Exploring transition metal catalysis in water for <i>in vivo </i>applications

Transition metal catalysis proves a powerful tool to achieve otherwise synthetically challenging, or even impossible, transformations with (high) selectivity and is therefore employed in various areas of chemistry. Recently, transition metal-catalysed reactions have been successfully performed in cells (in vitro) and living systems (in vivo). The achievements made thus far reveal the potential of transition metal catalysis and its applications in such biological settings. Interestingly, the scope is limited compared to the breadth of transition metal-catalysed reactions that have been unlocked for synthetic applications. Translating transition metal-catalysed reactions from flasks to cells is non-trivial as the conditions in cells are fairly different compared to the highly controlled and adaptable conditions achieved in a flask. The development of catalytic systems for future applications in vivo therefore proceeds through many steps, starting with evaluating their reactivity, selectivity, and stability in water and under biologically relevant and biomimetic conditions. By exploring transition metal-catalysed reactions in water for in vivo applications, this dissertation has contributed to the subfield of bioorthogonal chemistry devoted to complementing Nature’s repertoire of reactions. Our studies have revealed the challenges associated with the performance of transition metal catalysis in aqueous media and how a detailed understanding of a catalytic system can address them. Apart from these fundamental studies, we have performed explorative studies under biologically relevant and biomimetic conditions in the context of intracellular drug synthesis. Moreover, we have developed a new and compatible protocol that enables detailed kinetic studies in complex reaction media, comparable to the cellular environment, to facilitate the translation of transition metal catalysis from flasks to cells

A Co(TAML)-based artificial metalloenzyme for asymmetric radical-type oxygen atom transfer catalysis

We show that the incorporation of a biotinylated Co(TAML) cofactor within streptavidin enables asymmetric radical-type oxygen atom transfer catalysis with improved activity and enantioselectivity.</p

Copper-Catalyzed Sulfimidation in Aqueous Media:a Fast, Chemoselective and Biomolecule-Compatible Reaction

Performing transition metal-catalyzed reactions in cells and living systems has equipped scientists with a toolbox to study biological processes and release drugs on demand. Thus far, an impressive scope of reactions has been performed in these settings, but many are yet to be introduced. Nitrene transfer presents a rather unexplored new-to-nature reaction. The reaction products are frequently encountered motifs in pharmaceuticals, presenting opportunities for the controlled, intracellular synthesis of drugs. Hence, we explored the transition metal-catalyzed sulfimidation reaction in water for future in vivo application. Two Cu(I) complexes containing trispyrazolylborate ligands (Tpx) were selected, and the catalytic system was evaluated with the aid of three fitness factors. The excellent nitrene transfer reactivity and high chemoselectivity of the catalysts, coupled with good biomolecule compatibility, successfully enabled the sulfimidation of thioethers in aqueous media. We envision that this copper-catalyzed sulfimidation reaction could be an interesting starting point to unlock the potential of nitrene transfer catalysis in vivo.</p

Exploring transition metal catalysis in water for <i>in vivo </i>applications

Transition metal catalysis proves a powerful tool to achieve otherwise synthetically challenging, or even impossible, transformations with (high) selectivity and is therefore employed in various areas of chemistry. Recently, transition metal-catalysed reactions have been successfully performed in cells (in vitro) and living systems (in vivo). The achievements made thus far reveal the potential of transition metal catalysis and its applications in such biological settings. Interestingly, the scope is limited compared to the breadth of transition metal-catalysed reactions that have been unlocked for synthetic applications. Translating transition metal-catalysed reactions from flasks to cells is non-trivial as the conditions in cells are fairly different compared to the highly controlled and adaptable conditions achieved in a flask. The development of catalytic systems for future applications in vivo therefore proceeds through many steps, starting with evaluating their reactivity, selectivity, and stability in water and under biologically relevant and biomimetic conditions. By exploring transition metal-catalysed reactions in water for in vivo applications, this dissertation has contributed to the subfield of bioorthogonal chemistry devoted to complementing Nature’s repertoire of reactions. Our studies have revealed the challenges associated with the performance of transition metal catalysis in aqueous media and how a detailed understanding of a catalytic system can address them. Apart from these fundamental studies, we have performed explorative studies under biologically relevant and biomimetic conditions in the context of intracellular drug synthesis. Moreover, we have developed a new and compatible protocol that enables detailed kinetic studies in complex reaction media, comparable to the cellular environment, to facilitate the translation of transition metal catalysis from flasks to cells

