Expanding the Ligand Classes Used for Mn(II) Complexation: Oxa-aza Macrocycles Make the Difference

We report two macrocyclic ligands based on a 1,7-diaza-12-crown-4 platform functionalized with acetate (tO2DO2A²⁻) or piperidineacetamide (tO2DO2AM^Pip) pendant arms and a detailed characterization of the corresponding Mn(II) complexes. The X−ray structure of [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H₂O)]·2H₂O shows that the metal ion is coordinated by six donor atoms of the macrocyclic ligand and one water molecule, to result in seven-coordination. The Cu(II) analogue presents a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the complexes formed with Mn(II) and other biologically relevant metal ions (Mg(II), Ca(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) were determined using potentiometric titrations (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). The conditional stabilities of Mn(II) complexes at pH 7.4 are comparable to those reported for the cyclen-based tDO2A²⁻ ligand. The dissociation of the Mn(II) chelates were investigated by evaluating the rate constants of metal exchange reactions with Cu(II) under acidic conditions (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). Dissociation of the [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H₂O)] complex occurs through both proton− and metal−assisted pathways, while the [Mn(tO2DO2AM^Pip)(H₂O)] analogue dissociates through spontaneous and proton-assisted mechanisms. The Mn(II) complex of tO2DO2A²⁻ is remarkably inert with respect to its dissociation, while the amide analogue is significantly more labile. The presence of a water molecule coordinated to Mn(II) imparts relatively high relaxivities to the complexes. The parameters determining this key property were investigated using ¹⁷O NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) transverse relaxation rates and ¹H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles.     

Inherent Ethyl Acetate Selectivity in a Trianglimine Molecular Solid

Ethyl acetate is an important chemical raw material and solvent. It is also a key volatile organic compound in the brewing industry and a marker for lung cancer. Materials that are highly selective toward ethyl acetate are needed for its separation and detection. Here, we report a trianglimine macrocycle ( TAMC ) that selectively adsorbs ethyl acetate by forming a solvate. Crystal structure prediction showed this to be the lowest energy solvate structure available. This solvate leaves a metastable, “templated” cavity after solvent removal. Adsorption and breakthrough experiments confirmed that TAMC has adequate adsorption kinetics to separate ethyl acetate from azeotropic mixtures with ethanol, which is a challenging and energy-intensive industrial separation.     

Inherently Chiral Macrocyclic Oligothiophenes: Easily Accessible Electrosensitive Cavities with Outstanding Enantioselection Performances

Linear conjugated oligothiophenes of variable length and different substitution pattern are ubiquitous in technologically advanced optoelectronic devices, though limitations in application derive from insolubility, scarce processability and chain‐end effects. This study describes an easy access to chiral cyclic oligothiophenes constituted by 12 and 18 fully conjugated thiophene units. Chemical oxidation of an “inherently chiral” sexithiophene monomer, synthesized in two steps from commercially available materials, induces the formation of an elliptical dimer and a triangular trimer endowed with electrosensitive cavities of different tunable sizes. Combination of chirality with electroactivity makes these molecules unique in the current oligothiophenes literature. These macrocycles, which are stable and soluble in most organic solvents, show outstanding chiroptical properties, high circularly polarized luminescence effects and an exceptional enantiorecognition ability.     

The First Five‐Membered‐Heterocycle‐Fused Subphthalocyanine Analogues: Chiral Tri(benzo[b]thiopheno)subporphyrazines

Two tri(benzo[b]thiopheno)subporphyrazine regioisomers with C₃ and C₁ molecular symmetry have been isolated from the cyclotrimerization of benzo[b]thiophene‐2,3‐dicarbonitrile as the first five‐membered‐heterocycle‐fused subphthalocyanine analogues. Optical resolution of both regioisomers was achieved by using a chiral HPLC technique, affording the first chiral subphthalocyanine analogues.     

Total Synthesis of the Antibiotic Kendomycin: A Macrocyclization Using the Tsuji–Trost Etherification

A highly stereocontrolled, convergent total synthesis of kendomycin [(?)‐TAN2162], an ansa‐macrocyclic antibiotic, is reported. The key of the strategy is an unprecedented Tsuji–Trost macrocyclic etherification, followed by a transannular Claisen rearrangement to construct the 18‐membered carbocyclic framework. The oxa‐six‐ and five‐membered rings were also stereoselectively constructed respectively by a cascade oxidative cyclization at an unfunctionalized benzylic position and using a one‐pot epoxidation/5‐exo‐tet epoxide opening.     

Constraining Cyclic Peptides To Mimic Protein Structure Motifs

Many proteins exert their biological activities through small exposed surface regions called epitopes that are folded peptides of well‐defined three‐dimensional structures. Short synthetic peptide sequences corresponding to these bioactive protein surfaces do not form thermodynamically stable protein‐like structures in water. However, short peptides can be induced to fold into protein‐like bioactive conformations (strands, helices, turns) by cyclization, in conjunction with the use of other molecular constraints, that helps to fine‐tune three‐dimensional structure. Such constrained cyclic peptides can have protein‐like biological activities and potencies, enabling their uses as biological probes and leads to therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines. This Review highlights examples of cyclic peptides that mimic three‐dimensional structures of strand, turn or helical segments of peptides and proteins, and identifies some additional restraints incorporated into natural product cyclic peptides and synthetic macrocyclic peptidomimetics that refine peptide structure and confer biological properties.     

Neo‐Fused Hexaphyrin: A Molecular Puzzle Containing an N‐Linked Pentaphyrin

The first neo‐confused hexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.0) was synthesized by oxidative ring closure of a hexapyrrane bearing two terminal “confused” pyrroles. The new compound displays a folded conformation with a short interpyrrolic C???N distance of 3.102 Å, and thus it readily underwent ring fusion to afford a neo‐fused hexaphyrin with an unprecedented 5,5,5,7‐tetracyclic ring structure. Furthermore, coordination of Cu^II triggered a ring opening/contracting reaction to afford a Cu^II complex of an N‐linked pentaphyrin derivative. The roles of reactive N? C bonds in the porphyrinoid macrocycles were demonstrated.     

Benzidine/Quinoidal-Benzidine-Linked,Superbenzene-Based π-Conjugated Chiral Macrocycles and Cyclophanes

Synthesis of fully conjugated cyclophanes containing large-size polycyclic aromatics is challenging. Now, three benzidine-linked, hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (superbenzene)-based ortho-, para-, and meta-cyclophanes are synthesized through intermolecular Yamamoto coupling reaction of structurally pre-organized precursors. Subsequent oxidative dehydrogenation gave the corresponding quinoidal benzidine-linked cyclophanes. Their geometries were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis and their electronic properties were investigated by electronic absorption, cyclic voltammetry, and DFT calculations. The quinoidal benzidine-linked cyclophanes show thermally populated paramagnetic activity with a relatively large singlet-triplet energy gap. Two enantiomers for the ortho-cyclophanes ( 1-NH and 1-N ) were isolated and their chiral figure-of-eight macrocyclic structures were identified. The cage-like cyclophanes 2-NH and 3-NH with concave surface can selectively encapsulate fullerene C₇₀.