Conformation-Selective Self-Assembly of Pd6 Trifacial Molecular Barrels Using a Tetrapyridyl Ligand.

A conformationally flexible tetrapyridyl ligand L was assembled separately with three cis-blocked 90° PdII acceptors (M1, M2, and M3) containing different blocking diamines. Surprisingly, different conformations of the donor L were arrested by the acceptors depending on the nature of the blocking amine, leading to the formation of isomeric Pd6 barrels (B1, B2, and B3). B2 and B3 with larger windows have been used to encapsulate polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

Heteroleptic metallosupramolecular aggregates/complexation for supramolecular catalysis.

Supramolecular catalysis is reviewed with an eye on heteroleptic aggregates/complexation. Since most of the current metallosupramolecular catalytic systems are homoleptic in nature, the idea of breaking/reducing symmetry has ignited a vivid search for heteroleptic aggregates that are made up by different components. Their higher degree of functional diversity and structural heterogeneity allows, as demonstrated by Nature by the multicomponent ATP synthase motor, a more detailed and refined configuration of purposeful machinery. Furthermore, (metallo)supramolecular catalysis is shown to extend beyond the single "supramolecular unit" and to reach far into the field and concepts of systems chemistry and information science.

Self-Assembly of Enantiopure Pd12 Tetrahedral Homochiral Nanocages with Tetrazole Linkers and Chiral Recognition.

Enantiopure acceptors (R,R)M and (S,S)M [where M = (N1,N1,N2,N2-tetramethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine)Pd(NO3)2] have been used to design enantiopure Pd(II) tetrahedral cages. Self-assembly of [1,4-di(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)benzene] (H2L1) with chiral acceptors (R,R)M and (S,S)M yielded enantiopure homochiral tetrahedral cages (ΛΛΛΛ)T1 and (ΔΔΔΔ)T1, respectively. This strategy was further extended by using [2,6-di(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)naphthalene] (H2L2) with (R,R)M and (S,S)M to obtain water-soluble enantiopure tetrahedral nanocages (ΛΛΛΛ)T2 and (ΔΔΔΔ)T2, respectively. In order to obtain assembly with a larger cavity for potential use in enantioselective recognition, [4,4'-di(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl] (H2L3) was used as the linker, which also resulted in the formation of water-soluble enantiopure tetrahedral cages (ΛΛΛΛ)T3 and (ΔΔΔΔ)T3 upon treatment with (R,R)M and (S,S)M, respectively. The present cages represent unusual examples of enantiopure tetrahedral cages of square-planar metal ions. Finally, T3 cages have been employed in a host-guest study as they offer the largest hydrophobic cavity. Encapsulation of chiral guest molecules such as [(R/S)-1,1'-binaphthalene]-2,2'-diol] (B) and [(R/S)-2,2'-diethoxy-1,1'-binaphthalene] (EtB) has been performed in order to successfully establish the asymmetric nature and enantiopurity of the tetrahedral cavity. The host T3 showed certain selectivity toward one enantiomer over the other. (ΛΛΛΛ)T3 preferred R-EtB over S-EtB (75:25) because of better fitting within the chiral cavity (Λ/R pair), whereas (ΔΔΔΔ)T3 favored S-EtB instead of R-EtB (Δ/S pair ratio = 73:27) with similar selectivity.

Guest-Induced Enantioselective Self-Assembly of a Pd6 Homochiral Octahedral Cage with a C3-Symmetric Pyridyl Donor.

Self-assembly of an achiral acceptor of square-planar Pd(II) or Pt(II) ion with a symmetric donor generally yields achiral architecture or a racemic mixture of chiral assemblies. Selective formation of an enantiopure assembly in such processes is very challenging. We report here a new approach of converting a dynamic mixture of multiple homochiral assemblies to an enantiopure architecture through the interaction of a chiral guest molecule. One-pot reaction of a cationic C3-symmetric tripyridyl donor L·HNO3 with cis-[(tmeda)Pd(NO3)2] (M) [tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine] yielded a complex mixture of stereoisomers of a chiral octahedral cage. Surprisingly, the presence of R-BINOL as a chiral guest in the above self-assembly induced selective formation of a single enantiopure octahedral cage. S-BINOL induced formation of the other enantiomer of the cage selectively. While selective recognition of an enantiomeric guest from a racemic mixture by a chiral host is well-known, present observation of "reverse chiral recognition" where the guest molecule determines the handedness of the host leading to the formation of an enantiopure cage is noteworthy.

