Mechanism of helix induction on a stereoregular Poly((4-carboxyphenyl)acetylene) with chiral amines and memory of the macromolecular helicity assisted by interaction with achiral amines

Cis-transoidal poly((4-carboxyphenyl)acetylene) (poly-1) is an optically inactive polymer but forms an induced one-handed helical structure upon complexation with optically active amines such as (R)-(1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl)amine ((R)-2) in DMSO. The complexes show a characteristic induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV-visible region of the polymer backbone. Moreover, the macromolecular helicity of poly-1 induced by (R)-2 can be "memorized" even after complete replacement of (R)-2 by various achiral amines. We now report fully detailed studies on the mechanism of the helicity induction and memory of the helical chirality of poly-1 by means of UV-visible, CD, and infrared spectroscopies. We have found that a one-handed helix is cooperatively induced on poly-1 upon the ion pair formation of the carboxy groups of poly-1 with optically active amines and that the bulkiness of the chiral amines plays a crucial role for inducing an excess of a single-handed helix. On the other hand, the free ion formation was found to be essential for the macromolecular helicity memory of poly-1 after the replacement of the chiral amine by achiral amines, since the intramolecular electrostatic repulsion between the neighboring carboxylate ions of poly-1 significantly contributes to reduce the atropisomerization process of poly-1. On the basis of the mechanism of helicity induction and the memory of the helical chirality drawn from the present studies, we succeeded in creating an almost perfect memory of the induced macromolecular helicity of poly-1 with (R)-2 by using 2-aminoethanol as an achiral chaperoning molecule to assist in maintaining the memory of helical chirality.     

Helicity Induction and Memory of the Macromolecular Helicity in a Polyacetylene Bearing a Biphenyl Pendant

A novel, cis‐transoidal poly‐(phenylacetylene) bearing a carboxybiphenyl group as the pendant (poly‐ 1 ) was prepared by polymerization of (4′‐ethoxycarbonyl‐4‐biphenylyl)acetylene with a rhodium catalyst followed by hydrolysis of the ester groups. Upon complexation with various chiral amines and amino alcohols in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the polymer exhibited characteristic induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV/Vis region due to the predominantly one‐handed helix formation of the polymer backbone as well as an excess of a single‐handed, axially twisted conformation of the pendant biphenyl group. Poly‐ 1 complexed with (R)‐2‐amino‐1‐propanol showed unique time‐dependent inversion of the macromolecular helicity. Furthermore, the preferred‐handed helical conformation of poly‐ 1 induced by a chiral amine was further “memorized” after the chiral amine was replaced with achiral 2‐aminoethanol or n‐butylamine in DMSO. In sharp contrast to the previously reported memory in poly((4‐carboxyphenyl)acetylene), the present helicity memory of poly‐ 1 was accompanied by memory of the twisted biphenyl chirality in the pendants. Unprecedentedly, the helicity memory of poly‐ 1 with achiral 2‐aminoethanol was found to occur simultaneously with inversion of the axial chirality of the biphenyl groups followed by memory of the inverted biphenyl chirality, thus showing a significant change in the CD spectral pattern.     

Switching of macromolecular helicity of optically active poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing cyclodextrin pendants induced by various external stimuli

A series of novel phenylacetylenes bearing optically active cyclodextrin (CyD) residues such as alpha-, beta-, and gamma-CyD and permethylated beta-CyD residues as the pendant groups was synthesized and polymerized with a rhodium catalyst to give highly cis-transoidal poly(phenylacetylene)s, poly-1alpha, poly-2beta, poly-3gamma, and poly-2beta-Me, respectively. The polymers exhibited an induced circular dichroism (CD) in the UV-visible region of the polymer backbones, resulting from the prevailing one-handed helical conformations. The Cotton effect signs were inverted in response to external chiral and achiral stimuli, such as temperature, solvent, and interactions with chiral or achiral guest molecules. The inversion of the Cotton effect signs was accompanied by a color change due to a conformational change, such as inversion of the helicity of the polymer backbones with a different twist angle of the conjugated double bonds, that was readily visible with the naked eye and could be quantified by absorption and CD spectroscopies. The dynamic helical conformations of poly-2beta showing opposite Cotton effect signs in different solvents could be further fixed by intramolecular cross-linking between the hydroxy groups of the neighboring beta-CyD units in each solvent. The cross-link between the pendant CyD units suppressed the inversion of the helicity; therefore, the cross-linked poly-2betas showed no Cotton effect inversion, although the polymer backbones were still flexible enough to alter their helical pitch with the same handedness, resulting in a color change depending on the degree of intramolecular cross-linking.     

