Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Micafungin in Infants Supported With Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Candida is a leading cause of infection in infants on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Optimal micafungin dosing is unknown in this population because ECMO can alter drug pharmacokinetics (PK)

Strongly phosphorescent transition metal π complexes of boron-boron triple bonds

Herein are reported the first π complexes of compounds with boron-boron triple bonds to transition metals, in this case CuI. Three different compounds were isolated that differ in the number of copper atoms bound to the BB unit. Metallation of the B-B triple bonds causes significant lengthening of the B-B and B-CNHC bonds, as well as large upfield shifts of the 11B NMR signals, suggesting greater orbital interactions between the boron and transition metal atoms than those observed with recently published diboryne / alkali metal cation complexes. In contrast to previously-reported fluorescent copper(I) π complexes of boron-boron double bonds, the Cun-π-diboryne compounds (n = 2, 3) show intense phosphorescence in the red to near-IR region from their triplet excited states, according to their microsecond lifetimes, with quantum yields of up to 58%. The bonding situation, as well as the unusual photophysical properties, has been further corroborated by DFT studies

Simple synthetic routes to carbene-M-amido (M=Cu, Ag, Au) complexes for luminescence and photocatalysis applications

The development of novel and operationally simple synthetic routes to carbene-metal-amido (CMA) complexes of copper, silver and gold relevant for photonic applications are reported. A mild base and sustainable solvents allow all reactions to be conducted in air and at room temperature, leading to high yields of the targeted compounds even on multigram scales. The effect of various mild bases on the N−H metallation was studied in silico and experimentally, while a mechanochemical, solvent-free synthetic approach was also developed. Our photophysical studies on [M(NHC)(Cbz)] (Cbz=carbazolyl) indicate that the occurrence of fluorescent or phosphorescent states is determined primarily by the metal, providing control over the excited state properties. Consequently, we demonstrate the potential of the new CMAs beyond luminescence applications by employing a selected CMA as a photocatalyst. The exemplified synthetic ease is expected to accelerate the applications of CMAs in photocatalysis and materials chemistry

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Investigation of structure-property relationships of copper(I)-based NIR emitters and MRP materials

