The Unexpected Helical Supramolecular Assembly of a Simple Achiral Acetamide Tecton Generates Selective Water Channels.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the collaborative research team coordinated by Arie van der Lee at the University of Montpellier. The image depicts chiral channels with highly mobile water molecules resulting from the robust self-organization of a simple achiral acetamide. Fully reversible release and re-uptake of water molecules takes place near ambient conditions, with efficient water transport and a good selectivity against NaCl suggesting it to be an efficient candidate for desalination processes. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.20200383.

The Unexpected Helical Supramolecular Assembly of a Simple Achiral Acetamide Tecton Generates Selective Water Channels.

Achiral 2-hydroxy-N-(diphenylmethyl)acetamide (HNDPA) crystallizes in the P61 chiral space group as a hydrate, building up permeable chiral crystalline helical water channels. The crystallization-driven chiral self-resolution process is highly robust, with the same air-stable crystalline form readily obtained under a variety of conditions. Interestingly, the HNDPA supramolecular helix inner pore is filled by a helical water wire. The whole edifice is mainly stabilized by robust hydrogen bonds involving the HNDPA amide bonds and CH… π interactions between the HNDPA phenyl groups. The crystalline structure shows breathing behavior, with completely reversible release and re-uptake of water inside the chiral channel under ambient conditions. Importantly, the HNDPA channel is able to transport water very efficiently and selectively under biomimetic conditions. With a permeability per channel of 3.3 million water molecules per second in large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) and total selectivity against NaCl, the HNDPA channel is a very promising functional nanomaterial for future applications.

Green and Effective Preparation of α-Hydroxyphosphonates by Ecocatalysis.

A green and effective approach for the synthesis of structurally diversed α-hydroxyphosphonates via hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes under solventless conditions and promoted by biosourced catalysts, called ecocatalysts "Eco-MgZnOx" is presented. Ecocatalysts were prepared from Zn-hyperaccumulating plant species Arabidopsis halleri, with simple and benign thermal treatment of leaves rich in Zn, and without any further chemical treatment. The elemental composition and structure of Eco-MgZnOx were characterized by MP-AES, XRPD, HRTEM, and STEM-EDX techniques. These analyses revealed a natural richness in two unusual and valuable mixed zinc-magnesium and iron-magnesium oxides. The ecocatalysts were employed in this study to demonstrate their potential use in hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes, leading to various α-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives, which are critical building blocks in the modern chemical industry. Computational chemistry was performed to help discriminate the role of some of the constituents of the mixed oxide ecocatalysts. High conversions, broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and easy purification of the final products together with simplicity of the preparation of the ecocatalysts are the major advantages of the presented protocol. Additionally, Eco-MgZnOx-P could be recovered and reused for up to five times.

Mechanochemistry and Eco-Bases for Sustainable Michael Addition Reactions.

The Michael addition reaction was revisited with a full focus on sustainability combined with efficiency, using mechanochemistry in mild conditions. First, the synthesis of cyclopentenone derivatives was chosen as a model reaction to find optimal conditions in mechanochemistry while using classical but weak bases. The reaction was efficient (84-95% yields), fast (2-6 h), solvent free, and required 0.1 equivalent of base. Aiming to reach greener conditions, classical bases were then replaced using new bio-sourced bases, called Eco-bases, that were easily prepared from plants and led to heterogeneous catalysts. The composition and structure of Eco-bases were characterized by MP-AES, XRPD, EBSD/EDS, HRTEM/EDX and ion chromatography. Interestingly, a high ratio of potassium was observed with the presence of K2Ca(CO3)2 for the most effective Eco-base. The new Eco-bases were used for the mechanical-assisted construction of functionalized alkenone derivatives. The versatility of the method has been successfully applied with good to excellent yields to different Michael donors and acceptors. Eco-bases were recycled and reused four times with the same performances. Combining Eco-bases and mechanochemistry in Michael addition reactions allowed reaching a maximum degree of sustainability (efficient, rapid, low catalyst loading, solvent-free reactions with bio-sourced catalysts) and participating in the development of mechanochemistry in sustainable chemistry.

Eco-Friendly Methodology for the Formation of Aromatic Carbon-Heteroatom Bonds by Using Green Ionic Liquids.

