Joint Venture of Metal Cluster and Amphiphilic Cationic Minidendron Resulting in Near Infrared Emissive Lamellar Ionic Liquid Crystals.

Inorganic red-NIR emissive materials are particularly relevant in many fields like optoelectronic, bioimaging or solar cells. Benefiting from their emission in devices implies their integration in easy-to-handle materials like liquid crystals, whose long-range ordering and self-healing abilities could be exploited and influence emission. Herein, we present red-NIR emissive hybrid materials obtained with phosphorescent octahedral molybdenum cluster anions electrostatically associated with amphiphilic guanidinium minidendrons. Polarized optical microscopy and X-ray analysis show that while the minidendron chloride salts self-organize into columnar phases, their association with the dianionic metal cluster leads to layered phases. Steady-state and time-resolved emission investigations demonstrate the influence of the minidendron alkyl chain length on the phosphorescence of the metal cluster core.

Chasing Self-Assembly of Thioether-Substituted Flavylium Salts in Solution and Bulk State.

Two series of flavylium triflates carrying alkoxy side chains in the A-ring (benzo unit of chromylium salt) and thioethers in the B ring (phenyl unit) (On -Fla-Sm ) as well as thioethers at both A and B ring (Sn -Fla-Sm ) were synthesized in order to understand the effect of thioether functionalization on their self-assembly and electronic properties. Concentration-dependent and diffusion ordered (DOSY) NMR experiments of O1 -iV-Fla-S3 indicate the formation of columnar H-aggregates in solution with antiparallel intracolumnar stacking of the AC unit (chromylium) of the flavylium triflate, in agreement with the solid state structure of O1 -V-Fla-S1 . Thioether substitution on the B ring changes the linear optical properties in solution, whereas it has no effect on the A ring. According to differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction bulk self-assembly of these ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) depends on the total number of side chains, yielding SmA and LamCol phases for ILCs with 2-3 chains and Colro , Colh phases for ILCs with 3-6 chains. Thus, we demonstrated that thioethers are a useful design tool for ILCs with tailored properties.

Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Hydrindanes via Sequential Organocatalytic Michael/Mukaiyama Aldol Addition and Telescoped Hydrozirconation/Cross-Coupling as Key Steps: En Route to the AB System of Clifednamides.

The AB ring systems of the clifednamide family, polycyclic tetramate macrolactames (PoTeMs), were prepared by a new, convergent approach employing an intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction. Key steps comprise an organocatalytic Michael addition (>90% enantiomeric excess (ee)), a Mukaiyama aldol reaction for the convergent installation of a diene moiety, and a telescoped hydrozirconation/cross-coupling grafting an enone. The following IMDA furnished a highly functionalized hydrindane (diastereomeric ratio (dr) = 91:1) with the same configuration as the clifednamide scaffold. Advantages of this route are only one required protecting group, 13% overall yield over 9 steps (reduced from previously 17 steps/1.3% overall), and the potential access to the key intermediates in the clifednamide biosynthesis.

Asymmetric Catalysis in Liquid Confinement: Probing the Performance of Novel Chiral Rhodium-Diene Complexes in Microemulsions and Conventional Solvents.

The role of liquid confinement on the asymmetric Rh catalysis was studied using the 1,2-addition of phenylboroxine (2) to N-tosylimine 1 in the presence of [RhCl(C2 H4 )2 ]2 and chiral diene ligands as benchmark reaction. To get access to Rh complexes of different polarity, enantiomerically pure C2 -symmetric p-substituted 3,6-diphenylbicyclo[3.3.0]octadienes 4 and diastereomerically enriched unsymmetric norbornadienes 5 and 6 carrying either the Evans or the SuperQuat auxiliary were synthesized. A microemulsion containing the equal amounts of H2 O/KOH and toluene/reactants was formulated using the hydrophilic sugar surfactant n-octyl ß-d-glucopyranoside (C8 G1 ) to mediate the miscibility between the nonpolar reactants and KOH, needed to activate the Rh-diene complex. Prominent features of this organized reaction medium are its temperature insensitivity as well as the presence of water and toluene-rich compartments with a domain size of 55 Šconfirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Although bicyclooctadiene ligands 4 a,b,e performed equally well under homogeneous and microemulsion conditions, ligands 4 c,d gave a different chemoselectivity. For norbornadienes 5, 6, however, microemulsions markedly improved conversion and enantioselectivity as well as reaction rate, as was confirmed by kinetic studies using ligand 5 b.