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden lumineszente Kupfer(I)-verbindungen untersucht, um durch die Herstellung von Struktur-Eigenschafts-Beziehungen einen Beitrag zur Erforschung niederenergetischer Emitter und mechanoresponsiver Phosphoreszenzmaterialien zu leisten. Darüber hinaus wurden Vorarbeiten zur Ergründung kooperativer Effekte in dinuklearen Kupfer(I)-komplexen durchgeführt. Im Bereich niederenergetischer Emitter wurden tetraedrische Kupferverbindungen mit Chromophorliganden auf Basis des Grundmotivs 2-(Pyridin-2-yl)-imdazol untersucht. Komplexe mit diesem Liganden emittieren meistens Grün bis Orange, daher wurde ein Stickstoffatom im Rückgrat des Liganden durch Schwefel substituiert, um eine bathochrome Verschiebung zu bewirken. Zur Untersuchung des Einflusses der Donorstärke, Sterik und Komplexgeometrie auf das Emissionsverhalten wurden diverse Phosphane und ein NHC als Donorliganden verwendet. Die Emissionsmaxima der untersuchten Verbindungen liegen erwartungsgemäß im Orangen bis Tiefroten und es konnten für diesen Emissionsbereich gute Quantenausbeuten von bis zu 11 % erreicht werden. Die Anfälligkeit tetraedrischer Kupfer(I)-komplexe für Verzerrungen im angeregten Zustand und die damit einhergehende Erhöhung strahlungsloser Prozesse ließ sich durch den Einsatz sterisch anspruchsvoller Liganden unterdrücken. Um das Potenzial für die Verwendung in optoelektronischen Bauteilen zu ergründen, wurden umfangreiche Stabilitätstests durchgeführt, die die enorme thermische Belastbarkeit im Festkörper sowie langfristige Stabilität in verdünnter Lösung einiger Verbindungen bestätigten. Ferner wurden in Kooperation mit der Gruppe um Prof. Holger Braunschweig photophysikalische Studien an zwei dinuklearen und einem trinuklearen Kupfer(I)-diborinkomplex durchgeführt, die im Rahmen der Promotionen von Dr. Jan Mies und Dr. Theresa Dellermann synthetisiert wurden. Die Verbindungen weisen in Festkörper und Lösung tiefrote Phosphoreszenz auf. Die Effizienz des trinuklearen Komplexes (φ = 0.58 im Festkörper) ist deutlich höher als die der beiden dinuklearen Verbindungen (φ < 0.03). Die Kupfer-Diborin-Bindung besitzt einen signifikanten kovalenten Anteil. Die Übergangsmetallatome haben somit einen starken Einfluss auf die strahlenden Übergänge, was zum Auftreten von Phosphoreszenz führt. Für effiziente Emission ist eine lineare Anordnung zweier Kupferfragmente um das Diborin notwendig, was im Fall des trinuklearen Komplexes stets gewährleistet ist, für die dinuklearen Komplexe jedoch nur in Lösung zu beobachten ist. Durch die Studien wurde einerseits das komplexe Emissionsverhalten dieser Komplexe aufgeklärt und andererseits die Relevanz dieser neuen Verbindungsklasse für niederenergetische Emittermaterialien gezeigt. Zusätzlich wurden Vorarbeiten zur Untersuchung kooperativer Effekte in dinuklearen Kupfer(I)-verbindungen unter Ausschluss schwer zu erhaltender cuprophiler Wechselwirkungen durchgeführt. Es sollten mono- und dinukleare Kupfer(I)-komplexe mit Bisbenzimidazol und Benzimidazolpyrimidin als verbrückenden Chromophorliganden synthetisiert und photophysikalisch untersucht werden, um eine eventuelle Erhöhung der Effizienz der dinuklearen Komplexe gegenüber ihren mononuklearen Analoga zu quantifizieren. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit gelang es, einen zuverlässigen Syntheseweg für die im Rückgrat alkylierten verbrückenden Liganden zu etablieren. Ferner wurden erste Versuche zur Herstellung kationischer und neutraler mononuklearer Komplexe durchgeführt. Außerdem wurde die mechanochrome Lumineszenz eines aus Vorarbeiten bekannten dinuklearen Kupferkomplexes untersucht und Struktur-Eigenschafts-Beziehungen hergestellt. Hierzu wurden Komplexsalze mit den Anionen PF6- und BF4- hergestellt und mittels zahlreicher Spektroskopiemethoden analysiert, um umfangreiche Informationen zu den Eigenschaften im Grund- und angeregten Zustand zu sammeln. Durch Schwingungsspektroskopie wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Phasenänderung zu keiner veränderten Konstitution der Verbindung im Grundzustand führt. Durch 1H-19F-HOESY- sowie 19F-Festkörper-NMR-Experimente wurde festgestellt, dass sowohl in Lösung wie auch im Festkörper Kation und Anion gepaart vorliegen und miteinander wechselwirken. Da die BF4- und PF6-Komplexe in Lösung ein sehr ähnliches Emissionsverhalten zum amorphen Feststoff aufweisen, wurde davon ausgegangen, dass die für die Emission verantwortlichen Strukturen in beiden Medien vergleichbar sind. Zusätzlich gelang es, mittels ESR-Spektroskopie nachzuweisen, dass im Grundzustand keine ausreichende Annäherung der beiden Kupferatome stattfindet, um dipolare Wechselwirkungen zu erzeugen. Mithilfe quantenchemischer Rechnungen wurde die mechanochrome Lumineszenz nicht auf das Auftreten von Cuprophilie zurückgeführt, sondern auf die Ausbildung einer Cu-F-Bindung im angeregten Zustand, was ein völlig neuer Mechanismus für mechanochrome Lumineszenz bei Kupfer(I)-komplexen ist. In weiterführenden photophysikalischen Studien wurde