Separation of Enantiomers of Non-Protein Amino Acids by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography on a Chiral Ligand-Exchange Column

The HPLC separation of enantiomers of underivatized non-protein amino acids was investigated by using a column packed with octadecylsilanized silica coated with N,S-dioctyl-D-penicillamine as a chiral ligand-exchange phase (Sumichiral OA-5000). Good enantiomeric separations were achieved with a variety of -amino acids carrying aliphatic or aromatic side chains, cyclic imino acids, and -amino acids, together with -methyl--amino acids, by optimizing the amount (0–20%, v/v) of 2-propanol as the organic component and the concentration (1–5 mM) of Cu²⁺ as the complexing metal ion in the aqueous-organic eluent.     

Sensing Remote Chirality: Stereochemical Determination of β‐, γ‐, and δ‐Chiral Carboxylic Acids

Determining the absolute stereochemisty of small molecules bearing remote nonfunctionalizable stereocenters is a challenging task. Presented is a solution in which appropriately substituted bis(porphyrin) tweezers are used. Complexation of a suitably derivatized β‐, γ‐, or δ‐chiral carboxylic acid to the tweezer induces a predictable helicity of the bis(porphyrin), which is detected as a bisignate Cotton Effect (ECCD). The sign of the ECCD curve is correlated with the absolute stereochemistry of the substrate based on the derived working mnemonics in a predictable manner.     

A Solid‐State Fluorescent Host System with a 21‐Helical Column Consisting of Chiral (1R,2S)‐2‐Amino‐1,2‐diphenylethanol and Fluorescent 1‐Pyrenecarboxylic Acid

A solid‐state fluorescent host system was created by self‐assembly of a 2₁‐helical columnar organic fluorophore composed of (1R,2S)‐2‐amino‐1,2‐diphenylethanol and fluorescent 1‐pyrenecarboxylic acid. This host system has a characteristic 2₁‐helical columnar hydrogen‐ and ionic‐bonded network. Channel‐like cavities are formed by self‐assembly of this column, and various guest molecules can be included by tuning the packing of this column. Moreover, the solid‐state fluorescence of this host system can change according to the included guest molecules. This occurs because of the change in the relative arrangement of the pyrene rings as they adjust to the tuning of the packing of the shared 2₁‐helical column, according to the size of the included guest molecules. Therefore, this host system can recognize slight differences in molecular size and shape.     

POSS end‐linked peptide‐functionalized poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)s and their inclusion complexes with α‐cyclodextrin

In this report, we have synthesized organic/inorganic hybrid peptide–poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) conjugates via ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone (CL) in the presence of two sequence defined peptide initiators, namely POSS‐Leu‐Aib‐Leu‐NH₂ (POSS: polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane; Leu: Leucine; Aib: α‐aminoisobutyric acid) and OMe‐Leu‐Aib‐Leu‐NH₂. Covalent attachment of peptide segments with the PCLs were examined by ¹H and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) and FTIR spectroscopy. Supramolecular inclusion complexations of synthesized peptide‐PCL conjugates with α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CyD) were studied to understand the effect of POSS/OMe‐peptide moieties at the PCL chain ends. Inclusion complexation of peptide‐PCL conjugates with α‐CyD produced linear polypseudorotaxane, confirmed by ¹H NMR, FTIR, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Extent of α‐CyD threading onto the hybrid peptide‐PCL conjugated polymers is less than that of α‐CyD threaded onto the linear PCL. Thus, PCL chains were not fully covered by the host α‐CyD molecules due to the bulky POSS/OMe‐peptide moieties connected with the one edge of the PCL chains. PXRD experiment reveals channel like structures by the synthesized inclusion complexes (ICs). Spherulitic morphologies of POSS/OMe‐peptide‐PCL conjugates were fully destroyed after inclusion complexation with α‐CyD and tiny nanoobjects were produced. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3643–3651.     