A new sustainable method is reported for the formation of aromatic carbon-heteroatom bonds under solvent-free and mild conditions (no co-oxidant, no strong acid and no toxic reagents) by using a new type of green ionic liquid. The bromination of methoxy arenes was chosen as a model reaction. The reaction methodology is based on only using natural sodium bromine, which is transformed into an electrophilic brominating reagent within an ionic liquid, easily prepared from the melted salt FeCl3 hexahydrate. Bromination reactions with this in-situ-generated reagent gave good yields and excellent regioselectivity under simple and environmentally friendly conditions. To understand the unusual bromine polarity reversal of sodium bromine without any strong oxidant, the molecular structure of the reaction medium was characterised by Raman and direct infusion electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS). An extensive computational investigation using density functional theory methods was performed to describe a mechanism that suggests indirect oxidation of Br- through new iron adducts. The versatility of the methodology was successively applied to nitration and thiocyanation of methoxy arenes using KNO3 and KSCN in melted hexahydrated FeCl3 .

Manipulation of Transmembrane Transport by Synthetic K+ Ionophore Depsipeptides and Its Implications in Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in ß-Cells.

The cyclic depsipeptide cereulide toxin it is a very well-known potassium electrogenic ionophore particularly sensitive to pancreatic beta cells. The mechanistic details of its specific activity are unknown. Here, we describe a series of synthetic substituted cereulide potassium ionophores that cause impressive selective activation of glucose-induced insulin secretion in a constitutive manner in rat insulinoma INS1E cells. Our study demonstrates that the different electroneutral K+ transport mechanism exhibited by the anionic mutant depsipeptides when compared with classical electrogenic cereulides can have an important impact of pharmacological value on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

Imidazole derivatives as artificial water channel building-blocks: structural design influence on water permeability.

A series of mono- and di-ureidoethylimidazole derivatives were tested as self-assembled supramolecular channels for water transport. Several structural behaviours were compared in order to gain insight on the structure-water transport activity relationship. The three main features that are critical to tailor artificial water channel building blocks are: (i) the selectivity of the hydrophilic head, (ii) the H-bonding scaffold favouring the directional self-assembly, and (iii) the lipophilic tail for the compatibility with the hydrophobic environment of the lipid bilayer. The designed compounds bear one or two imidazole heads, one or two urea moieties, and different lipophilic tails. Water transport experiments were performed in order to assess the critical parameters. For that, large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) were fabricated using a mixture of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and cholesterol. The bilayer of the LUV constituted a membrane between an intra and an extra vesicular medium. The artificial water channel candidates are put in the presence of this membrane to improve its water permeability. The permeation of elements other than water is ideally maintained to a minimum in order to achieve selective water filtration. In this study the effect of additional urea moieties, as well as its absence, was evidenced as detrimental for the permeation and the influence of the tail was also investigated.

Structure-Driven Selection of Adaptive Transmembrane Na+ Carriers or K+ Channels.

Self-assembled alkyl-ureido-benzo-15-crown-5-ethers are selective ionophores for K+ cations, which are preferred to Na+ cations. The transport mechanism is determined by the optimal coordination rather than classical dimensional compatibility between the crown ether hole and the cation diameter. Herein, we demonstrate that systematic changes of the structure lead to unexpected modifications in the cation-transport activity and suffice to produce adaptive selection. We show that the main contribution to performance arises from optimal constraints on the conformational freedom, which are determined by the binding macrocycles, the nature of the hydrogen-bonding groups, and the hydrophobic tails. Simple changes to the flexible 15-crown-5-ether lead to selective carriers for Na+ . Hydrophobic stabilization of the channels through mutual interactions between lipids and variable hydrophobic tails appears to be an important cause of increased activity. Oppositely, restricted translocation is achieved when constrained hydrogen-bonded macrocyclic relays are less dynamic in a pore superstructure.

"Pyrene Box" Cages for the Confinement of Biogenic Amines.

The complete structure of non-crystalline compounds can be determined by confining them in crystalline structures. The reduced motional degrees of freedom of encapsulated guests can be obtained through their anchoring to the host cages, which results in the reduction of a significant amount of disorder. The "pyrene box" cages that easily crystallize from aqueous solutions are recommended to achieve complete structure elucidation of compounds of biological interest. In this study, the "pyrene box" cages have been used for the in situ encapsulation of biogenic amines: histamine, dopamine, and serotonin. NMR spectroscopy illustrates that these systems are stable in aqueous solution. The X-ray single-crystal structure analysis reveals that the pyrene box/biogenic amine systems are stabilized through combined interactions, strongly contributing to in situ fixation and accurate determination of their crystal structures.

