Four-Stranded Coordination Helices Containing Silver−Adenine (Purine) Metallaquartets

Hybrid Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks: Structures and Functional Applications

As a new class of porous crystalline materials, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) assembled from building blocks by hydrogen bonds have gained increasing attention. HOFs benefit from advantages including mild synthesis, easy purification, and good recyclability. However, some HOFs transform into unstable frameworks after desolvation, which hinders their further applications. Nowadays, the main challenges of developing HOFs lie in stability improvement, porosity establishment, and functionalization. Recently, more and more stable and permanently porous HOFs have been reported. Of all these design strategies, stronger charge-assisted hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds have been proven to be effective for developing stable, porous, and functional solids called hybrid HOFs, including ionic and metallized HOFs. This Review discusses the rational design synthesis principles of hybrid HOFs and their cutting-edge applications in selective inclusion, proton conduction, gas separation, catalysis and so forth.

Anion–Cation Recognition Pattern, Thermal Stability and DFT-Calculations in the Crystal Structure of H2dap[Cd(HEDTA)(H2O)] Salt (H2dap = H2(N3,N7)-2,6-Diaminopurinium Cation)

The proton transfer between equimolar amounts of [Cd(H2EDTA)(H2O)] and 2,6-diaminopurine (Hdap) yielded crystals of the out-of-sphere metal complex H2(N3,N7)dap[Cd(HEDTA)(H2O)]·H2O (1) that was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, FT-IR spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT) and quantum theory of “atoms-in-molecules” (QTAIM) methods. The crystal was mainly dominated by H-bonds, favored by the observed tautomer of the 2,6-diaminopurinium(1+) cation. Each chelate anion was H-bonded to three neighboring cations; two of them were also connected by a symmetry-related anti-parallel π,π-staking interaction. Our results are in clear contrast with that previously reported for H2(N1,N9)ade [Cu(HEDTA)(H2O)]·2H2O (EGOWIG in Cambridge Structural Database (CSD), Hade = adenine), in which H-bonds and π,π-stacking played relevant roles in the anion–cation interaction and the recognition between two pairs of ions, respectively. Factors contributing in such remarkable differences are discussed on the basis of the additional presence of the exocyclic 2-amino group in 2,6-diaminopurinium(1+) ion.

Metal-Organocatalyst for Detoxification of Phosphorothioate Pesticides: Demonstration of Acetylcholine Esterase Activity

In recent years, transition metal complexes have been developed for catalytical degradation of a phosphate ester bond, particularly in RNA and DNA; however, less consideration has been given for development of complexes for the degradation of a phosphorothioate bond, as they are the foremost used pesticides in the environment and are toxic to human beings. In this context, we have developed copper complexes of benzimidazolium based ligands for catalytical degradation of a series of organophosphates (parathion, paraoxon, methyl-parathion) at ambient conditions. The copper complexes (assigned as N1-N3) were characterized using single X-ray crystallography which revealed that all three complexes are mononuclear and distorted square planner in geometry. Further, the solution state studies of the prepared complexes were carried out using UV-visible absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltametry. The complexes N1 and N2 have benzimidazolium ionic liquid as base attached with two 2-mercapto-benzimidazole pods, whereas complex N3 contains a nonionic ligand. The synthesized copper complexes were evaluated for their catalytic activity for degradation of organophosphates. It is interesting that the complex containing the ionic ligand efficiently degrades phosphorothioate pesticides, whereas complex N3 was not found to be appropriate for degradation due to a weaker conversion rate. The organophosphate degradation studies were monitored by recording absorbance spectra of parathion in the presence of catalyst, i.e., copper complexes with respect to time. The parathion was hydrolyzed into para-nitrophenol and diethyl thiophosphate. Moreover, to analyze the inhibition activity of the pesticides toward acetylcholine esterase enzyme in the presence of prepared metal complexes, Ellman's assay was performed and revealed that, within 20 min, the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase enzyme decreases by up to 13%.

Luminescent Silver-Purine Double Helicate: Synthesis, Self-Assembly and Antibacterial Action

The synthesis, self-assembly and antibacterial activity of a luminescent silver-purine double helicate is reported. The structure of the newly synthesized silver-supported helicate [C₃₆ H₂₄ N₁₆ O₄ Cl₅ Ag₁ ] was unambiguously characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. It exhibited a bright bluish-green emission (λ_max =460 nm), when excited with 380 nm light. Microscopic investigations showed that the complex has a propensity to self-assemble into nanospheres. The antibacterial activity of this silver-containing helicate was studied against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) values showed that the complex is very active against Gram-negative bacteria. Further internalization of the silver complex into E. coli bacteria was mapped with the help of microscopic techniques. These results are significant as silver was recently found to enhance antibiotic action against Gram-negative bacteria, raising hope in countering severe bacterial infections.