Samarium Iodide-Promoted Asymmetric Reformatsky Reaction of 3-(2-Haloacyl)-2-oxazolidinones with Enals.

3-(2-Haloacyl)-2-oxazolidinones were shown to react with enals in an asymmetric SmI2-promoted Reformatsky reaction to give stereochemically well-defined 3-hydroxy-4-alkenyl- and 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-alkenyl imides. Chirality transfer of the Evans (S)-oxazolidinone unit via a Zimmerman-Traxler-like transition state resulted in Reformatsky products with a relative syn-configuration. The absolute configuration of compounds obtained is opposite to the corresponding products obtained via aldol addition of boron enolates to enals using the same Evans oxazolidinones.

Encapsulating propeller-like columnar liquid crystals with an aromatic outer shell: influence of phenoxy-terminated side chains on the phase behaviour of triphenylbenzenes.

Tailoring of phase transition temperatures of columnar liquid crystals by side chain variation is often associated with an undesired change in the mesophase type and/or geometry. To overcome this problem phenoxy-terminated side chains rather than alkyl side chains were grafted onto triphenylbenzenes, which resulted in reduced clearing points, while melting points were little affected. More importantly, helical columnar self-assembly was not compromised.

Self-assembly and biological activities of ionic liquid crystals derived from aromatic amino acids.

The self-assembly of amino acid-derived ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) into lamellar or micellar-like aggregates suggests that they might interact with biological membranes. To get some insight, guanidinium chlorides derived from the natural l-amino acids phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties were investigated via polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (SAXS, WAXS). Mesophase types depended on the number of alkoxy side chains. Phe- and Tyr-based ILCs with one and two side chains, respectively, self-assembled into smectic A bilayers (SmA2), while Dopa-derived ILCs with three side chains formed columnar (Colh) mesophases. The mesophase ranges for Phe ILCs increased steadily with side chain length, for Tyr- and Dopa-based ILCs, however, size matching effects were observed. To clarify whether the mesomorphic behaviour has an impact on biological properties, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of the ILCs were studied. Phe and Tyr ILCs exhibited much higher cytotoxicities (against the L-929 mouse fibroblast cell line) and/or antibacterial activities (against Staphylococcus aureus) than Dopa ILCs, which were mostly inactive. Furthermore, within each series, the side chain length largely influenced the biological activity. Thus, the bulk mesophase behaviour appeared to correlate with the biological properties, in particular, the interactions with membranes, as shown by measuring the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in human monocytic U937 cells after treatment with the amino acid-based ILCs.

Amino acid/crown ether hybrid materials: how charge affects liquid crystalline self-assembly.

To probe the influence of electrostatic interactions on the mesomorphic self-assembly and phase behaviour of hybrid liquid crystals a series of crown ether/tyrosine hybrid systems was prepared by Steglich esterification of alkyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-l-tyrosinates with 4-carboxybenzo[15]crown-5 and 4-carboxybenzo[18]crown-6. The obtained derivatives allowed further manipulations at the NH functional group and complexation of the crown ether unit with NaI to give neutral or charged hybrid materials. All compounds were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Neither the variation of the N-protecting group, introduction of charge at the N-terminus nor anion exchange (Cl vs. I) resulted in mesomorphism. In contrast, N-Boc-protected and unprotected hybrids formed rectangular columnar (Colr) mesophases with phase widths up to 35 K. NaI complexation switched these neutral thermotropic derivatives into ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) and induced a change of mesophase type from Colr to smectic A (SmA). A comparison of experimentally obtained layer distances and theoretically calculated molecular lengths indicated bilayer SmA formation with interdigitated alkyl chains. Packing models for both mesophase types are proposed and discussed with respect to stabilizing interactions.

Role of Regioisomeric Bicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,5-diene Ligands in Rh Catalysis: Synthesis, Structural Analysis, Theoretical Study, and Application in Asymmetric 1,2- and 1,4-Additions.

