Selective separation of planar and non-planar hydrocarbons using an aqueous Pd6 interlocked cage

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) find multiple applications ranging from fabric dyes to optoelectronic materials. Hydrogenation of PAHs is often employed for their purification or derivatization. However, separation of PAHs from their hydrogenated analogues is challenging because of their similar physical properties. An example of such is the separation of 9,10-dihydroanthracene from phenanthrene/anthracene which requires fractional distillation at high temperature (∼340 °C) to obtain pure anthracene/phenanthrene in coal industry. Herein we demonstrate a new approach for this separation at room temperature using a water-soluble interlocked cage (1) as extracting agent by host–guest chemistry. The cage was obtained by self-assembly of a triimidazole donor L·HNO₃ with cis-[(tmeda)Pd(NO₃)₂] (M) [tmeda = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine]. 1 has a triply interlocked structure with an inner cavity capable of selectively binding planar aromatic guests.

We report here a triply interlocked cage with the ability to encapsulate planar guests in aqueous medium. This property was then employed to efficiently separate planar and non-planar aromatic hydrocarbons by aqueous extraction.     

Classification of coordination polygons and polyhedra according to their mode of self-assembly

This work extends techniques for the controlled formation of synthetic molecular containers by metal-mediated self-assembly. A new classification system based on the self-assembly of such species is proposed. The system: 1) allows a systematic identification of suitable acceptor-donor combinations, 2) widens the variety of design possibilities available, 3) allows a ready comparison of the self-assembly of different compounds, 4) reveals useful commonalities between different compounds, 5) aids in the development of novel architectures, and 6) permits identification of systems capable of being switched back-and-forth between architectures.     

Solvent-dependent fac/mer-isomerization and self-assembly of triply helical complexes bearing a pivot part

Tris–chelate metal complexes of unsymmetrical bidentate ligands can form two geometric stereoisomers, facial (fac) and meridional (mer) isomers. Due to the small difference in their properties, the highly-selective synthesis of one of the isomers is challenging. We now designed a series of tripodal ligands with a tris(3-(2-(methyleneoxy)ethoxy)phenyl)methane pivot. Surprisingly, the ratio of the fac/mer isomers of the triply helical Fe^II complexes significantly changed depending on the solvents. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of fac/mer isomerism of a labile tris(2,2′-bipyridine) Fe^II complex governed by the solvent. Furthermore, well-defined self-assemblies were quantitatively produced by imine bond formation with a suitable diamine. The supramolecular assemblies contained only the fac isomer even though a mixture of the two isomers existed in solution before the condensation reaction. Namely, the self-assembly formation effectively adjusted the geometries of the building unit that results in the suitable supramolecular structure.

The novel tripodal complexes isomerize in response to environmental change, and well-defined self-assemblies were quantitatively produced by imine bond formation.     

Guest encapsulation and self-assembly of a cavitand-based coordination capsule

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a cavitand-based coordination capsule 14 BF4 of nanometer dimensions is described. Encapsulation studies of large aromatic guests as well as aliphatic guests were performed by using 1H NMR spectroscopy in [D1]chloroform. In addition to the computational analysis of the shape and geometry of the capsule, an experimental approach to estimate the interior size of the cavity is discussed. The cavity provides a highly rigid binding space in which molecules with lengths of approximately 14 A can be selectively accommodated. The rigid cavity distinguished slight structural differences in the flexible alkyl-chain guests as well as the rigid aromatic guests. The detailed thermodynamic studies revealed that not only CH-pi interactions between the methyl groups on the guest termini and the aromatic cavity walls, but also desolvation of the inner cavity play a key role in the guest encapsulation. The cavity preferentially selected the hydrogen-bonded heterodimers of a mixture of two or three carboxylic acids 18-20. The chiral capsule encapsulated a chiral guest to show diastereoselection.     

