@article{WehnerRoehrStepanenkoetal.2020, author = {Wehner, Marius and R{\"o}hr, Merle Insa Silja and Stepanenko, Vladimir and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Control of self-assembly pathways toward conglomerate and racemic supramolecular polymers}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {11}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-19189-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-230580}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Homo- and heterochiral aggregation during crystallization of organic molecules has significance both for fundamental questions related to the origin of life as well as for the separation of homochiral compounds from their racemates in industrial processes. Herein, we analyse these phenomena at the lowest level of hierarchy - that is the self-assembly of a racemic mixture of (R,R)- and (S,S)-PBI into 1D supramolecular polymers. By a combination of UV/vis and NMR spectroscopy as well as atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate that homochiral aggregation of the racemic mixture leads to the formation of two types of supramolecular conglomerates under kinetic control, while under thermodynamic control heterochiral aggregation is preferred, affording a racemic supramolecular polymer. FT-IR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations reveal unique packing arrangements and hydrogen-bonding patterns within these supramolecular polymers. Time-, concentration- and temperature-dependent UV/vis experiments provide further insights into the kinetic and thermodynamic control of the conglomerate and racemic supramolecular polymer formation. Homo- and heterochiral aggregation is a process of interest to prebiotic and chiral separation chemistry. Here, the authors analyze the self-assembly of a racemic mixture into 1D supramolecular polymers and find homochiral aggregation into conglomerates under kinetic control, while under thermodynamic control a racemic polymer is formed.}, language = {en} } @article{WenNowakKrolNagleretal.2019, author = {Wen, Xinbo and Nowak-Kr{\´o}l, Agnieszka and Nagler, Oliver and Kraus, Felix and Zhu, Na and Zheng, Nan and M{\"u}ller, Matthias and Schmidt, David and Xie, Zengqi and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Tetrahydroxy-perylene bisimide embedded in zinc oxide thin film as electron transporting layer for high performance non-fullerene organic solar cells}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {58}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {37}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201907467}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204723}, pages = {13051-13055}, year = {2019}, abstract = {By introduction of four hydroxy (HO) groups into the two perylene bisimide (PBI) bay areas, new HO-PBI ligands were obtained which upon deprotonation can complex ZnII ions and photosensitize semiconductive zinc oxide thin films. Such coordination is beneficial for dispersing PBI photosensitizer molecules evenly into metal oxide films to fabricate organic-inorganic hybrid interlayers for organic solar cells. Supported by the photoconductive effect of the ZnO:HO-PBI hybrid interlayers, improved electron collection and transportation is achieved in fullerene and non-fullerene polymer solar cell devices, leading to remarkable power conversion efficiencies of up to 15.95 \% for a non-fullerene based organic solar cell.}, language = {en} } @article{SyamalaWuerthner2020, author = {Syamala, Pradeep P. N. and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Modulation of the Self-Assembly of π-Amphiphiles in Water from Enthalpy- to Entropy-Driven by Enwrapping Substituents}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {26}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {38}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202000995}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218107}, pages = {8426 -- 8434}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Depending on the connectivity of solubilizing oligoethylene glycol (OEG) side chains to the π-cores of amphiphilic naphthalene and perylene bisimide dyes, self-assembly in water occurs either upon heating or cooling. Herein, we show that this effect originates from differences in the enwrapping capability of the π-cores by the OEG chains. Rylene bisimides bearing phenyl substituents with three OEG chains attached directly to the hydrophobic π-cores are strongly sequestered by the OEG chains. These molecules self-assemble at elevated temperatures in an entropy-driven process according to temperature- and concentration-dependent UV/Vis spectroscopy and calorimetric dilution studies. In contrast, for rylene bisimides in which phenyl substituents with three OEG chains are attached via a methylene spacer, leading to much weaker sequestration, self-assembly originates upon cooling in an enthalpy-driven process. Our explanation for this controversial behavior is that the aggregation in the latter case is dictated by the release of "high energy water" from the hydrophobic π-surfaces as well as dispersion interactions between the π-scaffolds which drive the self-assembly in an enthalpically driven process. In contrast, for the former case we suggest that in addition to the conventional explanation of a dehydration of hydrogen-bonded water molecules from OEG units it is in particular the increase in conformational entropy of back-folded OEG side chains upon aggregation that provides the pronounced gain in entropy that drives the aggregation process. Thus, our studies revealed that a subtle change in the attachment of solubilizing substituents can switch the thermodynamic signature for the self-assembly of amphiphilic dyes in water from enthalpy- to entropy-driven.