TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Patrick A1 - Meta, Mergim A1 - Meidner, Jan Laurenz A1 - Schwickert, Marvin A1 - Meyr, Jessica A1 - Schwickert, Kevin A1 - Kersten, Christian A1 - Zimmer, Collin A1 - Hammerschmidt, Stefan Josef A1 - Frey, Ariane A1 - Lahu, Albin A1 - de la Hoz-Rodríguez, Sergio A1 - Agost-Beltrán, Laura A1 - Rodríguez, Santiago A1 - Diemer, Kira A1 - Neumann, Wilhelm A1 - Gonzàlez, Florenci V. A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Schirmeister, Tanja T1 - Investigation of the compatibility between warheads and peptidomimetic sequences of protease inhibitors — a comprehensive reactivity and selectivity study JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences N2 - Covalent peptidomimetic protease inhibitors have gained a lot of attention in drug development in recent years. They are designed to covalently bind the catalytically active amino acids through electrophilic groups called warheads. Covalent inhibition has an advantage in terms of pharmacodynamic properties but can also bear toxicity risks due to non-selective off-target protein binding. Therefore, the right combination of a reactive warhead with a well-suited peptidomimetic sequence is of great importance. Herein, the selectivities of well-known warheads combined with peptidomimetic sequences suited for five different proteases were investigated, highlighting the impact of both structure parts (warhead and peptidomimetic sequence) for affinity and selectivity. Molecular docking gave insights into the predicted binding modes of the inhibitors inside the binding pockets of the different enzymes. Moreover, the warheads were investigated by NMR and LC-MS reactivity assays against serine/threonine and cysteine nucleophile models, as well as by quantum mechanics simulations. KW - covalent inhibitors KW - in vitro study KW - protease inhibitors KW - peptidomimetic sequence KW - warhead KW - reactivity and selectivity study Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-313596 SN - 1422-0067 VL - 24 IS - 8 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weiser, Jonas A1 - Cui, Jingjing A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Braunschweig, Holger A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe T1 - Structure and bonding of proximity‐enforced main‐group dimers stabilized by a rigid naphthyridine diimine ligand JF - Journal of Computational Chemistry N2 - The development of ligands capable of effectively stabilizing highly reactive main‐group species has led to the experimental realization of a variety of systems with fascinating properties. In this work, we computationally investigate the electronic, structural, energetic, and bonding features of proximity‐enforced group 13–15 homodimers stabilized by a rigid expanded pincer ligand based on the 1,8‐naphthyridine (napy) core. We show that the redox‐active naphthyridine diimine (NDI) ligand enables a wide variety of structural motifs and element‐element interaction modes, the latter ranging from isolated, element‐centered lone pairs (e.g., E = Si, Ge) to cases where through‐space π bonds (E = Pb), element‐element multiple bonds (E = P, As) and biradical ground states (E = N) are observed. Our results hint at the feasibility of NDI‐E2 species as viable synthetic targets, highlighting the versatility and potential applications of napy‐based ligands in main‐group chemistry. KW - bond theory KW - computational chemistry KW - density functional calculations KW - main group elements KW - N ligands Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312586 VL - 44 IS - 3 SP - 456 EP - 467 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klein, Philipp A1 - Barthels, Fabian A1 - Johe, Patrick A1 - Wagner, Annika A1 - Tenzer, Stefan A1 - Distler, Ute A1 - Le, Thien Anh A1 - Schmid, Paul A1 - Engel, Volker A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Hellmich, Ute A. A1 - Opatz, Till A1 - Schirmeister, Tanja T1 - Naphthoquinones as covalent reversible inhibitors of cysteine proteases — studies on inhibition mechanism and kinetics JF - Molecules N2 - The facile synthesis and detailed investigation of a class of highly potent protease inhibitors based on 1,4-naphthoquinones with a dipeptidic recognition motif (HN-l-Phe-l-Leu-OR) in the 2-position and an electron-withdrawing group (EWG) in the 3-position is presented. One of the compound representatives, namely the acid with EWG = CN and with R = H proved to be a