Institut für Organische Chemie
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- Abteilung für Funktionswerkstoffe der Medizin und der Zahnheilkunde (2)
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- Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB), Universität Würzburg (1)
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- Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institue, Frederick (USA) (1)
- Hochschule Aalen (1)
- Lehrstuhl für Chemie, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn (1)
- Zentrale Abteilung für Mikroskopie, Universität Würzburg (1)
Herein described is the discovery of three novel types of dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, named mbandakamines, cyclombandakamines, and spirombandakamines. They were found in the leaves of a botanically as yet unidentified, potentially new Ancistrocladus species, collected in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Mbandakamines showed an exceptional 6′,1′′-coupling, in the peri-position neighboring one of the outer axes, leading to an extremely high steric hindrance at the central axis, and to U-turn-like molecular shape, which – different from all other dimeric NIQs, whose basic structures are all quite linear – brings three of the four bicyclic ring systems in close proximity to each other. This created an unprecedented follow-up chemistry, involving ring closure reactions, leading to two further, structurally even more intriguing subclasses, the cyclo- and the spirombandakamines, displaying eight stereogenic elements (the highest total number ever found in naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids). The metabolites exhibited pronounced antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal activities. Likewise reported in this doctoral thesis are the isolation and structural elucidation of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids from two further potentially new Ancistrocladus species from DRC. Some of these metabolites have shown pronounced antiausterity activities against human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells.
Within this PhD thesis, chromophore-bridged biradicals were synthesised and their properties characterised. Therefore, it was necessary to develop novel synthetic procedures and implement several experimental characterisation methods. In summary, within this thesis the scope of pigment chromophore phenoxyl radical decoration was further explored and expanded to IIn as well as DPP colourants. HOMA analysis highlighted the importance of aromaticity in order to understand the spin crossover from heteroaromatic quinoidal to aromatic open shell DPPs. Finally, PBI, IIn and DPP biradicals were advanced towards stable materials by introduction of nitronyl nitroxide radical centres.
Inspired by the fact that sufficient solubility in aqueous media can be achieved by functional substitution of perylene bisimides (PBIs) with polar groups, one of the essential aims of this thesis was the design and successful synthesis of the new water-soluble PBI cyclophanes [2PBI]-1m and [2PBI]-1p, which are appended with branched, hydrophilic oligoethylene glycol (OEG) chains. Subsequently, the focus was set on the elucidation of properties of PBI cyclophane hosts which are also of relevance for recognition processes in biological systems. The performance of the new amphiphilic PBI cyclophane [2PBI]-1p as synthetic receptors for various natural aromatic alkaloids in aqueous media was thoroughly investigated. Alkaloids represent a prominent class of ubiquitous nitrogen containing natural compounds with a great structural variety and diverse biological activity. As of yet, no chromophore host acting as a molecular probe for a range of alkaloids such as harmine or harmaline is known. In addition, the self-association behavior of cyclophane host [2PBI]-1m and its reference monomer in water was studied in order to gain insights into the thermodynamic driving forces affecting the self-assembly process of these two PBI systems in aqueous environment. Moreover, the chirality transfer upon guest binding previously observed for a PBI cyclophane was investigated further. The assignment of the underlying mechanism of guest recognition to either the induced fit or conformational selection model was of particular interest.
In dieser Arbeit ist die Synthese von funktionalisiertem Nanodiamant mit bioaktiven Substanzen, welche vor allem als Wirkstofftransporter eingesetzt werden sollen, beschrieben. Dazu werden zum einen bereits bekannte Anbindungsmöglichkeiten an Nanodiamant, wie zum Beispiel die Klick-Reaktion, sowie die Ausbildung von Amidbrücken verwendet. Zum anderen werden neuartige Funktionalisierungsmöglichkeiten wie Protein Ligation und Thioharnstoffbrücken verwendet und somit das Repertoire an bekannten Anbindungsreaktion erweitert.
Des weiteren wurde ein multifunktionales Nanodiamantsystem synthetisiert. Dieses ist in der Lage, zwei verschiedene Moleküle auf einem Partikel zu immobilisieren. Die verwendeten Methoden ermöglichen die Anbindung verschiedener Substanzen aus unterschiedlichen Molekülgruppen an Nanodiamanten und sind somit universell einsetzbar.
Die vorliegende Dissertation befasst sich mit den Struktur-Eigenschafts-Beziehungen von sternförmigen Mesogenen mit kontrollierbaren Konformationen in den LC-Phasen. Zunächst sollte mithilfe verschiedener Moleküldesigns geklärt werden, wie eine Faltung der Arme verhindert werden kann, und somit, ob sternförmige Konformationen in den kolumnaren Packungen realisiert werden können. Hierzu wurde erfolgreich eine Bibliothek von dreiarmigen Amidsternen, semiflexiblen Oligoestersternen mit hexasubstituiertem Benzolkern und formtreuen hexasubstituierten Benzolen synthetisiert. Die besondere Herausforderung bei der Darstellung letzterer lag in der C3-Symmetrie der Verbindungen und konnte durch Optimierung der Synthesestrategie mittels aufeinander folgender Wittig-Horner- und Suzuki-Reaktionen in einem divergenten Ansatz gemeistert werden. Ein herausragendes Ergebnis ist die Flüssigkristallinität dieser formtreuen hexasubstituierten Strukturen, wenn sie mindestens neun bzw. zwölf periphere Ketten besitzen. Die detaillierte Auswertung der Kolumnendurchmesser mithilfe von äquatorialen Reflexen sowie der Dichte und der meridionalen Beugungsmuster zeigen, dass lediglich für die formtreuen hexasubstituierten Benzolderivate eine Faltung verhindert werden kann. Intrinsische Freiräume (Kävitäten) zwischen den Oligo(phenylenvinylen)-Armen werden durch außergewöhnliche Dimerenbildung und helikale Packung der Moleküle kompensiert.
