Secondary Structure in Nonpeptidic Supramolecular Block Copolymers

Computer-aided molecular design and optimization of potent inhibitors disrupting APC‒Asef interaction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. At initial diagnosis, approximately 20% of patients are diagnosed with metastatic CRC (mCRC). Although the APC‒Asef interaction is a well-established target for mCRC therapy, the discovery and development of effective and safe drugs for mCRC patients remains an urgent and challenging endeavor. In this study, we identified a novel structural scaffold based on MAI inhibitors, the first-in-class APC‒Asef inhibitors we reported previously. ONIOM model-driven optimizations of the N-terminal cap and experimental evaluations of inhibitory activity were performed, and 24-fold greater potency was obtained with the best inhibitor compared to the parental compound. In addition, the cocrystal structure validated that the two-layer π‒π stacking interactions were essential for inhibitor stabilization in the bound state. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that novel inhibitors suppressed lung metastasis in CRC by disrupting the APC‒Asef interaction. These results provide an intrinsic structural basis to further explore drug-like molecules for APC‒Asef-mediated CRC therapy.

Stimuli-responsive synthetic helical polymers

Synthetic dynamic helical polymers (supramolecular and covalent) and foldamers share the helix as a structural motif. Although the materials are different, these systems also share many structural properties, such as helix induction or conformational communication mechanisms. The introduction of stimuli responsive building blocks or monomer repeating units in these materials triggers conformational or structural changes, due to the presence/absence of the external stimulus, which are transmitted to the helix resulting in different effects, such as assymetry amplification, helix inversion or even changes in the helical scaffold (elongation, J/H helical aggregates). In this review, we show through selected examples how different stimuli (e.g., temperature, solvents, cations, anions, redox, chiral additives, pH or light) can alter the helical structures of dynamic helical polymers (covalent and supramolecular) and foldamers acting on the conformational composition or molecular structure of their components, which is also transmitted to the macromolecular helical structure.

Opportunities and Challenges of Metal-Organic Framework Micro/Nano Reactors for Cascade Reactions

Building bridges among different types of catalysts to construct cascades is a highly worthwhile pursuit, such as chemo-, bio-, and chemo-bio cascade reactions. Cascade reactions can improve the reaction efficiency and selectivity while reducing steps of separation and purification, thereby promoting the development of "green chemistry". However, compatibility issues in cascade reactions pose significant constraints on the development of this field, particularly concerning the compatibility of diverse catalyst types, reaction conditions, and reaction rates. Metal-organic framework micro/nano reactors (MOF-MNRs) are porous crystalline materials formed by the self-assembly coordination of metal sites and organic ligands, possessing a periodic network structure. Due to the uniform pore size with the capability of controlling selective transfer of substances as well as protecting active substances and the organic-inorganic parts providing reactive microenvironment, MOF-MNRs have attracted significant attention in cascade reactions in recent years. In this Perspective, we first discuss how to address compatibility issues in cascade reactions using MOF-MNRs, including structural design and synthetic strategies. Then we summarize the research progress on MOF-MNRs in various cascade reactions. Finally, we analyze the challenges facing MOF-MNRs and potential breakthrough directions and opportunities for the future.

Orthogonal Supramolecular Assemblies Using Side-Chain Functionalized Helical Poly(isocyanide)s

Mimicking the structure of proteins using synthetic polymers requires building blocks with structural similarity and the use of various noncovalent and dynamic covalent interactions. We report the synthesis of helical poly(isocyanide)s bearing diaminopyridine and pyridine side-chains and the multistep functionalization of the polymers' side-chains using hydrogen bonding and metal coordination. The orthogonality of the hydrogen bonding and metal coordination was proved by varying the sequence of the multistep assembly. The two side-chain functionalizations are reversible through the use of competitive solvents and/or competing ligands. Throughout the assembly and disassembly, the helical conformation of the polymer backbone is sustained as proved by circular dichroism spectroscopy. These results open the possibility to incorporate helical domains into complex polymer architectures and create a helical scaffold for smart materials.

Fabrication of Multilayered Two-Dimensional Micelles and Fibers by Controlled Self-Assembly of Rod-Coil Block Copolymers

Fabricating hierarchical nanomaterials by self-assembly of rod-coil block copolymers attracts great interest. However, the key factors that affect the formation of the hierarchical nanomaterials have not been thoroughly researched. Herein, we have synthesized two diblock copolymers composed of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Through a heating, cooling, and aging process, a series of multilayered hierarchical micelles and fibers were prepared in alcoholic solutions. The transition from fibers to hierarchical micelles are strictly influenced by the strength of the π-π stacking interaction, the PEG chain length, and solvent. In isopropanol, the P3HT₂₂-b-PEG₄₃ could self-assemble into hierarchical micelles composed of several two-dimensional (2D) laminar layers, driven by the π-π stacking interaction and van der Waals force. The P3HT₂₂-b-PEG₄₃ could not self-assemble into well-defined nanostructures in methanol and ethanol, but could self-assemble into fibers in isobutanol. However, the P3HT₂₂-b-PEG₁₁₃ with a longer corona block only self-assembled into fibers in four alcoholic solutions, due to the increase in dissolving capacity and steric hindrance. The sizes and the size distributions of the nanostructures both increased with the increase in polymer concentration and the decrease in solvent polarity. This study shows a method to fabricate the hierarchical micelles.