zudem gezeigt, dass die Emission auch Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Temperatur sowie Lösungsmitteldämpfen aufweist und es sich somit um eine multiresponsive Verbindungsklasse handelt.In the context of this work, luminescent copper(I) compounds were investigated in order to contribute to the investigation of low-energy emitters and mechanoresponsive phosphorescence materials by establishing structure-property relationships. In addition, preparatory work was carried out to investigate cooperative effects in dinuclear copper(I) complexes. In the field of low-energy emitters, tetrahedral copper compounds with chromophore ligands based on the basic motif 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-imdazole were investigated. Complexes with this ligand mostly emit green to orange, therefore a nitrogen atom in the backbone of the ligand was substituted by sulfur to cause a bathochromic shift. To investigate the influence of donor strength, sterics and complex geometry on emission behavior, various phosphanes and an NHC were used as donor ligands. As expected, the emission maxima of the investigated compounds lie in the orange to deep red range and good quantum yields for this emission range of up to 11 % could be achieved. The susceptibility of tetrahedral copper(I) complexes to distortions in the excited state and the associated increase in radiationless processes could be suppressed by the use of sterically demanding ligands. In order to determine the potential for use in optoelectronic devices, extensive stability tests were carried out which confirmed the enormous thermal stability in the solid state as well as long-term stability in diluted solution of some compounds. Furthermore, in cooperation with the group around Prof. Holger Braunschweig, photophysical studies on one trinuclear and two dinuclear copper(I) diboryne complexes were carried out, which were synthesized in the context of the doctorates of Dr. Jan Mies and Dr. Theresa Dellermann. The compounds show deep red phosphorescence in solid and solution. The efficiency of the trinuclear complex (φ = 0.58 in solid state) is significantly higher than that of the two dinuclear compounds (φ < 0.03). The copper diboryne bond has a significant covalent portion. The transition metal atoms thus have a strong influence on the radiative transitions, which leads to the occurrence of phosphorescence. For efficient emission, a linear arrangement of two copper fragments around the diboryne is necessary, which is always guaranteed in the case of the trinuclear complex, but can only be observed in solution for the dinuclear complexes. On the one hand, the complex emission behavior of these complexes was clarified by the studies and, on the other hand, the relevance of this new compound class for low-energy emitter materials was demonstrated. In addition, preparatory work was carried out to investigate cooperative effects in dinuclear copper(I) compounds, excluding cuprophilic interactions that are difficult to obtain. Mono- and dinuclear copper(I) complexes with bisbenzimidazole and benzimidazolpyrimidine as bridging chromophore ligands should be synthesized and photophysically investigated in order to quantify a possible increase in the efficiency of the dinuclear complexes compared to their mononuclear analogues. In the course of this work, it was possible to establish a reliable synthetic pathway for the alkylated bridging ligands. In addition, first experiments for the syntheses of cationic and neutral mononuclear complexes were carried out. In addition, the mechanochromic luminescence of a dinuclear copper complex known from preliminary work was investigated and structure-property relationships were established. Complex salts with the anions PF6- and BF4- were prepared and analyzed by means of numerous spectroscopic methods in order to collect comprehensive information on the properties in the ground and excited state. By vibrational spectroscopy it was proven that the phase change does not lead to a changed constitution of the compound in the ground state. Through 1H-19F-HOESY and 19F solid state NMR experiments, it was determined that cation and anion are paired and interact both in solution and in the solid state. Since the BF4 and PF6 complexes in solution exhibit very similar emission behavior to the amorphous solid, it was assumed that the structures responsible for the emission are comparable in both media. In addition, ESR spectroscopy was used to prove that in the ground state, the two copper atoms do not approach each other sufficiently to produce dipolar interactions. Using quantum chemical calculations, mechanochromic luminescence was not attributed to the occurrence of cuprophilicity, but to the formation of a Cu-F bond in the excited state, which is a completely new mechanism for mechanochromic luminescence in copper(I) complexes. Further photophysical studies have shown that the emission is also sensitive to temperature and solvent vapors, making it a multi-responsive compound class