In die Kavitäten der Trispyridylverbindungen können Carbonsäure-funktionalisierte Gäste unter Ausbildung von Wasserstoffbrücken eingelagert werden. Mit zunehmender Gastkonzentration wird die helikale Dimerphase des Wirts kontinuierlich in eine neue kolumnare Phase von monomeren Supermesogenen ohne helikale Struktur umgewandelt. Da die Gäste in den Supermesogenen vollständig von den Oligo(phenylenvinylen)-Armen und den aliphatischen Ketten umschlossen sind, handelt es sich bei der Wirtverbindung erstmals um einen flüssigkristallinen Endorezeptor mit drei Bindungsstellen. Das Sternmesogen mit größeren intrinsischen Freiräumen ermöglicht die Einlagerung von funktionalen Bausteinen wie z.B. Anthracenchromophoren. Aus Untersuchungen mittels Festkörper-NMR- und Fluoreszenzspektroskopie geht hervor, dass sich die Mesophase mit drei Anthracengästen langsam in eine doppelt nanosegregierte Struktur umwandelt, in der intrakolumnar Oligo(phenylenvinylen)-Arme und Anthracene Seite an Seite segregiert stapeln und so segmentierte Kolumnen bilden. Diese Art von doppelter Nanosegregation offenbart das Potential des verwendeten Moleküldesigns im Bezug auf die Entwicklung mesomorpher Multikabelstrukturen.
Im Vergleich zu den Supermesogenen weisen die analogen Sternverbindungen mit kovalent gebundenen Pseudogästen um über 100 °C höhere Klärpunkte auf, was unter Berücksichtigung der strukturellen Ähnlichkeit der kolumnaren Phasen und der ähnlichen Mischungsenthalpien in unterschiedlichen Werten der Mischungsentropie begründet liegen muss. Der Vergleich mit einer 1:3-Mischung ohne spezifische Wirt-Gast-Wechselwirkung bestätigt in diesem Zusammenhang den Einfluss der Bindungsart der Gäste auf die Mesophasenstabilität. Die Klärtemperaturen der Sternmesogene lassen sich folglich über die Art der Bindung der Gastmoleküle kontrollieren. Dies ist vor allem für die Orientierung kolumnarer Phasen in dünnen Filmen großer funktionaler Mesogene, die häufig erst bei sehr hohen Temperaturen unter Zersetzung in die isotrope Phase übergehen, interessant.
Enzym-Modifikationen finden in der Natur in Form von posttranslationalen Protein-Modifikationen statt und sind ein faszinierender Mechanismus, um die biologische Vielfalt und Funktion von Proteinen um ein Vielfaches zu erhöhen. Daher ist es für ein ganzheitliches Verständnis bestimmter biologischer Prozesse oder enzymatischer Struktur-Funktions-Beziehungen unerlässlich, chemische Methoden zu entwickeln, die in der Lage sind, diese natürliche Diversität nachzuahmen.[61] Die wohl größte Herausforderung der chemischen Protein-Konjugation ist die chemo- und regioselektive Modifikation einer gezielten Aminosäure bei gleichzeitig milden und physiologischen Reaktionsbedingungen. Trotz zahlreich beschriebener Ansätze zur selektiven Protein-Modifikation, bedarf es weiterhin neuer Methoden, da viele bestehende Herangehens¬weisen auf ein spezielles System zugeschnitten sind.[9, 63]
Aus diesem Grund sollte im Rahmen dieser Arbeit eine breit anwendbare Methode zur selektiven chemischen Tyrosin-Modifikation am Modell der Levansucrase aus Bacillus megaterium entwickelt werden. Durch eine zweistufige Protein-Modifikation, bestehend aus einer En-Reaktion im ersten Schritt und einer Click-Reaktion im zweiten Konjugationsschritt, gelang es die Produktspezifität der Bm Levansucrase rational zu beeinflussen. Zunächst wurde die Tyrosin-spezifische En-Reaktion mit der Luminol-Verbindung 1 an natürlich vorkommenden Tyrosin-Seitenketten der Levansucrase erprobt und analysiert. Hierbei zeigte sich durch massenspektrometrische Untersuchungen, dass hauptsächlich zwei der 25 vorhandenen Tyrosin-Reste mit dem Luminol-Tag 1 modifiziert wurden, zu denen die Seitenketten Y247 und Y196 gehörten. Um die Auswirkungen der Tyrosin-Modifikation leichter interpretieren zu können und eine gegenseitige Beeinflussung auszuschließen, wurde vorerst mit der Einzelmutante Y247F gearbeitet. Da nach der ersten Modifikation der Variante Y247F geringe Veränderungen im Produkt¬spektrum beobachtet wurden, insbesondere im hoch-molekularen Bereich, wurde die Click-Reaktion im zweiten Schritt mit der Intention durchgeführt, diesen Effekt zu verstärken. Schließlich bewirkte die Click-Reaktion mit Azidoglucose (AzGlc) bei Variante Y247F-1-AzGlc eine erhebliche Verschiebung der Produktverteilung von kleinen Fructooligosacchariden (ca. 1100 Da) hin zu hoch-molekularem Levan (ca. 2,1∙106 Da).
