Adaptation of dynamic covalent systems of imine constituents to medium change by component redistribution under reversible phase separation

Kinetically controlled phenomena in dynamic combinatorial libraries

Dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs) are collections of structurally related compounds that can interconvert through reversible chemical reaction(s). Such reversibility endows DCLs with adaptability to external stimuli, as rapid interconversion allows quick expression of those DCL components which best respond to the disturbing stimulus. This Tutorial Review focuses on the kinetically controlled phenomena that occur within DCLs. Specifically, it will describe dynamic chiral resolution of DCLs, their self-sorting under the influence of irreversible chemical and physical stimuli, and the autocatalytic behaviours within DCLs which can result in self-replicating systems. A brief discussion of precipitation-induced phenomena will follow and the review will conclude with the presentation of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-porous materials whose synthesis critically depends on the fine tuning of the crystal growth and error correction rates within large DCLs.

Dynamic combinatorial/covalent chemistry: a tool to read, generate and modulate the bioactivity of compounds and compound mixtures

Reversible covalent bond formation under thermodynamic control adds reactivity to self-assembled supramolecular systems, and is therefore an ideal tool to assess complexity of chemical and biological systems. Dynamic combinatorial/covalent chemistry (DCC) has been used to read structural information by selectively assembling receptors with the optimum molecular fit around a given template from a mixture of reversibly reacting building blocks. This technique allows access to efficient sensing devices and the generation of new biomolecules, such as small molecule receptor binders for drug discovery, but also larger biomimetic polymers and macromolecules with particular three-dimensional structural architectures. Adding a kinetic factor to a thermodynamically controlled equilibrium results in dynamic resolution and in self-sorting and self-replicating systems, all of which are of major importance in biological systems. Furthermore, the temporary modification of bioactive compounds by reversible combinatorial/covalent derivatisation allows control of their release and facilitates their transport across amphiphilic self-assembled systems such as artificial membranes or cell walls. The goal of this review is to give a conceptual overview of how the impact of DCC on supramolecular assemblies at different levels can allow us to understand, predict and modulate the complexity of biological systems.

D-amino acids modulate the cellular response of enzymatic-instructed supramolecular nanofibers of small peptides

Peptides made of d-amino acids, as the enantiomer of corresponding l-peptides, are able to resist proteolysis. It is, however, unclear or much less explored whether or how d-amino acids affect the cellular response of supramolecular nanofibers formed by enzyme-triggered self-assembly of d-peptides. In this work, we choose a cell compatible molecule, Nap-l-Phe-l-Phe-l-_pTyr (LLL-1P), and systematically replace the l-amino acids in this tripeptidic precursor or its hydrogelator by the corresponding d-amino acid(s). The replacement of even one d-amino acid in this tripeptidic precursor increases its proteolytic resistance. The results of static light scattering and TEM images show the formation of nanostructures upon the addition of alkaline phosphatase, even at concentrations below the minimum gelation concentration (mgc). All these isomers are able to form ordered nanostructures and exhibit different morphologies. According to the cell viability assay on these stereochemical isomers, cells exhibit drastically different responses to the enantiomeric precursors, but almost same responses to the enantiomeric hydrogelators. Furthermore, the different cellular responses of LLL-1P and DDD-1P largely originate from the ecto-phosphatases catalyzed self-assembly of DDD-1 on the surface of cells. Therefore, this report not only illustrates a new way for tailoring the properties of supramolecular assemblies, but also provides new insights to answering the fundamental question of how mammalian cells respond to enzymatic formation of nanoscale supramolecular assemblies (e.g., nanofibers) of d-peptides.

Experimental and theoretical methods for the analyses of dynamic combinatorial libraries

Progresses in spatial and temporal analytical tools open new avenues for the study and control of increasingly complex chemical systems.

A light-induced reversible phase separation and its coupling to a dynamic library of imines

Irradiation of an acetonitrile–water solution of the bis-pyridyl hydrazone 1 and calcium chloride causes a photo-induced phase separation. It is coupled to a covalent library of imines, undergoing constitutional reorganization upon phase separation.

Triple ring contraction of a [2+2] macrocyclic ligand

Schiff base condensation of 2,6-diformylpyridine and 1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol in the presence of a BaII template ion yields a complex containing a [2+2] macrocycle, [Ba₂(μ1,2-ClO₄)₂(H₂L1)₂], where H₂L1 is 3,7,15,19,25,26-hexaazatricyclo[19.3.1.1(9,13)]hexacosa-1(25),2,7,9(26),10,12,14,19,21,23-decaene-5,17-diol. On transmetallation with CuII cations, the macrocycle undergoes three successive ring contractions, yielding crystals of (acetato-κO)[26,28-dioxa-3,7,15,19,25,27-hexaazahexacyclo[19.3.1.1(2,5).1(9,13).1(17,10).0(3,8)]octacosa-1(25),9(27),10,12,14,21,23-heptaene-κ⁵N]copper(II) perchlorate, [Cu(CH₃COO)(C₂₀H₂₂N₆O₂)]ClO₄ or [Cu(CH₃COO)(L2)]ClO₄, in which the macrocycle ring size has been reduced from 20 members in H₂L1 to 16 in L2.

Molecular marriage through partner preferences in covalent cage formation and cage-to-cage transformation

Unprecedented self-sorting of three-dimensional purely organic cages driven by dynamic covalent bonds is described. Four different cages were first synthesized by condensation of two triamines and two dialdehydes separately. When a mixture of all the components was allowed to react, only two cages were formed, which suggests a high-fidelity self-recognition. The issue of the preference of one triamine for a particular dialdehyde was further probed by transforming a non-preferred combination to either of the two preferred combinations by reacting it with the appropriate triamine or dialdehyde.