In order to study the impact of regioisomeric diene ligands on the formation and catalytic activity of Rh complexes, a series of C2- and CS-symmetric 2,5-disubstituted bicyclo[3.3.0]octa-2,5-dienes C2-L and CS-L, respectively, were synthesized from Weiss diketone by simultaneous deprotonation/electrophilic trapping of both oxo functions, and the catalytic behavior was studied in the presence of [RhCl(C2H4)2]2. Complexes [RhCl(C2-L)]2 bearing C2-symmetric ligands catalyzed effectively the asymmetric arylation of N-tosylaldimines to (S)-diarylamines with yields and ee values up to 99%. In Hayashi-Miyaura reactions, however, the complexes showed poor catalytic activity. When complexes [RhCl(CS-L)]2 with CS-symmetric ligand or mixtures of [RhCl(C2-L)]2 and [RhCl(CS-L)]2 were employed in 1,2-additions, racemic addition products were observed, suggesting a C═C isomerization of the diene ligands. X-ray crystal structure analysis of both Rh complexes formed from the [RhCl(C2H4)2]2 precursor and ligands C2-L and CS-L revealed that only the C2-symmetric ligand C2-L coordinated to the Rh, whereas CS-L underwent a Rh-catalyzed C═C isomerization to rac-C2-L, which then gave the racemic [RhCl(rac-C2-L)]2 complex. DFT calculations of the relative stabilities of the Rh complexes and the proposed intermediates provided a mechanistic rationale via Rh-mediated hydride transfer.

Tyrosine-Based Ionic Liquid Crystals: Switching from a Smectic A to a Columnar Mesophase by Exchange of the Spherical Counterion.

Synthetic strategies were developed to prepare l-tyrosine-based ionic liquid crystals with structural variations at the carboxylic and phenolic OH groups as well as the amino functionality. Salt metathesis additionally led to counterion variation. The liquid-crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (WAXS, SAXS). The symmetrical ILC chlorides bearing the same alkyl chain at both the ester and ether but either an acyclic or cyclic guanidinium group displayed enantiotropic SmA2 mesophases with phase widths of 31-88 K irrespective of the head group. It was particularly the replacement of chloride in the acyclic guanidinium ILC by hexafluorophosphate that induced a phase change from SmA2 to Colr . This phase change was attributed to a higher curvature of the interface due to the larger anion, which increased the effective head group cross-sectional area of the amphiphilic ILC. The unsymmetrical acyclic guanidinium chlorides, bearing a constant C14 ester and variable alkyl chains on the phenolic position, formed enantiotropic SmA2 phases. The derivative with the largest difference in chain lengths, however, displayed a Colr phase, resulting from discoid aggregates of the cone-shaped guanidinium chloride. The results are discussed in terms of the packing parameters, which indicate that the phase behaviour of the thermotropic tyrosine-based ILCs shows analogies to those of lyotropic liquid crystals.

δ-Methyl Branching in the Side Chain Makes the Difference: Access to Room-Temperature Discotics.

Although discotic liquid crystals are attractive functional materials, their use in electronic devices is often restricted by high melting and clearing points. Among the promising candidates for applications are [15]crown-5 ether-based liquid crystals with peripheral n-alkoxy side chains, which, however, still have melting points above room temperature. To overcome this problem, a series of o-terphenyl and triphenylene [15]crown-5 ether derivatives was prepared in which δ-methyl-branched alkoxy side chains of varying lengths substitute the peripheral linear alkoxy chains. The mesomorphic properties of the novel crown ethers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. δ-Methyl branching indeed lowers melting points resulting in room-temperature hexagonal columnar mesophases. The mesophase widths, which ranged from 87 to 30 K for o-terphenyls, significantly increased to 106-147 K for the triphenylenes depending on the chain lengths, revealing the beneficial effect of a flat mesogen, due to improved π-π interactions.

Columnar propeller-like 1,3,5-triphenylbenzenes: the missing link of shape-persistent hekates.

Triphenylbenzenes with different substitution patterns at the outer phenyl rings have been successfully synthesised. Sixfold n-alkoxy substitution was insufficient for mesomorphism, but already increasing the number of side chains by three methoxy groups led to liquid crystalline behaviour and mesophase formation. Symmetrical triphenylbenzenes with nine n-alkoxy side chains (≥C9) formed broad enantiotropic mesophases. The symmetry of the liquid crystalline phases was unambiguously determined by X-ray diffraction measurements as Colh and Colho for symmetry-reduced methoxy-alkoxy derivatives and symmetrical nona-alkoxy-triphenylbenzenes, respectively. Based on X-ray diffraction data a stacking model was proposed in which the single molecules aggregate to helical columns forming a mesophase.

