Epoxidation of polybutadiene by a topologically linked catalyst

[2]Catenanes decorated with porphyrin and [60]fullerene groups: design, convergent synthesis, and photoinduced processes

A new class of [2]catenanes containing zinc(II)-porphyrin (ZnP) and/or [60]fullerene (C(60)) as appended groups has been prepared. A complete description of the convergent synthetic approach based on Cu(I) template methodology and "click" 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition chemistry is described. This new electron donor-acceptor catenane family has been subjected to extensive spectroscopic, computational, electrochemical and photophysical studies. (1)H NMR spectroscopy and computational analysis have revealed that the ZnP-C(60)-[2]catenane adopts an extended conformation with the chromophores as far as possible from each other. A detailed photophysical investigation has revealed that upon irradiation the ZnP singlet excited state initially transfers energy to the (phenanthroline)(2)-Cu(I) complex core, producing a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state, which in turn transfers an electron to the C(60) group, generating the ZnP-[Cu(phen)(2)](2+)-C(60)(*-) charge-separated state. A further charge shift from the [Cu(phen)(2)](2+) complex to the ZnP subunit, competitive with decay to the ground state, leads to the isoenergetic long distance ZnP(*+)-[Cu(phen)(2)](+)-C(60)(*-) charge-separated radical pair state, which slowly decays back to the ground state on the microsecond time scale. The slow rate of back-electron transfer indicates that in this interlocked system, as in previously studied covalently linked ZnP-C(60) hybrid materials, this process occurs in the Marcus-inverted region.

Successive catalytic reactions specific to Pd-based rotaxane complexes as a result of wheel translation along the axle

Rotaxane-structure-specific Pd-catalyzed rearrangement of propargyl urethane or allyl urethane groups to 2-oxazolidone or oxazolidinone moieties proceeded efficiently.

A synthetic small molecule that can walk down a track

Although chemists have made small-molecule rotary motors, to date there have been no reports of small-molecule linear motors. Here we describe the synthesis and operation of a 21-atom two-legged molecular unit that is able to walk up and down a four-foothold molecular track. High processivity is conferred by designing the track-binding interactions of the two feet to be labile under different sets of conditions such that each foot can act as a temporarily fixed pivot for the other. The walker randomly and processively takes zero or one step along the track using a 'passing-leg' gait each time the environment is switched between acid and base. Replacing the basic step with a redox-mediated, disulfide-exchange reaction directionally transports the bipedal molecules away from the minimum-energy distribution by a Brownian ratchet mechanism. The ultimate goal of such studies is to produce artificial, linear molecular motors that move directionally along polymeric tracks to transport cargoes and perform tasks in a manner reminiscent of biological motor proteins.

Inversion of product selectivity in an enzyme-inspired metallosupramolecular tweezer catalyzed epoxidation reaction

This study describes a heteroligated, hemilabile Pt(II)-P,S tweezer coordination complex that combines a chiral Jacobsen-Katsuki Mn(III)-salen epoxidation catalyst with an amidopyridine receptor, which leads to an inversion of the major epoxide product compared to catalysts without a recognition group.

Self-organized porphyrinic materials

The self-assembly and self-organization of porphyrins and related macrocycles enables the bottom-up fabrication of photonic materials for fundamental studies of the photophysics of these materials and for diverse applications. This rapidly developing field encompasses a broad range of disciplines including molecular design and synthesis, materials formation and characterization, and the design and evaluation of devices. Since the self-assembly of porphyrins by electrostatic interactions in the late 1980s to the present, there has been an ever increasing degree of sophistication in the design of porphyrins that self-assemble into discrete arrays or self-organize into polymeric systems. These strategies exploit ionic interactions, hydrogen bonding, coordination chemistry, and dispersion forces to form supramolecular systems with varying degrees of hierarchical order. This review concentrates on the methods to form supramolecular porphyrinic systems by intermolecular interactions other than coordination chemistry, the characterization and properties of these photonic materials, and the prospects for using these in devices. The review is heuristically organized by the predominant intermolecular interactions used and emphasizes how the organization affects properties and potential performance in devices.

Design and synthesis of porphyrin-containing catenanes and rotaxanes

Catenanes and rotaxanes containing porphyrin subunits have become popular synthetic targets because of the large variety of available synthetic strategies including the coordination chemistry of metallated porphyrins, coupled with the many attractive physical properties of porphyrins. This tutorial review outlines various synthetic approaches and templating strategies that have been used to prepare a range of mechanically interlocked architectures that incorporate porphyrins as fundamental subunits either grafted onto macrocycles or as stoppers. These species are of interest in relation to recreating natural processes such as the photosynthetic apparatus or enzyme binding sites.

