@article{TumirPavlovićSaftićCrnolatacetal.2023, author = {Tumir, Lidija-Marija and Pavlović Saftić, Dijana and Crnolatac, Ivo and Ban, Željka and Maslać, Matea and Griesbeck, Stefanie and Marder, Todd B. and Piantanida, Ivo}, title = {The nature of the (oligo/hetero)arene linker connecting two triarylborane cations controls fluorimetric and circular dichroism sensing of various ds-DNAs and ds-RNAs}, series = {Molecules}, volume = {28}, journal = {Molecules}, number = {11}, issn = {1420-3049}, doi = {10.3390/molecules28114348}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-319322}, year = {2023}, abstract = {A series of tetracationic bis-triarylborane dyes, differing in the aromatic linker connecting two dicationic triarylborane moieties, showed very high submicromolar affinities toward ds-DNA and ds-RNA. The linker strongly influenced the emissive properties of triarylborane cations and controlled the fluorimetric response of dyes. The fluorene-analog shows the most selective fluorescence response between AT-DNA, GC-DNA, and AU-RNA, the pyrene-analog's emission is non-selectively enhanced by all DNA/RNA, and the dithienyl-diketopyrrolopyrrole analog's emission is strongly quenched upon DNA/RNA binding. The emission properties of the biphenyl-analog were not applicable, but the compound showed specific induced circular dichroism (ICD) signals only for AT-sequence-containing ds-DNAs, whereas the pyrene-analog ICD signals were specific for AT-DNA with respect to GC-DNA, and also recognized AU-RNA by giving a different ICD pattern from that observed upon interaction with AT-DNA. The fluorene- and dithienyl-diketopyrrolopyrrole analogs were ICD-signal silent. Thus, fine-tuning of the aromatic linker properties connecting two triarylborane dications can be used for the dual sensing (fluorimetric and CD) of various ds-DNA/RNA secondary structures, depending on the steric properties of the DNA/RNA grooves.}, language = {en} } @article{BarakDhimanSturmetal.2022, author = {Barak, Arvind and Dhiman, Nishant and Sturm, Floriane and Rauch, Florian and Lakshmanna, Yapamanu Adithya and Findlay, Karen S. and Beeby, Andrew and Marder, Todd B. and Umapathy, Siva}, title = {Excited-State Intramolecular Charge-Transfer Dynamics in 4-Dimethylamino-4′-cyanodiphenylacetylene: An Ultrafast Raman Loss Spectroscopic Perspective}, series = {ChemPhotoChem}, volume = {6}, journal = {ChemPhotoChem}, number = {12}, doi = {10.1002/cptc.202200146}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312280}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Photo-initiated intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) processes play a pivotal role in the excited state reaction dynamics in donor-bridge-acceptor systems. The efficacy of such a process can be improved by modifying the extent of π-conjugation, relative orientation/twists of the donor/acceptor entities and polarity of the environment. Herein, 4-dimethylamino-4′-cyanodiphenylacetylene (DACN-DPA), a typical donor-π-bridge-acceptor system, was chosen to unravel the role of various internal coordinates that govern the extent of photo-initiated ICT dynamics. Transient absorption (TA) spectra of DACN-DPA in n-hexane exhibit a lifetime of >2 ns indicating the formation of a triplet state while, in acetonitrile, a short time-constant of ∼2 ps indicates the formation of charge transferred species. Ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopy (URLS) measurements show distinct temporal and spectral dynamics of Raman bands associated with C≡C and C=C stretching vibrations. The appearance of a new band at ∼1492 cm\(^{-1}\) in acetonitrile clearly indicates structural modification during the ultrafast ICT process. Furthermore, these observations are supported by TD-DFT computations.}, language = {en} } @article{WuDinkelbachKerneretal.2022, author = {Wu, Zhu and Dinkelbach, Fabian and Kerner, Florian and Friedrich, Alexandra and Ji, Lei and Stepanenko, Vladimir and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Marian, Christel M. and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Aggregation-Induced Dual Phosphorescence from (o-Bromophenyl)-Bis(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)Borane at Room Temperature}, series = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, number = {30}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200525}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318297}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Designing highly efficient purely organic phosphors at room temperature remains a challenge because of fast non-radiative processes and slow intersystem crossing (ISC) rates. The majority of them emit only single component phosphorescence. Herein, we have prepared 3 isomers (o, m, p-bromophenyl)-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)boranes. Among the 3 isomers (o-, m- and p-BrTAB) synthesized, the ortho-one is the only one which shows dual phosphorescence, with a short lifetime of 0.8 ms and a long lifetime of 234 ms in the crystalline state at room temperature. Based on theoretical calculations and crystal structure analysis of o-BrTAB, the short lifetime component is ascribed to the T\(^M_1\) state of the monomer which emits the higher energy phosphorescence. The long-lived, lower energy phosphorescence emission is attributed to the T\(^A_1\) state of an aggregate, with multiple intermolecular interactions existing in crystalline o-BrTAB inhibiting nonradiative decay and stabilizing the triplet states efficiently.