Kinetic Self-Sorting of Dynamic Covalent Catalysts with Systemic Feedback Regulation

Constructing small molecule systems that mimic the functionality exhibited in biological reaction networks is a key objective of systems chemistry. Herein, we report the development of a dynamic catalytic system where the catalyst activity is modulated through a dynamic covalent bond. By connecting a thermodynamically controlled rearrangement process to resolution under kinetic control, the catalyst system underwent kinetic self-sorting, resulting in amplification of a more reactive catalyst while establishing a catalytic feedback mechanism. The dynamic catalyst system furthermore responded to catalytic events by self-perturbation to regulate its own activity, which in the case of upregulation gave rise to systemic autocatalytic behavior

Chirality Control in Enzyme-Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of 1,3-Oxathiolanes

The origin of enantioenrichment in enzyme-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of 1,3-oxathiolane derivatives, key intermediates for asymmetric lamivudine synthesis, was elucidated. The chirality control could be determined by chiral HPLC and NOE NMR spectroscopy using a modified 1,3-oxathiolane compound obtained through enzyme-catalyzed selective hydrolysis. Solvent-dependent stereoselectivity was observed under biphasic conditions using different organic solvents with phosphate buffer

<i>N</i>,<i>N</i>‑Diethylurea-Catalyzed Amidation between Electron-Deficient Aryl Azides and Phenylacetaldehydes

Urea structures, of which <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-diethylurea (DEU) proved to be the most efficient, were discovered to catalyze amidation reactions between electron-deficient aryl azides and phenylacetaldehydes. Experimental data support 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between DEU-activated enols and electrophilic phenyl azides, especially perfluoroaryl azides, followed by rearrangement of the triazoline intermediate. The activation of the aldehyde under near-neutral conditions was of special importance in inhibiting dehydration/aromatization of the triazoline intermediate, thus promoting the rearrangement to form aryl amides

Anilide Formation from Thioacids and Perfluoroaryl Azides

A metal-free method for fast and clean anilide formation from perfluoroaryl azide and thioacid is presented. The reaction proved highly efficient, displaying fast kinetics, high yield, and good chemoselectivity. The transformation was compatible with various solvents and tolerant to a wide variety of functional groups, and it showed high performance in polar protic/aprotic media, including aqueous buffer systems

Direct Measurement of Glyconanoparticles and Lectin Interactions by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry

Glyconanomaterials have shown high potential in applications including bioanalysis and nanomedicine. Here, a quantitative analytical technique, based on isothermal titration calorimetry, was developed to characterize the interactions between glyconanoparticles and lectins. By titrating lectins into the glyconanoparticle solution, the apparent dissociation constant, thermodynamic parameters, and the number of binding sites were derived simultaneously. For the glyconanoparticles–lectin binding pairs investigated, a 3–5 order of magnitude affinity enhancement over the free ligand–lectin interactions was observed which can be attributed to the multivalent ligand presentation on the nanoparticles. The impact of ligand density was also studied, and results showed that the affinity increased with the number of glycans on the nanoparticle

Quantitative Fluorine NMR To Determine Carbohydrate Density on Glyconanomaterials Synthesized from Perfluorophenyl Azide-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles by Click Reaction

A quantitative fluorine NMR (¹⁹F qNMR) method was developed to determine the carbohydrate density on glyconanomaterials. Mannose (Man)- and galactose (Gal)-conjugated silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were synthesized from perfluorophenyl azide (PFPA)-functionalized SNPs and propargylated Man or Gal by copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (click reaction). After treating PFPA-SNPs or Man-SNPs with hydrofluoric acid followed by lyophilization, the remaining residues were directly subjected to ¹⁹F NMR analysis. The density of PFPA on PFPA-SNP was determined to be 7.7 ± 0.2 × 10^–16 nmol/nm² and Man on Man-SNP to be 6.4 ± 0.2 × 10^–16 nmol/nm² giving a yield of ∼83% for the click coupling reaction. The apparent dissociation constant (<i>K</i>_d) of Man-SNPs with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-concanavalin A (Con A) was determined using a fluorescence competition assay to be 0.289 ± 0.003 μM, which represents more than 3 orders of magnitude affinity increase compared to free Man with Con A

1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactivities of Perfluorinated Aryl Azides with Enamines and Strained Dipolarophiles

The reactivities of enamines and predistorted (strained) dipolarophiles toward perfluoroaryl azides (PFAAs) were explored experimentally and computationally. Kinetic analyses indicate that PFAAs undergo (3 + 2) cycloadditions with enamines up to 4 orders of magnitude faster than phenyl azide reacts with these dipolarophiles. DFT calculations were used to identify the origin of this rate acceleration. Orbital interactions between the cycloaddends are larger due to the relatively low-lying LUMO of PFAAs. The triazolines resulting from PFAA–enamine cycloadditions rearrange to amidines at room temperature, while (3 + 2) cycloadditions of enamines and phenyl azide yield stable, isolable triazolines. The 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of norbornene and DIBAC also show increased reactivity toward PFAAs over phenyl azide but are slower than enamine–azide cycloadditions

Stereoelectronic Control in Regioselective Carbohydrate Protection

Organotin-mediated regioselective protection has been extensively used in organic synthesis for many years. However, the mechanistic origin of the resulting regioselectivity is still not clear. By the comparison of the steric and stereoelectronic effects controlling the geometry of five-membered rings formed from neighboring group participation, from intramolecular acyl group migration, or from orthoester transesterification on pyranoside rings, a theory on the pattern resulting from the reaction with dibutyltin oxide is presented. It is thus suggested that the regioselectivity of organotin-mediated protection is controlled by analogous steric and stereoelectronic effects as in neighboring group participation and acyl group migration, mainly dependent on the stereoelectronic effects of the pyranoside itself, and not related to complex stannylene structures. An organotin protection mechanism is also suggested, emanating from steric and stereoelectronic effects, nucleophilicity, and organotin acyl migration

Glycan-Functionalized Fluorescent Chitin Nanocrystals for Biorecognition Applications

A new platform based on chitin nanocrystals has been developed for biorecognition applications. TEMPO-oxidized chitin nanocrystals (TCNs) were labeled with a fluorescent imidazoisoquinolinone dye, and simultaneously conjugated with carbohydrate ligands, resulting in dually functionalized TCNs. The biorecognition properties of the nanocrystals were probed with lectins and bacteria, resulting in selective interactions with their corresponding cognate carbohydrate-binding proteins, as visualized by optical, fluorescence, STEM, and TEM imaging. This represents a new approach to multifunctional nanomaterials based on naturally occurring polymers, holding high potential for biomedical applications

Trehalose-Conjugated, Photofunctionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Efficient Delivery of Isoniazid into Mycobacteria

Glyconanoparticle carriers have been synthesized and efficiently delivered into mycobacteria. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles were functionalized with <i>α,α</i>-trehalose through azide-mediated surface photoligation, and loaded with the antitubercular drug isoniazid. The glyconanoparticles showed high isoniazid loading capacity and higher antimicrobial activity than the free drug