highly potent rhodesain inhibitor with nanomolar affinity. The respective benzyl ester (R = Bn) was found to be hydrolyzed by the target enzyme itself yielding the free acid. Detailed kinetic and mass spectrometry studies revealed a reversible covalent binding mode. Theoretical calculations with different density functionals (DFT) as well as wavefunction-based approaches were performed to elucidate the mode of action. KW - protease KW - rhodesain KW - covalent reversible inhibition KW - 1,4-naphthoquinone KW - nucleophilic addition KW - prodrug Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203791 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 25 IS - 9 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klein, Philipp A1 - Johe, Patrick A1 - Wagner, Annika A1 - Jung, Sascha A1 - Kühlborn, Jonas A1 - Barthels, Fabian A1 - Tenzer, Stefan A1 - Distler, Ute A1 - Waigel, Waldemar A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Hellmich, Ute A. A1 - Opatz, Till A1 - Schirmeister, Tanja T1 - New cysteine protease inhibitors: electrophilic (het)arenes and unexpected prodrug identification for the Trypanosoma protease rhodesain JF - Molecules N2 - Electrophilic (het)arenes can undergo reactions with nucleophiles yielding π- or Meisenheimer (σ-) complexes or the products of the S\(_N\)Ar addition/elimination reactions. Such building blocks have only rarely been employed for the design of enzyme inhibitors. Herein, we demonstrate the combination of a peptidic recognition sequence with such electrophilic (het)arenes to generate highly active inhibitors of disease-relevant proteases. We further elucidate an unexpected mode of action for the trypanosomal protease rhodesain using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, enzyme kinetics and various types of simulations. After hydrolysis of an ester function in the recognition sequence of a weakly active prodrug inhibitor, the liberated carboxylic acid represents a highly potent inhibitor of rhodesain (K\(_i\) = 4.0 nM). The simulations indicate that, after the cleavage of the ester, the carboxylic acid leaves the active site and re-binds to the enzyme in an orientation that allows the formation of a very stable π-complex between the catalytic dyad (Cys-25/His-162) of rhodesain and the electrophilic aromatic moiety. The reversible inhibition mode results because the S\(_N\)Ar reaction, which is found in an alkaline solvent containing a low molecular weight thiol, is hindered within the enzyme due to the presence of the positively charged imidazolium ring of His-162. Comparisons between measured and calculated NMR shifts support this interpretation KW - cysteine protease KW - rhodesain KW - electrophilic (het)arene KW - nucleophilic aromatic substitution KW - Meisenheimer complex KW - π-complex KW - prodrug Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203380 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 25 IS - 6 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Franzsico, Marcos A. S. A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Cardozo, Thiago M. A1 - Esteves, Pierre M. A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Oliveira, Ricardo R. T1 - Taming the Antiferromagnetic Beast: Computational Design of Ultrashort Mn-Mn Bonds Stabilized by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes JF - Chemistry—A European Journal N2 - The development of complexes featuring low-valent, multiply bonded metal centers is an exciting field with several potential applications. In this work, we describe the design principles and extensive computational investigation of new organometallic platforms featuring the elusive manganese-manganese bond stabilized by experimentally realized N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). By using DFT computations benchmarked against multireference calculations, as well as MO- and VB-based bonding analyses, we could disentangle the various electronic and structural effects contributing to the thermodynamic and kinetic stability, as well as the experimental feasibility, of the systems. In particular, we explored the nature of the metal-carbene interaction and the role of the ancillary η\(^{6}\) coordination to the generation of Mn\(_{2}\) systems featuring ultrashort metal-metal bonds, closed-shell singlet multiplicities, and positive adiabatic singlet-triplet gaps. Our analysis identifies two distinct classes of viable synthetic targets, whose electrostructural properties