Supramolecular Helical Miktoarm Star Polymers

We report a hydrogen-bonded supramolecular miktoarm star polymer containing three distinct helical arms. Our design involves two helical poly(methacrylamide) arms connected by a barbituric acid (Ba) at the center, prepared through the reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization with a bifunctional agent. Together with a telechelic helical poly(isocyanide) end-functionalized with a Hamilton Wedge (HW) that is complementary to Ba, the two components assemble into an AB₂-type star copolymer. The assembly is driven by the hydrogen bonding between HW and Ba, which is quantified by ¹H NMR titration and isothermal titration calorimetry. Gel-permeation chromatography provides evidence for the formation of the desired miktoarm star architecture. This strategy of site-specific functionalization on helical polymers provides a modular approach to preparing nonlinear supramolecular ensembles with topologically diverse building blocks.

Aromatic Foldamers as Molecular Springs in Network Polymers

Polymer networks crosslinked with spring-like ortho-phenylene (oP) foldamers were developed. NMR analysis indicated the oP crosslinkers were well-folded. Polymer networks with oP-based crosslinkers showed enhanced energy dissipation and elasticity compared...

Alkyne-Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Living Polymerization of Isocyanides: An Exploration of Diverse Structures and Functions

Inspired by the perfect helical structures and the resulting exquisite functions of biomacromolecules, helical polymers have attracted increasing attention in recent years. Polyisocyanide is well known for its distinctive rodlike helical structure and various applications in chiral recognition, enantiomer separation, circularly polarized luminescence, liquid crystallization, and other fields. Although various methods and catalysts for isocyanide polymerization have been reported, the precise synthesis of helical polyisocyanides with controlled molecular weight, low dispersity, and high tacticity remains a formidable challenge. Owing to a limited synthesis strategy, the controlled synthesis of topological polyisocyanides has barely been realized. This Accounts highlights our recent endeavors to explore novel catalysts for the living polymerization of isocyanides. Fortunately, we discovered that alkyne-Pd(II) catalysts could initiate the living polymerization of isocyanides, resulting in helical polyisocyanides with controlled structures, high tacticity, and tunable compositions. These catalysts are applicable to various isocyanide monomers, including alkyl isocyanides, aryl isocyanides, and diisocyanobenzene derivatives. Incorporating chiral bidentate phosphine ligands onto alkyne-Pd(II) complexes formed chiral Pd(II) catalysts, which promoted the asymmetric living polymerization of achiral isocyanide, yielding single left- and right-handed helices with highly optical activities.Using alkyne-Pd(II) catalysts, various topological polyisocyanides have been facilely prepared, including hybrid block copolymers, bottlebrush polymers, core cross-linked star polymers, and organic/inorganic nanoparticles. For instance, various hybrid block polyisocyanides were easily produced by coupling alkyne-Pd(II)-catalyzed living isocyanide polymerization with controlled radical polymerization and ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Combining the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene with Pd(II)-catalyzed isocyanide polymerization, bottlebrush polyisocyanides and core cross-linked star polymers were easily prepared. Pd(II)-catalyzed living polymerization of poly(lactic acid)s with isocyanide termini resulted in densely grafted bottlebrush polyisocyanides with closely packed side chains. Moreover, the surface-initiated living polymerization of isocyanides produced a family of polyisocyanide-grafted organic/inorganic hybrid nanoparticles using nanoparticles with alkyne-Pd(II) catalysts anchored on the surfaces. Surprisingly, the nanoparticles and star polymers with helical polyisocyanide arms performed exceptionally well in terms of chiral recognition and resolution. Incorporated organocatalysts such as proline and prolinol units onto the pendants of optically active helical polyisocyanides, a family of polymer-based chiral organocatalysts, were generated, which showed significantly improved stereoselectivity for the asymmetric Aldol reaction and Michael addition and can be easily recycled.Using a chiral alkyne-Pd(II) catalyst, single-handed helical polyisocyanides bearing naphthalene and pyrene probes were produced from achiral isocyanide monomers. These polymers showed excellent self-sorting properties as revealed using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) investigation and were self-assembled into two-dimensional (2D) smectic nanostructures driven by both helicity and chain length. Incorporating helical poly(phenyl isocyanide) (PPI) onto semiconducting poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) induced the asymmetric assembly of the resulting P3HT-b-PPI copolymers into single-handed cylindrical micelles with controlled dimensions and tunable photoluminescence.

Intramolecular Folding of Coil-Helix Block Copolymers Induced by Quadrupole Interactions

True tertiary architectures with defined local secondary structures are rare in synthetic systems. Adapting well-developed synthetic building blocks and controlling their folding through diverse interactions can be a general approach toward this goal. In this contribution, the synthesis of 3D hierarchical assemblies with distinct secondary domains formed through the intramolecular folding of a block copolymer containing a coil-like poly(styrene) (PS) block with a helical poly(isocyanide) block induced by phenyl-pentafluorophenyl quadrupole interactions is reported. The PS block is prepared via atom-transfer radical polymerization and end functionalized with a nickel complex that serves as a macroinitiator for the polymerization of chiral isocyanides bearing pentafluorophenyl pendants. The folding behavior of the coil-helix block copolymers is investigated by dynamic light scattering, NMR spectroscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering, and differential scanning calorimetry.