Truncated borrelidin analogues: synthesis by sequential cross metathesis/olefination for the southern fragment and biological evaluation.

The construction of novel borrelidin analogues is reported in which the northern fragment is truncated to a simple hydroxyundecanecarboxylate and the original cyclopentanecarboxylic acid in the southern fragment is replaced with different six-membered rings. The required precursors were prepared by cross metathesis of the appropriate carbocycle-based homoallylic alcohol with crotonaldehyde followed by HWE olefination of the resulting enal with bromocyanophosphonate. The key aldehyde for intramolecular cross coupling was accessible by oxidation of the hydroxy group of the linked undecanecarboxylate unit. Grignard mediated macrocyclization finally yielded the borrelidin related products. The investigation is complemented by SAR studies and quantum-chemical calculations.

Synthesis of Cembranoid Analogues through Ring-Closing Metathesis of Terpenoid Precursors: A Challenge Regarding Ring-Size Selectivity.

A systematic study on ring-closing metathesis with Grubbs II catalyst to cembranoid macrocycles is described. Acyclic terpenoids with a functional group X in the homoallylic position relative to an RCM active terminus and substituents R, R(1) directly attached to the other terminal double bond were prepared from geraniol derived trienes and fragments that are based on bromoalkenes and dimethyl malonate. Such terpenoids were suitable precursors, despite the presence of competing double bonds in their framework. The size of R and R(1) is crucial for successful macrocyclization. Whereas small alkyl substituents at the double bond directed the RCM towards six-membered ring formation, cross metathesis leading to dimers dominated for bulkier alkyl groups. A similar result was obtained for precursors without functional group X. In the case of unsymmetrically substituted terpenoid precursor (R = Et, R(1) = Me) with homoallylic OTBS or OMe group, the RCM could be controlled towards formation of macrocyclic cembranoids, which were isolated with excellent E-selectivity. The role of the substituents was further studied by quantum chemical calculations of simplified model substrates. Based on these results a mechanistic rationale is proposed.

Photoresponsive ionic liquid crystals based on azobenzene guanidinium salts.

The use of non-ionic LC phases as anisotropic matrices for E/Z-isomerization of azo-guest molecules is often restricted due to limited solubilities and demixing effects. In this study we therefore employed an ionic liquid crystal (ILC) matrix to follow the photo-induced E/Z-isomerization of ionic mesogenic azobenzene guanidinium guests. The latter were prepared from 4-hydroxy-4'-(octyloxy)azobenzene, which was first treated with N-(bromoalkyl)phthalimides to introduce the spacer with varying chain length. Removal of phthalimide and final reaction with a formamidinium salt linked the ionic head group to the photoisomerizable azobenzene unit. Investigation of the mesomorphic behaviour revealed for all azobenzene ILCs smectic A mesophases with high translational order parameters and partial bilayers, as could be stated by layer spacing d. Similar packing behaviour was found for the solid state by X-ray crystal structure analysis. E/Z-isomerization of azobenzene ILCs which were completely miscible with the ionic LC phase of C12MIM-Br as anisotropic host was induced by irradiation with UV light and the reisomerization observed by time-resolved UV-Vis spectroscopy. For comparison, water was used as isotropic host. Z/E-reisomerization activation energies exhibited similar values of 97-100 kJ mol(-1) irrespective of spacer lengths and the type of host. The results demonstrate that a proper match of steric requirements of host and guest as well as layer spacings are needed for a decreased activation energy.

SAR studies on hydropentalene derivatives--Important core units of biologically active tetramic acid macrolactams and ptychanolides.

Structurally diverse bicyclo[3.3.0]octanes were prepared and tested for their biological activity. Both the antiproliferative activity and the results of phenotypic characterization varied with the substitution patterns. Two derivatives displayed high inhibitory (IC50 ≤3µM) activity against the L-929 cell line, but differed in their mode of action. A cluster analysis with impedance profiling data showed the two compounds in relationship to microtubule interfering compounds. In PtK2 cells treated with both derivatives a perturbing effect on the microtubular network was observed, whereas the actin cytoskeleton in incubated PtK2 cells was disturbed only by one compound. The effects on tubulin and actin polymerization could be confirmed by in vitro polymerization experiments.

