Multi‐input–Multi‐output Molecular Response System Based on Dynamic Redox Behavior of Hexaphenylethane‐type Electron Donors with the Tetrahydrophenanthrazepine Skeleton: Strong Chiroptical Signals through the Transmission of Point Chirality to Helicity

The title heterocyclic donors undergo reversible C? C bond formation/cleavage upon electron transfer (dynamic redox behavior). The helical sense in both neutral and cationic states is interconvertible by facile ring flipping. The π‐type asymmetric center on the azepine nitrogen atom induces a significant degree of diasteromeric preference, thus endowing strong CD activity based on exciton coupling. Chiroptical properties could be modified not only by redox reactions but also by heat and protonation. The present redox pairs can serve as unprecedented three‐way‐input (e, H⁺, Δ) and two‐way‐output (UV/Vis, CD) response systems.     

UV-Vis, NMR, and time-resolved spectroscopy analysis of photoisomerization behavior of three- and six-azobenzene-bound tris(bipyridine)cobalt complexes

The photoisomerization properties of tris(bipyridine)cobalt complexes containing six or three azobenzene moieties, namely, [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 [dmAB = 4,4'-bis[3'-(4'-tolylazo)phenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine], [Co(III)(dmAB)3](BF4)3, [Co(II)(mAB)3](BF4)2 [mAB = 4-[3' '-(4' '-tolylazo)phenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine], and [Co(III)(dmAB)3](BF4)3, derived from the effect of gathering azobenzenes in one molecule and the effect of the cobalt(II) or cobalt(III) ion were investigated using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, femtosecond transient spectroscopy, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. In the photostationary state of these four complexes, nearly 50% of the trans-azobenzene moieties of the Co(II) complexes were converted to the cis isomer, and nearly 10% of the trans-azobenzene moieties of the Co(III) complexes isomerized to the cis isomer, implying that the cis isomer ratio in the photostationary state upon irradiation at 365 nm is controlled not by the number of azobenzene moieties in one molecule but rather by the oxidation state of the cobalt ions. The femtosecond transient absorption spectra of the ligands and the complexes suggested that the photoexcited states of the azobenzene moieties in the Co(III) complexes were strongly deactivated by electron transfer from the azobenzene moiety to the cobalt center to form an azobenzene radical cation and a Co(II) center. The cooperation among the photochemical structural changes of six azobenzene moieties in [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 was investigated with 1H NMR spectroscopy. The time-course change in the 1H NMR signals of the methyl protons indicated that each azobenzene moiety in [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 isomerized to a cis isomer with a random probability of 50% and without interactions among the azobenzene moieties.     

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) characteristics of hydrophobic pyrene derivatives/γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) complexes in aqueous solution dissolved by grinding

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) organic dyes are currently receiving a great interest, but there are still not many reported observations of CPL spectra of hydrophobic dyes from aqueous solution. We have prepared hydrophobic pyrene derivatives and dissolved them into aqueous solutions with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) by using grinding technique. Among these derivatives, (pyrene-1-carbonyl)serine (PySer) forms a spatially restricted dimer in the hydrophobic chiral cavity of γ-CD and exhibits excimer emission with a high quantum yield of Φ_f?=?0.68. In addition, circular dichroism and CPL signals were induced for the complex. The strong g_CPL value of g_CPL?=?+?2.2?×?10^?3 was obtained, which may be attributed to the interaction between the hydroxyl groups in the side chain of PySer with those of γ-CD and it strengthens the chiral dimeric structure.

Graphic abstract

     

Lewis acid promoted cyclization of enyne triesters and diesters

Reactions of enynes with three or two ester groups (1-4) in the presence of halogen-ligand Lewis acids gave cyclized products with halide incorporation (5-8) with high generality. The cyclization process was also analyzed in a theoretical study. Facile isomerization and dehydrohalogenation of five-membered products 5 and 8 by Al(2)O(3) or Et(3)N were also observed; this process introduces conjugated moieties into the products.     

A redox-active ionic liquid manifesting charge-transfer interaction between a viologen and carbazole and its effect on the viscosity,ionic conductivity,and redox process of the viologen

Redox-active ionic liquids (RAILs) are gaining attention as a material that can create a wide range of functions. We herein propose a charge-transfer (CT) RAIL by mixing two RAILs, specifically a carbazole-based ionic liquid ([CzC₄ImC₁][TFSI]) as a donor and a viologen-based ionic liquid ([C₄VC₇][TFSI]₂) as an acceptor. We investigated the effect of CT interaction on the physicochemical properties of the CT ionic liquid (CT-IL) using the results of temperature-dependent measurements of UV-vis absorption, viscosity, and ionic conductivity as well as cyclic voltammograms. We employed the Walden analysis and the Grunberg–Nissan model to elucidate the effect of the CT interaction on the viscosity and ionic conductivity. The CT interaction reduces the viscosity by reducing the electrostatic attraction between the dicationic viologen and TFSI anion. It also reduces the ionic conductivity by the CT association of the dicationic viologen and carbazole. The electrochemically reversible responses of the viologens in [C₄VC₇][TFSI]₂ and CT-IL are consistent with the Nernstian and the interacting two-redox site models. Notably, the transport and electrochemical properties are modulated by CT interaction, leading to unique features that are not present in individual component ILs. The inclusion of CT interaction in RAILs thus provides a powerful means to expand the scope of functionalized ionic liquids.