Synthesis and structure of a coordination polymer based on 6-furylpurine

The synthesis and structure of [Ag(9-methyl-6-furylpurine)(NO3)] n are reported. The title compound represents a rare example of a purine derivative metalated at all three endocyclic nitrogen atoms. It forms a two-dimensional coordination polymer comprising 14-membered trinuclear metallacycles. Density functional theory calculations helped to understand the metal-binding behavior of the 6-furylpurine moiety by showing the silver(I)-binding affinities of all three nitrogen donor atoms to be essentially identical under aqueous conditions.

Purinyl N(3)-Directed Palladium-Catalyzed C-H Alkoxylation of N(9)-Arylpurines: A Late-Stage Strategy to Synthesize N(9)-(ortho-Alkoxyl)arylpurines

A palladium-catalyzed alkoxylation of N(9)-arylpurines with primary or secondary alcohols has been developed successfully, which is a rare C-H activation reaction of polynitrogenated purines and offers a late-stage strategy to synthesize N(9)-(ortho-alkoxyl)arylpurines. Although there are more than four nitrogen atoms present in the purine moiety, the reaction can be effectively conducted by sterically blocking the N(1) site for catalyst coordination and first employing the purinyl N(3) atom as a directing group.

A (3,6)-connected layer with an unprecedented adeninate nucleobase-derived heptanuclear disc

A (3,6)-connected layer with an adeninate nucleobase-derived Cu^II₇ disc was reported, in which six spin-parallel Cu^II ions in the exterior of the disc are antiferromagnetically coupled with the central one to give an S = 5/2 ground-state.

Guanine-copper coordination polymers: crystal analysis and application as thin film precursors

Three copper-N9-modified guanine complexes are reported with structures ranging from a discrete trinuclear motif to a mixed-valence coordination polymer. These complexes were used as precursors for the deposition and growth of copper oxide thin films on Si(100), at two different annealing temperatures, by using a CVD technique. Subsequent resistivity measurements suggest the formation of conductive thin films, raising the possibility of using nucleobase-metal complexes as versatile thin film precursors.

Crystal engineering with a purine rare tautomer: structures and luminescence properties

Cadmium interacts with purine nucleobases through N7 imino nitrogen and alters their amino–imino tautomeric equilibrium. Herein, we report unique crystallographic signatures and luminescence properties of cadmium complexes of N9-benzyl-N⁶-methoxyadenine exhibiting a variety of coordination numbers and spatial geometries.

Ca2+ metal ion adducts with cytosine, cytidine and cytidine 5′-monophosphate: a comprehensive study of calcium reactivity towards building units of nucleic acids

Six new Ca(ii) adducts with cytosine (cyt), cytidine (H₂cyd) and cytidine 5′-monophosphate (CMP) are presented. H₂cyd and CMP show unprecedented binding sites for the calcium ion.

Semiconductive and magnetic one-dimensional coordination polymers of Cu(II) with modified nucleobases

Four new copper(II) coordination complexes, obtained by reaction of CuX2 (X = acetate or chloride) with thymine-1-acetic acid and uracil-1-propionic acid as ligands, of formulas [Cu(TAcO)2(H2O)4]·4H2O (1), [Cu(TAcO)2(H2O)2]n (2), [Cu3(TAcO)4(H2O)2(OH)2]n·4H2O (3), and [Cu3(UPrO)2Cl2(OH)2(H2O)2]n (4) (TAcOH = thymine-1-acetic acid, UPrOH = uracil-1-propionic acid) are described. While 1 is a discrete complex, 2-4 are one-dimensional coordination polymers. Complexes 2-4 present dc conductivity values between 10(-6) and 10(-9) S/cm(-1). The magnetic behavior of complex 2 is typical for almost isolated Cu(II) metal centers. Moderate-weak antiferromagnetic interactions have been found in complex 3, whereas a combination of strong and weak antiferromagnetic interactions have been found in complex 4. Quantum computational calculations have been done to estimate the individual "J" magnetic coupling constant for each superexchange pathway in complexes 3 and 4. Compounds 2-4 are the first known examples of semiconductor and magnetic coordination polymers containing nucleobases.

