High-Yielding Synthesis of Chiral Donor–Acceptor Catenanes

Template Assisted One-Pot Synthesis of [2], Linear [3], and Radial [4]Catenane via Click Reaction

Design and synthesis of higher order catenane are unexpectedly complex and involve precise cooperation among the precursors overcoming competing and opposing interactions. We achieved synthesis of [2], linear [3], radial [4] in a one-pot reaction by consecutive ring closing through click reactions. This synthesis gave three isolable products due to two, four, and six-click reactions between suitable coupling partners. Yields of the isolate templated-catenane decrease from lower to higher-ordered catenane (40 %, 12 %, and 4 %), probably due to the bite angle as well as the flexibility of the reacting partners. Removal of templating cobalt(III) ion leads to the formation of fully organic [2], linear [3], and radial [4]catenane. These synthesized catenanes were purified by column chromatography and characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and ESI-MS spectroscopy. The synthesized catenanes have free binding sites suitable for post-functionalization and may be used for the synthesis of higher-ordered catenane.

Expanding structural diversity in a library of disulfide macrocycles through in-situ imide hydrolysis

We describe here an unorthodox approach to dynamic covalent chemistry in which the initially-unexpected in-situ hydrolysis of a bis-imide is employed to control the composition of a library of structurally diverse macrocycles. A single building block is used to generate a library of numerous disulfide-based architectures in a one-pot single-step process. The dual-stimuli method is based on simultaneous changes in pH and DMSO concentration to expand the structural diversity of the macrocyclic products. Mechanistic details of this complex process are investigated by the kinetics analysis. We delivered a facile strategy for the synthesis of water-soluble, multicomponent and dynamic macrocycles equipped with number of different functional groups, thus giving a prospect of their application in guest-driven phase transfer.

Sequence-complementarity dependent co-assembly of phosphodiester-linked aromatic donor–acceptor trimers

Sequence-defined trimers of phosphodiester-linked aromatic donor–acceptors self-assemble according to monomer order, and co-assemble into new structures with their complementary sequence.

Discovery of an all-donor aromatic [2]catenane

We report herein the first all-donor aromatic [2]catenane formed through dynamic combinatorial chemistry, using single component libraries. The building block is a benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene derivative, a π-donor molecule, with cysteine appendages that allow for disulfide exchange. The hydrophobic effect plays an essential role in the formation of the all-donor [2]catenane. The design of the building block allows the formation of a quasi-fused pentacyclic core, which enhances the stacking interactions between the cores. The [2]catenane has chiro-optical and fluorescent properties, being also the first known DCC-disulphide-based interlocked molecule to be fluorescent.

An all-donor [2]catenane has been synthesised via dynamic combinatorial chemistry. It features stacked benzodithiophenes which are quasi-pentacyclic through hydrogen bonding.

Structurally divergent dynamic combinatorial chemistry on racemic mixtures

Structurally Divergent Reactions on Racemic Mixtures are atypical processes in Nature. The few examples reported in the literature take place in organic solvents and are driven by the reagents’ interaction with bulky chiral catalysts. Herein, we describe a dynamic combinatorial approach to generate structural divergence from racemic building blocks. The divergence is due to a stereospecific electron-donor – electron-acceptor interaction of diastereomeric macrocycles, leading to structurally distinct pseudorotaxanes. The equilibrated dynamic combinatorial library contains, amongst various macrocycles, two different types of [2]catenanes that are non-isomeric. The formation of these [2]catenanes is due to a spontaneous stereo and structurally divergent assembly of the building blocks.

Structurally divergent reactions on racemic mixtures, which produce distinct chemical species from an enantiomeric mixture, are extremely rare in the literature. Here, the authors are able to use a dynamic combinatorial approach to yield structurally divergent, non-isomeric [2]catenanes from an enantiomeric mixture.

Pyrroloindole-Based Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry

We report a new class of building blocks for Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC) based on the pyrroloindole scaffold. The attachment of l-cysteine on the α, α′ positions of the core makes the molecule suitable for disulfide exchange in aqueous dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs). The synthesis of the core follows a modified version of the Knoevenagel–Hemetsberger approach. The new building block (l-PI) is fluorescent (Φ = 48%) and relatively stable towards thermal and photodegradation. The chirality of the cysteine is transferred to the electron-rich pyrroloindole core. Homo- and heterochiral DCLs of l-PI with electron-deficient l- and d-naphthalenediimide (NDI) lead to similar library distributions regardless of the enantiomer used. When no salt is present, the major component is a dimer, while dimers and tetramers are obtained at increased ionic strength.

Control over the macrocyclisation pathway and product topology in a copper-templated catenane synthesis

Strategies to control building block intertwining and the efficient assembly of a linear [4]catenane are presented.

Supramolecular complexation between chain-folding poly(ester-imide)s and polycyclic aromatics: a fractal-based pattern of NMR ring-current shielding

Supramolecular complexation of pyrene with a chain-folding, NDI-based co-poly(ester-imide) generates a ¹H NMR pattern showing fractal-type character.