Triple Self-Sorting in Constitutional Dynamic Networks: Parallel Generation of Imine-Based CuI,FeII, and ZnII Complexes

Three imine-based metal complexes, having no overlap in terms of their compositions, have been simultaneously generated from the self-sorting of a constitutional dynamic library (CDL) containing three amines, three aldehydes, and three metal salts. The hierarchical ordering of the stability of the three metal complexes assembled and the leveraging of the antagonistic and agonistic relationships existing between the constituents within the constitutional dynamic network corresponding to the CDL were pivotal in achieving the sorting. Examination of the process by NMR spectroscopy showed that the self-sorting of the Fe^II and Zn^II complexes depended on an interplay between the thermodynamic driving forces and a kinetic trap involved in their assembly. These results also exemplify the concept of “simplexity”—the fact that the output of a self-assembling system may be simplified by increasing its initial compositional complexity—as the two complexes could self-sort only in the presence of the third pair of organic components, those of the Cu^I complex.     

Interaction of PiB‐Derivative Metal Complexes with Beta‐Amyloid Peptides: Selective Recognition of the Aggregated Forms

Metal complexes are increasingly explored as imaging probes in amyloid peptide related pathologies. We report the first detailed study on the mechanism of interaction between a metal complex and both the monomer and the aggregated form of Aβ_1–40 peptide. We have studied lanthanide(III) chelates of two PiB‐derivative ligands (PiB=Pittsburgh compound B), L¹ and L², differing in the length of the spacer between the metal‐complexing DO3A macrocycle (DO3A= 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7‐triacetic acid) and the peptide‐recognition PiB moiety. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy revealed that they both bind to aggregated Aβ_1–40 (K_D=67–160 μM ), primarily through the benzothiazole unit. HSQC NMR spectroscopy on the ¹⁵N‐labeled, monomer Aβ_1–40 peptide indicates nonsignificant interaction with monomeric Aβ. Time‐dependent circular dichroism (CD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and TEM investigations of the secondary structure and of the aggregation of Aβ_1–40 in the presence of increasing amounts of the metal complexes provide coherent data showing that, despite their structural similarity, the two complexes affect Aβ fibril formation distinctly. Whereas GdL¹, at higher concentrations, stabilizes β‐sheets, GdL² prevents aggregation by promoting α‐helical structures. These results give insight into the behavior of amyloid‐targeted metal complexes in general and contribute to a more rational design of metal‐based diagnostic and therapeutic agents for amyloid‐ associated pathologies.     

Coumarin synthesis on π-acidic surfaces

Catalysis with anion–π interactions is emerging as an important topic in supramolecular chemistry. Among the reactions explored so far on π-acidic surfaces, coumarin synthesis stands out as a cascade process with several coupled anionic transition states. Increasing π-acidity has been shown in a different context to increase transition-state stabilisation and thus catalytic activity. In this report, we explore the possible use of macrocycles to accelerate coumarin synthesis between two π-acidic surfaces. To our disappointment, we found that compared to monomeric π-acids, coumarin synthesis within divalent macrocycles is clearly slower. Hindered access to an overly confined active site within the macrocycles could possibly account for this loss in activity, but several other explanations are certainly possible. However, operational coumarin synthesis on monomeric π-acidic surfaces is shown to tolerate structural modifications. Best results are obtained with structures that aim for proximity without obstructing transition-state stabilisation on the π-acidic surface.     

Effect of chain architecture on the phase transition of star and cyclic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) in water

The heat‐induced phase transition of aqueous solutions of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in water is examined for a four‐arm PNIPAM star (s‐PNIPAM), a cyclic PNIPAM (c‐PNIPAM), and their linear counterparts (l‐PNIPAM) in the case of polymers (1.0 g L^?1) of 12,700 g mol^?1 < M_n < 14,700 g mol^?1. Investigations by turbidity, high‐sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry (HS‐DSC), and light scattering (LS) indicate that the polymer architecture has a strong effect on the cloud point (T_c: decrease for s‐PNIPAM; increase for c‐PNIPAM), the phase transition enthalpy change (ΔH decrease for s‐PNIPAM and c‐PNIPAM), and the hydrodynamic radius of the aggregates formed above T_c (R_H: c‐PNIPAM < s‐PNIPAM < l‐PNIPAM). The properties of s‐PNIPAM are compared with those of previously reported PNIPAM star polymers (3 to 52 arms). The overall observations are described in terms of the arm molecular weight and the local chain density in the vicinity of the core of the star, by analogy with the model developed for PNIPAM brushes on nanoparticles or planar surfaces. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2059–2068.     

Computational estimates of thermochemistry and pKa values of cyclopropenyl imine superbases

The thermochemical properties of superbase species derived from cyclopropeneimine are estimated by computations on systems of isodesmic reactions. Proton affinities, gas phase basicities, and pK_a values are well represented by computations incorporating G4 and CBS‐QB3 schemes augmented for large systems by DFT calculations with functionals M06‐2X and ωB97DX in the cc‐pVTZ Dunning basis. Our calculations show that relative base strengths in gas are enhanced by alkyl substitution, either by methyl groups or larger species. For acetonitrile solution, alkyl substitution seems to weaken the base. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Drag Force Calculations in Polydisperse DEM Simulations with the Coarse-Grid Method: Influence of the Weighting Method and Improved Predictions Through Artificial Neural Networks

Transport in Porous Media - Several methods are employed for drag force calculations with the discrete element method depending on the desired accuracy and the number of particles involved. For...     

Convergence rate of inertial Forward–Backward algorithm beyond Nesterov’s rule

Mathematical Programming - In this paper we study the convergence of an Inertial Forward–Backward algorithm, with a particular choice of an over-relaxation term. In particular we show that...     

Structural investigation of group 10 metal complexes with thiosemicarbazone: crystal structure,mass spectrometry,Hirshfeld surface and in vitro antitumor activity

Structural Chemistry - The current work reports the synthesis and structural investigation of three novel complexes with 2-acetyl-pyridine-N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone (HL1), [Ni(L1)Cl] (1),...