Triphenylene silanes for direct surface anchoring in binary mixed self-assembled monolayers.

New triphenylene-based silanes 2-(ω-(chlorodimethylsilyl)-n-alkyl)-3,6,7,10,11-penta-m-alkoxytriphenylene 4 (Tm-Cn) with n = 8 or 9 and m = 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 were synthesized, and their self-assembly behavior in the liquid state and at glass and silicon oxide surfaces was investigated. The mesomorphic properties of triphenylene silanes 4 (Tm-Cn) and their precursors 3 (Tm-Cn) were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction. From the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) regime, a preferential discotic lamellar mesophase can be deduced, and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) highlights the liquid-like characteristics of the alkyl side chains. To transfer these bulk structural properties to thin films, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were obtained by adsorption from solution and characterized by water contact angle measurements, null ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Employing the concentration as an additional degree of freedom, binary SAMs of 2-(ω-(chlorodimethylsilyl)-undecyl)-3,6,7,10,11-penta-decyloxytriphenylene 4 (T10-C11) were coassembled with chlorodecyldimethylsilane or chlorodimethyloctadecylsilane, and their capability as model systems for organic templating was evaluated. The structure of the resulting binary mixed SAMs was analyzed by water contact angle measurements, null ellipsometry, and X-ray reflectivity (XRR) in combination with theoretical modeling by a multidimensional Parratt algorithm and AFM. The composition dependence of film thickness and roughness can be explained by a microscopic model including the steric hindrance of the respective molecular constituents.

Counterion effects on the columnar mesophases of triphenylene-substituted [18]crown-6 ethers: is flatter better?

The twisted lateral tetraalkyloxy ortho-terphenyl units in dibenzo[18]crown-6 ethers 1a-f were readily converted into the flat tetraalkyloxytriphenylene systems 2a-f by oxidative cyclization with FeCl(3) in nitromethane. Reactions of the latter with potassium salts gave complexes KX.2, which displayed mesomorphic properties. The aromatization increased both the clearing and melting points; the mesophase stabilities, however, were mainly influenced by the respective anions upon complexation with various potassium salts. In contrast, the alkyl chain lengths played only a secondary role. Among the potassium complexes of triphenylene-substituted crown ethers KX.2, only those with the soft anions I(-) and SCN(-) displayed mesophases with expanded phase temperature ranges of 93 degrees C and 132 degrees C (for KX.2e), respectively, as compared to the corresponding o-terphenyl-substituted crown ether complexes KI.1e (DeltaT=51 degrees C) and KSCN.1e (plastic crystal phase). Anions such as Br(-), Cl(-), and F(-) decreased the mesophase stability, and PF(6)(-) led to complete loss of the mesomorphic properties of KPF(6).2 although not for KPF(6).1. For crown ether complexes KX.2 (X=F, Cl, Br, I, BF(4), and SCN), columnar rectangular mesophases of different symmetries (c2mm, p2mg, and p2gg) were detected. In contrast to findings for the twisted o-terphenyl crown ether complexes KX.1, the complexation of the flat triphenylene crown ethers 2 with KX resulted in the formation of organogels. Characterization of the organogel of KI.2e in CH(2)Cl(2) revealed a network of fibers.

Fluorenone imidazolium salts as novel de Vries materials.

In ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) tilted mesophases such as SmC required for electro-optic devices are quite rare. We report a design concept that induced the SmC phase and enabled de Vries-like behaviour in ILCs. For this purpose, we synthesized and characterized a library of ILC derivatives ImR(On,Ym)X which consist of a rigid central fluorenone core containing an alkoxy or thioether side chain and connected via a flexible spacer to an imidazolium head group. The mesomorphic properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Temperature-dependent measurements of smectic layer spacing d by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and of optical tilt angles by POM demonstrate that ILCs ImR(On,Ym)X undergo SmA-SmC phase transitions with maximum layer contraction values between 0.4% and 2.1%. The lowest reduction factor R of 0.2 at the reduced temperature T - T AC = -10 K was calculated for Im(O12,S14)Br. Electron density calculations indicated a bilayer structure. Furthermore, temperature dependent emission studies show that self-assembling has a strong influence on the emission intensity of these ILCs.