Complete 1H and 119Sn NMR spectral assignment for an asymmetric di[dihydroxotin(IV)] bis-porphyrin supramolecular host and its corresponding tetraacetato complex.

The full (1)H and (119)Sn NMR spectral assignments for a di[dihydroxotin(IV)] bis-porphyrin supramolecular host I and for the di[diacetatotin(IV)] complex II are presented. Despite the lack of varied chemical functionality in these molecules, all of their 64 proton environments are non-equivalent. This is due to the asymmetry afforded by the Tröger's base (methanodiazocine) bridge between the porphyrin and quinoxalinoporphyrin macrocycles. The methanodiazocine bridge imparts chirality and concavity on the host framework and the quinoxalino link to one porphyrin macrocycle results in a negation of C(2) symmetry. The anisotropy of the aromatic porphyrin and quinoxalinoporphyrin macrocycles results in good dispersion for all 60 signals of the host framework and for the four ligands bound in the axial positions of the tin(IV) centres. The full assignment of the (1)H NMR spectra for these systems was achieved using dqf-COSY, NOESY, ROESY, (1)H-(119)Sn HMQC, (1)H-(13)C HSQC and (1)H-(13)C HMBC spectroscopy at temperatures that optimised dispersion. The (1)H-(119)Sn HMQC was particularly useful in this assignment. The (119)Sn chemical shift is sensitive to the functionality of the porphyrin and to the nature of the axial ligation, and the (119)Sn centre couples to both the ligand protons and the beta-pyrrolic protons. This allows unequivocal identification of the spin systems associated with each metal centre.

Regioselective reactivity of an asymmetric tetravalent di[dihydroxotin(IV)] bis-porphyrin host driven by hydrogen-bond templation.

Local molecular environment effects on the rates of ligand exchange at an asymmetric di[dihydroxotin(IV)] bis-porphyrin 5 are examined. The host 5 possesses four non-equivalent tin(IV)-ligand binding sites that are distinguished by their position relative to a shallow cavity, by the steric environment at each binding site and by electronic-structure differences between the constituent porphyrin and quinoxalinoporphyrin macrocycles. These design features of the asymmetric host are confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis. Binding experiments with monodentate carboxylic acids and bidentate dicarboxylic acids show significant differences in the rate of ligand exchange at each of the four tin(IV) binding sites. For monodentate carboxylic acids, binding preferentially occurs at the exterior porphyrin site. Further addition of carboxylic acid results in sequential binding at the quinoxalinoporphyrin sites and lastly at the interior site on the porphyrin, with high regioselectivity. These selective binding outcomes are immediately apparent by NMR spectroscopy. A series of 2D NMR spectroscopy experiments allowed identification of the preferred binding sites at the host. This positively identifies that steric hindrance and electron-withdrawing functionality on the porphyrin macrocycle impede ligand exchange. However, these effects are overcome by dicarboxylic acid guests, which form ditopic hydrogen-bond interactions between the intracavity hydroxo ligands in the initial stage of ligand exchange, leading to regioselective binding between the tin(IV) sites within the cavity. It is envisaged that the factors identified herein that define regioselective ligand exchange at host 5 will find wider application in supramolecular systems incorporating tin(IV) porphyrins.

Publisher Correction: A new fundamental type of conformational isomerism.

In the version of this Article originally published, the word 'stereoisomerism' was erroneously included in the label of the upper-right box of Fig. 1. The label within the box has been corrected and it now reads: "Constitutional isomerism (same formula, different connectivity)". This has been corrected in the online version of the Article.

A new fundamental type of conformational isomerism.

Isomerism is a fundamental chemical concept, reflecting the fact that the arrangement of atoms in a molecular entity has a profound influence on its chemical and physical properties. Here we describe a previously unclassified fundamental form of conformational isomerism through four resolved stereoisomers of a transoid (BF)O(BF)-quinoxalinoporphyrin. These comprise two pairs of enantiomers that manifest structural relationships not describable within existing IUPAC nomenclature and terminology. They undergo thermal diastereomeric interconversion over a barrier of 104 ± 2 kJ mol-1, which we term 'akamptisomerization'. Feasible interconversion processes between conceivable synthesis products and reaction intermediates were mapped out by density functional theory calculations, identifying bond-angle inversion (BAI) at a singly bonded atom as the reaction mechanism. We also introduce the necessary BAI stereodescriptors parvo and amplo. Based on an extended polytope formalism of molecular structure and stereoisomerization, BAI-driven akamptisomerization is shown to be the final fundamental type of conformational isomerization.

Synthesis of all-L cyclic tetrapeptides using pseudoprolines as removable turn inducers.

Cyclic tetrapeptides have generated great interest because of their broad-ranging biological properties. In order to synthesize these highly strained 12-membered cyclic compounds, a cyclization strategy using pseudoprolines as removable turn inducers has been developed. The pseudoproline derivatives induce a cisoid amide bond in the linear peptide backbone which facilitates cyclization. After cyclization, the turn inducers can be readily removed to afford cyclic tetrapeptides containing serine or threonine residues.

Ruthenium complexes of analogues of the antitumor antibiotic streptonigrin.

The complexes Ru(L1-CH3)(CO)3Cl, RuL2(CO)2Cl2, and RuL3(CO)2Cl2 (L1= 6-methoxy-5,8-quinolinedione, L2 = 7-amino-6-methoxy-5,8-quinolinedione, L3 = 6,6'-dimethoxycarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine) were prepared by reaction of L1-L3 with the tricarbonyldichlororuthenium(II) dimer. L1-L3 act as bidentates through the ortho oxygen atoms, the pyridyl nitrogen and the adjacent quinone oxygen, and the bipyridyl nitrogens, respectively. RuL3(CO)2Cl2 is characterized by X-ray crystallography. 15N NMR correlation spectra give upfield shifts of around 60 ppm for the pyridyl nitrogens that are coordinated to the metal, while 13C NMR correlation spectra give a downfield shift of 10 ppm for the quinone carbonyl group that is coordinated to the metal. The electrochemistry of RuL2(CO)2Cl2 is examined, and the implications for the formation of metal complexes of the antitumor antibiotic streptonigrin, which cleaves DNA in the presence of metal ions, are discussed.