are thoroughly investigated. KW - metal-metal interactions KW - ab initio calculations KW - carbene ligands KW - density functional calculations KW - manganese Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-256874 VL - 27 IS - 47 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Paul A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Klopf, Jonas A1 - Schröder, Niklas B. A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Braunschweig, Holger A1 - Engel, Volker A1 - Engels, Bernd T1 - Twisting versus delocalization in CAAC- and NHC-stabilized boron-based biradicals: the roles of sterics and electronics JF - Chemistry - A European Journal N2 - Twisted boron-based biradicals featuring unsaturated C\(_2\)R\(_2\) (R=Et, Me) bridges and stabilization by cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs) were recently prepared. These species show remarkable geometrical and electronic differences with respect to their unbridged counterparts. Herein, a thorough computational investigation on the origin of their distinct electrostructural properties is performed. It is shown that steric effects are mostly responsible for the preference for twisted over planar structures. The ground-state multiplicity of the twisted structure is modulated by the σ framework of the bridge, and different R groups lead to distinct multiplicities. In line with the experimental data, a planar structure driven by delocalization effects is observed as global minimum for R=H. The synthetic elusiveness of C\(_2\)R\(_2\)-bridged systems featuring N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) was also investigated. These results could contribute to the engineering of novel main group biradicals. KW - chemistry KW - radicals KW - ab initio calculations KW - boron KW - carbene ligands KW - density functional calculations Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-256636 VL - 27 IS - 16 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Brückner, Tobias A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Stennett, Tom E. A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Isolation of neutral, mono-, and dicationic B\(_2\)P\(_2\) rings by diphosphorus addition to a boron-boron triple bond JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - The NHC-stabilised diboryne (B\(_2\)(SIDep)\(_2\); SIDep=1,3-bis(2,6-diethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) undergoes a high-yielding P−P bond activation with tetraethyldiphosphine at room temperature to form a B\(_2\)P\(_2\) heterocycle via a diphosphoryldiborene by 1,2-diphosphination. The heterocycle can be oxidised to a radical cation and a dication, respectively, depending on the oxidant used and its counterion. Starting from the planar, neutral 1,3-bis(alkylidene)-1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutane, each oxidation step leads to decreased B−B distances and loss of planarity by cationisation. X-ray analyses in conjunction with DFT and CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations reveal closed-shell singlet, butterfly-shaped structures for the NHC-stabilised dicationic B\(_2\)P\(_2\) rings, with their diradicaloid, planar-ring isomers lying close in energy. KW - inorganic chemistry KW - radicals KW - boron KW - density functional calculations KW - oxidation KW - phosphorus heterocycles Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-256451 VL - 60 IS - 24 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ramler, Jaqueline A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Geist, Felix A1 - Hanft, Anna A1 - Braunschweig, Holger A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Lichtenberg, Crispin T1 - The dimethylbismuth cation: entry into dative Bi-Bi bonding and unconventional methyl exchange JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - The dimethyl bismuth cation, [BiMe\(_2\)(SbF\(_6\))], has been isolated and characterized. Reaction with BiMe\(_3\) allows access to the first compound featuring Bi→Bi donor–acceptor bonding. In solution, dynamic behavior with methyl exchange via an unusual S\(_E\)2 mechanism is observed, underlining the unique properties of bismuth species as soft Lewis acids with the ability to undergo reversible Bi−C bond cleavage. KW - inorganic chemistry KW - methyl exchange KW - bismuth KW - cationic species KW - electrophilic substitution KW - Lewis acidity Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-256543 VL - 60 