Adiabatic operation of a molecular machine

Operation of a molecular machine is often thought of as a “far from equilibrium” process in which energy released by some high free energy fuel molecule or by light is used to drive a nonequilibrium “power stroke” to do work on the environment. Here we discuss how a molecular machine can be operated arbitrarily close to chemical equilibrium and still perform significant work at an appreciable rate: micrometer per second velocities against piconewton loads. As a specific example, we focus on a motor based on a three-ring catenane similar to that discussed by Leigh [Leigh DA, Wong JKY, Dehez F, Zerbetto F (2003) Nature 424:174–179]. The machine moves through its working cycle under the influence of external modulation of the energies of the states, where the modulation is carried out slowly enough that the state probabilities obey a Boltzmann equilibrium distribution at every instant. The mechanism can be understood in terms of the geometric phase [Berry MV (1990) Phys Today 43(12):34–40] in which the system moves adiabatically around a closed loop in parameter space, completing, on average, nearly one-half mechanical cycle each time it does so. Because the system is very close to equilibrium at every instant, the efficiency can approach 100%.

Oxidation chemistry of poly(ethylene glycol)-supported carbonylruthenium(II) and dioxoruthenium(VI) meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin

[Ru(II)(F(20)-tpp)(CO)] (1, F(20)-tpp=meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato dianion) was covalently attached to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through the reaction of 1 with PEG and sodium hydride in DMF. The water-soluble PEG-supported ruthenium porphyrin (PEG-1) is an efficient catalyst for 2,6-Cl(2)pyNO oxidation and PhI==NTs aziridination/amidation of hydrocarbons, and intramolecular amidation of sulfamate esters with PhI(OAc)(2). Oxidation of PEG-1 by m-CPBA in CH(2)Cl(2), dioxane, or water afforded a water-soluble PEG-supported dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrin (PEG-2), which could react with hydrocarbons to give oxidation products in up to 80 % yield. The behavior of the two PEG-supported ruthenium porphyrin complexes in water was probed by NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light-scattering measurements. PEG-2 is remarkably stable to water. The second-order rate constants (k(2)) for the oxidation of styrene and ethylbenzene by PEG-2 in dioxane-water increase with water content, and the k(2) values at a water content of 70 % or 80 % are up to 188 times that obtained in ClCH(2)CH(2)Cl.

Designing multistep transformations using the Hammett equation: imine exchange on a copper(I) template

Herein, we quantify how imine exchange may be used to selectively transform one metallo-organic structure into another. A series of imine exchange reactions were studied, involving a set of 4-substituted anilines, their 2-pyridylimines and 1,10-phenanthrolyl-2,9-diimines, as well as the copper complexes of these imine ligands. Electron-rich anilines were found to displace electron-poor anilines in all cases. Linear free energy relationships (LFERs) were discovered connecting the electron-donating or -withdrawing character of the 4-substituent of an aniline, as measured by the Hammett sigma(para) parameter, to that aniline's ability to compete with unsubstituted aniline to form imines. The quality of these LFERs allowed for quantitative predictions: to obtain the desired degree of selectivity in an imine exchange between anilines A and B, the required sigma(para) differential could be predicted using a variant of the Hammett equation, log(K(AB)) = rho(sigma(A) - sigma(B)). We validated this methodology by designing and executing a three-step transformation of a series of copper(I)-containing structures. Each step proceeded in predictably high yield, as calculated from sigma differentials. At each step in the series of transformations, macrocyclic structures could be created or destroyed through the selection of mono- or di-amines as subcomponents. The same methodology could be used to predict the formation of a diverse dynamic library of helicates from a set of four aniline precursors, as well as the collapse of this library into one helicate upon the addition of a fifth aniline.

Biomimetic Interactions of Proteins with Functionalized Nanoparticles: A Thermodynamic Study

Gold nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with L-amino acid-terminated monolayers provide an effective platform for the recognition of protein surfaces. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to quantify the binding thermodynamics of these functional NPs with alpha-chymotrypsin (ChT), histone, and cytochrome c (CytC). The enthalpy and entropy changes for the complex formation depend upon the nanoparticle structure and the surface characteristics of the proteins, e.g., distributions of charged and hydrophobic residues on the surface. Enthalpy-entropy compensation studies on these NP-protein systems indicate an excellent linear correlation between DeltaH and TDeltaS with a slope (alpha) of 1.07 and an intercept (TDeltaS0) of 35.2 kJ mol(-1). This behavior is closer to those of native protein-protein systems (alpha = 0.92 and TDeltaS0 = 41.1 kJ mol(-1)) than other protein-ligand and synthetic host-guest systems.