Investigation of Mixed Chiral Selectors of Different Metal Ion-L-Alanine Complex and β-Cyclodextrin on the Chiral Separation of Dansyl Amino Acids with Capillary Electrophoresis

Chiral separation of dausyl amino acids by capillary electrophoresis using mixed selectors of Mn(ll)-L-alanine complex and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was studied. Resolution was considerably superior to that obtained by using either Mn (Ⅱ)-L-alanine complex or β-CD alone. The effects of separation parameters, such as pH value of buffer solution, capillary temperature, the concentration of Mn (Ⅱ)-L-alanine complex, the types of CD and ligand on the migration times and resolutions were investigated. Six different transition metal complexes,Cu(Ⅱ), Zn(Ⅱ), Co(Ⅱ), Ni(Ⅱ), Hg(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ)-L-alanine complexes have been employed and compared with Mn(Ⅱ)complex. Differences in retention and selectivity were found.The substitution of Cu(Ⅱ), Zn(Ⅱ), Co(Ⅱ) and Ni(Ⅱ) for Mn(Ⅱ) resulted in a better chiral resolution while Hg(Ⅱ) and Cd(Ⅱ) showed poorer resolution abilities. The chiral separation mechanism was also discussed briefly.     

Direct High‐Performance Liquid Chromatographic Enantioseparation of β‐Methyl‐Substituted Unusual Amino Acids on a Quinine‐Derived Chiral Anion‐Exchange Stationary Phase

A quinine‐derived chiral anion‐exchange stationary phase was used for the direct high‐performance liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of the N‐protected unusual β‐substituted α‐amino acids, β‐methylphenylalanine, β‐methyltyrosine, β‐methyltryptophan, and β‐methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid. The readily prepared 2,4‐dinitrophenyl and tert‐butyloxycarbonyl derivatives were well separated, and in most cases the separation of all four stereoisomers of these β‐methyl‐α‐amino acids could be obtained in one chromatographic run. The elution sequences of the enantiomers of the different derivatives were determined and revealed a dependence on the type of the N‐protecting group. In this context, the effects of different protecting groups (acetyl, tert‐butyloxycarbonyl, benzoyl, 3,5‐dinitrobenzoyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, 3,5‐dinitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, 2,4‐dinitrophenyl, and 9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) on the chromatographic behavior were investigated.     

Dual‐responsive supramolecular self‐assembly of inclusion complex of an azobenzene‐ended poly(ε‐caprolactone) with a water‐soluble pillar[6]arene and its application in controlled drug release

Dual photo‐ and pH‐responsive polymeric vesicles are constructed from a host–guest complex between a water‐soluble pillar[6]arene and an azobenzene ended functionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone). Reversible morphological transitions between vesicles and solid aggregates are achieved upon repeated UV stimulus and pH stimulus. Moreover, the polymeric vesicles present excellent cytocompatibility toward HepG2 cells and can be further applied for controlled release of a hydrophilic model drug, DOX?HCl. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2477–2482     

Determination of Free D‐Amino Acids in Mammalia by Chiral Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Quantities of D‐amino acids were determined in body fluids (urine, blood plasma and blood serum, milk) of mammals (hamster, horse, bovine, sheep, pig, and dog). Amino acids were isolated using a cation exchanger and converted into their N(O)‐pentafluoropropionyl (or trifluoroacetyl) amino acid 2‐propyl esters. Enantiomers were separated and quantified on a Chirasil‐L‐Val capillary column with mass spectrometric detection using selected ion monitoring. D‐Enantiomers of most protein L‐amino acids were detected. Largest absolute and relative amounts in most cases were determined for D‐Ser and D‐Ala in urine. Stereoisomers of 2,6‐diaminopimelic acid were also measured in bovine, ovine, and porcine urine. Since D‐amino acids were detected in all representative classes of the major orders of Mammalia, namely Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Rodentia, and Carnivora, and taking reports in the literature into account, it is postulated that D‐amino acids occur in all mammals.     