Salt-Excluding Artificial Water Channels Exhibiting Enhanced Dipolar Water and Proton Translocation.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are biological water channels known for fast water transport (∼10(8)-10(9) molecules/s/channel) with ion exclusion. Few synthetic channels have been designed to mimic this high water permeability, and none reject ions at a significant level. Selective water translocation has previously been shown to depend on water-wires spanning the AQP pore that reverse their orientation, combined with correlated channel motions. No quantitative correlation between the dipolar orientation of the water-wires and their effects on water and proton translocation has been reported. Here, we use complementary X-ray structural data, bilayer transport experiments, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to gain key insights and quantify transport. We report artificial imidazole-quartet water channels with 2.6 Špores, similar to AQP channels, that encapsulate oriented dipolar water-wires in a confined chiral conduit. These channels are able to transport ∼10(6) water molecules/s, which is within 2 orders of magnitude of AQPs' rates, and reject all ions except protons. The proton conductance is high (∼5 H(+)/s/channel) and approximately half that of the M2 proton channel at neutral pH. Chirality is a key feature influencing channel efficiency.

Squalyl Crown Ether Self-Assembled Conjugates: An Example of Highly Selective Artificial K+ Channels.

The natural KcsA K+ channel, one of the best-characterized biological pore structures, conducts K+ cations at high rates while excluding Na+ cations. The KcsA K+ channel is of primordial inspiration for the design of artificial channels. Important progress in improving conduction activity and K+ /Na+ selectivity has been achieved with artificial ion-channel systems. However, simple artificial systems exhibiting K+ /Na+ selectivity and mimicking the biofunctions of the KcsA K+ channel are unknown. Herein, an artificial ion channel formed by H-bonded stacks of squalyl crown ethers, in which K+ conduction is highly preferred to Na+ conduction, is reported. The K+ -channel behavior is interpreted as arising from discreet stacks of dimers resulting in the formation of oligomeric channels, in which transport of cations occurs through macrocycles mixed with dimeric carriers undergoing dynamic exchange within the bilayer membrane. The present highly K+ -selective macrocyclic channel can be regarded as a biomimetic alternative to the KcsA channel.

Highly Selective Artificial Cholesteryl Crown Ether K(+)-Channels.

The bacterial KcsA channel conducts K(+) cations at high rates while excluding Na(+) cations. Herein, we report an artificial ion-channel formed by H-bonded stacks of crown-ethers, where K(+) cation conduction is highly preferred to Na(+) cations. The macrocycles aligned along the central pore surround the K(+) cations in a similar manner to the water around the hydrated cation, compensating for the energetic cost of their dehydration. In contrast, the Na(+) cation does not fit the macrocyclic binding sites, so its dehydration is not completely compensated. The present highly K(+)-selective macrocyclic channel may be regarded as a biomimetic of the KcsA channel.

A constrained disorder refinement: "Reinvestigation of "Single-crystal X-ray structure of 1,3-dimethylcyclobutadiene" by M. Shatruk and I. V. Alabugin".

Shatruk and Alabugin propose an alternative structural model for the observed electron density that we have attributed to the photochemical formation of 1,3-dimethylcyclobutadiene in a protective solid crystalline matrix. The main criticism from Shatruk and Alabugin concerns the modeling of the disorder in the calixarene cavity and in particular the neglect of a residual electron density close to the O1 atom. We published (Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 10021) our opinion concerning this "ignored peak" in the Supporting Information of the paper. The current response to the Correspondence demonstrates that Shatruk and Alabugin have over-modeled our data by assigning a small electron density peak, which is hardly more than the density corresponding to a hydrogen atom, to an under-occupied oxygen site, using inappropriate refinement contraints.

Reply to A computational evaluation of the evidence for the synthesis of 1,3-dimethylcyclobutadiene in solid state and aqueous solution--beyond the experimental reality.

Following earlier reports on the photochemical synthesis of 1,3-dimethylcyclobutadiene in a protective host matrix, theoretical calculations for the formation of that adduct have been recently performed by Rzepa. The author formulated criticisms based mainly on density functional theory calculations of (1)H NMR spectra. According to Rzepa the calculated spectra do not correspond with our measured spectra, which leads him to the conclusion that our interpretation is wrong, and that mainly cyclobutadiene has not been stabilized or even synthesized; we believe, however, that the initial model that Rzepa used for his calculations does not correspond to chemical reality or is at the very least a crude simplification of it, which implies that his calculations cannot match, in every point, our experimental spectra. Rzepa's simplified models might be 'reasonable' from the theoretical point of view; however, in the case of assessment in the solid state, the theoretical setup does not force the system to preserve the confined stabilizing space defined by the crystalline matrix for encapsulated hosts in the solid state. Inversely, in the case of solution modeling, the theoretical setup is too rigid to properly assess the complex equilibria occurring in solution and to accurately determine the NMR spectra of exchanging species in solution. The inconsistency between our experimental results and the results of the theoretical models proposed by Rzepa is such that his conclusions are considered to be too far from experimental reality. Accurate modeling taking in account "reasonable" experimental details would be a worthwhile endeavor.