Coordination-driven self-assembly of supramolecular cages: heteroatom-containing and complementary trigonal prisms

The self-assembly of three nanoscopic prisms of approximate size 1 x 4 nm is reported. Tetrahedral carbon, silicon, and phosphorus were used as structure-defining elements in these coordination-based cages. A carbon-based assembly completes a pair of nanoscopic complementary 3-D structures. The formation of the structures is supported by multinuclear NMR, ESI FT-ICR mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis data.     

Pillar height dependent formation of unprecedented Pd8 molecular swing and Pd6 molecular boat via multicomponent self-assembly

Three-component self-assembly of a cis-blocked 90° Pd(II) acceptor with a mixture of a tetraimidazole and a linear dipyridyl donor self-discriminated into unusual Pd(8) molecular swing (1) and Pd(6) molecular boat (2), which are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis; their ability to bind C(60) in solution is established by fluorescence titration.     

Synthesis and stability of a homologous series of triynol natural products and their analogues

A series of polyyne natural products 1, 13, and 31 and analogues 14, 21, and 22 are synthesized in six steps. The key step is a Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell rearrangement in which a triyne framework is formed from the appropriate dibromoolefin precursor. Terminal conjugated triynes 13 and 14 are obtained as highly unstable products that rapidly decompose under ambient conditions. The stability of triynols increases via either the addition of methylene units (i.e., 6 --> 31 --> 1) or addition of terminal substituents (i.e., 13 --> 21 or 31).     

A series of trifacial Pd6 molecular barrels with porphyrin walls

Three new nanoscopic trigonal prisms, [(tmen)(6) Pd(6) (H(2)L)(3)](NO(3))(12) (1), [(Meen)(6) Pd(6)(H(2) L)(3)](NO(3))(12) (2), and [(2,2'-bipy)(6)Pd(6) (H(2)L)(3)](NO(3))(12) (3), have been synthesized in excellent yields through single-step metal-ligand-coordination-driven self-assembly using 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3-pyridyl)porphyrin (H(2)L) as a donor and cis-blocked Pd(II) 90° acceptors. These complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic studies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All of these barrels quantitatively bind Zn(II) ions in the N(4) pockets of the porphyrin walls at room temperature. Their corresponding zinc-embedded complexes, [(tmen)(6)Pd(6)(ZnL)(3)](NO(3))(12) (1?a), [(Meen)(6) Pd(6)(ZnL)(3)](NO(3))(12) (2?a), and [(2,2'-bipy)(6)Pd(6)(ZnL)(3)](NO(3))(12) (3?a), were synthesized under ambient conditions by the post-synthetic binding of Zn(II) ions into the H(2)N(4) pockets of the porphyrin walls of these complexes. These zinc-embedded complexes were characterized by electronic absorption, fluorescence emission, (1)H?NMR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analysis. Complexes 1-3 exhibited considerable microporosity in their solid state. Complex 1 was an efficient adsorbent for nitrogen gas and EtOH, MeOH, and water vapors.     

Conformational properties, chiroptical spectra, and molecular self-assembly of 2,3-piperazinodiones and their dithiono analogues

A family of chiral cyclic oxamides was prepared by the condensation of optically active 1,2-diamines with diethyl oxalate. Thionation of the products with Lawesson's reagent afforded a series of chiral 2,3-piperazinedithiones. Molecular geometries of the title compounds were studied with the use of quantum mechanical DFT calculations and were compared to the X-ray crystallographic results. The heterocyclic six-membered ring adopted a half-chair conformation with the C-5 substituent preferably at the equatorial position, whereas a substitution at the nitrogen atoms resulted in domination of the axial form in the conformational equilibrium. The opposite helicity of the twisted oxamide chromophore in the axial and equatorial conformers led to the opposite signs of the Cotton effects corresponding to two pi-pi* electronic transitions. The CD signs can be predicted by a simple helicity rule. The same rule is valid for 2,3-piperazinodithiones, where a substitution of sulfur for oxygen in the carbonyl groups results in bathochromic shifts of the absorption and CD bands. The crystal packing analysis of several 2,3-piperazinodiones revealed that strong NH...O=C intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions generating the chain motif resulted in the formation of 3-D networks as well as with the use of the cyclic hydrogen-bond motif tape structures.     