}, language = {en} } @article{WuRoldaoRauchetal.2022, author = {Wu, Zhu and Roldao, Juan Carlos and Rauch, Florian and Friedrich, Alexandra and Ferger, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Gierschner, Johannes and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Pure Boric Acid Does Not Show Room-Temperature Phosphorescence (RTP)}, series = {Angewandte Chemie}, volume = {61}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie}, number = {15}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202200599}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318308}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Boric acid (BA) has been used as a transparent glass matrix for optical materials for over 100 years. However, recently, apparent room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) from BA (crystalline and powder states) was reported (Zheng et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 9500) when irradiated at 280 nm under ambient conditions. We suspected that RTP from their BA sample was induced by an unidentified impurity. Our experimental results show that pure BA synthesized from B(OMe)\(_{3}\) does not luminesce in the solid state when irradiated at 250-400 nm, while commercial BA indeed (faintly) luminesces. Our theoretical calculations show that neither individual BA molecules nor aggregates would absorb light at >175 nm, and we observe no absorption of solid pure BA experimentally at >200 nm. Therefore, it is not possible for pure BA to be excited at >250 nm even in the solid state. Thus, pure BA does not display RTP, whereas trace impurities can induce RTP.}, language = {en} } @article{KoleKošćakAmaretal.2022, author = {Kole, Goutam Kumar and Košćak, Marta and Amar, Anissa and Majhen, Dragomira and Božinović, Ksenija and Brkljaca, Zlatko and Ferger, Matthias and Michail, Evripidis and Lorenzen, Sabine and Friedrich, Alexandra and Krummenacher, Ivo and Moos, Michael and Braunschweig, Holger and Boucekkine, Abdou and Lambert, Christoph and Halet, Jean-Fran{\c{c}}ois and Piantanida, Ivo and M{\"u}ller-Buschbaum, Klaus and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Methyl Viologens of Bis-(4'-Pyridylethynyl)Arenes - Structures, Photophysical and Electrochemical Studies, and their Potential Application in Biology}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {40}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200753}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287126}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A series of bis-(4'-pyridylethynyl)arenes (arene=benzene, tetrafluorobenzene, and anthracene) were synthesized and their bis-N-methylpyridinium compounds were investigated as a class of π-extended methyl viologens. Their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties (cyclic voltammetry), as well as their interactions with DNA/RNA were investigated. The dications showed bathochromic shifts in emission compared to the neutral compounds. The neutral compounds showed very small Stokes shifts, which are a little larger for the dications. All of the compounds showed very short fluorescence lifetimes (<4 ns). The neutral compound with an anthracene core has a quantum yield of almost unity. With stronger acceptors, the analogous bis-N-methylpyridinium compound showed a larger two-photon absorption cross-section than its neutral precursor. All of the dicationic compounds interact with DNA/RNA; while the compounds with benzene and tetrafluorobenzene cores bind in the grooves, the one with an anthracene core intercalates as a consequence of its large, condensed aromatic linker moiety, and it aggregates within the polynucleotide when in excess over DNA/RNA. Moreover, all cationic compounds showed highly specific CD spectra upon binding to ds-DNA/RNA, attributed to the rare case of forcing the planar, achiral molecule into a chiral rotamer, and negligible toxicity toward human cell lines at ≤10 μM concentrations. The anthracene-analogue exhibited intracellular accumulation within lysosomes, preventing its interaction with cellular DNA/RNA. However, cytotoxicity was evident at 1 μM concentration upon exposure to light, due to singlet oxygen generation within cells. These multi-faceted features, in combination with its two-photon absorption properties, suggest it to be a promising lead compound for development of novel light-activated theranostic agents.}, language = {en} } @article{HuangHuShietal.2022, author = {Huang, Mingming and Hu, Jiefeng and Shi, Shasha and Friedrich, Alexandra and Krebs, Johannes and Westcott, Stephen A. and Radius, Udo and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Selective, Transition Metal-free 1,2-Diboration of Alkyl Halides, Tosylates, and Alcohols}, series = {Chemistry-A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry-A European Journal}, number = {24}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200480}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318262}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Defunctionalization of readily available feedstocks to provide alkenes for the synthesis of multifunctional molecules represents an extremely useful process in organic synthesis. Herein, we describe a transition metal-free, simple and efficient strategy to access alkyl 1,2-bis(boronate esters) via regio- and diastereoselective diboration of secondary and tertiary alkyl halides (Br, Cl, I), tosylates, and alcohols. Control experiments demonstrated that the key to this high reactivity and selectivity is the addition of a combination of potassium iodide and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA). The practicality and industrial potential of this transformation are demonstrated by its operational simplicity, wide functional group tolerance, and the late-stage modification of complex molecules. From a drug discovery perspective, this synthetic method offers control of the position of diversification and diastereoselectivity in complex ring scaffolds, which would be especially useful in a lead optimization program.