Self-Assembled Pd12 Coordination Cage as Photoregulated Oxidase-Like Nanozyme.

Designing supramolecular architectures with uncommon geometries embedded with functional building units is of immense importance in contemporary research. In this report, we present a new water-soluble Pd12L6 supramolecular coordination nanocage (1) that was synthesized via self-assembly of a tetradentate donor (L) with ditopic acceptor cis-[(en)Pd(NO3)2] [en = ethylenediamine]. Self-assembly of a tetratopic donor with a cis-blocked 90° acceptor commonly produces tri/tetra- or hexagonal barrel-type structures. However, the resulting cage 1 has an uncommon geometry consisting of two triangular cupolas conjoined through an irregular common hexagonal base. Incorporation of the benzothiadiazole unit in the structure helped in the photogeneration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in water. Many nanomaterials have shown to have the ability to mimic the catalytic activity of natural enzymes (nanozymes). Majority of such nanozymes are water insoluble metal/metal-oxide nanoparticles or extended metal organic frameworks (MOFs)/metal-carbon composites, etc. The present water-soluble Pd12 nanocage 1 has shown excellent oxidase-like activity upon irradiation with white light. The enzymatic activity of 1 is photoregulated which offers other obvious advantages, such as external control of enzymatic activity and noninvasiveness. The oxidase-like activity and exogenous ROS generation have been further exploited in photocatalytic antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial strain.

Toward Molecular Cybernetics - the Art of Communicating Chemical Systems.

The emerging field of molecular cybernetics has the potential to widely broaden our perception of chemistry. Chemistry will develop beyond its current focus that is mainly concerned with single transformations, pure compounds, and/or defined mixtures. On this way, chemistry will become autonomous, networked and smart through communicating molecules each of which serves a control engineering purpose, like the set of wheels in the machinery of life. The present personal account describes our latest developments in this field.

Self-Assembly of a Pd8 Macrocycle and Pd12 Homochiral Tetrahedral Cages Using Poly(tetrazolate) Linkers.

A two-dimensional molecular square (MC) was obtained by the self-assembly of a bis(tetrazole) linker, 4,4'-bis(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,1'-biphenyl (H2L1), with a square-planar metal acceptor M [M = (tmeda)Pd(NO3)2, where tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine] in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) followed by crystallization. The uncommon 2,3-binding mode through N atoms of the tetrazole rings in this assembly leads to the formation of an octanuclear molecular square. The molecular square MC [Pd8(L1)4(NO3)8] is unstable in DMSO and slowly converts to a dynamic mixture of a 3D tetrahedral cage T1 [Pd12(L1)6(NO3)12] and the macrocycle MC. A tetrahedral cage (T1) is formed by the usual 1,3-binding mode of the tetrazole rings. However, self-assembly of the T1 [Pd12(L1)6(PF6)12] was possible to access in the pure form in a less polar solvent like acetonitrile. The pure T1 [Pd12(L1)6(PF6)12] also converts to a mixture of T1 and MC in DMSO. Interestingly, when a tris(tetrazole) linker, tris(4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)amine (H3L2), was treated with the acceptor M, it produced a tetrahedral nanocage T2 [Pd12(L2)4(NO3)12] through 1,3-binding mode of the tetrazole rings without any trace of an octahedral cage through 2,3-binding mode of the tetrazole moieties.

Self-Assembled Pd(II) Barrels as Containers for Transient Merocyanine Form and Reverse Thermochromism of Spiropyran.

