A Chemiluminescent Metal–Organic Framework

The synthesis and characterization of a chemiluminescent metal–organic framework with high porosity is reported. It consists of Zr₆O₆(OH)₄ nodes connected by 4,4′-(anthracene-9,10-diyl)dibenzoate as the linker and luminophore. It shows the topology known for UiO-66 and is therefore denoted PAP-UiO. The MOF was not only obtained as bulk material but also as a thin film. Exposure of PAP-UiO as bulk or film to a mixture of bis-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium salicylate in a mixture of dimethyl and dibutyl phthalate evoked strong and long lasting chemiluminescence of the PAP-UiO crystals. Time dependent fluorescence spectroscopy on bulk PAP-UiO and, for comparison, on dimethyl 4,4′-(anthracene-9,10-diyl)dibenzoate provided evidence that the chemiluminescence originates from luminophores being part of the PAP-UiO, including the luminophores inside the crystals.     

Titanium-Catalyzed Hydroaminoalkylation of Ethylene

The first examples of titanium-catalyzed hydroaminoalkylation reactions of ethylene with secondary amines are presented. The reactions can be achieved with various titanium catalysts and they do not require the use of high pressure equipment. In addition, the first solid-state structure of a titanapyrrolidine that is formed by insertion of an alkene into the Ti−C bond of a titanaaziridine is reported.     

Cross-linking nanostructured spherical capsules as building units by crystal engineering: related chemistry

The compound [Mo₇₂Fe₃₀O₂₅₂(CH₃COO)₁₀{Mo₂O₇(H₂O)}{H₂Mo₂O₈(H₂O)}₃ (H₂O)₉₁]·ca. 140 H₂O 3≡3a·ca. 140 H₂O, an important educt for an unusual solid state reaction, can now be obtained easily by reacting (NH₄)₄₂[{Mo^V₂O₄(CH₃COO)}₃₀{(Mo)Mo₅O₂₁(H₂O)₆}₁₂]·10 CH₃COONH₄·ca. 300 H₂O 1 with FeCl₃·6 H₂O in water. Interestingly, the freshly precipitated crystals of 3 contain discrete spherical clusters of the type {Mo^VI₇₂Fe^III₃₀} with as yet unprecedented 30×5 unpaired electrons (S=150/2 at room temperature). Upon drying 3, its cluster units 3a get covalently linked to form layers in a step by step solid state reaction, according to the scheme described below, resulting finally in the crystalline reaction product [H₄Mo₇₂Fe₃₀O₂₅₄(CH₃COO)₁₀{Mo₂O₇(H₂O)}{H₂Mo₂O₈(H₂O)}₃(H₂O)₈₇]·ca. 80 H₂O 44a·ca. 80 H₂O. The linking process at the Fe sites follows the well known inorganic condensation process leading to Fe^III polycations in aqueous solution according to the scheme Fe(OH₂)+(H₂O)Fe Fe(OH)+(H₂O)Fe Fe–O–Fe and thus is based on a type of crystal engineering with nanostructured spherical building blocks. This process does not allow chaotic characteristics in contrast to the mentioned polycation formation. Careful investigation leads to the identification of an intermediate 5 containing clusters 5a — with the same cluster composition as 3a and 4a — in the closest possible non-covalent contact. The related materials are of tremendous interest for magnetochemistry (nano-magneto-technology).

     

Chiral Chalcogenyl-Substituted Naphthyl- and Acenaphthyl-Silanes and Their Cations

Cyclic silylated chalconium borates 13 [B(C₆F₅)₄] and 14 [B(C₆F₅)₄] with peri-acenaphthyl and peri-naphthyl skeletons were synthesized from unsymmetrically substituted silanes 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 9 and 10 using the standard Corey protocol (Chalcogen Ch=O, S, Se, Te). The configuration at the chalcogen atom is trigonal pyramidal for Ch=S, Se, Te, leading to the formation of cis- and trans-isomers in the case of phenylmethylsilyl cations. With the bulkier tert-butyl group at silicon, the configuration at the chalcogen atoms is predetermined to give almost exclusively the trans-configurated cyclic silylchalconium ions. The barriers for the inversion of the configuration at the sulfur atoms of sulfonium ions 13 c and 14 a are substantial (72–74 kJ mol⁻¹) as shown by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. The neighboring group effect of the thiophenyl substituent is sufficiently strong to preserve chiral information at the silicon atom at low temperatures.     

A Dimeric η1,η5‐Germole Dianion Bridged Titanium(III) Complex with a Multicenter Ti−Ge−Ge−Ti Bond

Dimeric germole dianion bridged Ti^III and Zr^IV complexes have been synthesized. In these complexes, the germole dianion adopts a formal η¹,η⁵ coordination to the two metal centers. The bonding situation in these bridged dimers is dominated by a covalent Ge?Ge interaction that results, for example, in a strong antiferromagnetic coupling of the d¹ Ti centers.     