Synthesis, Structures, and Photophysical Properties of a Series of Rare Near-IR Emitting Copper(I) Complexes

Herein, we report on the synthesis and structural characterization of a series of trigonal and tetrahedral cationic copper­(I) complexes, bearing phosphine or N-heterocyclic carbene ligands as donors, with benzthiazol-2-pyridine (pybt) and benzthiazol-2-quinoline (qybt) acting as π-chromophores. The compounds are highly colored due to their ¹MLCT (MLCT = metal-to-ligand charge transfer) states absorbing between ca. λ_abs = 400–500 nm, with ¹ILCT (ILCT = intraligand charge transfer) states in the UV region. The relative shifts of the S₀→S₁ absorption correlate with the computed highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps, the qybt complexes generally being lower in energy than the pybt ones due to the larger conjugation of the quinoline-based ligand. The compounds exhibit, for Cu^I complexes, rare intense long-lived near-IR emission with λ_max ranging from 593 to 757 nm, quantum yields of up to Φ = 0.11, and lifetimes τ of several microseconds in the solid state as well as in poly­(methyl methacrylate) films. Although a bathochromic shift of the emission is observed with λ_max ranging from 639 to 812 nm and the lifetimes are greatly increased at 77 K, no clear indication for thermally activated delayed fluorescence was found, leaving us to assign the emission to originate from a ³(Cu→pybt/qybt)­MLCT state. The red to near-IR emission is a result of incorporation of the sulfur into the chromophore ligand, as related nitrogen analogues emit in the green to orange region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The photophysical results and conclusions have further been corroborated with density functional theory (DFT)/time-dependent DFT calculations, confirming the nature of the excited states and also the trends of the redox potentials

Unexpected Photo-driven Linker-to-Node Hole Transfer in a Zirconium-Based Metal–Organic Framework

Zr6(µ3-O)4(µ3-OH)4 node cores are indispensable building blocks for almost all zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks. Consistent with the insulating nature of zirconia, they are generally considered electronically inert. Contrasting this viewpoint, we present spectral measurements and calculations indicating that emission from photoexcited NU-601, a six-connected Zr-based MOF, comes from both linker-centric locally-excited and linker-to-node charge-transfer (CT) states. The CT state originates from a hole transfer process enabled by favorable energy alignment of the HOMOs of the node and linker. This alignment can be manipulated by changing the pH of the medium, which alters the protonation state of multiple oxy groups on the Zr-node. Thus, the acid-base chemistry of the node has a direct effect on the photophysics of the MOF following linker-localized electronic excitation. These new findings open opportunities to understand and exploit, for energy conversion, unconventional mechanisms of exciton formation and transport in MOFs

Chiral Carbene Zinc(II) Dithiolates: Efficient TADF Emitters Showing Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Luminescent metal complexes based on earth abundant elements are a valuable target to substitute 4d/5d transition metal complexes as triplet emitters in advanced photonic applications. Whereas Cu(I) complexes have been thoroughly investigated in the last two decades for this purpose, no structure-property-relationships for efficient luminescence involving triplet excited states from ZnII complexes are established. Herein, we report on the design of monomeric carbene zinc(II) dithiolates (CZT) featuring a donor-acceptor-motif that leads to highly efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) with for Zn(II) compounds unprecedented radiative rate constants k(TADF) = 1.2x10^6 s^-1 at 297 K. Our high-level DFT/MRCI calculations revealed that the relative orientation of the ligands involved in the ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (1/3^LLCT) states is paramount to control the TADF process. Specifically, a dihedral angle of 36-40° leads to very efficient reverse intersystem-crossing (rISC) on the order of 10^9 s^-1 due to spin–orbit coupling (SOC) mediated by the sulfur atoms in combination with a small E(S1-T1) of ca. 56 meV (calc. 20 meV). In addition, the chiral carbene ligand leads to the generation of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with high dissymmetry values g(lum) of up to 3.3x10^-2 in polystyrene (PS)

An Air- and Moisture-stable Zinc(II) Carbene Dithiolate Dimer Showing Fast TADF and Dexter Energy Transfer Catalysis

A dimeric ZnII carbene complex featuring bridging and chelating benzene-1,2-dithiolate ligands is highly stable towards air and water. The donor-Zn-acceptor structure leads to visible light emission in the solid state, solution and polymer matrices with max between 577-657 nm and, for zinc(II) complexes, unusually high radiative rate constants for triplet exciton decay of up to kr = 1.5105 s-1 at room temperature. Variable temperature and DFT/MRCI studies show that a small energy gap between the 1/3LL/LMCT states of only 79 meV is responsible for efficient TADF. Time-resolved luminescence and transient absorption studies confirm the occurrence of long-lived, dominantly ligand-to-ligand charge transfer excited states in solution, allowing for application in Dexter energy transfer photocatalysis