}, language = {en} } @article{ZhangFriedrichMarder2022, author = {Zhang, Xiaolei and Friedrich, Alexandra and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Copper-Catalyzed Borylation of Acyl Chlorides with an Alkoxy Diboron Reagent: A Facile Route to Acylboron Compounds}, series = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, number = {42}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202201329}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318318}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Herein, the copper-catalyzed borylation of readily available acyl chlorides with bis(pinacolato)diboron, (B\(_{2}\)pin\(_{2}\)) or bis(neopentane glycolato)diboron (B\(_{2}\)neop\(_{2}\)) is reported, which provides stable potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) in good yields from the acylboronate esters. A variety of functional groups are tolerated under the mild reaction conditions (room temperature) and substrates containing different carbon-skeletons, such as aryl, heteroaryl and primary, secondary, tertiary alkyl are applicable. Acyl N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates can also been accessed by modification of the workup procedures. This process is scalable and also amenable to the late-stage conversion of carboxylic acid-containing drugs into their acylboron analogues, which have been challenging to prepare previously. A catalytic mechanism is proposed based on in situ monitoring of the reaction between p-toluoyl chloride and an NHC-copper(I) boryl complex as well as the isolation of an unusual lithium acylBpinOBpin compound as a key intermediate.}, language = {en} } @article{FergerRogerKoesteretal.2022, author = {Ferger, Matthias and Roger, Chantal and K{\"o}ster, Eva and Rauch, Florian and Lorenzen, Sabine and Krummenacher, Ivo and Friedrich, Alexandra and Košćak, Marta and Nestić, Davor and Braunschweig, Holger and Lambert, Christoph and Piantanida, Ivo and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Electron-Rich EDOT Linkers in Tetracationic bis-Triarylborane Chromophores: Influence on Water Stability, Biomacromolecule Sensing, and Photoinduced Cytotoxicity}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {48}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202201130}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287241}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Three novel tetracationic bis-triarylboranes with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) linkers, and their neutral precursors, showed significant red-shifted absorption and emission compared to their thiophene-containing analogues, with one of the EDOT-derivatives emitting in the NIR region. Only the EDOT-linked trixylylborane tetracation was stable in aqueous solution, indicating that direct attachment of a thiophene or even 3-methylthiophene to the boron atom is insufficient to provide hydrolytic stability in aqueous solution. Further comparative analysis of the EDOT-linked trixylylborane tetracation and its bis-thiophene analogue revealed efficient photo-induced singlet oxygen production, with the consequent biological implications. Thus, both analogues bind strongly to ds-DNA and BSA, very efficiently enter living human cells, accumulate in several different cytoplasmic organelles with no toxic effect but, under intense visible light irradiation, they exhibit almost instantaneous and very strong cytotoxic effects, presumably attributed to singlet oxygen production. Thus, both compounds are intriguing theranostic agents, whose intracellular and probably intra-tissue location can be monitored by strong fluorescence, allowing switching on of the strong bioactivity by well-focused visible light.}, language = {en} } @article{JosSzwetkowskiSlebodnicketal.2022, author = {Jos, Swetha and Szwetkowski, Connor and Slebodnick, Carla and Ricker, Robert and Chan, Ka Lok and Chan, Wing Chun and Radius, Udo and Lin, Zhenyang and Marder, Todd B. and Santos, Webster L.}, title = {Transition Metal-Free Regio- and Stereo-Selective trans Hydroboration of 1,3-Diynes: A Phosphine-Catalyzed Access to (E)-1-Boryl-1,3-Enynes}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {63}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202202349}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293784}, year = {2022}, abstract = {We report a transition metal-free, regio- and stereo-selective, phosphine-catalyzed method for the trans hydroboration of 1,3-diynes with pinacolborane that affords (E)-1-boryl-1,3-enynes. The reaction proceeds with excellent selectivity for boron addition to the external carbon of the 1,3-diyne framework as unambiguously established by NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies. The reaction displays a broad substrate scope including unsymmetrical diynes to generate products in high yield (up to 95 \%). Experimental and theoretical studies suggest that phosphine attack on the alkyne is a key process in the catalytic cycle.}, language = {en} } @article{HuangHuKrummenacheretal.2022, author = {Huang, Mingming and Hu, Jiefeng and Krummenacher, Ivo and Friedrich, Alexandra and Braunschweig, Holger and Westcott, Stephen A. and Radius, Udo and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {Base-Mediated Radical Borylation of Alkyl Sulfones}, series = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry—A European Journal}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202103866}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257281}, pages = {e202103866}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A practical and direct method was developed for the production of versatile alkyl boronate esters via transition metal-free borylation of primary and secondary alkyl sulfones. The key to the success of the strategy is the use of bis(neopentyl glycolato) diboron (B\(_{2}\)neop\(_{2}\)), with a stoichiometric amount of base as a promoter. The practicality and industrial potential of this protocol are highlighted by its wide functional group tolerance, the late-stage modification of complex compounds, no need for further transesterification, and operational simplicity. Radical clock, radical trap experiments, and EPR studies were conducted which show that the borylation process involves radical intermediates.}, language = {en} }