Phosphoric Acids as Amplifiers of Molecular Chirality in Liquid Crystalline Media

A new system for the double amplification of the molecular chirality of simple chiral amines in achiral liquid crystalline media is described. It involves a conformationally flexible phosphoric acid based receptor that by binding to chiral amines induces chirality in the liquid crystalline matrix. Efficient cholesteric phase formation was shown by several chiral amines that were not able to induce measurable helicity in nematic liquid crystals by themselves

Synthesis of End-Functionalized Polyanilines

Synthesis of End-Functionalized Polyaniline

Macroscopic Expression of the Chirality of Amino Alcohols by a Double Amplification Mechanism in Liquid Crystalline Media

The central chirality of simple amino alcohols was amplified by binding to a dynamically axially chiral biphenol receptor and expressed as supramolecular chirality by effecting a change from a nematic to a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase

Radical Cation Stabilization in a Cucurbituril Oligoaniline Rotaxane

A cucurbituril-encapsulated oligoaniline rotaxane is synthesized in high yield by reductive amination in aqueous acid. Spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements show that encapsulation by cucurbit[7]uril increases the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the radical cation of the threaded oligoaniline. This radical cation has a stoichiometry similar to that of the conducting emeraldine salt form of polyaniline, which implies that cucurbituril insulation of polyaniline might drastically alter the oxidation potential of the threaded conjugated polymer chain

Transient Host–Guest Complexation To Control Catalytic Activity

Signal transduction mechanisms are key to living systems. Cells respond to signals by changing catalytic activity of enzymes. This signal responsive catalysis is crucial in the regulation of (bio)­chemical reaction networks (CRNs). Inspired by these networks, we report an artificial signal responsive system that shows signal-induced temporary catalyst activation. We use an unstable signal to temporarily activate an out of equilibrium CRN, generating transient host–guest complexes to control catalytic activity. Esters with favorable binding toward the cucurbit[7]­uril (CB[7]) supramolecular host are used as temporary signals to form a transient complex with CB[7], replacing a CB[7]-bound guest. The esters are hydrolytically unstable, generating acids and alcohols, which do not bind to CB[7], leading to guest reuptake. We demonstrate the feasibility of the concept using signal-controlled temporary dye release and reuptake. The same signal controlled system was then used to tune the reaction rate of aniline catalyzed hydrazone formation. Varying the ester structure and concentration gave access to different catalyst liberation times and free catalyst concentration, regulating the overall reaction rate. With temporary signal controlled transient complex formation we can tune the kinetics of a second chemical reaction, in which the signal does not participate. This system shows promise for building more complex nonbiological networks, to ultimately arrive at signal transduction in organic materials

Enhancing the ROS Sensitivity of a Responsive Supramolecular Hydrogel Using Peroxizyme Catalysis

Hydrogels that can disintegrate upon exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) have the potential for targeted drug delivery to tumor cells. In this study, we developed a diphenylalanine (FF) derivative with a thioether phenyl moiety attached to the N-terminus that can form supramolecular hydrogels at neutral and mildly acidic pH. The thioether can be oxidized by ROS to the corresponding sulfoxide, which makes the gelator hydrolytically labile. The resulting oxidation and hydrolysis products alter the polarity of the gelator, leading to disassembly of the gel fibers. To enhance ROS sensitivity, we incorporated peroxizymes in the gels, namely, chloroperoxidase CiVCPO and the unspecific peroxygenase rAaeUPO. Both enzymes accelerated the oxidation process, enabling the hydrogels to collapse with 10 times lower H2O2 concentrations than those required for enzyme-free hydrogel collapse. These ROS-responsive hydrogels could pave the way toward optimized platforms for targeted drug delivery in the tumor microenvironment

Naked-Eye Thiol Analyte Detection via Self-Propagating, Amplified Reaction Cycle

We present an approach for detecting thiol analytes through a self-propagating amplification cycle that triggers the macroscopic degradation of a hydrogel scaffold. The amplification system consists of an allylic phosphonium salt that upon reaction with the thiol analyte releases a phosphine, which reduces a disulfide to form two thiols, closing the cycle and ultimately resulting in exponential amplification of the thiol input. When integrated in a disulfide cross-linked hydrogel, the amplification process leads to physical degradation of the hydrogel in response to thiol analytes. We developed a numerical model to predict the behavior of the amplification cycle in response to varying concentrations of thiol triggers and validated it with experimental data. Using this system, we were able to detect multiple thiol analytes, including a small molecule probe, glutathione, DNA, and a protein, at concentrations ranging from 132 to 0.132 μM. In addition, we discovered that the self-propagating amplification cycle could be initiated by force-generated molecular scission, enabling damage-triggered hydrogel destruction

De Novo Asymmetric Bio- and Chemocatalytic Synthesis of Saccharides − Stereoselective Formal <i>O</i>-Glycoside Bond Formation Using Palladium Catalysis

A novel integrated bio- and chemocatalytic approach to the de novo catalytic asymmetric synthesis of saccharides has been developed. Acetoxypyranones obtained enantiopure by enzymatic resolution have been shown to undergo highly stereoselective palladium-catalyzed formal O-glycoside bond formation. The combination of these protocols can be applied to the iterative asymmetric catalytic synthesis of saccharides

A Self-Assembled Delivery Platform with Post-production Tunable Release Rate

Self-assembly of three molecular components results in a delivery platform, the release rate of which can be tuned after its production. A fluorophore-conjugated gelator can be hydrolyzed by an enzyme, resulting in the release of a fluorescent small molecule. To allow the release to be tunable, the enzyme is entrapped in liposomes and can be liberated by heating the system for a short period. Crucially, the heating time determines the amount of enzyme liberated; with that, the release rate can be tuned by the time of heating

Triggered Self-Assembly of Simple Dynamic Covalent Surfactants

Triggered Self-Assembly of Simple Dynamic Covalent Surfactant