Switch-on luminescent sensing of unlabelled bacterial lectin by terbium(III) glycoconjugate systems.

Interactions of lectins with glycoconjugate-terbium(III) self-assembly complexes lead to sensing through enhanced lanthanide luminescence. This glycan-directed sensing paradigm detects an unlabelled lectin (LecA) associated with pathogen P. aeruginosa in solution, without any bactericidal activity. Further development of these probes could have potential as a diagnostic tool.

Formation of lanthanide luminescent di-metallic helicates in solution using a bis-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-picolinamide (tzpa) ligand.

The chiral bis-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-picolinamide (tzpa) ligand 1 was used in the formation of lanthanide di- and triple stranded di-metallic helicates in acetonitrile solution, where the changes in the ground and the Tb(III) excited state properties were used to monitor the formation of these supramolecular structures in situ under kinetic control.

Carbohydrate-Functionalized Triazolylidene Iridium Complexes: Hydrogenation Catalysis in Water with Asymmetric Induction.

Two sets of carbohydrate-NHC hybrid iridium complexes were synthesised in order to combine properties of carbohydrates and triazolylidene (trz) ligands in organometallic catalysis. One set features a direct trz linkage to the anomeric carbohydrate carbon, while the second set is comprised of an ethyl linker between the two functional units. Deprotection of the carbohydrate afforded hybrid complexes that efficiently catalyse the direct hydrogenation of ketones in water. The catalytic activity of the hybrid complexes was influenced by the pH of the aqueous medium and surpassed the activity of carbohydrate-free or acetyl-protected analogues (>90 % vs 13 % yield). While no enantiomeric induction was observed for the ethyl-linked hybrids, a moderate enantiomeric excess (ee) was induced by the directly linked systems. Moreover, these carbohydrate-trz hybrid complexes displayed mixed inhibitory activity towards a glycosidase from H. orenii that contain a glucose binding site.

Structural Considerations for Building Synthetic Glycoconjugates as Inhibitors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lectins.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic bacterium, responsible for a large portion of nosocomial infections globally and designated as critical priority by the World Health Organisation. Its characteristic carbohydrate-binding proteins LecA and LecB, which play a role in biofilm-formation and lung-infection, can be targeted by glycoconjugates. Here we review the wide range of inhibitors for these proteins (136 references), highlighting structural features and which impact binding affinity and/or therapeutic effects, including carbohydrate selection; linker length and rigidity; and scaffold topology, particularly for multivalent candidates. We also discuss emerging therapeutic strategies, which build on targeting of LecA and LecB, such as anti-biofilm activity, anti-adhesion and drug-delivery, with promising prospects for medicinal chemistry.

Ruthenium-centred btp glycoclusters as inhibitors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation.

Carbohydrate-decorated clusters (glycoclusters) centred on a Ru(ii) ion were synthesised and tested for their activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. These clusters were designed by conjugating a range of carbohydrate motifs (galactose, glucose, mannose and lactose, as well as galactose with a triethylene glycol spacer) to a btp (2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine) scaffold. This scaffold, which possesses a C 2 symmetry, is an excellent ligand for d-metal ions, and thus the formation of the Ru(ii)-centred glycoclusters 7 and 8Gal was achieved from 5 and 6Gal; each possessing four deprotected carbohydrates. Glycocluster 8Gal, which has a flexible spacer between the btp and galactose moieties, showed significant inhibition of P. aeruginosa bacterial biofilm formation. By contrast, glycocluster 7, which lacked the flexible linker, didn't show significant antimicrobial effects and neither does the ligand 6Gal alone. These results are proposed to arise from carbohydrate-lectin interactions with LecA, which are possible for the flexible metal-centred multivalent glycocluster. Metal-centred glycoclusters present a structurally versatile class of antimicrobial agent for P. aeruginosa, of which this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first example.

Anion-cation synergistic metal-free catalytic oxidative homocoupling of benzylamines by triazolium iodide salts.