Layer-by-layer assembly of charged poly(phenylacetylene)s with induced macromolecular helicity

The macromolecular helicity of charged poly(phenylacetylene)s induced by small chiral guests in water can be retained by the alternative deposition of achiral polyelectrolytes with opposite charges, resulting in optically active multilayer thin films with a macromolecular helicity memory.     

Nonracemic dopant-mediated hierarchical amplification of macromolecular helicity in a charged polyacetylene leading to a cholesteric liquid crystal in water

Here we show the first example of a helical polyacetylene that forms a lyotropic liquid crystal (LC) through a hierarchical amplification of a macromolecular helicity process in water. The macromolecular helicity with an excess of one helical sense was first induced in the positively charged polyacetylene upon complexation with an extremely small oppositely charged nonracemic dopant through electrostatic interaction in water. Subsequently, the helicity was significantly amplified in the polymer backbone as an almost perfect single-handed helix through self-assembly into supramolecular helical arrays in a lyotropic cholesteric state. The present results will allow the detection of a tiny imbalance in chiral molecules and also provide new approaches for the design of novel water-soluble helical architectures and the construction of new chiral materials in areas such as biotechnology and materials science.     

Role reversal in a supramolecular assembly: a chiral cyanine dye controls the helicity of a peptide-nucleic acid duplex

A new dicarbocyanine dye bearing branched, chiral N-alkyl substituents was synthesized and its ability to form helical aggregates on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) double-helical templates was studied. The dye aggregates less effectively than an analogous dye bearing linear, achiral substituents, presumably due to steric problems with packing the branched substituents compared with the linear substituents. When the PNA duplex has a left-handed helicity, addition of the achiral dye leads to formation of a left-handed dye aggregate. However, when the chiral dye aggregates in the presence of this duplex, a right-handed structure is formed, suggesting that the dye alters the helicity of the underlying template. When a racemic PNA duplex (i.e., equal amounts of right- and left-handed helices) is used, no chirality is observed for the dye aggregate formed by the achiral dye but a right-handed helical aggregate is once again formed by the chiral dye. These results indicate that chirality is transferred from the dye to the PNA, as opposed to other examples of polymer-templated dye aggregation where chirality is transferred from the template to the dye.     

Chiral amplification in macromolecular helicity assisted by noncovalent interaction with achiral amines and memory of the helical chirality

Poly[(4-carboxyphenyl)acetylene] (poly-1) exhibits an intense induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV-visible region upon complexation with excess (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine ((R)-2), owing to the formation of a predominantly single-handed helical conformation of the polymer backbone. In the presence of a small amount of (R)-2, poly-1 showed a very weak ICD due to the lack of a single-handed helical conformation. However, we have found that the co-addition of the excess bulky, achiral 1-naphthylmethylamine (5) with a small amount of (R)-2 caused a dramatic increase in the ICD magnitude, comparable to the full ICD induced by excess (R)-2. This indicates that an almost single-handed helix can be induced on poly-1 upon complexation with a small amount of (R)-2 assisted by achiral 5. Furthermore, the induced single-handed helical poly-1 could be successfully memorized by the replacement of (R)-2 and 5 with achiral 2-aminoethanol or n-butylamine.     