A redox-active ionic liquid (RAIL) consisting of a carbazole and viologen shows charge transfer (CT) interaction. The physicochemical properties are modulated by the CT interaction by comparison with the individual RAILs.     

Molecular structure of glucopyranosylamide lipid and nanotube morphology

A series of glucopyranosylamide lipids, N-(X-octadecenoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine [X = 13-cis (1), 11-cis (2), 9-cis (3), 6-cis (4), and 9-cis,12-cis (5)] and their saturated homologue N-octadecanoyl-beta-d-glucopyranosylamine (6), which differ in the position of a cis double bond in the C18 hydrocarbon chains, have been synthesized. The effect of the cis double bond position on the chiral self-assembly of each glycolipid has been examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV, and circular dichroism (CD). The 11-cis derivative 2 was observed to self-assemble in water to form a uniform hollow cylinder structure with about 200-nm outer diameters in >98% yields. The obtained nanotubes from 2 showed the narrowest distribution of outer diameters and also gave a negative CD band around 234-236 nm, showing the largest CD intensity among the glycolipids investigated. Thus, we found that the position of a cis double bond significantly influences the homogeneity of the outer diameters as well as growth behavior of the self-assembled nanotube structures. Chiral molecular packing driven by a possible bending structure of the unsaturated glycolipids is playing a critical role in determining tubular morphology through molecular self-assembly.     

Regioselective hydrosilylations of propiolate esters with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane

Lewis acid and substituent dependency on the regioselectivity of hydrosilylation of propiolate esters 1a-c with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (2a) was found. The reaction of methyl and ethyl propiolate esters and 2a without Lewis acid and in the presence of EtAlCl2 and Et2AlCl gave beta-silicon-substituted Z-alkenes 3 selectively. On the other hand, reaction in the presence of AlCl3 in dichloromethane gave alpha-silicon-substituted alkenes 4. In the case of trifluoroethyl propiolate ester 1c, reaction with aluminum chloride-based Lewis acids gave alpha-silicon-substituted alkenes 4 exclusively. Two competitive mechanisms, free-radical and ionic, are proposed as the source of the complementary regioselectivity displayed in these reactions. A transition state of the radical-forming step was obtained computationally. The reaction of various reactive acetylene substrates and 2a without Lewis acid and without solvent at room temperature gave beta-silicon-substituted Z-alkenes 3 selectively.     

Synthesis and Systematic Structural Analysis of Cationic Half-Sandwich Ruthenium Chalcogenocarbonyl Complexes

Although the chemistry of transition-metal complexes with carbonyl (CO) and thiocarbonyl (CS) ligands has been well developed, their heavier analogues, namely selenocarbonyl (CSe) and tellurocarbonyl (CTe) complexes remain scarce. The limited availability of such CSe and CTe complexes has so far hampered our understanding of the differences between such chalcogenocarbonyl (CE: E=O, S, Se, Te) ligands. Herein, we report the synthesis and properties of a series of cationic half-sandwich ruthenium CE complexes of the type [CpRu(CE)(H₂IMes)(CNCH₂Ts)][BAr^F₄] (Cp=η⁵-C₅H₅⁻; H₂IMes=1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene; Ar^F=3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃). A combination of X-ray diffraction analyses, NMR spectroscopic analyses, and DFT calculations revealed an increasing π-accepting ability of the CE ligands in the order O<S<Se<Te. A variable-temperature NMR analysis of the thus obtained chiral-at-metal CE complexes indicated high stereochemical stability.     

Dual Chemical Modification of a Polytheonamide Mimic: Rational Design and Synthesis of Ion‐Channel‐Forming 48‐mer Peptides with Potent Cytotoxicity

Polytheonamide B ( 1 ) is a natural peptide that displays potent cytotoxicity against P388 mouse leukemia cells (IC₅₀=0.098 nm ). Linear 48‐mer 1 is known to form monovalent cation channels on binding to lipid bilayers. We previously developed a fully synthetic route to 1 , and then achieved the design and synthesis of a structurally simplified analogue of 1 , namely, dansylated polytheonamide mimic 2 . Although the synthetically more accessible 2 was found to emulate the channel function of 1 , its cytotoxicity was decreased 120‐fold. Herein, the chemical preparation and biological evaluation of seven analogues 3 – 9 of 2 are reported. Compounds 3 – 9 were modified at their N terminus and/or the side chain of residue 44 of 2 to alter their physicochemical properties. The total synthesis of 3 – 9 was accomplished in a unified fashion by a combination of solid‐phase and solution‐phase chemistry. Systematic evaluation of the hydrophobicities, single‐channel currents, ion‐exchange activities, and cytotoxicities of 3 – 9 revealed that their hydrophobicities are correlated with the total magnitude of ion exchange and determine their cytotoxic potency. Consequently, the most hydrophobic analogue 9 exhibited the lowest IC₅₀ value, which is comparable to that of 1 . Therefore, these results clarified that the bioactivity of the polytheonamide‐based peptides can be rationally controlled by changing their hydrophobicity at the N and C termini of the 48‐amino‐acid sequence.