Triazolium iodide salts are excellent catalysts for the selective oxidative coupling of benzylamines to yield imines. This metal-free reaction proceeds in quantitative spectroscopic yields when run in refluxing 1,2-dichlorobenzene and open to the air. No catalytic activity was observed with related triazolium tetrafluoroborate salts. Variation of catalyst and reaction atmosphere provides mechanistic insights, and revealed dioxygen as the terminal oxidant and the iodine/iodide couple as key redox component in the catalytic dehydrogenation pathway. While molecular iodine is competent as a catalyst in its own right, the triazolium cation triples the reaction rate and reaches turnover frequencies up to 30 h-1, presumably through beneficial interactions of the electron-poor azolium π system and I2, which facilitate the electron transfer from the substrate to iodine and concomitant formation of I-. This acceleration is specific for triazolium cations and represents a hybrid anion/cation catalytic process as a simple and straightforward route towards imine products, with economic advantages over previously reported metal-based catalytic systems.

Carbohydrate-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene Ru(ii) complexes: synthesis, characterization and catalytic transfer hydrogenation activity.

Three Ru complexes containing carbohydrate/N-heterocyclic carbene hybrid ligands were synthesized that were comprised of a triazolylidene coordination site and a directly linked per-acetylated glucosyl (5Glc) or galactosyl unit (5Gal), or a glycosyl unit linked through an ethylene spacer (6). Electrochemical and UV-vis analysis indicate only minor perturbation of the electronic configuration of the metal center upon carbohydrate installation. Deprotection of the carbohydrate was accomplished under basic conditions to afford complexes that were stable in solution over several hours, but decomposed in the solid state. Complexes 5 and 6 were used as pre-catalysts for transfer hydrogenation of ketones under basic conditions, i.e. conditions that lead to in situ deprotection of the carbohydrate entity. The carbohydrate directly influences the catalytic activity of the metal center. Remotely linked carbohydrates (complex 6) induce significantly lower catalytic activity than directly linked carbohydrates (complexes 5Glc, 5Gal), while unfunctionalized triazolylidenes are an order of magnitude more active. These observations and substrate variations strongly suggest that substrate bonding is rate-limiting for transfer hydrogenation in these hybrid carbohydrate/triazolylidene systems.

A folded [2 × 2] metallo-supramolecular grid from a bis-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-picolinamide (tzpa) ligand.

A flexible ditopic ligand 1 containing two N,N,O-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-picolinamide chelating pockets is reported and the formation of multimetallic architectures is explored in the solid and the solution phase. The self-assembled ZnII complex [Zn4(1)4](ClO4)8 exhibited a folded [2 × 2] square grid supramolecular architecture that selectively assembled in MeCN solution as shown using various spectroscopic techniques. The closely related FeII complex shows equivalent behaviour in the solid state, while a discrete dinuclear species [Cu2(NO3)41]·5MeCN was the sole product observed in the solid state from the reaction between 1 and CuII under similar conditions.

Formation of Self-Templated 2,6-Bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine [2]Catenanes by Triazolyl Hydrogen Bonding: Selective Anion Hosts for Phosphate.

We report the remarkable ability of 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (btp) compounds 2 with appended olefin amide arms to self-template the formation of interlocked [2]catenane structures 3 in up to 50 % yield when subjected to olefin ring-closing metathesis in CH2 Cl2 . X-ray diffraction crystallography enabled the structural characterization of both the [2]catenane 3 a and the non-interlocked macrocycle 4 a. These [2]catenanes showed selective triazolyl hydrogen-bonding interactions with the tetrahedral phosphate anion when screened against a range of ions; 3 a,b are the first examples of selective [2]catenane hosts for phosphate.

Chiroptical Probing of Lanthanide-Directed Self-Assembly Formation Using btp Ligands Formed in One-Pot Diazo-Transfer/Deprotection Click Reaction from Chiral Amines.

A series of enantiomeric 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridines (btp)-containing ligands was synthesized by a one-pot two-step copper-catalyzed amine/alkyne click reaction. The Eu(III) - and Tb(III) -directed self-assembly formation of these ligands was studied in CH3 CN by monitoring their various photophysical properties, including their emerging circular dichroism and circularly polarized luminescence. The global analysis of the former enabled the determination of both the stoichiometry and the stability constants of the various chiral supramolecular species in solution.

Lanthanide luminescent logic gate mimics in soft matter: [H(+)] and [F(-)] dual-input device in a polymer gel with potential for selective component release.

The non-covalent incorporation of responsive luminescent lanthanide, Ln(III), complexes with orthogonal outputs from Eu(III) and Tb(III) in a gel matrix allows for in situ logic operation with colorimetric outputs. Herein, we report an exemplar system with two inputs ([H(+)] and [F(-)]) within a p(HEMA-co-MMA) polymer organogel acting as a dual-responsive device and identify future potential for such systems.