Helix-sense controlled polymerization of a single phenyl isocyanide enantiomer leading to diastereomeric helical polyisocyanides with opposite helix-sense and cholesteric liquid crystals with opposite twist-sense

We report the unprecedented helix-sense controlled polymerization of enantiomerically pure phenyl isocyanides bearing an l- or d-alanine pendant with a long alkyl chain. The polymerization with an achiral nickel catalyst diastereoselectively proceeds, resulting in either a right- or left-handed helical polymer, whose helix-sense can be controlled by the polymerization solvent and temperature. Both the diastereomeric right- and left-handed helical polymers further self-assemble into lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystals with opposite twist-senses. Consequently, the macromolecular helicity and mesoscopic, supramolecular cholesteric twist can be controlled by the molecular chirality of the pendant of a single enantiomeric phenyl isocyanide through the polymerization under either kinetic or thermodynamic control assisted by hydrogen bonds. High-resolution atomic force microscopy revealed their helical conformations and enabled the determination of the helical sense.     

乙烯基二联苯单体的螺旋选择性自由基聚合

为了深入理解乙烯基二联苯单体自由基聚合过程中的手性传递,进行了手性单体(+)-2-[(S)-异丁氧羰基-5-(4′-己氧基苯基)苯乙烯、非手性单体2-丁氧羰基-5-(4′-己氧基苯基)苯乙烯的均聚反应及它们二者的共聚反应,探讨了聚合温度和溶剂性质对手性单体均聚物旋光活性、手性单体含量对共聚物旋光活性以及聚合反应溶剂的超分子手性对共聚物旋光活性的影响.研究发现,降低聚合温度、采用液晶性反应介质有利于得到旋光度大的聚合物;少量手性单体的引入即可诱导共聚物形成某一方向占优的螺旋构象,比旋光度随手性单体的含量增加呈线性增长;在胆甾相液晶中制备的非手性单体聚合物不具有光学活性.这些结果表明,该类乙烯基二联苯聚合物具有动态螺旋构象,其光学活性主要依赖于主链的立构规整度和侧基不对称原子的手性.     

Dual memory of enantiomeric helices in a polyacetylene induced by a single enantiomer

We report the dual memory of both the enantiomeric right- and left-handed helical conformations induced in a polyacetylene based on the temperature-stimulated helicity inversion of the polymer. The polyacetylene folds into a one-handed helix induced by noncovalent bonding interactions with a single enantiomeric amine. The induced helix underwent a reversible inversion of the helicity by temperature. The diastereomeric right- and left-handed helices obtained at different temperatures could be further memorized when the optically active amine was replaced by an achiral diamine, generating right- and left-handed helices of the mirror images of each other. Consequently, both enantiomeric helices can be produced with a high efficiency from dynamically diastereomeric helical polyacetylenes induced by a single enantiomer.     

An unprecedented memory of macromolecular helicity induced in an achiral polyisocyanide in water

We have found an unprecedented memory of macromolecular helicity induced in an achiral sodium salt of poly(4-carboxyphenyl isocyanide) (poly-1-Na). Poly-1-Na folds into a one-handed helix through configurational isomerization around the C=N backbones by interactions with optically active amines in water. The helix remains when the optically active amines are completely removed, and further modifications of the side group to carboxy and esters can be possible without loss of the macromolecular helicity memory.     

Supramolecular helical assembly of an achiral cyanine dye in an induced helical amphiphilic poly(phenylacetylene) interior in water

A water-soluble amphiphilic poly(phenylacetylene) bearing the bulky aza-18-crown-6-ether pendants forms a one-handed helix induced by l- or d-amino acids and chiral amino alcohols through specific host-guest interactions in water. We now report that such an induced helical poly(phenylacetylene) with a controlled helix sense can selectively trap an achiral benzoxazole cyanine dye among various structurally similar cyanine dyes within its hydrophobic helical cavity inside the polymer in acidic water, resulting in the formation of supramolecular helical aggregates, which exhibit an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the cyanine dye chromophore region. The supramolecular chirality induced in the cyanine aggregates could be further memorized when the template helical polymer lost its optical activity and further inverted into the opposite helicity. Thereafter, thermal racemization of the helical aggregates slowly took place.     