Self-assembly of a cis-blocked Pd(II) 90° ditopic acceptor [ cis-(tmeda)Pd(NO3)2] (M) with a tetradentate donor L1 [benzene-1,4-di(4-terpyridine)] in 2:1 molar ratio yielded two isometric molecular barrels MB1 and MB3 in DMSO [tmeda = N, N, N' N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine]. Exclusive formation of the symmetrical tetrafacial barrel (MB1) was achieved when the self-assembly was performed in aqueous medium. The presence of a large confined cavity makes MB1 a potential molecular container. Spiropyran (SP) compounds exist in stable closed spiro form in visible light and convert to transient open merocyanine (MC) form upon irradiation with UV-light or upon strong heating. The transient MC form readily converts to the stable closed SP form in visible light. MB1 has been employed as a safe container to store the planar and unstable merocyanine isomers (MC1/2) of different spiropyran molecules (SP1/2) [SP1/2 = 6-bromo-spiropyran and 6-nitrospiropyran] for several days. The transient MC forms (MC1 and MC2) were found to be stable inside the molecular container MB1 under visible light and even in the presence of different stimuli such as heat and UV light for a long time. Such stabilization of MC forms inside the confined cavity of MB1 is noteworthy. This phenomenon was generalized by utilizing a carbazole-based molecular barrel (MB2) as a host, which also showed a similar stabilization of transient MC form in visible light at room temperature. Moreover, reverse thermochromism was observed as a result of heating of the MC1 ⊂ MB2 complex, which de-encapsulates the guest in the form of SP1 to give a colorless solution. Moreover, both the host molecules (MB1, MB2) were capable of stabilizing transient MC2 even in the solid state. Such stabilization of transient MC forms in the solid state and transformation of SP forms to MC forms in the solid state in the presence of molecular barrel are remarkable, and these properties have been employed in developing a magic ink.

Pyriplatin-Boron-Dipyrromethene Conjugates for Imaging and Mitochondria-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy.

Monofunctional pyriplatin analogues cis-[Pt(NH3)2(L)Cl](NO3) (1-3) having boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) pendants (L) with 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-(4-pyridyl)-4,4'-difluoroboradiazaindacene moieties were designed and synthesized, and their photocytotoxic properties were studied. The Pt-BODIPY conjugates displayed an absorption band within 505-550 nm and a green emissive band near 535 nm in 1% DMSO/DMEM (Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium) buffer. Complex cis-[Pt(NH3)2(4-Me-py)Cl](NO3) (4) was used as a control for determining the structural aspects by X-ray crystallography. The mono- and diiodinated BODIPY complexes 2 and 3 showed generation of singlet oxygen on light activation as evidenced from the 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) titration experiments. The cytotoxicity of the BODIPY complexes was tested against A549 (human lung cancer), MCF-7 (human breast cancer), and HaCaT (human skin keratinocyte) cells in dark and visible light (400-700 nm, 10 J cm-2). While complexes 2 and 3 showed excellent photocytotoxicity (IC50 ≈ 0.05 µM), they remained essentially nontoxic in the dark (IC50 > 100 µM). The emissive bands of 1 and 2 were used for cellular imaging by confocal microscopy study, which showed their mitochondrial localization. This was further supported by platinum estimation from isolated mitochondria and mitochondrial depolarization through a JC-1 assay. The photomediated apoptotic cell death was evidenced from flow cytometric assays, annexin-V/FITC-PI (fluorescein isothiocyanate-propidium iodide) and cell cycle arrest in sub-G1 and G2/M phases. The complexes bind to 9-ethylguanine as a model nucleobase to form monoadducts. A mechanistic study on DNA photocleavage activity using pUC19 DNA showed singlet oxygen as the reactive oxygen species (ROS). The combination of photodynamic therapy with DNA cross-linking property enhanced the anticancer potential of the monofunctional BODIPY-conjugates of pyriplatins.

A Self-Assembled Trigonal Prismatic Molecular Vessel for Catalytic Dehydration Reactions in Water.

A water-soluble Pd6 trigonal prism (A) was synthesized by two-component coordination-driven self-assembly of a PdII 90° acceptor with a tetraimidazole donor. The walls of the prism are constructed by three conjugated aromatic building blocks, which means that the confined pocket of the prism is hydrophobic. In addition to the hydrophobic cavity, large product egress windows make A an ideal molecular vessel to catalyze otherwise challenging pseudo-multicomponent dehydration reactions in its confined nanospace in aqueous medium. This study is an attempt at selective generation of the intermediate tetraketones and xanthenes by fine-tuning the reaction conditions employing a supramolecular molecular vessel. Moreover, either poor or no yield of the dehydrated products in the absence of A under similar reaction conditions supports the ability of the confined space of the barrel to promote such reactions in water. Furthermore, we focused on the rigidification of the tetraphenylethylene-based tetraimidazole unit anchored within the PdII coordination architecture; enabling counter-anion dependent aggregation induced emission in the presence of water.

Urea-Functionalized Self-Assembled Molecular Prism for Heterogeneous Catalysis in Water.

