Combinatorial Screening of Water/Proton Permeation of Self-Assembled Pillar[5]arene Artificial Water Channel Libraries

Artificial water channels (AWCs) that selectively transport water and reject ions through bilayer membranes have potential to act as synthetic Aquaporins (AQPs). AWCs can have a similar osmotic permeability, better stability, with simpler manufacture on a larger-scale and have higher functional density and surface permeability when inserted into the membrane. Here, we report the screening of combinatorial libraries of symmetrical and unsymmetrical rim-functionalized PAs A – D that are able to transport ca. 10⁷–10⁸ water molecules/s/channel, which is within 1 order of magnitude of AQPs’ and show total ion and proton rejection. Among the four channels, C and D are 3–4 times more water permeable than A and B when inserted in bilayer membranes. The binary combinations of A – D with different molar ratios could be expressed as an independent (linear ABA ), a recessive (inhibition AB , AC , DB , ACA ), or a dominant (amplification, DBD ) behavior of the water net permeation events.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Six‐Membered Oxa‐Nickelacycles: A Ring‐Opening Reaction of Cyclopropyl Ketones

Cyclopropanecarboxaldehyde ( 1 a ), cyclopropyl methyl ketone ( 1 b ), and cyclopropyl phenyl ketone ( 1 c ) were reacted with [Ni(cod)₂] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) and PBu₃ at 100 °C to give η²‐enonenickel complexes ( 2 a – c ). In the presence of PCy₃ (Cy=cyclohexyl), 1 a and 1 b reacted with [Ni(cod)₂] to give the corresponding μ‐η²:η¹‐enonenickel complexes ( 3 a , 3 b ). However, the reaction of 1 c under the same reaction conditions gave a mixture of 3 c and cyclopentane derivatives ( 4 c , 4 c′ ), that is, a [3+2] cycloaddition product of 1 c with (E)‐1‐phenylbut‐2‐en‐1‐one, an isomer of 1 c . In the presence of a catalytic amount of [Ni(cod)₂] and PCy₃, [3+2] homo‐cycloaddition proceeded to give a mixture of 4 c (76 %) and 4 c′ (17 %). At room temperature, a possible intermediate, 6 c , was observed and isolated by reprecipitation at ?20 °C. In the presence of 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene (IPr), both 1 a and 1 c rapidly underwent oxidative addition to nickel(0) to give the corresponding six‐membered oxa‐nickelacycles ( 6 ai , 6 ci ). On the other hand, 1 b reacted with nickel(0) to give the corresponding μ‐η²:η¹‐enonenickel complex ( 3 bi ). The molecular structures of 6 ai and 6 ci were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. The molecular structure of 6 ai shows a dimeric η¹‐nickelenolate structure. However, the molecular structure of 6 ci shows a monomeric η¹‐nickelenolate structure, and the nickel(II) 14‐electron center is regarded as having “an unusual T‐shaped planar” coordination geometry. The insertion of enones into monomeric η¹‐nickelenolate complexes 6 c and 6 ci occurred at room temperature to generate η³‐oxa‐allylnickel complexes ( 8 , 9 ), whereas insertion into dimeric η¹‐nickelenolate complex 6 ai did not take place. The diastereoselectivity of the insertion of an enone into 6 c having PCy₃ as a ligand differs from that into 6 ci having IPr as a ligand. In addition, the stereochemistry of η³‐oxa‐allylnickel complexes having IPr as a ligand is retained during reductive elimination to yield the corresponding [3+2] cycloaddition product, which is consistent with the diastereoselectivity observed in Ni⁰/IPr‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of cyclopropyl ketones with enones. In contrast, reductive elimination from the η³‐oxa‐allylnickel having PCy₃ as a ligand proceeds with inversion of stereochemistry. This is probably due to rapid isomerization between syn and anti isomers prior to reductive elimination.     

Formation of nickeladihydropyran by oxidative addition of cyclopropyl ketone. Key intermediate in nickel-catalyzed cycloaddition

Cyclopropyl phenyl ketone underwent oxidative addition to Ni(PCy3) generated from Ni(cod)2 and PCy3 to give a nickeladihydropyran, which is a key intermediate for the Ni(0)-catalyzed homo- or heterocycloaddition to give cyclopentane compounds having two carbonyl substituents at the 1,3-position.     

High-yield diastereoselective synthesis of planar chiral [2]- and [3]rotaxanes constructed from per-ethylated pillar[5]arene and pyridinium derivatives

Planar chiral [2]- and [3]rotaxanes constructed from pillar[5]arenes as wheels and pyridinium derivatives as axles were obtained in high yield using click reactions. The process of rotaxane formation was diastereoselective; the obtained [2]rotaxane was a racemic mixture consisting of (pS, pS, pS, pS, pS) and (pR, pR, pR, pR, pR) forms of the per-ethylated pillar[5]arene (C2) wheel, and other possible types of the [2]rotaxane did not form. Isolation of the enantiopure [2]rotaxanes with one axle through (pS, pS, pS, pS, pS)-C2 or (pR, pR, pR, pR, pR)-C2 wheels was accomplished. Furthermore, pillar[5]arene-based [3]rotaxane was successfully synthesized by attachment of two pseudo [2]rotaxanes onto a bifunctional linker. [3]Rotaxane formed in a 1:2:1 mixture with one axle threaded through two (pS, pS, pS, pS, pS)-C2, one (pS, pS, pS, pS, pS)-C2 and one (pR, pR, pR, pR, pR)-C2 (meso form), or two (pR, pR, pR, pR, pR)-C2 wheels. The [3]rotaxane enantiomers and the meso form were successfully isolated using appropriate chiral HPLC column chromatography. The procedure developed in this study is the starting point for the creation of pillar[5]arene-based interlocked molecules.     