Self-assembly formation of a healable lanthanide luminescent supramolecular metallogel from 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (btp) ligands.

The synthesis of five new 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (btp) ligands is described: the self-assembly behaviour of the tri-methyl ester, 1, with Eu(III) showed the formation of a luminescent 1:3 Eu : btp complex, Eu13, which was studied in solution and in the solid state; while the tri-carboxylic acid, 2, formed a hydrogel and its corresponding complex Eu23, gave rise to a strongly red luminescent healable metallogel.

Lanthanide directed self-assembly of highly luminescent supramolecular "peptide" bundles from α-amino acid functionalized 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (btp) ligands.

Ligands containing the [2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine] (btp) motif have recently shown promise in coordination chemistry. The motif is synthesized via the Cu(I)-catalyzed "click" reaction and can be conveniently functionalized when compared to other terdentate chelating motifs. Ligand 1 was synthesized and shown to sensitize Eu(III) and Tb(III) excited states effectively. The use of these ions to synthesize self-assembly structures in solution was investigated by carrying out both (1)H NMR and photophysical titrations. The latter were used to determine high binding constants from changes in the absorption, ligand emission (fluorescence), and lanthanide-centered emission. A small library of amino acid derivatives of 1, ligands 3, were prepared upon coupling reactions with Gly, Ala, Phe, and Trp methyl esters, with a view to introducing biologically relevant and chiral moieties into such ligands. All of these derivatives were shown to form stable, emissive Ln(III) self-assemblies, emitting in the millisecond time range, which were studied by means of probing their photophysical properties in organic solutions using lanthanide ion titrations. All the Tb(III) complexes, with the exception of Trp based derivatives, gave rise to highly luminescent and bright complexes, with quantum yields of Tb(III) emission of 46-70% in CH3CN solution. In contrast, the Eu(III) complexes gave rise to more modest quantum yields of 0.3-3%, reflecting better energy match for the Tb(III) complexes, and hence, more efficient sensitization, as demonstrated by using low temperature measurements to determine the triplet state of 1.

The btp [2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine] binding motif: a new versatile terdentate ligand for supramolecular and coordination chemistry.

Ligands containing the btp [2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine] motif have appeared with increasing regularity over the last decade. This class of ligands, formed in a one pot 'click' reaction, has been studied for various purposes, such as for generating d and f metal coordination complexes and supramolecular self-assemblies, and in the formation of dendritic and polymeric networks, etc. This review article introduces btp as a novel and highly versatile terdentate building block with huge potential in inorganic supramolecular chemistry. We will focus on the coordination chemistry of btp ligands with a wide range of metals, and how it compares with other classical pyridyl and polypyridyl based ligands, and then present a selection of applications including use in catalysis, enzyme inhibition, photochemistry, molecular logic and materials, e.g. polymers, dendrimers and gels. The photovoltaic potential of triazolium derivatives of btp and its interactions with anions will also be discussed.

Synthesis, structural, photophysical and electrochemical studies of various d-metal complexes of btp [2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine] ligands that give rise to the formation of metallo-supramolecular gels.

2,6-Bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (btp) is a terdentate binding motif that is synthesised modularly via the CuAAC reaction. Herein, we present the synthesis of ligands 1 and 2 and the investigation of the coordination chemistry, photophysical behaviour and electrochemistry of complexes of these with a number of d-metal ions (e.g. Ru(II), Ir(III), Ni(II) and Pt(II)). The X-ray crystal structures of ligand 1 and the complexes [Ru·2(2)](PF6)Cl, [Ni·1(2)](PF6)Cl and [Ir·1Cl3] are also presented. All of the complexes displayed non-classical triazolyl C-H···Cl(-) hydrogen bonding. All but one complex showed no metal-based luminescence at room temperature, while all of the Pt(ii) complexes displayed luminescence at 77 K. The electrochemistry of the Ru(II) complexes was also studied and these complexes were found to have higher oxidation potentials than analogous compounds. The redox behaviour of [RuL2](2+) complexes with both 1 and 2 was nearly identical, while [Ru·1Cl2(DMSO)] was oxidised at significantly lower potential. We also show that the Ru(II) complex of 2, [Ru·2(2)](PF6)Cl, gave rise to the formation of a metallo-supramolecular gel, the morphology of which was studied using scanning electron and helium ion microscopy.