Reaction of a ditopic urea "strut" (L1) with cis-(tmen)Pd(NO3)2 yielded a [3+3] self-assembled molecular triangle (T) [L1 = 1,4-di(4-pyridylureido)benzene; tmen = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine]. Replacing cis-(tmen)Pd(NO3)2 in the above reaction with an equimolar mixture of Pd(NO3)2 and a clip-type donor (L2) yielded a template-free multicomponent 3D trigonal prism (P) decorated with multiple urea moieties [L2 = 3,3'-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-diyl)dipyridine]. This prism (P) was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, and the structure was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The P was employed as an effective hydrogen-bond-donor catalyst for Michael reactions of a series of water-insoluble nitro-olefins in an aqueous medium. The P showed better catalytic activity compared to the urea-based ligand L1 and the triangle T. Moreover, the confined nanospace of P in addition to large product outlet windows makes this 3D architecture a perfect molecular vessel to catalyze Diels-Alder reactions of 9-hydroxymethylanthracene with N-substituted maleimide in the aqueous medium. The present results demonstrate new observations on catalytic aqueous Diels-Alder and Michael reactions in heterogeneous fashion employing a discrete 3D architecture of Pd(II). The prism was recycled by simple filtration and reused several times without significant loss of activity.

Molecular Cage Impregnated Palladium Nanoparticles: Efficient, Additive-Free Heterogeneous Catalysts for Cyanation of Aryl Halides.

Two shape-persistent covalent cages (CC1(r) and CC2(r)) have been devised from triphenyl amine-based trialdehydes and cyclohexane diamine building blocks utilizing the dynamic imine chemistry followed by imine bond reduction. The cage compounds have been characterized by several spectroscopic techniques which suggest that CC1(r) and CC2(r) are [2+3] and [8+12] self-assembled architectures, respectively. These state-of-the-art molecules have a porous interior and stable aromatic backbone with multiple palladium binding sites to engineer the controlled synthesis and stabilization of ultrafine palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs). As-synthesized cage-embedded PdNPs have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry reveals that Pd@CC1(r) and Pd@CC2(r) have 40 and 25 wt% palladium loading, respectively. On the basis of TEM analysis, it has been estimated that as small as ∼1.8 nm PdNPs could be stabilized inside the CC1(r), while larger CC2(r) could stabilize ∼3.7 nm NPs. In contrast, reduction of palladium salts in the absence of the cages form structure less agglomerates. The well-dispersed cage-embedded NPs exhibit efficient catalytic performance in the cyanation of aryl halides under heterogeneous, additive-free condition. Moreover, these materials have excellent stability and recyclability without any agglomeration of PdNPs after several cycles.

Mechano-fluorochromic Pt(II) Luminogen and Its Cysteine Recognition.

A new triphenylamine-based organometallic Pt(II) luminogen (1) and its analogous organic compound (2) are reported. The molecules are decorated with aldehyde functionality to improve their photophysical properties by utilising donor-acceptor interactions. The single crystal X-ray structure analysis of Pt(II) analogue 1 revealed that the neighbouring molecules were loosely organised by weak intermolecular C-H⋅⋅⋅π interactions. Because of the twisted nature of the triphenylamine backbone the compounds showed aggregation-induced emission enhancement in THF/water mixture. Due to their loose crystal packing, upon application of external stimuli these luminogens exhibited mechano-fluorochromic behaviour. The crystalline forms of the compounds displayed a more superior emission efficiency than the grinded samples. Moreover, the compounds showed crystallization-induced emission enhancement (CIEE) and exhibited chemodosimetric response towards cysteine under physiological condition.

Aggregation-Induced Emission of Platinum(II) Metallacycles and Their Ability to Detect Nitroaromatics.

Two new acceptors containing platinum-carbazole (1) and platinum-triphenylamine (2) backbones with bite angles of 90° and 120°, respectively, have been synthesised and characterised. Reactions of the rigid acceptor 1 with linear dipyridyl-based donors (3 and 4) generated [4+4] self-assembled molecular squares (5 and 6), and similar treatments with acceptor 2 instead of 1 yielded [6+6] self-assembled molecular hexagons (7 and 8). The metallacycles were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy ((1) H and (31) P) and ESI-MS. The geometries of the metallacycles were optimised by using the PM6 method. When aggregates of the metallacycles were formed by adding hexane solutions in dichloromethane, aggregation-induced emission was observed for metallacycles 5 and 7, and aggregation-caused quenching was observed for metallacycles 6 and 8. The formation of aggregates was verified by dynamic light scattering and TEM analyses. Macrocycles 5 and 7 are white-light emitters in THF. Moreover, their high luminescence in both solution and the solid state was utilised for the recognition of nitroaromatic explosives.