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mukhopadhyay, Deb Pratim A1 - Schleier, Domenik A1 - Wirsing, Sara A1 - Ramler, Jaqueline A1 - Kaiser, Dustin A1 - Reusch, Engelbert A1 - Hemberger, Patrick A1 - Preitschopf, Tobias A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Fischer, Ingo A1 - Lichtenberg, Crispin T1 - Methylbismuth: an organometallic bismuthinidene biradical JF - Chemical Science N2 - We report the generation, spectroscopic characterization, and computational analysis of the first free (non-stabilized) organometallic bismuthinidene, BiMe. The title compound was generated in situ from BiMe\(_3\) by controlled homolytic Bi–C bond cleavage in the gas phase. Its electronic structure was characterized by a combination of photoion mass-selected threshold photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT as well as multi-reference computations. A triplet ground state was identified and an ionization energy (IE) of 7.88 eV was experimentally determined. Methyl abstraction from BiMe\(_3\) to give [BiMe(_2\)]• is a key step in the generation of BiMe. We reaveal a bond dissociation energy of 210 ± 7 kJ mol\(^{−1}\), which is substantially higher than the previously accepted value. Nevertheless, the homolytic cleavage of Me–BiMe\(_2\) bonds could be achieved at moderate temperatures (60–120 °C) in the condensed phase, suggesting that [BiMe\(_2\)]• and BiMe are accessible as reactive intermediates under these conditions. KW - methylbismuth KW - Photoelektronenspektroskopie Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-251657 UR - https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/SC/D0SC02410D VL - 11 IS - 29 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rang, Maximilian A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Arrowsmith, Merle A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Beck, Eva A1 - Witte, Robert A1 - Matler, Alexander A1 - Rempel, Anna A1 - Bischof, Tobias A1 - Radacki, Krzysztof A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Reduktion und Umlagerung eines Bor(I)‐Carbonylkomplexes JF - Angewandte Chemie N2 - Bei der Einelektronenreduktion eines durch eine cyclisches (Alkyl)(amino)carben (CAAC) stabilisierten Arylborylen-Carbonylkomplexes erfolgt die Bildung eines dimeren Borylketyl-Radikalanions, bedingt durch eine intramolekulare Arylmigration zum CO Kohlenstoffatom. Computergestützte Analyse liefert Hinweise auf eine radikalanionische [(CAAC)B(CO)Ar]\(^{.-}\) Zwischenstufe. Weiterführende Reduktion des entstandenen Komplexes liefert ein hoch nukleophiles (Boranyliden)methanolat. KW - Biradikale KW - Bor-Carbonylkomplexe KW - Dichtefunktionalrechnungen KW - Reduktionen KW - Umlagerungen Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224409 VL - 133 IS - 6 SP - 3000 EP - 3005 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Roy, Dipak Kumar A1 - Tröster, Tobias A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Lenczyk, Carsten A1 - Radacki, Krzysztof A1 - Pranckevicius, Conor A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Isolation and Reactivity of an Antiaromatic s‐Block Metal Compound JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - The concepts of aromaticity and antiaromaticity have a long history, and countless demonstrations of these phenomena have been made with molecules based on elements from the p, d, and f blocks of the periodic table. In contrast, the limited oxidation‐state flexibility of the s‐block metals has long stood in the way of their participation in sophisticated π‐bonding arrangements, and truly antiaromatic systems containing s‐block metals are altogether absent or remain poorly defined. Using spectroscopic, structural, and computational techniques, we present herein the synthesis and authentication of a heterocyclic compound containing the alkaline earth metal beryllium that exhibits significant antiaromaticity, and detail its chemical reduction and Lewis‐base‐coordination chemistry. KW - antiaromaticity KW - aromaticity KW - beryllium KW - heterocycles KW - s-block metals Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224447 VL - 60 IS - 7 SP - 3812 EP - 3819 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saalfrank, Christian A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Kupfer, Thomas A1 - Ritschel, Benedikt A1 - Hammond, Kai A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Bertermann, Rüdiger A1 - Wirthensohn, Raphael A1 - Finze, Maik A1 - Schmid, Paul A1 - Engel, Volker A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - cAAC‐stabilisierte 9,10‐Diboraanthracene – offenschalige Singulettbiradikale JF - Angewandte Chemie N2 - Geringe HOMO-LUMO-Abstände und eine hohe Ladungsträgermobilität prädestinieren die höheren Acene für Anwendungen im Bereich der Organoelektronik. Die Leistungsfähigkeit derartiger Verbindungen steigt hierbei dramatisch mit der Anzahl anellierter Benzolringe. Größere Acenmengen sind synthetisch bisher jedoch nur für Acene bis Heptacen verlässlich zugänglich. Theoretischen Studien zufolge besitzen (Oligo)acene offenschalige Singulettbiradikal- und (Poly)acene polyradikalische Grundzustände. Eindeutige experimentelle Belege für diese Vorhersagen sind hingegen äußerst selten. Durch den Einbau von zwei Boratomen in das Anthracengrundgerüst konnten wir den HOMO-LUMO-Abstand von Acenen dramatisch verringern und zwar ohne die Notwendigkeit einer Ausweitung des konjugierten π-Systems. Stabilisierung der Borzentren durch cyclische (Alkyl)(amino)carbene lieferte hierbei neutrale 9,10-Diboraanthracene mit disjunkten, offenschaligen Singulettbiradikal-Grundzuständen. KW - Acene KW - Bindungsaktivierung KW - Biradikale KW - Bor KW - Heterocyclen Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218582 VL - 132 IS - 43 SP - 19502 EP - 19507 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saalfrank, Christian A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Kupfer, Thomas A1 - Ritschel, Benedikt A1 - Hammond, Kai A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Bertermann, Rüdiger A1 - Wirthensohn, Raphael A1 - Finze, Maik A1 - Schmid, Paul A1 - Engel, Volker A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - cAAC‐Stabilized 9,10‐diboraanthracenes—Acenes with Open‐Shell Singlet Biradical Ground States JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - Narrow HOMO–LUMO gaps and high charge‐carrier mobilities make larger acenes potentially high‐efficient materials for organic electronic applications. The performance of such molecules was shown to significantly increase with increasing number of fused benzene rings. Bulk quantities, however, can only be obtained reliably for acenes up to heptacene. Theoretically, (oligo)acenes and (poly)acenes are predicted to have open‐shell singlet biradical and polyradical ground states, respectively, for which experimental evidence is still scarce. We have now been able to dramatically lower the HOMO–LUMO gap of acenes without the necessity of unfavorable elongation of their conjugated π system, by incorporating two boron atoms into the anthracene skeleton. Stabilizing the boron centers with cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes gives neutral 9,10‐diboraanthracenes, which are shown to feature disjointed, open‐shell singlet biradical ground states. KW - acenes KW - biradicals KW - bond Activation KW - boron KW - heterocycles Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-217795 VL - 59 IS - 43 SP - 19338 EP - 19343 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hermann, Alexander A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Arrowsmith, Merle A1 - Zorn, Theresa A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Ritschel, Benedikt A1 - Radacki, Krzysztof A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Oxidation, Coordination, and Nickel-Mediated Deconstruction of a Highly Electron-Rich Diboron Analogue of 1,3,5-Hexatriene JF - Angewandte Chemie, International Edition N2 - The reductive coupling of an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) stabilized (dibromo)vinylborane yields a 1,2-divinyl- diborene, which, although isoelectronic to a 1,3,5-triene, displays no extended p conjugation because of twisting of the C\(_2\)B\(_2\)C\(_2\) chain. While this divinyldiborene coordinates to copper(I) and platinum(0) in an η\(^2\)-B\(_2\) and η\(^4\)-C\(_2\)B\(_2\) fashion, respectively, it undergoes a complex rearrangement to an η\(^4\)-1,3-diborete upon complexation with nickel(0). KW - boron KW - diborenes KW - carbenes KW - conjugation KW - density-functional calculations KW - rearrangements KW - structure elucidation Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-240652 VL - 59 IS - 36 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Brunecker, Carina A1 - Müssig, Jonas H. A1 - Arrowsmith, Merle A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Stoy, Andreas A1 - Böhnke, Julian A1 - Hofmann, Alexander A1 - Bertermann, Rüdiger