A helical amplification system composed of artificial nucleic acids

Herein we report an amplification system of helical excess triggered by nucleic acid hybridization for the first time. It is usually impossible to prepare achiral nanostructures composed of nucleic acids because of their intrinsic chirality. We used serinol nucleic acid (SNA) oligomers for the preparation of achiral nanowires because SNA oligomers with symmetrical sequences are achiral. Nanowire formation was confirmed by atomic force microscopy and size exclusion chromatography. When a chiral nucleic acid with a sequence complementary to SNA was added to the nanostructure, helicity was induced and a strong circular dichroism signal was observed. The SNA nanowire could amplify the helicity of chiral nucleic acids through nucleobase stacks. The SNA nanostructures have potential for use as platforms to detect chiral biomolecules under aqueous conditions because SNA can be readily functionalized and is water-soluble.

Herein we report an amplification system of helical excess triggered by nucleic acid hybridization for the first time.     

Macromolecular helicity induction in a cationic polyacetylene assisted by an anionic polyisocyanide with helicity memory in water: replication of macromolecular helicity

We report the first example of the replication of macromolecular helicity. An optically active helical and anionic polyelectrolyte, the sodium salt of poly(4-carboxyphenyl isocyanide), was found to serve as the template for further helicity induction in a different polyelectrolyte with opposite charges in water, resulting in interpolymer helical assemblies with controlled helicity. The effects of the pH and salt concentration on the helicity induction were investigated.     

Helix-sense-selective polymerization of phenylacetylene having two hydroxy groups using a chiral catalytic system

We have found a simple and novel synthetic method for obtaining a chiral polymer from an achiral monomer by using a chiral catalytic system. The chirality of the polymer was caused only by a one-handed helical backbone, and the polymer had no other chiral structures in the side groups. In addition, the helical conformation was stable in solution by itself. This is the first example of helix-sense-selective polymerization of a substituted acetylene. The stability of the helicity was found to be caused by intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Hierarchical amplification of macromolecular helicity of dynamic helical poly(phenylacetylene)s composed of chiral and achiral phenylacetylenes in dilute solution, liquid crystal, and two-dimensional crystal

Optically active poly(phenylacetylene) copolymers consisting of optically active and achiral phenylacetylenes bearing L-alanine decyl esters (1L) and 2-aminoisobutylic acid decyl esters (Aib) as the pendant groups (poly(1L(m)-co-Aib(n))) with various compositions were synthesized by the copolymerization of the optically active 1L with achiral Aib using a rhodium catalyst, and their chiral amplification of the macromolecular helicity in a dilute solution, a lyotropic liquid crystalline (LC) state, and a two-dimensional (2D) crystal on the substrate was investigated by measuring the circular dichroism of the copolymers, mesoscopic cholesteric twist in the LC state (cholesteric helical pitch), and high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the self-assembled 2D helix-bundles of the copolymer chains. We found that the macromolecular helicity of poly(1L(m)-co-Aib(n))s could be hierarchically amplified in the order of the dilute solution, LC state, and 2D crystal. In sharp contrast, almost no chiral amplification of the macromolecular helicity was observed for the homopolymer mixtures of 1L and Aib in the LC state and 2D crystal on graphite.     

Helicity Induction and Its Static Memory of Poly(biphenylylacetylene)s Bearing Pyridine N‐Oxide Groups and Their Use as Asymmetric Organocatalysts

Novel poly(biphenylylacetylene) derivatives carrying different types of pyridine N‐oxide units with a bulky or less‐bulky substituent at a different position as the functional pendant groups (poly‐ 2a and poly‐ 2b ) were synthesized by the rhodium‐catalyzed polymerization of the corresponding monomers. The influence of the steric environment around the catalytically active pyridine N‐oxide sites on the helicity induction and its static memory as well as the asymmetric catalytic activities of the resulting helical polymers with a macromolecular helicity memory was investigated. The polyacetylenes formed an excess one‐handed helical conformation upon noncovalent interactions with optically active alcohols and the induced macromolecular helicities of the polyacetylenes were efficiently memorized after the removal of the chiral inducers. Poly‐ 2b with the macromolecular helicity memory showed an enantioselectivity for the catalytic asymmetric allylation of benzaldehydes, producing optically active allyl alcohols, although their enantioselectivities were low. On the other hand, poly‐ 2a exhibited a negligible catalytic activity probably due to the bulky substituent at the o‐position of the pyridine N‐oxide residues, while poly‐ 2a underwent a unique helix‐inversion with the increasing concentration of chiral alcohols and the opposite helicity of poly‐ 2a was further successfully memorized. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2481–2490     