Synthesis of novel pillar-shaped cavitands “Pillar[5]arenes” and their application for supramolecular materials

In 2008, we reported a new class of macrocyclic hosts and named “Pillar[5]arenes”. They combine the advantages and aspects of traditional hosts and have a composition similar to those of typical calix[n]arenes. Pillar[5]arenes have repeating units connected by methylene bridges at the para-position, and thus they have a unique symmetrical pillar architecture differing from the basket-shaped structure of meta-bridged calix[n]arenes. Pillar[5]arenes show high functionality similar to cyclodextrins, and can capture electron accepting guest molecules within their cavity similarly to cucurbit[n]urils. In this review, the synthesis, structure, rotation, host–guest properties, planar chirality and functionality of pillar[5]arenes are discussed, along with pillar[5]arene-based supramolecular architectures and the challenges in synthesizing pillar[6]arenes.     

Strain‐Induced Double Carbon–Carbon Bond Activations of Cycloparaphenylenes by a Platinum Complex: Application to the Synthesis of Cyclic Diketones

The carbon–carbon (C?C) bond activation of [n]cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPPs) by a transition‐metal complex is herein reported. The Pt⁰ complex Pt(PPh₃)₄ regioselectively cleaves two C?C σ bonds of [5] CPP and [6]CPP to give cyclic dinuclear platinum complexes in high yields. Theoretical calculations reveal that the relief of ring strain drives the reaction. The cyclic complex was further transformed into a cyclic diketone by using a CO insertion reaction.     

Trace analysis of explosives in soil: pressurized fluid extraction and gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Soil samples are collected from the former Open Burn/Open Detonation Unit, Makua Military Reservation, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The soil is the Helemano series. The soil samples are fortified with eight explosives for development of the analytical method. These analytes are 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene; 1,3-dinitrobenzene; 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT); hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX); nitrobenzene (NB); octogen; 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene; and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. The analytes are recovered with pressurized fluid extraction and measured with liquid chromatography (LC), LC-mass spectrometry (MS), and gas chromatography-MS. Average recoveries of the seven analytes, except for NB, range from 67% to 110% from freshly fortified samples. The procedure fails to extract NB in soil. The average recoveries decrease from 67-110% to 41-81% as the soil is aged for 1 day to 6 months after fortification of the soil with the seven explosives. The field samples are analyzed for the presence of explosives, of which DNT and RDX are indeed detected. The results obtained with this procedure agree well with those obtained by an independent laboratory following the standard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method SW-846 8330. Compared with the EPA method, this new method provides MS confirmation of the analytes, and the extraction requires approximately 15 min, rather than 18 h by the EPA method.     

An in situ Al K-edge XAS investigation of the local environment of H+- and Cu+-exchanged USY and ZSM-5 zeolites

Aluminum coordination in the framework of USY and ZSM-5 zeolites containing charge-compensating cations (NH4+, H+, or Cu+) was investigated by Al K-edge EXAFS and XANES. This work was performed using a newly developed in-situ cell designed especially for acquiring soft X-ray absorption data. Both tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated Al were observed for hydrated H-USY and H-ZSM-5, in good agreement with 27Al NMR analyses. Upon dehydration, water desorbed from the zeolite, and octahedrally coordinated Al was converted progressively to tetrahedrally coordinated Al. These observations confirmed the hypothesis that the interaction of water with Br?nsted acid protons can lead to octahedral coordination of Al without loss of Al from the zeolite lattice. When H+ is replaced with NH4+ or Cu+, charge compensating species that absorb less water, less octahedrally coordinated Al was observed. Analysis of Al K-edge EXAFS data indicates that the Al-O bond distance for tetrahedrally coordinated Al in dehydrated USY and ZSM-5 is 1.67 angstroms. Simulation of k3chi(k) for Cu+ exchanged ZSM-5 leads to an estimated distance between Cu+ and framework Al atoms of 2.79 angstroms.     

Cyclophane porphyrins and their metal complexes: Biomimetic study on receptor site of hemoprotein oxygen binding

A new symmetric porphyrin, 7,8,17,18-tetraethyl-3,13-dimethylporphyrin-2, 12-dipropionic acid and its derivatives were synthesized by the a,c-biladiene route. Condensation of the dipropionic acid with diamine, [H₂N(CH₂)_nNH₂, n= 6,7,8,9,10,12, and14], afforded the corresponding cyclophane porphyrins. The bridged groups were characterized by the ¹H-NMR spectra of their zinc complexes. The spin state of the Fe(III) complexes of the cyclophane porphyrins was investigated by changing the size of the bridged chain or size of axial ligand. The cyclophane-porphyrinato (III) perchlorate complexes in a mixture of MeOH and CHCl₃, with 4-benzylpyridine provide a model for methemoproteins. Steric constraint between an axial ligand and the bridge group, [-CH₂CH₂CONH(CH₂)_nNHCOCH₂CH₂]at the bridged face determines the ratio of the penta- and hexa-coordinated ferric complexes. The rate of O-binding to the Co(II) cyclophane porphyrins is mar present result indicates that removal of a solvent molecule or sixth axial ligand from the near proximity of the Co(II) complex increases the rate of O- binding.