A host-guest semibiological photosynthesis system coupling artificial and natural enzymes for solar alcohol splitting

Development of a versatile, sustainable and efficient photosynthesis system that integrates intricate catalytic networks and energy modules at the same location is of considerable future value to energy transformation. In the present study, we develop a coenzyme-mediated supramolecular host-guest semibiological system that combines artificial and enzymatic catalysis for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from alcohol dehydrogenation. This approach involves modification of the microenvironment of a dithiolene-embedded metal-organic cage to trap an organic dye and NADH molecule simultaneously, serving as a hydrogenase analogue to induce effective proton reduction inside the artificial host. This abiotic photocatalytic system is further embedded into the pocket of the alcohol dehydrogenase to couple enzymatic alcohol dehydrogenation. This host-guest approach allows in situ regeneration of NAD⁺/NADH couple to transfer protons and electrons between the two catalytic cycles, thereby paving a unique avenue for a synergic combination of abiotic and biotic synthetic sequences for photocatalytic fuel and chemical transformation.

Abiotic–biotic hybrid systems are promising to trap light for fuel and chemical transformation with high efficacy and selectivity. This study reports a coenzyme-mediated supramolecular host-guest semibiological system combining supramolecular catalyst and enzymes for solar alcohol splitting.

Synthesis, characterization and oxygen atom transfer reactivity of a pair of Mo(iv)O- and Mo(vi)O2-enedithiolate complexes – a look at both ends of the catalytic transformation

A novel pair of mono-oxo and di-oxo bis-dithiolene molybdenum complexes were synthesized, characterized and catalytically investigated as models for a molybdenum dependent oxidoreductase.

Behavior of anionic molybdenum(IV, VI) and tungsten(IV, VI) complexes containing bulky hydrophobic dithiolate ligands and intramolecular NH···S hydrogen bonds in nonpolar solvents

Molybdenum(IV, VI) and tungsten(IV, VI) complexes, (Et4N)2[M(IV)O{1,2-S2-3,6-(RCONH)2C6H2}2] and (Et4N)2[M(VI)O2{1,2-S2-3,6-(RCONH)2C6H2}2] (M = Mo, W; R = (4-(t)BuC6H4)3C), with bulky hydrophobic dithiolate ligands containing NH···S hydrogen bonds were synthesized. These complexes are soluble in nonpolar solvents like toluene, which allows the detection of unsymmetrical coordination structures and elusive intermolecular interactions in solution. The (1)H NMR spectra of the complexes in toluene-d8 revealed an unsymmetrical coordination structure, and proximity of the counterions to the anion moiety was suggested at low temperatures. The oxygen-atom-transfer reaction between the molybdenum(IV) complex and Me3NO in toluene was considerably accelerated in nonpolar solvents, and this increase was attributed to the favorable access of the substrate to the active center in the hydrophobic environment.

Hydrogen bonding patterns in salts of derivatives of aminopyrimidine and thiobarbituric acid

Three salts, namely 2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate trihydrate (I), 2-amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate dihydrate (II) and 2,4-diamino-5-(3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidin-1-ium thiobarbiturate (III), were synthesized and characterized by IR and X-ray diffraction techniques. The primary interaction between the acid and base happens via N-H...O hydrogen bonds in (II) and (III), and via water-mediated N-H...OW and OW-HW...S in (I). The water molecules present in compound (I) form a (H2O)12 water cluster via water-water interactions. In all three compounds (I)-(III), thiobarbiturate anions form self-complementary pairs with a robust R2(2)(8) motif via a pair of N-H...O/N-H...S hydrogen bonds. They mimic the nucleobase base pairs by utilizing the same groups (thymine/uracil uses N3-H and C4=O8 groups during the formation of Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen base pairs with adenine). Compound (I) forms a water-mediated base pair through N-H...OW hydrogen bonds and forms an R4(2)(12) motif. The formation of N-H...S hydrogen bonds, water-mediated base pairs and water-water interactions in these crystal systems offers scope for these systems to be considered as a model in the study of hydration of nucleobases and water-mediated nucleobase base pairs in macromolecules.