Host–guest complexation‐triggered chiroptical change of poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing binaphthocrown ether moieties on the main chain

Diacetylene monomers with respective lengths of the oxyethylene chains were cyclopolymerized with a rhodium catalyst to produce novel poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing a different cavity size of the chiral crown ether in the repeating units ( 2a – c ). In the circular dichroism spectra of the resulting polymers, characteristic Cotton effects were observed in the range from 350 to 500 nm corresponding to the absorption of the conjugated polymer backbone, indicating that the polymers possessed a helical structure with an excess single screw sense induced by the covalently bonded binaphthyl units. The host–guest complexation of 2a – c with achiral guests produced a chiroptical change based on the fluctuation in the main chain conformation. The behavior of the complexation‐induced chiroptical change was essentially dictated by the cavity size of the binaphthocrown ether units. Additionally, a chirality‐responsive helicity change was observed in the case of the complexation of 2a – c with chiral guests, which also depended on the crown ether size. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1197–1206, 2010     

Macromolecular helicity inversion of poly(phenylacetylene) derivatives induced by various external stimuli

Unique macromolecular helicity inversion of stereoregular, optically active poly(phenylacetylene) derivatives induced by external achiral and chiral stimuli is briefly reviewed. Stereoregular, cis-transoidal poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing an optically active substituent, such as (1R,2S)-norephedrine (poly- 1 ) and β-cyclodextrin residues (poly- 2 ), show an induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV-visible region of the polymer backbone in solution due to a predominantly one-handed helical conformation of the polymers. However, poly- 1 undergoes a helix-helix transition upon complexation with chiral acids having an R configuration, and the complexes exhibit a dramatic change in the ICD of poly- 1 . Poly- 2 also shows the inversion of macromolecular helicity responding to molecular and chiral recognition events that occurred at the remote cyclodextrin residues from the polymer backbone; the helicity inversion is accompanied by a visible color change. A similar helix-helix transition of poly((R)- or (S)-(4-((1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl)carbamoyl)phenyl)acetylene) is also briefly described.     

Macromolecular chirality induction on optically inactive poly(4-carboxyphenyl isocyanide) with chiral amines: a dynamic conformational transition of poly(phenyl isocyanide) derivatives

Optically active polyisocyanides (poly(iminomethylenes)) have been prepared with much interest in developing new functional materials. Polyisocyanides have been considered to have a stable 4(1) helical conformation even in solution when they have a bulky side group. However, the conformational characteristics of poly(phenyl isocyanide) (PPI) derivatives are still under debate. We now report that an optically inactive PPI derivative, poly(4-carboxyphenyl isocyanide) (poly-1), shows optical activity in the polymer backbone induced by external, chiral stimuli through acid-base interactions under thermodynamic control and exhibits induced circular dichroism (ICD) in the UV-visible region in DMSO. The ICD intensities of the poly-1-chiral amine complexes in DMSO gradually increased with time, and, in one case, the value reached 3 times that of the original value after 2 months at 30 degrees C. The conformational changes also occurred very slowly for poly-1 alone and its ethyl ester with time on the basis of (1)H NMR spectroscopic analysis. These results indicate that PPIs bearing a less bulky substituent may not have a 4(1) helical conformation but have a different type of prochiral conformation, for instance, an s-trans (zigzag) structure which may transform to a dynamic, one-handed helical conformation when the PPIs have a functional group capable of interacting with chiral compounds. The mechanism of helicity induction on poly-1 through a dynamic conformational transition is discussed on the basis of the above results together with molecular dynamic simulation results for PPI.