A dynamic tricopper double helicate

The reaction between 8-aminoquinoline, 1,10-phenantholine-2,9-dicarbaldehyde, and copper(I) tetrafluoroborate gave a quantitative yield of a tricopper double helicate. The presence of dynamic covalent imine (C=N) bonds allowed this assembly to participate in two reactions not previously known in helicate chemistry: 1) It could be prepared through subcomponent substitution from a dicopper double helicate that contained aniline residues. An electron-poor aniline was quantitatively displaced; a more electron-rich aniline competed effectively with the aminoquinoline, setting up an equilibrium between dicopper and tricopper helicates that could be displaced towards the tricopper through the addition of further copper(I). 2) Both dicopper and tricopper helicates could be prepared simultaneously from a mixture of phenanthroline dialdehyde, aniline, and aminoquinoline, which contained all possible imine condensation products in equilibrium. Following the addition of copper(I), thermodynamic equilibration on both covalent and coordinative levels eliminated all partially-formed and mixed imine ligands from the mixture, leaving the helicates as exclusive products.

Kinetic and Thermodynamic Selectivity in Subcomponent Substitution

Within assemblies prepared by metal-templated imine condensation, one amine residue (subcomponent) may be replaced with another through substitution reactions. Proton transfer from a more to a less acidic amine may be used as the driving force for substitution. Herein, we detail the development of a set of selectivity rules to predict the outcome of subcomponent substitution reactions when several different substrates are present. When both iron and copper complexes were present, substitution occurred preferentially at imines bound to copper. This preference was kinetic in nature in the absence of a chelating amine subcomponent: The different amine residues were found to scramble between the copper and iron complexes following an initial clean substitution at the copper-bound imine. When both chelating and nonchelating amine subcomponents were present, the preference became thermodynamic in nature. Only the nonchelating amine was substituted and no evidence of scrambling was found after the reaction mixture was heated to 50 degrees C for several days. This thermodynamic selectivity, based on the chelate effect, operated in mixtures of Cu(I) and Fe(II) complexes, and in systems containing only Fe(II) complexes.

Processive Rotaxane Systems. Studies on the Mechanism and Control of the Threading Process

The threading behavior of a zinc analogue of a previously reported processive manganese porphyrin catalyst onto a series of polymers of different lengths is reported. It is demonstrated that the speed of the threading process is determined by the opening of the cavity of the toroidal porphyrin host, which can be tuned with the help of axial ligands that coordinate to the metal center in the porphyrin.

Synthesis of a [2]rotaxane incorporating a Ni(II)-salen moiety: evidence of ring-opening-and-closing protocol

[reaction: see text] We have synthesized a [2]rotaxane from a crown-ether-like macrocycle that undergoes ring opening and closing through cleavage and formation of imino bonds of a salen moiety; the self-assembly of this macrocycle and a dumbbell-shaped rodlike component, followed by addition of nickel acetate, afforded, after counterion exchange, a [2]rotaxane that is stabilized through coordination of the Ni ion to the macrocycle's salen moiety.

A molecular information ratchet

Motor proteins and other biological machines are highly efficient at converting energy into directed motion and driving chemical systems away from thermodynamic equilibrium. But even though these biological structures have inspired the design of many molecules that mimic aspects of their behaviour, artificial nanomachine systems operate almost exclusively by moving towards thermodynamic equilibrium, not away from it. Here we show that information about the location of a macrocycle in a rotaxane-a molecular ring threaded onto a molecular axle-can be used, on the input of light energy, to alter the kinetics of the shuttling of the macrocycle between two compartments on the axle. For an ensemble of such molecular machines, the macrocycle distribution is directionally driven away from its equilibrium value without ever changing the relative binding affinities of the ring for the different parts of the axle. The selective transport of particles between two compartments by brownian motion in this way bears similarities to the hypothetical task performed without an energy input by a 'demon' in Maxwell's famous thought experiment. Our observations demonstrate that synthetic molecular machines can operate by an information ratchet mechanism, in which knowledge of a particle's position is used to control its transport away from equilibrium.

