Boronic acids for sensing and other applications - a mini-review of papers published in 2013

Boronic acids are increasingly utilised in diverse areas of research. Including the interactions of boronic acids with diols and strong Lewis bases as fluoride or cyanide anions, which leads to their utility in various sensing applications. The sensing applications can be homogeneous assays or heterogeneous detection. Detection can be at the interface of the sensing material or within the bulk sample. Furthermore, the key interaction of boronic acids with diols allows utilisation in various areas ranging from biological labelling, protein manipulation and modification, separation and the development of therapeutics. All the above uses and applications are covered by this mini-review of papers published during 2013.     

Boronic acid building blocks: tools for sensing and separation

In this feature article the use of boronic acids to monitor, identify and isolate analytes within physiological, environmental and industrial scenarios is discussed. Boronic acids recognise diol motifs through boronic ester formation and interact with anions generating boronates, as such they have been exploited in sensing and separation protocols for diol appended molecules such as saccharides and anions alike. Therefore robust molecular sensors with the capacity to detect chosen molecules selectively and signal their presence continues to attract substantial attention, and boronic acids have been exploited with some success to monitor the presence of various analytes. Reversible boronic acid-diol interactions have also been exploited in boron affinity chromatography realising new separation domains through the same binding events. Boronic acid diol and anion interactions pertaining to sensing and separation are surveyed.     

The Development of Boronic Acids as Sensors and Separation Tools

Synthetic receptors for diols that incorporate boronic acid motifs have been developed as new sensors and separation tools. Utilizing the reversible interactions of diols with boronic acids to form boronic esters under new binding regimes has provided new hydrogel constructs that have found use as dye‐displacement sensors and electrophoretic separation tools; similarly, molecular boronic‐acid‐containing chemosensors were constructed that offer applications in the sensing of diols. This review provides a somewhat‐personal perspective of developments in boronic‐acid‐mediated sensing and separation, placed in the context of the seminal works of others in the area, as well as offering a concise summary of the contributions of the co‐authors in the area. DOI 10.1002/tcr.201200006     

A 3,5‐DistyrylBODIPY Dye Functionalized with Boronic Acid Groups for Direct Electrochemical Glucose Sensing

The synthesis and characterization of a novel BODIPY dye functionalized with bis‐boronic acid groups to enable direct glucose sensing through selective recognition of carbohydrates is reported. Styrylation with boronic acid groups at the 3,5‐positions of the BODIPY core results in an extension of the π‐conjugation system of the dye and in a red‐shift of the main absorption band from 500 to 637 nm. The functionalized BODIPY dye was adsorbed on a glassy carbon electrode using the drop and dry method. Modified and bare electrodes were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and scanning electrochemical microscopy, while glucose detection was carried out by using differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The detection limit was determined to be 1.42 μM. The dye was found to be selective and sensitive towards glucose, since likely interferences have only minor effects on the glucose detection.     

Synthesis of Bisboronic Acids and Their Selective Recognition of Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

The development of sensors that recognize Lewis oligosaccharides can help the diagnosis and early detection of cancer. Herein, we reported the design and synthesis of a series of anthracene-based bisboronic acids (9a-9e) with different N-substituents near the boronic acid unit. Among them, compound 9a could recognize sialyl Lewis X(sLe^x) with selectivity over other Lewis sugars, and could significantly stain sLe^x-expressing HEPG2 cells with selectivity over the range of 0.1-10 μmol/L. Compound 9a possibly has two properly positioned boronic acids caused by the steric hindrance by the near N-benzyl substituent group, which empower its sLe^x selectivity and higher binding affinity.     

Synthesis of ferrocene boronic acid-based block copolymers via RAFT polymerization and their micellization,redox responsive and glucose sensing properties

Current study is focused on the synthesis of three novel diblock copolymers poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocene carboxylate-b-polymethyl vinyl amido phenyl boronic acid, poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocene carboxylate-b-poly vinylamido phenyl boronic acid and poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocene carboxylate-b-polystyrene boronic acid using S-methoxycarbonylphenylmethyl dithiobenzoate as reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization agent. The synthesized block copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Detailed micellization behaviour of poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocene carboxylate-b-polymethyl vinyl amido phenyl boronic acid (in binary organic solvents mixture and aqueous solution) was studied. Comparative studies of micellization showed that the larger aggregates were obtained in binary organic solvents system than during dialysis in aqueous medium. The redox responsive behaviour of poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocene carboxylate-b-polymethyl vinyl amido phenyl boronic acid was investigated by water soluble oxidizing (Ammonium cerium nitrate) and reducing (Sodium hydrogen sulphite) agents. Glucose binding/sensing properties of poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocene carboxylate-b-polymethyl vinyl amido phenyl boronic acid were also explored by micellization. It was found that the increase in polarity and swelling of poly(2-methacryloyloxy)ethyl ferrocene carboxylate-b-polymethyl vinyl amidophenyl boronic acid micelles was due to the redox behaviour of ferrocene, while binding of glucose with boronic acids hydroxyls appears as unimers or small aggregates.     