Ag(+)-mediated assembly of 5'-guanosine monophosphate

Polymorphic forms of nucleic acids provide platforms for new nanomaterials, and transition metal cations give access to alternative arrangements of nucleobases by coordinating with electron-rich functional groups. Interaction of Ag(+) with 5'-guanosine monophosphate (5'-GMP) is considered in this work. Ag(+) promotes nucleotide stacking and aggregation, as indicated by the increased viscosity of 5'-GMP solutions with Ag(+), magnification of the circular dichroism response of guanine by Ag(+), and exothermic reactions between Ag(+) and guanine derivatives. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies show that the reaction is favored starting at 10 microM 5'-GMP. Utilizing the exothermic heat change associated with reaction of Ag(+) with 5'-GMP, local structure within the aggregate was assessed. On the basis of the salt dependence of the reaction and comparison with the corresponding nucleoside, the dianionic phosphate of 5'-GMP is one binding site for Ag(+), although this electrostatic interaction is not a dominant contribution to the overall heat change. Another binding site is the N7 on the nucleobase, as determined via studies with 7-deazaguanosine. Besides this binding site, Ag(+) also associates with the O6, as earlier studies deduced from the shift in the carbonyl stretching frequency associated with adduct formation. With these two binding sites on the nucleobase, the empirical stoichiometry of approximately 1 Ag(+):nucleobase derived from the calorimetry studies indicates that Ag(+) coordinates two nucleobases. The proposed structural model is a Ag(+)-mediated guanine dimer within a base stacked aggregate.

The many facets of adenine: coordination, crystal patterns, and catalysis

Canonical purine-pyrimidine base pairs, the key to the complementary hydrogen bonding in nucleic acids, are fundamental molecular recognition motifs crucial for the formation and stability of double-helical DNA. Consequently, focused study and modeling of nucleobase hydrogen-bonding schemes have spawned a vast array of chemical and biophysical investigations. The Watson-Crick, reverse Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen, and reverse Hoogsteen hydrogen-bonding schemes stabilize various nucleic acid structures. As a result, numerous modified bases have been designed to maximize such interactions, addressing specific problems related to base pairing and giving rise to supramolecular ensembles in solution or in the solid state. It is also important to realize that suitably predisposed imino nitrogens and other functional groups present in heterocyclic nucleobases present a versatile molecular framework for the construction of coordination architectures, which may be harnessed to mimic base polyads and higher order nucleic acid structures. Adenine, a purine nucleobase, is an important naturally occurring nitrogen heterocycle present in nucleic acids. It is notable that the adenine unit is also frequently encountered as an inextricable part of enzyme cofactors and second messenger systems, such as NAD(+), FADH(2), and cAMP, which are essential for certain catalytic reactions and biochemical processes. In addition, a crucial catalytic role of the adenine moiety is also observed in group II intron catalysis and at the ribosomal peptidyltransferase center. Such versatile functional roles of the adenine framework serve as an inspiration for addressing research problems, ranging from classical coordination chemistry to the development of new materials. In this Account, we begin by describing the emerging use of adenine nucleobase for the design of metal-nucleobase frameworks. The coordination of metal ions affords a variety of oligomeric and polymeric species; we focus on silver- and copper-based structures and also discuss ferrocenylated adenine tetrads. We then consider the use of supramolecular adenine coordination complexes for transferring molecular properties onto surfaces. This technique is particularly useful for transferring noncovalent interactions, such as van der Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding, to designed architectures in nanoscale applications. Finally, we explore the issue of adenine-based catalytic entities. Here, adenine moieties are first fixed in a polymeric matrix, followed by metalation of the matrix. These metalated adenine-containing polymers are then assayed for catalytic assistance in various chemical and biochemical reactions. Taken together, the versatile coordination abilities and hydrogen-bonding capacity of adenine offer a novel entry point for a natural ligand into materials synthesis.

Cytidine-Ag+-purine base complexes as studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The complexes of cytidine (C) with Ag(+) and adenosine (A), guanosine (G), inosine (In) and caffeine (Caf) were studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Both collision-induced dissociation (CID) "in- source" and CID MS/MS experiments were performed. The stability of [C + G + Ag](+) and [C + In + Ag](+) ions in the gas phase was found to be much higher than that of [C + A + Ag](+) and [C + Caf + Ag](+) ions. It is reasonable to conclude that guanosine and inosine form bidentate complex with silver cation, by N7 atom and O=C6 oxygen atom, whereas adenosine and caffeine form monodentate complexes, by N3 atom of adenine and N9 atom of caffeine.

Fluorescence "turn on" chemosensors for Ag+ and Hg2+ based on tetraphenylethylene motif featuring adenine and thymine moieties

Two new tetraphenylethylene (TPE) compounds 1 and 2 bearing adenine and thymine moieties, respectively, were found to be fluorescence "turn on" chemosensors for Ag(+) and Hg(2+) by making use of the AIE feature of TPE motif and the specific binding of adenine/thymine with Ag(+)/Hg(2+).