A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Boranediyl‐ and Diborane(4)‐1,2‐diyl‐Bridged Platinum A‐Frame Complexes JF - Chemistry – A European Journal N2 - Diplatinum A‐frame complexes with a bridging (di)boron unit in the apex position were synthesized in a single step by the double oxidative addition of dihalo(di)borane precursors at a bis(diphosphine)‐bridged Pt\(^{0}\)\(_{2}\) complex. While structurally analogous to well‐known μ‐borylene complexes, in which delocalized dative three‐center‐two‐electron M‐B‐M bonding prevails, theoretical investigations into the nature of Pt−B bonding in these A‐frame complexes show them to be rare dimetalla(di)boranes displaying two electron‐sharing Pt−B σ‐bonds. This is experimentally reflected in the low kinetic stability of these compounds, which are prone to loss of the (di)boron bridgehead unit. KW - boron KW - bonding KW - EDA-NOCV KW - oxidative addition KW - platinum Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-214707 VL - 26 IS - 39 SP - 8518 EP - 8523 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dietschreit, Johannes C. B. A1 - Wagner, Annika A1 - Le, T. Anh A1 - Klein, Philipp A1 - Schindelin, Hermann A1 - Opatz, Till A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Hellmich, Ute A. A1 - Ochsenfeld, Christian T1 - Predicting \(^{19}\)F NMR Chemical Shifts: A Combined Computational and Experimental Study of a Trypanosomal Oxidoreductase–Inhibitor Complex JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - The absence of fluorine from most biomolecules renders it an excellent probe for NMR spectroscopy to monitor inhibitor–protein interactions. However, predicting the binding mode of a fluorinated ligand from a chemical shift (or vice versa) has been challenging due to the high electron density of the fluorine atom. Nonetheless, reliable \(^{19}\)F chemical‐shift predictions to deduce ligand‐binding modes hold great potential for in silico drug design. Herein, we present a systematic QM/MM study to predict the \(^{19}\)F NMR chemical shifts of a covalently bound fluorinated inhibitor to the essential oxidoreductase tryparedoxin (Tpx) from African trypanosomes, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. We include many protein–inhibitor conformations as well as monomeric and dimeric inhibitor–protein complexes, thus rendering it the largest computational study on chemical shifts of \(^{19}\)F nuclei in a biological context to date. Our predicted shifts agree well with those obtained experimentally and pave the way for future work in this area. KW - African sleeping sickness KW - covalent inhibitors KW - NMR spectroscopy KW - quantum chemistry KW - structural biology Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-214879 VL - 59 IS - 31 SP - 12669 EP - 12673 ER - TY - INPR A1 - Schmidt, Uwe A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Arrowsmith, Merle A1 - Hermann, Alexander A1 - Prieschl, Dominic A1 - Rempel, Anna A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Tuneable reduction of cymantrenylboranes to diborenes or borylene-derived boratafulvenes T2 - Chemical Communications N2 - Whereas the reduction of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilised cymantrenyldibromoboranes, (NHC)BBr\(_2\)Cym, in benzene results in formation of the corresponding diborenes (NHC)\(_2\)B\(_2\)Cym\(_2\), a change of solvent to THF yields a borylene of the form (NHC)\(_2\)BCym, stabilised through its boratafulvene resonance form. KW - Borylene KW - Diborene KW - Boranes Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-222149 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sawatzky, Edgar A1 - Drakopoulos, Antonios A1 - Rölz, Martin A1 - Sotriffer, Christoph A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Decker, Michael T1 - Experimental and theoretical investigations into the stability of cyclic aminals JF - Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry N2 - Background: Cyclic aminals are core features of natural products, drug molecules and important synthetic intermediates. Despite their relevance, systematic investigations into their stability towards hydrolysis depending on the pH value are lacking. Results: A set of cyclic aminals was synthesized and their stability quantified by kinetic measurements. Steric and electronic effects were investigated by choosing appropriate groups. Both molecular mechanics (MM) and density functional theory (DFT) based studies were applied to support and explain the results obtained. Rapid decomposition is observed in acidic aqueous media for all cyclic aminals which occurs as a reversible reaction. Electronic effects do not seem relevant with regard to stability, but the magnitude of the conformational energy of the ring system and pK a values of the N-3 nitrogen atom. Conclusion: Cyclic aminals are stable compounds when not exposed to acidic media and their stability is mainly dependent on the conformational energy of the ring system. Therefore, for the preparation and work-up of these valuable synthetic intermediates and natural products, appropriate conditions have to be chosen and for application as drug molecules their sensitivity towards hydrolysis has to be taken into account. KW - quantum mechanics KW - hydrolysis KW - kinetics KW - molecular mechanics KW - natural products Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160976 VL - 12 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Böhnke, Julian A1 - Dellermann, Theresa A1 - Celik, Mehmet Ali A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Demeshko, Serhiy A1 - Ewing, William C. A1 - Hammond, Kai A1 - Heß, Merlin A1 - Bill, Eckhard A1 - Welz, Eileen A1 - Röhr, Merle I. S. A1 - Mitric, Roland A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Meyer, Franc A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Isolation of diborenes and their 90°-twisted diradical congeners JF - Nature Communications N2 - Molecules containing multiple bonds between atoms—most often in the form of olefins—are ubiquitous in nature, commerce, and science, and as such have a huge impact on everyday life. Given their prominence, over the last few decades, frequent attempts have been made to perturb the structure and reactivity of multiply-bound species through bending and twisting. However, only modest success has been achieved in the quest to completely twist double bonds in order to homolytically cleave the associated π bond. Here, we present the isolation of double-bond-containing species based on boron, as well as their fully twisted diradical congeners, by the incorporation of attached groups with different electronic properties. The compounds comprise a structurally authenticated set of diamagnetic multiply-bound and diradical singly-bound congeners of the same class of compound. KW - chemical bonding KW - diradicals KW - organometallic chemistry KW - diborenes KW - carbenes KW - boron Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160431 VL - 9 IS - Article number: 1197 ER - TY - INPR A1 - Böhnke, Julian A1 - Dellermann, Theresa A1 - Celik, Mehmet Ali A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Demeshko, Serhiy A1 - Ewing, William C. A1 - Hammond, Kai A1 - Heß, Merlin A1 - Bill, Eckhard A1 - Welz, Eileen A1 - Röhr, Merle I. S. A1 - Mitric, Roland A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Meyer, Franc A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Isolation of diradical products of twisted double bonds T2 - Nature Communications N2 - Molecules containing multiple bonds between atoms—most often in the form of olefins—are ubiquitous in nature, commerce, and science, and as such have a huge impact on everyday life. Given their prominence, over the last few decades, frequent attempts have been made to perturb the structure and reactivity of multiply-bound species through bending and twisting. However, only modest success has been achieved in the quest to completely twist double bonds in order to homolytically cleave the associated π bond. Here, we present the isolation of double-bond-containing species based on boron, as well as their fully twisted diradical congeners, by the incorporation of attached groups with different electronic properties. The compounds comprise a structurally authenticated set of diamagnetic multiply-bound and diradical singly-bound congeners of the same class of compound. KW - diradicals KW - diborenes KW - carbenes KW - boron Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160248 N1 - Submitted version of Julian Böhnke, Theresa Dellermann, Mehmet Ali Celik, Ivo Krummenacher, Rian D. Dewhurst, Serhiy Demeshko, William C. Ewing, Kai Hammond, Merlin Heß, Eckhard Bill, Eileen Welz, Merle I. S. Röhr, Roland Mitrić, Bernd Engels, Franc Meyer & Holger Braunschweig: Isolation of diborenes and their 90°-twisted diradical congeners. Nature Communications. Volume 9, Article number: 1197 (2018) doi:10.1038/s41467-018-02998-3 ER -