}, language = {en} } @article{GriesbeckMichailRauchetal.2019, author = {Griesbeck, Stefanie and Michail, Evripidis and Rauch, Florian and Ogasawara, Hiroaki and Wang, Chenguang and Sato, Yoshikatsu and Edkins, Robert M. and Zhang, Zuolun and Taki, Masayasu and Lambert, Christoph and Yamaguchi, Shigehiro and Marder, Todd B.}, title = {The Effect of Branching on the One- and Two-Photon Absorption, Cell Viability, and Localization of Cationic Triarylborane Chromophores with Dipolar versus Octupolar Charge Distributions for Cellular Imaging}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {25}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {57}, doi = {10.1002/chem.201902461}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-212887}, pages = {13164 -- 13175}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Two different chromophores, namely a dipolar and an octupolar system, were prepared and their linear and nonlinear optical properties as well as their bioimaging capabilities were compared. Both contain triphenylamine as the donor and a triarylborane as the acceptor, the latter modified with cationic trimethylammonio groups to provide solubility in aqueous media. The octupolar system exhibits a much higher two-photon brightness, and also better cell viability and enhanced selectivity for lysosomes compared with the dipolar chromophore. Furthermore, both dyes were applied in two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) live-cell imaging.}, language = {en} } @article{NollGrossShoyamaetal.2023, author = {Noll, Niklas and Groß, Tobias and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Beuerle, Florian and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Folding-Induced Promotion of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfers via Proximal Base for Light-Driven Water Oxidation}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {62}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {7}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202217745}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312020}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) processes play a key role in biocatalytic energy conversion and storage, for example, photosynthesis or nitrogen fixation. Here, we report a series of bipyridine-containing di- to tetranuclear Ru(bda) macrocycles 2 C-4 C (bda: 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylate) to promote O-O bond formation. In photocatalytic water oxidation under neutral conditions, all complexes 2 C-4 C prevail in a folded conformation that support the water nucleophilic attack (WNA) pathway with remarkable turnover frequencies of up to 15.5 s\(^{-1}\) per Ru unit respectively. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed an increased tendency for intramolecular π-π stacking and preorganization of the proximal bases close to the active centers for the larger macrocycles. H/D kinetic isotope effect studies and electrochemical data demonstrate the key role of the proximal bipyridines as proton acceptors in lowering the activation barrier for the crucial nucleophilic attack of H\(_{2}\)O in the WNA mechanism.}, language = {en} } @article{SchlauersbachHanioLenzetal.2021, author = {Schlauersbach, Jonas and Hanio, Simon and Lenz, Bettina and Vemulapalli, Sahithya P. B. and Griesinger, Christian and P{\"o}ppler, Ann-Christin and Harlacher, Cornelius and Galli, Bruno and Meinel, Lorenz}, title = {Leveraging bile solubilization of poorly water-soluble drugs by rational polymer selection}, series = {Journal of Controlled Release}, volume = {330}, journal = {Journal of Controlled Release}, edition = {Accepted Version}, doi = {10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.12.016}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-296957}, pages = {36-48}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Poorly water-soluble drugs frequently solubilize into bile colloids and this natural mechanism is key for efficient bioavailability. We tested the impact of pharmaceutical polymers on this solubilization interplay using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and by assessing the flux across model membranes. Eudragit E, Soluplus, and a therapeutically used model polymer, Colesevelam, impacted the bile-colloidal geometry and molecular interaction. These polymer-induced changes reduced the flux of poorly water-soluble and bile interacting drugs (Perphenazine, Imatinib) but did not impact the flux of bile non-interacting Metoprolol. Non-bile interacting polymers (Kollidon VA 64, HPMC-AS) neither impacted the flux of colloid-interacting nor colloid-non-interacting drugs. These insights into the drug substance/polymer/bile colloid interplay potentially point towards a practical optimization parameter steering formulations to efficient bile-solubilization by rational polymer selection.}, language = {en} } @article{SchnitzleinMuetzelShoyamaetal.2022, author = {Schnitzlein, Matthias and M{\"u}tzel, Carina and Shoyama, Kazutaka and Farrell, Jeffrey M. and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {PAHs Containing both Heptagon and Pentagon: Corannulene Extension by [5+2] Annulation}, series = {European Journal of Organic Chemistry}, volume = {2022}, journal = {European Journal of Organic Chemistry}, number = {5}, doi = {10.1002/ejoc.202101273}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-262627}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Utilizing Pd-catalyzed [5+2] annulation a series of heptagon-extended corannulenes could be synthesized from a borinic acid precursor furnished by C-H borylation strategy. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed the presence of two conformational enantiomers crystallizing in a racemic mixture. Through their embedded five- and seven-membered rings these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exhibit both negative and positive curvature and UV/Vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy as well as cyclic voltammetry experiments provided insights into the influence of larger flanking aromatic systems and electron-donating substituents encompassing the heptagonal ring. Through [5+2] annulation of acenaphthylene an azulene-containing PAH with intriguing optoelectronical properties including a very small bandgap and absorption over the whole visible spectrum could be obtained. Theoretical calculations were employed to elucidate the long-wavelength absorption and aromaticity.}, language = {en} } @article{AbdelhameedHabibEltahawyetal.2020, author = {Abdelhameed, Reda F. A. and Habib, Eman S. and Eltahawy, Nermeen A. and Hassanean, Hashim A. and Ibrahim, Amany K. and Mohammed, Anber F. and Fayez, Shaimaa and Hayallah, Alaa M. and Yamada, Koji and Behery, Fathy A. and Al-Sanea, Mohammad M. and Alzarea, Sami I. and Bringmann, Gerhard and Ahmed, Safwat A. and Abdelmohsen, Usama Ramadan}, title = {New cytotoxic natural products from the Red Sea sponge Stylissa carteri}, series = {Marine Drugs}, volume = {18}, journal = {Marine Drugs}, number = {5}, issn = {1660-3397}, doi = {10.3390/md18050241}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-205795}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Bioactivity-guided isolation supported by LC-HRESIMS metabolic profiling led to the isolation of two new compounds, a ceramide, stylissamide A (1), and a cerebroside, stylissoside A (2), from the methanol extract of the Red Sea sponge Stylissa carteri. Structure elucidation was achieved using spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS. The bioactive extract's metabolomic profiling showed the existence of various secondary metabolites, mainly oleanane-type saponins, phenolic diterpenes, and lupane triterpenes. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was tested against two human cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and HepG2. Both compounds, 1 and 2, displayed strong cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line, with IC\(_{50}\) values at 21.1 ± 0.17 µM and 27.5 ± 0.18 µM, respectively. They likewise showed a promising activity against HepG2 with IC\(_{50}\) at 36.8 ± 0.16 µM for 1 and IC\(_{50}\) 30.5 ± 0.23 µM for 2 compared to the standard drug cisplatin. Molecular docking experiments showed that 1 and 2 displayed high affinity to the SET protein and to inhibitor 2 of protein phosphatase 2A (I2PP2A), which could be a possible mechanism for their cytotoxic activity. This paper spreads light on the role of these metabolites in holding fouling organisms away from the outer surface of the sponge, and the potential use of these defensive molecules in the production of novel anticancer agents.}, language = {en} } @article{NeitzBessiKachleretal.2022, author = {Neitz, Hermann and Bessi, Irene and Kachler, Valentin and Michel, Manuela and H{\"o}bartner, Claudia}, title = {Tailored tolane-perfluorotolane assembly as supramolecular base pair replacement in DNA}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {62}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202214456}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312575}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Arene-fluoroarene interactions offer outstanding possibilities for engineering of supramolecular systems, including nucleic acids. Here, we implement the tolane-perfluorotolane interaction as base pair replacement in DNA. Tolane (THH) and perfluorotolane (TFF) moieties were connected to acyclic backbone units, comprising glycol nucleic acid (GNA) or butyl nucleic acid (BuNA) building blocks, that were incorporated via phosphoramidite chemistry at opposite positions in a DNA duplex. Thermodynamic analyses by UV thermal melting revealed a compelling stabilization by THH/TFF heteropairs only when connected to the BuNA backbone, but not with the shorter GNA linker. Detailed NMR studies confirmed the preference of the BuNA backbone for enhanced polar π-stacking. This work defines how orthogonal supramolecular interactions can be tailored by small constitutional changes in the DNA backbone, and it inspires future studies of arene-fluoroarene-programmed assembly of DNA.}, language = {en} } @article{SchlossarekStepanenkoBeuerleetal.2022, author = {Schlossarek, Tim and Stepanenko, Vladimir and Beuerle, Florian and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Self-assembled Ru(bda) Coordination Oligomers as Efficient Catalysts for Visible Light-Driven Water Oxidation in Pure Water}, series = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, volume = {61}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {52}, doi = {10.1002/anie.202211445}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312184}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Water-soluble multinuclear complexes based on ruthenium 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylate (bda) and ditopic bipyridine linker units are investigated in three-component visible light-driven water oxidation catalysis. Systematic studies revealed a strong enhancement of the catalytic efficiency in the absence of organic co-solvents and with increasing oligomer length. In-depth kinetic and morphological investigations suggest that the enhanced performance is induced by the self-assembly of linear Ru(bda) oligomers into aggregated superstructures. The obtained turnover frequencies (up to 14.9 s\(^{-1}\)) and turnover numbers (more than 1000) per ruthenium center are the highest reported so far for Ru(bda)-based photocatalytic water oxidation systems.}, language = {en} }