A Lewis Base Catalysis Approach for the Photoredox Activation of Boronic Acids and Esters

We report herein the use of a dual catalytic system comprising a Lewis base catalyst such as quinuclidin‐3‐ol or 4‐dimethylaminopyridine and a photoredox catalyst to generate carbon radicals from either boronic acids or esters. This system enabled a wide range of alkyl boronic esters and aryl or alkyl boronic acids to react with electron‐deficient olefins via radical addition to efficiently form C−C coupled products in a redox‐neutral fashion. The Lewis base catalyst was shown to form a redox‐active complex with either the boronic esters or the trimeric form of the boronic acids (boroxines) in solution.     

Discrimination and classification of ginsenosides and ginsengs using bis-boronic acid receptors in dynamic multicomponent indicator displacement sensor arrays

Ginsenosides are complex natural products with a diverse array of biological activities, but their molecular recognition and sensing is challenging. A library of simple bis-boronic acid-based receptors with various spacers was synthesized for the sensing of ginsenosides. The incorporation of two boronic acids allowed the pairing of two indicators, which can simultaneously bind the receptors or two saccharides within the ginsenosides. A cross-reactive sensing array was therefore constructed using the receptors in conjunction with different pairs of indicators. LDA plots created from the colorimetric response of the hosts and indicator pairs reveal excellent classification of the ginsenosides, and the corresponding loading plots reveal the cross-reactivity of the receptors. In addition, several commercial ginseng extracts were unambiguously classified using the same sensing array. The assay reported here should be applicable to the analysis of other large saccharide-based natural products.     

Decarboxylative Conjunctive Cross-coupling of Vinyl Boronic Esters using Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of complex alkyl boronic esters through conjunctive cross-coupling of vinyl boronic esters with carboxylic acids and aryl iodides is described. The reaction proceeds under mild metallaphotoredox conditions and involves an unprecedented decarboxylative radical addition/cross-coupling cascade of vinyl boronic esters. Excellent functional-group tolerance is displayed, and application of a range of carboxylic acids, including secondary α-amino acids, and aryl iodides provides efficient access to highly functionalized alkyl boronic esters. The decarboxylative conjunctive cross-coupling was also applied to the synthesis of sedum alkaloids.     

Reaction of Hydantoin with Boronic Acids

We have examined the reaction of hydantoin (=imidazolidine‐2,4‐dione) with (formylphenyl)boronic acids, where the addition of a boronic acid group is hoped to increase bioactivities. Addition of (2‐formylphenyl)boronic acid to hydantoin gave an unexpected azaborine compound, which presumably arises by initial formation of the (phenylmethylidene)hydantoin, with subsequent loss of H₂O to give the cyclized product. Reactions of (3‐formylphenyl)‐ and (4‐formylphenyl)boronic acids with hydantoin gave the corresponding [(Z)‐phenylmethylidene]hydantoins in good‐to‐excellent yields. Attempts to use (3‐formylthiophen‐2‐yl)boronic acid gave a product where the boronic acid group has been cleaved.     

Photonic crystal carbohydrate sensors: low ionic strength sugar sensing

We developed a carbohydrate sensing material, which consists of a crystalline colloidal array (CCA) incorporated into a polyacrylamide hydrogel (PCCA) with pendent boronic acid groups. The embedded CCA diffracts visible light, and the PCCA diffraction wavelength reports on the hydrogel volume. This boronic acid PCCA responds to species containing vicinal cis diols such as carbohydrates. This PCCA photonic crystal sensing material responds to glucose in low ionic strength aqueous solutions by swelling and red shifting its diffraction as the glucose concentration increases. The hydrogel swelling results from a Donnan potential due to formation of boronate anion; the boronic acid pK(a) decreases upon glucose binding. This sensing material responds to glucose and other sugars at <50 microM concentrations in low ionic strength solutions.     

Boron-containing inhibitors of synthetases

The use of boron in small-molecule pharmaceuticals is increasing. Boron's ubiquitous occurrence in nature and the recent success of a boronic acid drug (Velcade?) in the clinic have alleviated many concerns over its use in pharmaceuticals. In addition, the unique physicochemical properties of boronic acids make them an attractive addition to the medicinal chemists toolbox. This tutorial review will discuss these properties and potential benefits for anyone interested in finding novel enzyme inhibitors. An exceptional class of boronic acids, the oxaboroles, will be highlighted and their properties and uses will be discussed in detail. Finally, the current paradigm for the reaction of boronic acids with enzyme nucleophiles will be summarized.     