Exploring transition metal catalysis in water for <i>in vivo </i>applications

Transition metal catalysis proves a powerful tool to achieve otherwise synthetically challenging, or even impossible, transformations with (high) selectivity and is therefore employed in various areas of chemistry. Recently, transition metal-catalysed reactions have been successfully performed in cells (in vitro) and living systems (in vivo). The achievements made thus far reveal the potential of transition metal catalysis and its applications in such biological settings. Interestingly, the scope is limited compared to the breadth of transition metal-catalysed reactions that have been unlocked for synthetic applications. Translating transition metal-catalysed reactions from flasks to cells is non-trivial as the conditions in cells are fairly different compared to the highly controlled and adaptable conditions achieved in a flask. The development of catalytic systems for future applications in vivo therefore proceeds through many steps, starting with evaluating their reactivity, selectivity, and stability in water and under biologically relevant and biomimetic conditions. By exploring transition metal-catalysed reactions in water for in vivo applications, this dissertation has contributed to the subfield of bioorthogonal chemistry devoted to complementing Nature’s repertoire of reactions. Our studies have revealed the challenges associated with the performance of transition metal catalysis in aqueous media and how a detailed understanding of a catalytic system can address them. Apart from these fundamental studies, we have performed explorative studies under biologically relevant and biomimetic conditions in the context of intracellular drug synthesis. Moreover, we have developed a new and compatible protocol that enables detailed kinetic studies in complex reaction media, comparable to the cellular environment, to facilitate the translation of transition metal catalysis from flasks to cells

A chromatography-free synthesis of meso-tetrakis(4-formylphenyl) porphyrin and meso-tetrakis(3-formylphenyl) porphyrin: Versatile synthons in supramolecular and macromolecular chemistry

A facile synthetic strategy was developed for the synthesis of meso -tetrakis(4-formyl-phenyl)porphyrin and meso -tetrakis(3-formylphenyl)porphyrin from commercially available starting materials. This method gives facile access to practical amounts of these synthons in high purity and good overall yield, without employing laborious chromatographic separations. The reduction of the respective carboxylic acid-functionalized porphyrins by LiAlH4 afforded the tetra(benzylalcohol)porphyrin intermediates, subsequently utilized in a Parikh-Doering oxidation to selectively afford the desired tetraformylated products. The inherent ease of synthesis of these porphyrin building blocks provides a convenient pathway for the synthesis of various macromolecular and supramolecular architectures for applied chemical technologies

Understanding Off-Cycle and Deactivation Pathways in Radical-Type Carbene Transfer Catalysis

Transition metal radical-type carbene transfer catalysis is a sustainable and atom-efficient method to generate C−C bonds, especially to produce fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. A significant amount of research has therefore been devoted to applying this methodology, which resulted in innovative routes toward otherwise synthetically challenging products and a detailed mechanistic understanding of the catalytic systems. Furthermore, combined experimental and theoretical efforts elucidated the reactivity of carbene radical complexes and their off-cycle pathways. The latter can imply the formation of N-enolate and bridging carbenes, and undesired hydrogen atom transfer by the carbene radical species from the reaction medium which can lead to catalyst deactivation. In this concept paper, we demonstrate that understanding off-cycle and deactivation pathways not only affords solutions to circumvent them, but can also uncover novel reactivity for new applications. In particular, considering off-cycle species involved in metalloradical catalysis can stimulate further development of radical-type carbene transfer reactions.</p

Chirality-Driven Self-Assembly of Discrete, Homochiral Fe^II₂L₃ Cages

Coordination chemistry is a powerful method to synthesize supramolecular cages with distinct features that suit specific applications. This work demonstrates the synthesis of discrete, homochiral FeII2L3 cages via chirality-driven self-assembly. Specifically, the installation of chirality – at both the vertices and ligand backbones – allows the formation of discrete, homochiral FeII2L3 cages of different sizes via stereochemical control of the iron(II) centers. We observed that larger cages require multiple chiral centra (chiral ligands and vertices). In contrast, the formation of smaller cages is stereoselective with solely chiral ligands. The latter cages can also be formed from two chiral subcomponents, but only when they have matching chirality. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of these smaller FeII2L3 cages revealed several non-covalent interactions as a driving force for narcissistic chiral self-sorting. This expected behavior was confirmed utilizing the shorter ligands in racemic form, yielding discrete, homochiral FeII2L3 cages formed in enantiomeric pairs.</p