Synthetic molecular motors and mechanical machines

The widespread use of controlled molecular-level motion in key natural processes suggests that great rewards could come from bridging the gap between the present generation of synthetic molecular systems, which by and large rely upon electronic and chemical effects to carry out their functions, and the machines of the macroscopic world, which utilize the synchronized movements of smaller parts to perform specific tasks. This is a scientific area of great contemporary interest and extraordinary recent growth, yet the notion of molecular-level machines dates back to a time when the ideas surrounding the statistical nature of matter and the laws of thermodynamics were first being formulated. Here we outline the exciting successes in taming molecular-level movement thus far, the underlying principles that all experimental designs must follow, and the early progress made towards utilizing synthetic molecular structures to perform tasks using mechanical motion. We also highlight some of the issues and challenges that still need to be overcome.

Crystallographic and Chiroptical Studies on Tetraarylferrocenes for Use as Chiral Rotary Modules for Molecular Machines

A crystal structure of the racemic form of chiral molecular scissors 1 with a trans configuration at the azobenzene unit (rac-trans-1), in which the scissors adopt a closed geometry with two blade phenyl groups that overlap each other, was successfully determined. X-ray crystallographic determination of the structure of (1S,1'S)-10, which is a derivative of the key precursor of trans-1, was also successful. On the basis of the crystal structure of (1S,1'S)-10, the absolute configuration of 1 and related molecular machines, such as molecular pedal 2, and self-locking rotor 3, which all contain a chiral tetrasubstituted ferrocene module, were determined. A correlation between the absolute configuration and the circular dichroism properties of these molecular machines and their synthetic precursors was also determined.

Construction, substitution, and sorting of metallo-organic structures via subcomponent self-assembly

Subcomponent self-assembly allows the construction of complex architectures from simple building blocks via formation of covalent bonds around metal templates. Since both covalent and coordinative bonds are formed reversibly, a wealth of rearrangement reactions is possible involving substitution at both intraligand (often C=N) and metal-ligand (N --> metal) bonds. If the possibilities latent within a set of subcomponents and metal ions are understood, one may also select specific structures from among dynamic libraries of products. The parallel preparation of structures from "nonorthogonal" mixtures of subcomponents is also possible, as is the direction of subcomponents to specific sites within product structures.

pH driven self-assembly of a ternary lanthanide luminescence complex: the sensing of anions using a β-diketonate-Eu(iii) displacement assay

The synthesis and the photophysical evaluation of a novel pH dependent lanthanide luminescent self-assembly in water between a cyclen based europium complex and a beta-diketonate is described and its use as a luminescent sensor in displacement assays for anions such as acetate, bicarbonate and lactate, where the Eu(III) emission was quenched upon anion recognition.

Processive enzyme mimic: Kinetics and thermodynamics of the threading and sliding process

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the threading and dethreading process of polymers through the cavity of a synthetic toroidal host is investigated by studying its complexation with a series of end-functionalized polymers of different lengths containing an end group that is selectively recognized by the host. The system is designed in such a way that complexation is only observed if the host has traveled all of the way across the complete polymer. Detailed kinetic investigations using fluorescence spectroscopy have revealed that the barrier for this process is length dependent and most likely related to the stretching of the polymer. Moreover, the results indicate that our previously reported processive enzyme mimic most likely operates by randomly sliding along its macromolecular substrate.

Reversal of Regioselectivity and Enhancement of Rates of Nitrile Oxide Cycloadditions through Transient Attachment of Dipolarophiles to Cyclodextrins

The reactions of nitrile oxides with monosubstituted dipolarophiles, such as propiolamide, typically afford proportionally 80 % or more of the 3,5-disubstituted cycloadducts. By contrast, the reactions of 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-propynamido-beta-cyclodextrin with 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide and 4-phenylbenzonitrile oxide afford >90 % and approximately 85 % of the corresponding 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles, respectively. As well as reversing the regioselectivity, the cyclodextrin increases the rates of these cycloadditions. The extent of the acceleration is up to more than three orders of magnitude for the production of the cycloadduct preferred by the cyclodextrin, but even the rate of reaction to give the less favored regioisomer is increased. With 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-propynamido-beta-cyclodextrin, the cycloadducts are not easily separated from the cyclodextrin, as the amide bond is not readily cleaved. In comparison, the regioselectivity of the cycloadditions of 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and crotonic acid is also altered by formation of the corresponding cyclodextrin esters, by factors of 500, >10, and >100, respectively. The rates of cycloaddition are also increased by up to 475 times, and in these cases the products of cycloaddition are readily released from the cyclodextrin through ester hydrolysis. Incorporating these processes into a reaction cycle, acylation of beta-cyclodextrin with p-nitrophenyl acrylate and subsequent treatment first with 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide and then with base, the latter to catalyze ester hydrolysis and regenerate the beta-cyclodextrin, affords proportionally fivefold more of the 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoline than is produced directly from acrylic acid.