Scyllo-inositol as a convenient protecting group for aryl boronic acids in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions

Herein, we report air- and water-stable borate complexes between scyllo-inositol and aryl boronic acids. The complexes were less reactive than free aryl boronic acids under Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction conditions; thus, the borate complexes were used as protected boronic acids. Although protecting groups for organoboronic acids are useful in coupling reactions, especially those used to produce π-conjugated molecules, only a few reports describing the use of protecting groups for boronic acids have been published. The proposed unique structural borate complex provides a novel protective method for aryl boronic acids.     

Reaction-based Indicator displacement Assay (RIA) for the selective colorimetric and fluorometric detection of peroxynitrite

Using the self-assembly of aromatic boronic acids with Alizarin Red S (ARS), we developed a new chemosensor for the selective detection of peroxynitrite. Phenylboronic acid (PBA), benzoboroxole (BBA) and 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)phenylboronic acid (NBA) were employed to bind with ARS to form the complex probes. In particular, the ARS–NBA system with a high binding affinity can preferably react with peroxynitrite over hydrogen peroxide and other ROS/RNS due to the protection of the boron via the solvent-insertion B–N interaction. Our simple system produces a visible colorimetric change and on–off fluorescence response towards peroxynitrite. By coupling a chemical reaction that leads to an indicator displacement, we have developed a new sensing strategy, referred to herein as RIA (Reaction-based Indicator displacement Assay).     

Highly specific-glucose fluorescence sensing based on boronic anthraquinone derivatives via the GOx enzymatic reaction

The boronic acid anthraquinones, oHAQB and pHAQB, have been designed, and demonstrated to serve as fluorogenic biosensors for glucose. The sensory molecule, oHAQB, has exhibited the specific-glucose sensing via the GOx enzymatic reaction. In this contribution, the fluorescence changes of oHAQB reasonably correspond to the concentration of glucose upon the conversion of boronic acid to hydroxy based sensor by H₂O₂ generated from glucose along with GOx enzymatic reaction. Our sensing ensemble was then successfully applied to determine the glucose concentration in the range of 0.08–0.42 mM. The limit of detection (LOD) of oHAQB for glucose detection using the GOx enzymatic probe is approximately 0.011 mM.     

Decarboxylative Conjunctive Cross‐coupling of Vinyl Boronic Esters using Metallaphotoredox Catalysis

The synthesis of complex alkyl boronic esters through conjunctive cross‐coupling of vinyl boronic esters with carboxylic acids and aryl iodides is described. The reaction proceeds under mild metallaphotoredox conditions and involves an unprecedented decarboxylative radical addition/cross‐coupling cascade of vinyl boronic esters. Excellent functional‐group tolerance is displayed, and application of a range of carboxylic acids, including secondary α‐amino acids, and aryl iodides provides efficient access to highly functionalized alkyl boronic esters. The decarboxylative conjunctive cross‐coupling was also applied to the synthesis of sedum alkaloids.     

An improved class of sugar-binding boronic acids, soluble and capable of complexing glycosides in neutral water

This study describes a new class of carbohydrate-binding boronic acids. ortho-Hydroxymethyl phenylboronic acid (boronophthalide) was shown to be superior to the well-established dialkylamino ("Wulff-type") analogues, and it is more soluble in aqueous solvents. The most significant finding in this work is the surprising ability of ortho-hydroxyalkyl arylboronic acids to complex model glycopyranosides under physiologically relevant conditions. These boronic acid units appear to complex hexopyranosides mainly using their 4,6-diol. This behavior is significant because a majority of cell-surface glycoconjugates present free 4,6-diols. Thus, conjugatable forms of these boronic acids could be used in the design of oligomeric receptors and sensors to exploit multivalency effects. Such receptors could dramatically expand the potential of boronic acids toward the selective recognition of cell-surface glycoconjugates.     

Optical methods for sensing glucose

This critical review covers the present state of the art in optical sensing of glucose. Following an introduction into the significance of (continuous) sensing of glucose and a brief look back, we discuss methods based on (a) monitoring the optical properties of intrinsically fluorescent or labeled enzymes, their co-enzymes and co-substrates; (b) the measurement of the products of enzymatic oxidation of glucose by glucose oxidase; (c) the use of synthetic boronic acids; (d) the use of Concanavalin A; and (e) the application of other glucose-binding proteins. We finally present an assessment in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods (237 references).     

基于有机硼酸的葡萄糖荧光传感器的研究进展

有机硼酸类荧光传感器可与二羟基化合物进行高亲和性且可逆地结合, 故可用于糖类传感和识别. 综述了近10年来选择性识别葡萄糖的有机硼酸类荧光传感器的研究进展.