What is the role of acid–acid interactions in asymmetric phosphoric acid organocatalysis? A detailed mechanistic study using interlocked and non-interlocked catalysts

Organocatalysis has revolutionized asymmetric synthesis. However, the supramolecular interactions of organocatalysts in solution are often neglected, although the formation of catalyst aggregates can have a strong impact on the catalytic reaction. For phosphoric acid based organocatalysts, we have now established that catalyst–catalyst interactions can be suppressed by using macrocyclic catalysts, which react predominantly in a monomeric fashion, while they can be favored by integration into a bifunctional catenane, which reacts mainly as phosphoric acid dimers. For acyclic phosphoric acids, we found a strongly concentration dependent behavior, involving both monomeric and dimeric catalytic pathways. Based on a detailed experimental analysis, DFT-calculations and direct NMR-based observation of the catalyst aggregates, we could demonstrate that intermolecular acid–acid interactions have a drastic influence on the reaction rate and stereoselectivity of asymmetric transfer-hydrogenation catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acids.

Supramolecular acid–acid interactions lead to competing monomeric and dimeric pathways in phosphoric acid catalysis – so that stereoselectivities depend on catalyst concentration.     

Three-component synthesis of 5:6 and 6:6 fused pyrimidines using KF-alumina as a catalyst

A series of fused pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized by the three-component reaction of an aryl aldehyde, urea, or guanidine in ethyl alcohol/dioxane in presence of 1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2(3H)-one 1, 1-methylpiperidin-2-one 2, 1-methylindolin-2-one 3, or 1,3-dimethyl-dihydropyrimidine-2,4-dione 9 at 80 °C catalyzed by KF-Al₂O₃. For example, when 1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2(3H)-one 1, arylaldehyde 4, and urea 5 were treated with KF-Al₂O₃ in ethyl alcohol at 80 °C for 3-5 h, we obtained pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives in good yield.     

Spectral and self-assembly properties of a series of asymmetrical pyrene derivatives

A series of pyrene derivatives with different asymmetrical substituents were successfully synthesized and characterized. The geometrical electronic structures of the asymmetrical pyrene derivatives were performed by density functional theory （DFT） calculations. The results of photophysical spectra and electrochemical analysis indicated that the optical or electric properties of the pyrene derivatives could be tuned by adjust the π-conjugation lengths of the substituents. Furthermore, through a phase exchange self-assembly method, the highly organized morphologies were observed by SEM.     

Preparation of 15-membered unsaturated N-H containing azamacrocycles and their differential coordination with Pd(0) and Pd(II)

The use of 2-(trimethylsilylethyl)sulfonamide (SES-NH₂) has permitted the selective and efficient synthesis of new triolefinic 15-membered azamacrocycles 3. Differential coordination mode with palladium has been observed when macrocycle 3aab [(E,E,E)-1,6-bis(p-tolylsulfonyl)-1,6,11-triazacyclopentadeca-3,8,13-triene] was treated with a palladium(0) or a palladium(II) source.     

Ring-opening polymerization of gold macrocycles and self-assembly of a coordination polymer through hydrogen-bonding

The equilibrium between digold and tetragold rings and a ring-opened oligomer and polymer is established by NMR and ESI-MS studies in solution and by structure determinations in the solid state; the polymer containing amide-derivatized ligands undergoes self-assembly through hydrogen bonding to give an ordered network.     

Toward a novel series of furanopyrimidine nucleoside analogues

Based on an unusual furanose ring opening of 1,2-O-isopropylidene pentofuranoside derivatives, a preparation scheme of a new series of furanopyrimidine nucleoside analogues has been devised.     

Water-assisted self-assembly of harmonic single and triple helices in a polymeric coordination complex

A novel two-dimensional coordination polymer containing infinite, coherently pitched single and triple helical motifs is formed by the self-assembly of Cd2+, succinate, water and a bipyridyl ligand.