Unlocking a (Pseudo)-Mechanically Interlocked Molecule with a Coronene “Shoehorn”

Mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) have gained increasing interest during the last decades, not only because of their aesthetic appeal, but also because their unique properties have allowed them to find applications in nanotechnology, catalysis, chemosensing and biomedicine. Herein we describe how a pyrene molecule with four octynyl substituents can be easily encapsulated within the cavity of a tetragold(I) rectangle-like metallobox, by template formation of the metallo-assembly in the presence of the guest. The resulting assembly behaves as a mechanically interlocked molecule (MIM), in which the four long limbs of the guest protrude from the entrances of the metallobox, thus locking the guest inside the cavity of the metallobox. The new assembly resembles a metallo-suit[4]ane, given the number of protruding long limbs and the presence of the metal atoms in the host molecule. However, unlike normal MIMs, this molecule can release the tetra-substituted pyrene guest by the addition of coronene, which can smoothly replace the guest in the cavity of the metallobox. Combined experimental and computational studies allowed the role of the coronene molecule in facilitating the release of the tetrasubstituted pyrene guest to be explained, through a process that we named “shoehorning”, as the coronene compresses the flexible limbs of the guest so that it can reduce its size to slide in and out the metallobox.     

Transition Metal Catalysis in Living Cells: Progress,Challenges, and Novel Supramolecular Solutions

The importance of transition metal catalysis is exemplified by its wide range of applications, for example in the synthesis of chemicals, natural products, and pharmaceuticals. However, one relatively new application is for carrying out new-to-nature reactions inside living cells. The complex environment of a living cell is not welcoming to transition metal catalysts, as a diverse range of biological components have the potential to inhibit or deactivate the catalyst. Here we review the current progress in the field of transition metal catalysis, and evaluation of catalysis efficiency in living cells and under biological (relevant) conditions. Catalyst poisoning is a ubiquitous problem in this field, and we propose that future research into the development of physical and kinetic protection strategies may provide a route to improve the reactivity of catalysts in cells.     

Sterically Allowed H-type Supramolecular Polymerizations

The functionalization of π-conjugated scaffolds with sterically demanding substituents is a widely used tactic to suppress cofacial (H-type) stacking interactions, which may even inhibit self-assembly. Contrary to expectations, we demonstrate herein that increasing steric effects can result in an enhanced thermodynamic stability of H-type supramolecular polymers. In our approach, we have investigated two boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes with bulky phenyl ( 2 ) and mesityl ( 3 ) meso-substituents and compared their self-assembly in nonpolar media with that of a parent meso-methyl BODIPY 1 lacking bulky groups. While the enhanced steric demand induces pathway complexity, the superior thermodynamic stability of the H-type pathways can be rationalized in terms of additional enthalpic gain arising from intermolecular C−H⋅⋅⋅F−B interactions of the orthogonally arranged aromatic substituents, which overrule their inherent steric demand. Our findings underline the importance of balancing competing non-covalent interactions in self-assembly.     

Synthetic K+ Channels Constructed by Rebuilding the Core Modules of Natural K+ Channels in an Artificial System

Different types of natural K⁺ channels share similar core modules and cation permeability characteristics. In this study, we have developed novel artificial K⁺ channels by rebuilding the core modules of natural K⁺ channels in artificial systems. All the channels displayed high selectivity for K⁺ over Na⁺ and exhibited a selectivity sequence of K⁺≈Rb⁺ during the transport process, which is highly consistent with the cation permeability characteristics of natural K⁺ channels. More importantly, these artificial channels could be efficiently inserted into cell membranes and mediate the transmembrane transport of K⁺, disrupting the cellular K⁺ homeostasis and eventually triggering the apoptosis of cells. These findings demonstrate that, by rebuilding the core modules of natural K⁺ channels in artificial systems, the structures, transport behaviors, and physiological functions of natural K⁺ channels can be mimicked in synthetic channels.     

Unexpectedly low affinity of aromatic disulfides for π-stacking interactions of the arene-polyfluoroarene type

1,2,3,4,5-Pentafluorodiphenyl disulfide (1) was synthesized from C₆F₅SCl and C₆H₅SSiMe₃ in quantitative yield. The homo-crystals of disulfide 1 and co-crystals of 1,1′,2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-decafluorodiphenyl disulfide (2) with naphthalene (stoichiometry 1:2, complex 4) and diphenyl disulfide (3) with octafluoronaphthalene (stoichiometry 2:1, complex 5) were prepared followed by XRD characterization. In the crystal lattice of 1, face-to-face and face-to-edge Ph_H/Ph_F orientations of neighboring rings were observed together with face-to-edge Ph_F/Ph_F orientations. For the face-to-face Ph_H/Ph_F orientation, the large offset of Ph_H and Ph_F groups excludes their π-stacking interaction which is very non-typical of the field. The crystal lattice of 4 reveals standard π-stacking interactions of the arene-polyfluoroarene type. While in the lattice of 4 each Ph_F ring interacts alternating with naphthalenes, in 5 two disulfides 3 are bridged by one octafluoronaphthalene with only one of the Ph_H rings of each disulfide interacting with the polyfluoroarene π-system. The large offset of neighboring molecules excludes however their π-stacking interactions in complex 5. An attempt to prepare 2/3 co-crystals failed.     

