The linker, the metal in the porphyrin coordination center, and the neighboring nucleobase have very distinct effects on the duplex formation of porphyrin-deoxyguanosine-deoxyadenosine oligodeoxynucleotides. At ionic strength between 5 mM and 40 mM, free base trispyridylphenylporphyrin appended to the 5' termini of 5'-(dAdG)(4) oligonucleotide via short non-polar amide linker served as a hydrophobic molecular cap inducing deoxyadenosine-deoxyguanosine antiparallel homoduplex. At ionic strength of ≥60 mM, the free base porphyrin functioned as a molecular 'glue' and induced the formation of porphyrin-DNA inter-homoduplex assemblies with characteristic tetrasignate CD Cotton effects in the porphyrin Soret band region. When the porphyrin cap was covalently attached to 5' position of deoxyguanosine or deoxyadenosine via charged phosphate linker, no significant deoxyadenosine-deoxyguanosine hybridization was observed even at elevated ionic strengths.     

Supramolecular fullerene-porphyrin chemistry. Fullerene complexation by metalated "jaws porphyrin" hosts

Porphyrins and fullerenes are spontaneously attracted to each other. This new supramolecular recognition element is explored in discrete, soluble, coordinatively linked porphyrin and metalloporphyrin dimers. Jawlike clefts in these bis-porphyrins are effective hosts for fullerene guests. X-ray structures of the Cu complex with C60 and free-base complexes with C70 and a pyrrolidine-derivatized C60 have been obtained. The electron-rich 6:6 ring-juncture bonds of C60 show unusually close approach to the porphyrin or metalloporphyrin plane. Binding constants in toluene solution increase in the order Fe(II) < Pd(II) < Zn(II) < Mn(II) < Co(II) < Cu(II) < 2H and span the range 490-5200 M-1. Unexpectedly, the free-base porphyrin binds C60 more strongly than the metalated porphyrins. This is ascribed to electrostatic forces, enhancing the largely van der Waals forces of the pi-pi interaction. The ordering with metals is ascribed to a subtle interplay of solvation and weak interaction forces. Conflicting opinions on the relative importance of van der Waals forces, charge transfer, electrostatic attraction, and coordinate bonding are addressed. The supramolecular design principles arising from these studies have potential applications in the preparation of photophysical devices, molecular magnets, molecular conductors, and porous metal-organic frameworks.     

Supramolecular chirality control by solvent changes. Solvodichroic effect on chiral porphyrin aggregation

The mode of aggregation of amphiphilised porphyrin derivatives bearing a chiral functionality is strongly affected by solvent composition; this results in the tuning of the supramolecular chirality of the porphyrin aggregates.     

Multi-electron transfer reactions and exciton interactions in fibrous porphyrin and metalloporphyrin assemblies

Non-covalent porphyrin and metalloporphyrin fibers of bimolecular thinness in bulk aqueous media are compared with the well-known H- and J-aggregates of cyanines. The J-aggregates of cyanines fluoresce and are useful as photographic sensitizers. The J-aggregates of porphyrins show light-induced charge separation and the corresponding metal complexes produce stable radical dimers. The distance between the metalloporphyrin centers is calculated from circular dichroism spectra to be 8 Å in the J-aggregates and about 4 Å in the H-aggregates. Multi-electron reactions of the fibers in the ground and excited states can therefore occur in the fibrous porphyrin assemblies. In amphiphilic tetraphenylporphyrins (“octopus porphyrin”), on the other hand, the porphyrin–porphyrin distance is much larger and the fiber dissolves electron-accepting compounds, e.g. quinones, which also allow for multiple charge separation within such a fiber.