Fast and slow walking driven by chemical fuel.

We demonstrate the fast forward and slow backward motion of a biped on a tetrahedral track using chemical fuel, cooperative binding and kinetic selectivity. Walking of the biped is based on its dibenzyl amine feet that bind to zinc porphyrin units and, upon protonation, to dibenzo 24-crown-8 sites affording pseudorotaxane linkages.

Fluorescence enhancement via structural rigidification inside a self-assembled Pd4 molecular vessel.

Restriction of intramolecular motion (RIM) is fundamental for the high emission of aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active molecules in aggregates or the solid-state. However, they are weakly emissive in dilute solution, which limits their application in dilute solutions. A Pd4 molecular vessel (MP1) was constructed by assembling [cis-(en)Pd(NO3)2] (M) with a tetradentate donor (L) in a 2 : 1 molar ratio. The active intramolecular motions of an AIE active molecule SG are restricted in the narrow cavity of MP1 upon encapsulation. As a result, SG displayed significant enhancement in its emission in dilute solution upon addition of MP1. This strategy of achieving high emission of AIE active compounds in dilute solution by confinement driven RIM might have potential in designing materials for high emission in the aggregated state as well as in dilute solution.

De novo approach for the synthesis of water-soluble interlocked and non-interlocked organic cages.

Research on self-assembled metallosupramolecular architectures has bloomed in recent times. Analogous metal-free organic architectures with water solubility are highly challenging. We report here a unique class of triazine based immidazolium water-soluble metal-free interlocked organic cage (1), which was synthesized in a one-pot reaction without using dynamic covalent chemistry and without any chromatographic separation. An analogous non-interlocked cage (2) was also successfully achieved by steric control using different positional isomers of the building blocks.

Self-assembly of a "cationic-cage" via the formation of Ag-carbene bonds followed by imine condensation.

A new strategy for the synthesis of a "cationic-cage" (CC-Ag) has been developed via metal-carbene (M-CNHC) bond formation followed by imine bond condensation. Reaction of a trigonal trisimidazolium salt H3L(PF6)3 functionalized with three flexible N-phenyl-aldehyde pendants with silver oxide yielded a trinuclear tricationic organometallic cage (OC-Ag). Subsequent treatment of the organometallic cage (OC-Ag) with 1,4-diaminobutane links the two tris-NHC ligands via imine bond condensation, which thus generates a 3D 'cationic-cage' (CC-Ag). Furthermore, post-synthetic replacement of the Ag(i) with Au(i) leading to the formation of CC-Au was achieved via trans-metalation, with the retention of the molecular architecture.

Linkage induced enhancement of fluorescence in metal-carbene bond directed metallacycles and metallacages.

Two new 1,4-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole based aggregation induced emission (AIE)-inactive di- and tetra-imidazolium salts were employed with Ag(i) for the synthesis of a Ag-carbene bond directed metallacycle (1) and metallacage (2), respectively. Transmetalation of these complexes allowed their facile conversion to their respective Au(i)-metallacycle (3) and metallacage (4). The final assemblies exhibit linkage induced enhancement of fluorescence (LIEF). The free ligands are almost non-fluorescent (ΦF = 3.2, 3.4) in comparison to their metal-carbene counterparts (ΦF up to 32.0). Thus, without using any AIEgen, obtaining high emission efficiencies in complexes AgI-CNHC (1, 2) via linkage is a nice approach towards turn-on fluorescence.

Preparation of a chiral Pt12 tetrahedral cage and its use in catalytic Michael addition reaction.

The reaction of chiral cis-[(1S,2S)-dch]Pt(NO3)2 (M) [where (1S,2S)-dch = (1S,2S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane] with a hexadentate ligand (L) in 3 : 1 stoichiometric ratio yielded a [12+4] self-assembled chiral M12L4 molecular tetrahedron (T). The cage T features an internal 3D nanocavity with large open 'windows', enabling it to catalyze Michael addition reactions of a series of nitrostyrene derivatives with indole in a 9 : 1 water : methanol mixture.