Host Perturbation in a β‐Hydroquinone Clathrate Studied by Combined X‐ray/Neutron Charge‐Density Analysis: Implications for Molecular Inclusion in Supramolecular Entities

X‐ray/neutron (X/N) diffraction data measured at very low temperature (15 K) in conjunction with ab initio theoretical calculations were used to model the crystal charge density (CD) of the host–guest complex of hydroquinone (HQ) and acetonitrile. Due to pseudosymmetry, information about the ordering of the acetonitrile molecules within the HQ cavities is present only in almost extinct, very weak diffraction data, which cannot be measured with sufficient accuracy even by using the brightest X‐ray and neutron sources available, and the CD model of the guest molecule was ultimately based on theoretical calculations. On the other hand, the CD of the HQ host structure is well determined by the experimental data. The neutron diffraction data provide hydrogen anisotropic thermal parameters and positions, which are important to obtain a reliable CD for this light‐atom‐only crystal. Atomic displacement parameters obtained independently from the X‐ray and neutron diffraction data show excellent agreement with a |ΔU| value of 0.00058 Ų indicating outstanding data quality. The CD and especially the derived electrostatic properties clearly reveal increased polarization of the HQ molecules in the host–guest complex compared with the HQ molecules in the empty HQ apohost crystal structure. It was found that the origin of the increased polarization is inclusion of the acetonitrile molecule, whereas the change in geometry of the HQ host structure following inclusion of the guest has very little effect on the electrostatic potential. The fact that guest inclusion has a profound effect on the electrostatic potential suggests that nonpolarizable force fields may be unsuitable for molecular dynamics simulations of host–guest interaction (e.g., in protein–drug complexes), at least for polar molecules.     

Designed Synthesis of a Highly Conjugated Hexaethynylbenzene‐Based Host for Supramolecular Architectures

The construction of efficient synthetic functional receptors with tunable cavities, and the self‐organization of guest molecules within these cavities through noncovalent interactions can be challenging. Here we have prepared a double‐cavity molecular cup based on hexaethynylbenzene that possesses a highly π‐conjugated interior for the binding of electron‐rich guests. X‐ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, fluorescent spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and SEM were used to investigate the structures and the binding behaviors. The results indicated that the binding of a guest in one cavity would affect the binding of the same or another guest in the other cavity. The effect of electron transfer in this system suggests ample opportunities for tuning the optical and electronic properties of the molecular cup and the encapsulated guest. The encapsulation of different guests would also lead to different aggregate nanostructures, which is a new way to tune their supramolecular architectures.     

Guest‐Responsive Function of a Dynamic Metal–Organic Framework with a π Lewis Acidic Pore Surface

A 3D dynamic coordination framework with an electron‐deficient pore surface has been synthesized by using Zn^II (having a variable coordination number) and a predesigned flexible π‐electron‐deficient core‐based ligand, exhibiting chemical separations based on pore surface functionalization (π Lewis acidic pore surfaces and open metal sites) and framework flexibility, giving rise to a unique smart guest‐responsive material.     

Silicon‐Based Material with Spiro‐Annulated Fluorene/Triphenylamine as Host and Exciton‐Blocking Layer for Blue Electrophosphorescent Devices

A novel silicon‐based compound, 10‐phenyl‐2′‐(triphenylsilyl)‐10H‐spiro[acridine‐9,9′‐fluorene] (SSTF), with spiro structure has been designed, synthesized, and characterized. Its thermal, electronic absorption, and photoluminescence properties were studied. Its energy levels make it suitable as a host material or exciton‐blocking material in blue phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (PhOLEDs). Accordingly, blue‐emitting devices with iridium(III) bis[(4,6‐difluorophenyl)‐pyridinato‐N,C²′]picolinate (FIrpic) as phosphorescent dopant have been fabricated and show high efficiency with low roll‐off. In particular, 44.0 cd A^?1 (41.3 lm W^?1) at 100 cd m^?2 and 41.9 cd A^?1 (32.9 lm W^?1) at 1000 cd m^?2 were achieved when SSTF was used as host material; 28.1 lm W^?1 at 100 cd m^?2 and 20.6 lm W^?1 at 1000 cd m^?2 were achieved when SSTF was used as exciton‐blocking layer. All of the results are superior to those of the reference devices and show the potential applicability and versatility of SSTF in blue PhOLEDs.