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Paez‐Perez M, Kuimova MK. Molecular Rotors: Fluorescent Sensors for Microviscosity and Conformation of Biomolecules. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202311233. [PMID: 37856157 PMCID: PMC10952837 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202311233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The viscosity and crowding of biological environment are considered vital for the correct cellular function, and alterations in these parameters are known to underly a number of pathologies including diabetes, malaria, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, to name a few. Over the last decades, fluorescent molecular probes termed molecular rotors proved extremely useful for exploring viscosity, crowding, and underlying molecular interactions in biologically relevant settings. In this review, we will discuss the basic principles underpinning the functionality of these probes and will review advances in their use as sensors for lipid order, protein crowding and conformation, temperature and non-canonical nucleic acid structures in live cells and other relevant biological settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Paez‐Perez
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, MSRHImperial College LondonWood LaneLondonW12 0BZUK
| | - Marina K. Kuimova
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, MSRHImperial College LondonWood LaneLondonW12 0BZUK
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Ando R, Sato-Tomita A, Ito H, Jin M. Giant Crystalline Molecular Rotors that Operate in the Solid State. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202309694. [PMID: 37652896 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202309694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Molecular motion in the solid state is typically precluded by the highly dense environment, and only molecules with a limited range of sizes show such dynamics. Here, we demonstrate the solid-state rotational motion of two giant molecules, i.e., triptycene and pentiptycene, by encapsulating a bulky N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) Au(I) complex in the crystalline media. To date, triptycene is the largest molecule (surface area: 245 Å2 ; volume: 219 Å3 ) for which rotation has been reported in the solid state, with the largest rotational diameter among reported solid-state molecular rotors (9.5 Å). However, the pentiptycene rotator that is the subject of this study (surface area: 392 Å2 ; volume: 361 Å3 ; rotational diameter: 13.0 Å) surpasses this record. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of both the developed rotors revealed that these possess sufficient free volume around the rotator. The molecular motion in the solid state was confirmed using variable-temperature solid-state 2 H spin-echo NMR studies. The triptycene rotor exhibited three-fold rotation, while temperature-dependent changes of the rotational angle were observed for the pentiptycene rotor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rempei Ando
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, and Frontier Chemistry Center (FCC), Department of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8628, Japan
| | - Ayana Sato-Tomita
- Division of Biophysics, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken, 329-0498, Japan
| | - Hajime Ito
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8628, Japan
- Division of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, and Frontier Chemistry Center (FCC), Department of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8628, Japan
| | - Mingoo Jin
- Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8628, Japan
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Abstract
Molecular machines are at the frontier of biology and chemistry. The ability to control molecular motion and emulating the movement of biological systems are major steps towards the development of responsive and adaptive materials. Amazing progress has been seen for the design of molecular machines including light-induced unidirectional rotation of overcrowded alkenes. However, the feasibility of inducing unidirectional rotation about a single bond as a result of chemical conversion has been a challenging task. In this Review, an overview of approaches towards the design, synthesis, and dynamic properties of different classes of atropisomers which can undergo controlled switching or rotation under the influence of a chemical stimulus is presented. They are categorized as molecular switches, rotors, motors, and autonomous motors according to their type of response. Furthermore, we provide a future perspective and challenges focusing on building sophisticated molecular machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Mondal
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry University of GroningenNijenborgh 49747 AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Ryojun Toyoda
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry University of GroningenNijenborgh 49747 AGGroningenThe Netherlands,Department of ChemistryGraduate School of ScienceTohoku University6-3 Aramaki-Aza-AobaAobaku, Sendai980-8578Japan
| | - Romain Costil
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry University of GroningenNijenborgh 49747 AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Ben L. Feringa
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry University of GroningenNijenborgh 49747 AGGroningenThe Netherlands
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Turley AT, Saha PK, Danos A, Bismillah AN, Monkman AP, Yufit DS, Curchod BFE, Etherington MK, McGonigal PR. Extended Conjugation Attenuates the Quenching of Aggregation-Induced Emitters by Photocyclization Pathways. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202202193. [PMID: 35343025 PMCID: PMC9325432 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202202193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we expose how the antagonistic relationship between solid‐state luminescence and photocyclization of oligoaryl alkene chromophores is modulated by the conjugation length of their alkenyl backbones. Heptaaryl cycloheptatriene molecular rotors exhibit aggregation‐induced emission characteristics. We show that their emission is turned off upon breaking the conjugation of the cycloheptatriene by epoxide formation. While this modification is deleterious to photoluminescence, it enables formation of extended polycyclic frameworks by Mallory reactions. We exploit this dichotomy (i) to manipulate emission properties in a controlled manner and (ii) as a synthetic tool to link together pairs of phenyl rings in a specific sequence. This method to alter the tendency of oligoaryl alkenes to undergo photocyclization can inform the design of solid‐state emitters that avoid this quenching mechanism, while also allowing selective cyclization in syntheses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Turley
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Promeet K Saha
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Andrew Danos
- Department of Physics, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Aisha N Bismillah
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Andrew P Monkman
- Department of Physics, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Dmitry S Yufit
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Basile F E Curchod
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Marc K Etherington
- Department of Physics, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.,Department of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Ellison Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Paul R McGonigal
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
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