Rotational Reorganization of Doped Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Films

In this paper an unprecedented rotational reorganization of cholesteric liquid crystalline films is described. This rotational reorganization results from the conversion of a chiral molecular motor dopant to an isomer with a different helical twisting power, leading to a change in the cholesteric pitch. The direction of this reorganization is correlated to the sign of the change in helical twisting power of the dopant. The rotational reorganization of the liquid crystalline film was used to rotate microscopic objects 4 orders of magnitude larger than the bistable dopants in the film, which shows that molecular motors and switches can perform work. The surface of the doped cholesteric liquid crystalline films was found to possess a regular surface relief, whose periodicity coincides with typical cholesteric polygonal line textures. These surface features originate from the cholesteric superstructure in the liquid crystalline film, which in turn is the result of the presence of the chiral dopant. As such, the presence of the dopant is expressed in these distinct surface structures. A possible mechanism at the origin of the rotational reorganization of liquid crystalline films and the cholesteric surface relief is discussed.

Making molecular machines work

In this review we chart recent advances in what is at once an old and very new field of endeavour--the achievement of control of motion at the molecular level including solid-state and surface-mounted rotors, and its natural progression to the development of synthetic molecular machines. Besides a discussion of design principles used to control linear and rotary motion in such molecular systems, this review will address the advances towards the construction of synthetic machines that can perform useful functions. Approaches taken by several research groups to construct wholly synthetic molecular machines and devices are compared. This will be illustrated with molecular rotors, elevators, valves, transporters, muscles and other motor functions used to develop smart materials. The demonstration of molecular machinery is highlighted through recent examples of systems capable of effecting macroscopic movement through concerted molecular motion. Several approaches to illustrate how molecular motor systems have been used to accomplish work are discussed. We will conclude with prospects for future developments in this exciting field of nanotechnology.

Formation, Dynamic Behavior, and Chemical Transformation of Pt Complexes with a Rotaxane-like Structure

The reaction of [Pt(CH2COMe)(Ph)(cod)] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with (ArCH2NH2CH2-C6H4COOH)+ (PF6)- (Ar = 4-tBuC6H4 or 9-anthryl) in the presence of cyclic oligoethers such as dibenzo[24]crown-8 (DB24C8) and dicyclohexano[24]crown-8 (DC24C8) produces {(ce)[ArCH2NH2CH2C6H4COOPt(Ph)(cod)]}+ (PF6)- (ce = DB24C8 or DC24C8, Ar = 4-tBuC6H4 or 9-anthryl) with interlocked structures. FABMS and NMR spectra of a solution of these compounds indicate that the Pt complexes with a secondary ammonium group and DB24C8 (or DC24C8) make up the axis and cyclic components, respectively. Temperature-dependent 1H NMR spectra of a solution of {(DB24C8)[4-tBuC6H4CH2NH2CH2-C6H4COOPt(Ph)(cod)]}+ (PF6)- ({(DB24C8)[4-H]}+ (PF6)-) show equilibration with free DB24C8 and the axis component. The addition of DB24C8 to a solution of {(DC24C8)[4-H]}+ (PF6)- causes partial exchange of the macrocyclic component of the interlocked molecules, giving a mixture of {(DC24C8)[4-H]}+ (PF6)-, {(DB24C8)[4-H]}+ (PF6)-, and free macrocyclic compounds. The reaction of 3,5-Me2C6H3COCl with {(DB24C8)[4-H]}+ (PF6)- affords the organic rotaxane {(DB24C8)(4-tBuC6H4CH2NH2CH2-C6H4COOCOC6H3Me2-3,5)}+ (PF6)- through C-O bond formation between the aroyl group and the carboxylate ligand of the axis component. The addition of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) to a solution of {(DB24C8)[4-H]}+ (PF6)- induces the degradation of the interlocked structure to form a complex with trigonal bipyramidal coordination, [Pt(Ph)(bpy)(cod)]+ (PF6)-, whereas the reaction of bpy with [Pt(OCOC6H4Me-4)(Ph)(cod)] produces the square-planar complex [Pt(OCOC6H4Me-4)(Ph)(bpy)].