Polymeric bidimensional self-assembling of [Hg(RC6H4NNNC6H4R)2Py] (R = m-acetyl) through metal-η,η-arene π-interactions and non classical C-H?O bonding: Synthesis and X-ray characterization of a bis diaryl symmetric-substituted triazenide complex of Hg(II)

Deprotonated 1,3-bis(3-acetylphenyl)triazene reacts with Hg(CH₃COO)₂ and pyridine to give light-yellow crystals of {[Hg^II(RC₆H₄NNNC₆H₄R)₂Py]}_n (R = acetyl). The tectons [Hg^II(RC₆H₄NNNC₆H₄R)₂Py] [R = CH₃C(O)] are linked to pairs as centrosymmetric dimers through reciprocal metal-η²-arene π-interactions. The dimeric units are operated by a screw axis 2₁ parallel to the crystallographic direction [0 1 0], also through a reflection-translation plane parallel to the c-axis, resulting a supramolecular bidimensional (2D) assembling of the dimeric tectons through non classical C-H?(O)CCH₃ bonding.     

甲壳型液晶高分子研究进展与展望

简要介绍了甲壳型液晶高分子的模型理论, 概述了当前国内外对甲壳型液晶高分子设计、 液晶相态、 性质及基于甲壳型液晶高分子的嵌段共聚物体系的设计和自组装性质等研究进展, 展望了今后的研究方向.     

超分子均苯四甲酸/对羟基吡啶水凝胶中纤维状聚集体结构与性能的关系

采用1H-NMR和FT-IR表征了在摩尔比1∶4条件下,由均苯四甲酸和对羟基吡啶合成的一种凝胶因子(G2).通过在室温下冷却G2的水溶液,形成了超分子水凝胶.采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、示差扫描量热仪(DSC)和流变仪等多种技术研究了冷却速率对凝胶的组装纤维结构及宏观性能的影响.随着冷却速度的降低,纤维尺寸变大而凝胶的稳定性降低.因此,可以通过环境因素来控制凝胶的性能.采用流变仪分析表明凝胶具有高的机械强度.DSC分析结果表明随着凝胶因子浓度的增加,凝胶中可冻结水的含量降低.相对于在摩尔比1∶2条件下,由均苯四甲酸和对羟基吡啶合成的凝胶因子G1,在相同浓度下,G2在更高的最低凝胶因子浓度(MGC)使水凝胶,并且得到的凝胶具有更低的凝胶-溶胶破坏温度(Tgel).利用环境扫描电镜(ESEM)直接观测了实际含水状态下凝胶的形貌,结果表明采用常规SEM观测到的纤维状网络与ESEM的结果一致,这说明在干燥过程中形貌并未发生太大变化.组装体结构和性能关系有助于认识凝胶形成机理并使凝胶满足不同的应用.     

New Suberato‐bridged Supramolecular Layers: Crystal Structure of [Cu2(phen)2(C8H12O4)2] · 3 H2O with phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline

The reaction of CuCl₂ · 2 H₂O, 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), suberic acid and Na₂CO₃ in a CH₃CN–H₂O solution yielded blue needle‐like crystals of [Cu₂(phen)₂(C₈H₁₂O₄)₂] · 3 H₂O. The crystal structure (monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 10.756(2) Å, b = 9.790(2) Å, c = 18.593(4) Å, β = 91.15(3)°, Z = 2, R = 0.043, wR² = 0.1238) consists of suberato‐bridged [Cu₂(phen)₂(C₈H₁₂O₄)_4/2] layers and hydrogen bonded H₂O molecules. The Cu atoms are coordinated by two N atoms from one bidentate chelating phen ligand and three carboxyl O atoms from different suberato ligands to form distorted [CuN₂O₃] square‐pyramids with one carboxyl O atom at the apical position (d(Cu–N) = 2.017(2), 2.043(3) Å, basal d(Cu–O) = 1.936(2), 1.951(2) Å and axial d(Cu–O) = 2.389(2) Å). Two [CuN₂O₃] square‐pyramids are condensed via a common O–O edge to a centrosymmetric [Cu₂N₄O₄] dimer with the Cu…Cu distance of 3.406(1) Å indicating no interaction between Cu atoms. The resultant [Cu₂N₄O₄] dimers are interlinked by the tridentate suberato ligands to form [Cu₂(phen)₂(C₈H₁₂O₄)_4/2] layers parallel to (101). These are assembled via π‐π stacking interactions into 3D network with H₂O molecules in the tunnels extending in the [010] direction.     

Dynamic molecular recognition in the generation of a new crystal-engineering motif: a unique case study of a dicarboxylic acid with a ditopic receptor favouring a polymeric over a dimeric hydrogen-bonded supramolecular complex

A new crystal-engineering motif has been developed where a ditopic receptor 1 shows a novel syn-syn hydrogen-bonded polymeric supramolecular complex (Fig. 4b) (instead of a 1:1 dimeric syn-syn or polymeric syn-anti complex) giving rise to a hydrogen-bonded stair-like polymeric ribbon structure between the binding groups of the receptor pyridine amide and the carboxyl groups of the guest substrate.