Self-assembled supramolecular channels: toward biomimetic materials for directional translocation.

This Personal Account summarizes the recent developments in the development of self-assembled supramolecular channels and their dimensional extension towards up-scaled self-organized materials. This Personal Account begins with a short, non-exhaustive description of artificial supramolecular channel systems that are involved in water-, proton-, and ion-transport processes through bilayer membranes. Then, these "all-made" artificial systems will be described as a source of inspiration, by presenting several breakthroughs over the last few years in the field of biomimetic supramolecular channel systems. Their inclusion in artificial polymeric/hybrid matrixes, which results in the formation of biomimetic artificial materials for directional translocation through channeling pathways, will be described in the last part of the Personal Account, with an emphasis on all of the efforts that are necessary to maintain their channel-transporting function within bilayer membranes under up-scaled operating conditions.

Weak intermolecular hydrogen and halogen interactions in an isomorphous halogen series of pseudoterpyridine Zn(II) complexes.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of halogen-substituted pseudoterpyridine Zn(II) homoleptic mononuclear complexes, based on ligands L(11)-L(44) [2,6-pyridinedicarboxaldehydebis(p-R-phenylimines), R = F, Cl, Br, I] are reported. Neither of the structures contain relatively strong classical hydrogen bonds (OH···O, NH···O, OH···N, NH···N) and the structure packing is thus determined by a subtle interplay of weaker interactions. Isostructurality of the four halogen analogues is very rare, and in this study -Br, -Cl and -F are found to be isostructural in different degrees, whereas -I is not. Interestingly, although it is closely isostructural to the -Cl and -Br compounds, the F analogue is shown not to form F···O bonds, while the Cl and the Br analogues do form Hal···O bonds. This raises an important question on the role of Hal···O bonds in the structuration of the crystal packing, particularly the stabilization effect. Similarly, while the CH···Hal interaction seems to give one-dimensional cohesion in the -Cl and -Br analogues, this feature is absent in the -F analogue, despite its close isostructurality. CH···O interactions appear to dominate to a first degree the cohesion between the anionic trifluoromethanesulfonate network and the cationic Zn-pyridinedicarboxaldehydebis(p-R-phenylimines) network. The analysis of these interactions is corroborated by reduced density gradient calculations based on promolecular densities.

Dynamic hybrid materials for constitutional self-instructed membranes.

Constitutional self-instructed membranes were developed and used for mimicking the adaptive structural functionality of natural ion-channel systems. These membranes are based on dynamic hybrid materials in which the functional self-organized macrocycles are reversibly connected with the inorganic silica through hydrophobic noncovalent interactions. Supramolecular columnar ion-channel architectures can be generated by reversible confinement within scaffolding hydrophobic silica mesopores. They can be structurally determined by using X-ray diffraction and morphologically tuned by alkali-salts templating. From the conceptual point of view, these membranes express a synergistic adaptive behavior: the simultaneous binding of the fittest cation and its anion would be a case of "homotropic allosteric interactions," because in time it increases the transport efficiency of the pore-contained superstructures by a selective evolving process toward the fittest ion channel. The hybrid membranes presented here represent dynamic constitutional systems evolving over time to form the fittest ion channels from a library of molecular and supramolecular components, or selecting the fittest ion pairs from a mixture of salts demonstrating flexible adaptation.

Bis[µ-1-hexyl-3-(2,3,5,6,8,9,11,12-octa-hydro-1,4,7,10,13-benzopenta-oxacyclo-penta-decin-15-yl)urea]bis-(azido-sodium) chloro-form disolvate.

In the title compound, [Na(2)(N(3))(2)(C(21)H(34)N(2)O(6))(2)]·2CHCl(3), the sodium cation is hepta-coordinated by five O atoms of the crown ether unit of the 1-hexyl-3-(2,3,5,6,8,9,11,12-octa-hydro-1,4,7,10,13-benzopenta-oxacyclo-penta-decin-15-yl)urea (L) ligand, the O atom of the urea group of the second, symmetry-related L ligand, and one N atom of the azide anion. The experimentally determined distance 2.472 (2) Šbetween the terminal azide N atom and the sodium cation is substanti-ally longer than that predicted from density functional theory (DFT) calculations (2.263 Å). The crown ethers complexing the sodium cation are related by an inversion centre and form dimers. The urea groups of the two L ligands are connected in a head-to-tail fashion by classical N-H⋯N hydrogen-bonding inter-actions and form a ribbon-like structure parallel to the b axis. Parallel ribbons are weakly linked through C-H⋯N, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions.