@article{NollKrauseBeuerleetal.2022, author = {Noll, Niklas and Krause, Ana-Maria and Beuerle, Florian and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Enzyme-like water preorganization in a synthetic molecular cleft for homogeneous water oxidation catalysis}, series = {Nature Catalysis}, journal = {Nature Catalysis}, edition = {accepted version}, doi = {10.1038/s41929-022-00843-x}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-302897}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Inspired by the proficiency of natural enzymes, mimicking of nanoenvironments for precise substrate preorganisation is a promising strategy in catalyst design. However, artificial examples of enzyme-like activation of H\(_2\)O molecules for the challenging oxidative water splitting reaction are hardly explored. Here, we introduce a mononuclear Ru(bda) complex (M1, bda: 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylate) equipped with a bipyridine-functionalized ligand to preorganize H\(_2\)O molecules in front of the metal center as in enzymatic clefts. The confined pocket of M1 accelerates chemically driven water oxidation at pH 1 by facilitating a water nucleophilic attack pathway with a remarkable turnover frequency of 140 s\(^{-1}\) that is comparable to the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II. Single crystal X-ray analysis of M1 under catalytic conditions allowed the observation of a 7th H\(_2\)O ligand directly coordinated to a RuIII center. Via a well-defined hydrogen-bonding network, another H\(_2\)O substrate is preorganized for the crucial O-O bond formation via nucleophilic attack.}, language = {en} } @article{SchneiderNiklas2017, author = {Schneider, Wolfgang and Niklas, Frank}, title = {Intelligence and verbal short-term memory/working memory: their interrelationships from childhood to young adulthood and their impact on academic achievement}, series = {Journal of Intelligence}, volume = {5}, journal = {Journal of Intelligence}, number = {2}, issn = {2079-3200}, doi = {10.3390/jintelligence5020026}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-198004}, pages = {26}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Although recent developmental studies exploring the predictive power of intelligence and working memory (WM) for educational achievement in children have provided evidence for the importance of both variables, findings concerning the relative impact of IQ and WM on achievement have been inconsistent. Whereas IQ has been identified as the major predictor variable in a few studies, results from several other developmental investigations suggest that WM may be the stronger predictor of academic achievement. In the present study, data from the Munich Longitudinal Study on the Genesis of Individual Competencies (LOGIC) were used to explore this issue further. The secondary data analysis included data from about 200 participants whose IQ and WM was first assessed at the age of six and repeatedly measured until the ages of 18 and 23. Measures of reading, spelling, and math were also repeatedly assessed for this age range. Both regression analyses based on observed variables and latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) were carried out to explore whether the predictive power of IQ and WM would differ as a function of time point of measurement (i.e., early vs. late assessment). As a main result of various regression analyses, IQ and WM turned out to be reliable predictors of academic achievement, both in early and later developmental stages, when previous domain knowledge was not included as additional predictor. The latter variable accounted for most of the variance in more comprehensive regression models, reducing the impact of both IQ and WM considerably. Findings from SEM analyses basically confirmed this outcome, indicating IQ impacts on educational achievement in the early phase, and illustrating the strong additional impact of previous domain knowledge on achievement at later stages of development.}, language = {en} } @article{NollWuerthner2024, author = {Noll, Niklas and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Bioinspired water preorganization in confined space for efficient water oxidation catalysis in metallosupramolecular ruthenium architectures}, series = {Accounts of Chemical Research}, volume = {57}, journal = {Accounts of Chemical Research}, number = {10}, issn = {0001-4842}, doi = {10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00148}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-361232}, pages = {1538-1549}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Conspectus Nature has established a sustainable way to maintain aerobic life on earth by inventing one of the most sophisticated biological processes, namely, natural photosynthesis, which delivers us with organic matter and molecular oxygen derived from the two abundant resources sunlight and water. The thermodynamically demanding photosynthetic water splitting is catalyzed by the oxygen-evolving complex in photosystem II (OEC-PSII), which comprises a distorted tetramanganese-calcium cluster (CaMn\(_4\)O\(_5\)) as catalytic core. As an ubiquitous concept for fine-tuning and regulating the reactivity of the active site of metalloenzymes, the surrounding protein domain creates a sophisticated environment that promotes substrate preorganization through secondary, noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interactions. Based on the high-resolution X-ray structure of PSII, several water channels were identified near the active site, which are filled with extensive hydrogen-bonding networks of preorganized water molecules, connecting the OEC with the protein surface. As an integral part of the outer coordination sphere of natural metalloenzymes, these channels control the substrate and product delivery, carefully regulate the proton flow by promoting pivotal proton-coupled electron transfer processes, and simultaneously stabilize short-lived oxidized intermediates, thus highlighting the importance of an ordered water network for the remarkable efficiency of the natural OEC. Transferring this concept from nature to the engineering of artificial metal catalysts for fuel production has fostered the fascinating field of metallosupramolecular chemistry by generating defined cavities that conceptually mimic enzymatic pockets. However, the application of supramolecular approaches to generate artificial water oxidation catalysts remained scarce prior to our initial reports, since such molecular design strategies for efficient activation of substrate water molecules in confined nanoenvironments were lacking. In this Account, we describe our research efforts on combining the state-of-the art Ru(bda) catalytic framework with structurally programmed ditopic ligands to guide the water oxidation process in defined metallosupramolecular assemblies in spatial proximity. We will elucidate the governing factors that control the quality of hydrogen-bonding water networks in multinuclear cavities of varying sizes and geometries to obtain high-performance, state-of-the-art water oxidation catalysts. Pushing the boundaries of artificial catalyst design, embedding a single catalytic Ru center into a well-defined molecular pocket enabled sophisticated water preorganization in front of the active site through an encoded basic recognition site, resulting in high catalytic rates comparable to those of the natural counterpart OEC-PSII. To fully explore their potential for solar fuel devices, the suitability of our metallosupramolecular assemblies was demonstrated under (electro)chemical and photocatalytic water oxidation conditions. In addition, testing the limits of structural diversity allowed the fabrication of self-assembled linear coordination oligomers as novel photocatalytic materials and long-range ordered covalent organic framework (COF) materials as recyclable and long-term stable solid-state materials for future applications.}, language = {en} } @article{GesellNiklasSchmiedeleretal.2020, author = {Gesell, Nathalie and Niklas, Frank and Schmiedeler, Sandra and Segerer, Robin}, title = {Mindfulness and romantic relationship outcomes: the mediating role of conflict resolution styles and closeness}, series = {Mindfulness}, volume = {11}, journal = {Mindfulness}, issn = {1868-8527}, doi = {10.1007/s12671-020-01449-9}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-235080}, pages = {2314-2324}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Objectives The association of mindfulness and romantic relationship outcomes such as partnership quality and satisfaction is well-established; however, the mechanisms of action are not yet clear. The current study tested conflict resolution styles and closeness as possible mediating factors. We hypothesized that trait mindfulness would increase the use of constructive conflict resolution styles (positive problem solving), decrease the use of destructive styles (conflict engagement, withdrawal, and compliance), and promote feelings of closeness between partners, which in turn would predict positive relationship outcomes (namely partnership quality, partnership satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction). Methods A total of 209 individuals (86\% German, 76\% female, mean age = 32 years) living in a relationship (31\% married) participated in an online questionnaire. Results Mediation analyses revealed that positive problem solving mediated the association between mindfulness and partnership quality with b = .09 (95\% CI = .03-.17), mindfulness and partnership satisfaction with b = .07 (95\% CI = .02-.13), and mindfulness and sexual satisfaction with b = .04 (95\% CI = .00-.10). Furthermore, a mediating role of withdrawal and closeness was shown for individual relationship outcomes. Conclusions Findings suggest that more positive problem solving, less withdrawal, and more closeness are mechanisms by which mindfulness is associated with positive relationship outcomes. The results of our study thus broaden our understanding of the processes that underlie fulfilling romantic relationships and, in turn, underline the positive effects of mindfulness.}, language = {en} } @article{WuerthnerNoll2021, author = {W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Noll, Niklas}, title = {A Calix[4]arene-Based Cyclic Dinuclear Ruthenium Complex for Light-Driven Catalytic Water Oxidation}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {27}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {1}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202004486}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-230030}, pages = {444-450}, year = {2021}, abstract = {A cyclic dinuclear ruthenium(bda) (bda: 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylate) complex equipped with oligo(ethylene glycol)-functionalized axial calix[4]arene ligands has been synthesized for homogenous catalytic water oxidation. This novel Ru(bda) macrocycle showed significantly increased catalytic activity in chemical and photocatalytic water oxidation compared to the archetype mononuclear reference [Ru(bda)(pic)\(_2\)]. Kinetic investigations, including kinetic isotope effect studies, disclosed a unimolecular water nucleophilic attack mechanism of this novel dinuclear water oxidation catalyst (WOC) under the involvement of the second coordination sphere. Photocatalytic water oxidation with this cyclic dinuclear Ru complex using [Ru(bpy)\(_3\)]Cl\(_2\) as a standard photosensitizer revealed a turnover frequency of 15.5 s\(^{-1}\) and a turnover number of 460. This so far highest photocatalytic performance reported for a Ru(bda) complex underlines the potential of this water-soluble WOC for artificial photosynthesis.}, language = {en} } @article{EckardtStasikKrameretal.2021, author = {Eckardt, Jan-Niklas and Stasik, Sebastian and Kramer, Michael and R{\"o}llig, Christoph and Kr{\"a}mer, Alwin and Scholl, Sebastian and Hochhaus, Andreas and Crysandt, Martina and Br{\"u}mmendorf, Tim H. and Naumann, Ralph and Steffen, Bj{\"o}rn and Kunzmann, Volker and Einsele, Hermann and Schaich, Markus and Burchert, Andreas and Neubauer, Andreas and Sch{\"a}fer-Eckart, Kerstin and Schliemann, Christoph and Krause, Stefan W. and Herbst, Regina and H{\"a}nel, Mathias and Frickhofen, Norbert and Noppeney, Richard and Kaiser, Ulrich and Baldus, Claudia D. and Kaufmann, Martin and R{\´a}cil, Zdenek and Platzbecker, Uwe and Berdel, Wolfgang E. and Mayer, Jiř{\´i} and Serve, Hubert and M{\"u}ller-Tidow, Carsten and Ehninger, Gerhard and St{\"o}lzel, Friedrich and Kroschinsky, Frank and Schetelig, Johannes and Bornh{\"a}user, Martin and Thiede, Christian and Middeke, Jan Moritz}, title = {Loss-of-function mutations of BCOR are an independent marker of adverse outcomes in intensively treated patients with acute myeloid leukemia}, series = {Cancers}, volume = {13}, journal = {Cancers}, number = {9}, issn = {2072-6694}, doi = {10.3390/cancers13092095}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-236735}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by recurrent genetic events. The BCL6 corepressor (BCOR) and its homolog, the BCL6 corepressor-like 1 (BCORL1), have been reported to be rare but recurrent mutations in AML. Previously, smaller studies have reported conflicting results regarding impacts on outcomes. Here, we retrospectively analyzed a large cohort of 1529 patients with newly diagnosed and intensively treated AML. BCOR and BCORL1 mutations were found in 71 (4.6\%) and 53 patients (3.5\%), respectively. Frequently co-mutated genes were DNTM3A, TET2 and RUNX1. Mutated BCORL1 and loss-of-function mutations of BCOR were significantly more common in the ELN2017 intermediate-risk group. Patients harboring loss-of-function mutations of BCOR had a significantly reduced median event-free survival (HR = 1.464 (95\%-Confidence Interval (CI): 1.005-2.134), p = 0.047), relapse-free survival (HR = 1.904 (95\%-CI: 1.163-3.117), p = 0.01), and trend for reduced overall survival (HR = 1.495 (95\%-CI: 0.990-2.258), p = 0.056) in multivariable analysis. Our study establishes a novel role for loss-of-function mutations of BCOR regarding risk stratification in AML, which may influence treatment allocation.}, 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} }