Niobium Bis- and Mono(Pentafulvene) Complexes: E−H Bond Cleavage and Insertion Reactions (E=C,N, O)

Bis(η⁵:η¹-(di-para-tolyl)pentafulvene)niobium chloride ( 1 ) reacts with methyl lithium via salt metathesis to the methylated bis(pentafulvene)niobium complex 2 , and with lithium 2,6-diisopropylanilide addition and subsequent N−H bond activation to the imido mono(pentafulvene)niobium complex 3 . Avoiding the competing protonation of the chloride, bis(pentafulvene)niobium complex 2 reacts with primary aromatic and aliphatic amines to form terminal niobocene imido complexes, and with water to form the analog terminal oxo complex. Secondary methyl amines undergo a simultaneous N−H and C−H activation to form niobaaziridines under mild conditions. In contrast to other reported examples, 3 can be employed to investigate the uncontested reactivity of mono(pentafulvene)niobium complexes. Reaction with 4-tert-butylphenol selectively yields a niobocene phenolate complex. Unprecedented for mono(pentafulvene)niobium complexes, treating 3 with multiple-bond-containing substrates (nitriles, isocyanates) smoothly results the insertion into the Nb-C_exo σ-bond, forming the corresponding alkylidene amido and imidato complexes.     

Conjugated BODIPY DYEmers by Metathesis Reactions

Boron dipyrrin (BODIPY) DYEmers bridged by conjugating ethynylene and ethenylene moieties can be prepared through metal‐promoted metathesis reactions. Alkyne metathesis was advantageous over alkene metathesis and Stille coupling for BODIPY substrates, but also showed specific restrictions with respect to steric encumbrance and regioselectivity. All derivatives with unhindered rotations along the bridges reside in a coplanar minimum conformation. For a hindered β‐ethenylene‐bridged DYEmer, the shifts in the ¹H NMR spectrum indicate a significant loss of coplanarity and conjugation. The electronic interactions of the BODIPY subchromophores, visualized by optical spectra and cyclic voltammograms, deviate significantly from those found for nonconjugated and excitonically coupled DYEmers. The observed properties can be rationalized in each case by the respective strength of conjugation through the α or β position, the degree of coplanarity, and conformational dynamics.     

Selection of G-quadruplex folding topology with LNA-modified human telomeric sequences in K+ solution

G-rich nucleic acid oligomers can form G-quadruplexes built by G-tetrads stacked upon each other. Depending on the nucleotide sequence, G-quadruplexes fold mainly with two topologies: parallel, in which all G-tracts are oriented parallel to each other, or antiparallel, in which one or more G-tracts are oriented antiparallel to the other G-tracts. In the former topology, all glycosidic bond angles conform to anti conformations, while in the latter topology they adopt both syn and anti conformations. It is of interest to understand the molecular forces that govern G-quadruplex folding. Here, we approach this problem by examining the impact of LNA (locked nucleic acid) modifications on the folding topology of the dimeric model system of the human telomere sequence. In solution, this DNA G-quadruplex forms a mixture of G-quadruplexes with antiparallel and parallel topologies. Using CD and NMR spectroscopies, we show that LNA incorporations can modulate this equilibrium in a rational manner and we establish a relationship between incorporation of LNA nucleotides in syn and/or anti positions and the shift of the equilibrium to obtain exclusively the parallel G-quadruplex. The change in topology is driven by a combination of the C3'-endo puckering of LNA nucleotides and their preference for the anti glycosidic conformation. In addition, the parallel LNA-modified G-quadruplexes are thermally stabilised by about 11 °C relative to their DNA counterparts.     

Rational Enzyme Design without Structural Knowledge: A Sequence-Based Approach for Efficient Generation of Transglycosylases

Glycobiology is dogged by the relative scarcity of synthetic, defined oligosaccharides. Enzyme-catalysed glycosylation using glycoside hydrolases is feasible but is hampered by the innate hydrolytic activity of these enzymes. Protein engineering is useful to remedy this, but it usually requires prior structural knowledge of the target enzyme, and/or relies on extensive, time-consuming screening and analysis. Here, a straightforward strategy that involves rational rapid in silico analysis of protein sequences is described. The method pinpoints 6–12 single-mutant candidates to improve transglycosylation yields. Requiring very little prior knowledge of the target enzyme other than its sequence, the method is generic and procures catalysts for the formation of glycosidic bonds involving various d /l -, α/β-pyranosides or furanosides, and exo or endo action. Moreover, mutations validated in one enzyme can be transposed to others, even distantly related enzymes.     

Radicals and Anions of Siloles and Germoles

The synthesis of persistent sila- and germacyclopentadienyl (silolyl- and germolyl-) radicals by careful stoichiometric reduction of the corresponding halides with potassium is reported. The radicals were characterized by EPR spectroscopy and trapping reactions. The reduction of tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl-substituted halides was successful while smaller substituents (i. e., t-Butyl, Ph) gave the corresponding dimers. The EPR spectroscopic parameter of the synthesized tetrolyl radicals indicate only small spin delocalization to the butadiene unit due to cross-hyperconjugation. Silolyl- and germolyl anions are unavoidable byproducts and are isolated in the form of their potassium salts and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The comparison of the molecular structures of two closely related potassium silolides provided an example for different coordination of the potassium cation to the silolyl anion (η¹ vs. η⁵ coordination) that triggers the switch between delocalized and localized states.