Drei weitere Positionen, die in der dritten Zone des Enzyms liegen, wurden für die gentechnische Substitution gegen nicht-native Tyrosin-Reste ausgewählt. Dadurch wurden die Varianten E314Y, D248Y sowie F445Y erhalten und anschließend wie zuvor in zwei Schritten chemisch modifiziert. Die Modifikation dieser Varianten führte hinsichtlich der Veränderung des Produktprofils zu ähnlichen Ergebnissen, wie sie mit dem Enzym Y247F erhalten wurden (Übersicht 1, A). Um den Einfluss verschiedener Seitenketten zu analysieren, wurden neben der Azidoglucose vier weitere Azido-Verbindungen in der Click-Reaktion getestet.
Die Resultate aus den genannten Untersuchungen und die Einbeziehung molekular¬-dynamischer Simulationen ließen erste Rückschlüsse auf die mechanistischen Prozesse der Bm Levansucrase und deren gezielte Manipulation zu: Die Größe der eingeführten Seitenkette sowie die Fähigkeit des Tags polare Wechselwirkungen auszubilden, spielen eine entscheidende Rolle zur rationalen Modulation der Produkt¬spezifität. Insbesondere die räumliche Orientierung und Bewegung der Seitenkette 1 AzGlc und die damit einhergehende sterische Hinderung trugen dazu bei, eine vorzeitige Dissoziation der wachsenden Fructane zu verhindern und ermöglichten dadurch die prozessive Polymersynthese.
Weitere Erkenntnisse über den Levan-Elongationsmechanismus wurden durch die Modifikation der Varianten N126Y und S125Y erhalten. Diese lagen im Gegensatz zu den zuvor untersuchten Tyrosin-Resten nicht im Wachstumsverlauf des Substrats und besaßen zudem eine kürzere Distanz zum aktiven Zentrum. In beiden Fällen führte bereits die erste Modifikation mit Luminol-Derivat 1 zu völlig unter¬schiedlichen Produktprofilen im Vergleich zu den zuvor untersuchten Enzym-Varianten. Während mit der Variante N126Y-1 eine signifikante Akkumulation (bis zu 800 % Zunahme) verschiedener Oligosaccharide erzielt wurde, synthetisierte die Variante S125Y-1 schon nach dem ersten Modifikationsschritt Levan-Polymer (Übersicht 1, B/C). Die zugrunde-liegenden Interaktionen und Trajektorien der eingeführten Seitenkette wurden ebenfalls mit Hilfe von MD Simulationen analysiert und bestätigten die zuvor getroffenen Annahmen. Durch die räumliche Nähe zur Substrat-Bindungstasche reichte bei Variante S125Y 1 bereits die Luminol-Verbindung aus, um die Substrat-Dissoziation zu verhindern und damit die Polymer¬synthese zu induzieren. Hingegen dazu ergaben die Simulationen eine sehr dynamische und fluktuierende Seitenkette für N126Y-1, was vermutlich zur Destabilisierung initialer Wechselwirkungen zwischen Substrat und der Protein¬oberfläche führte und dadurch die Freisetzung und Akkumulation kurzer Oligo-saccharide begünstigte.
Durch die bioorthogonale chemische Einführung einer artifiziellen Seitenkette war es schließlich möglich, das Produktspektrum der Bm Levansucrase sowohl in Richtung Polymersynthese als auch in Richtung kurzer Oligosaccharide zu lenken. Unter Verwendung der Tyrosin-spezifischen En-Reaktion wurden dafür gezielt native und nicht-native Tyrosin-Reste selektiv modifiziert und in einer Folge¬reaktion mittels Click-Chemie zusätzlich derivatisiert. Die Auswirkungen der Modifikations-Reaktionen auf den Elongationsmechanismus des Substrats konnten durch MD-Simulationen aufgeklärt werden. Das Ziel, die Produktspezifität der Levansucrase rational zu beeinflussen und in eine gezielte Richtung zu steuern, wurde damit erfolgreich umgesetzt.
Ein weiterer Fokus dieser Arbeit lag darin, eine effiziente und einfache Methode zur Reinigung eines Fructan-Gemisches zu entwickeln, um damit den Zugang zu Oligo-sacchariden definierter Größen zu vereinfachen. Die Verfügbarkeit bestimmter Oligosaccharide in ausreichender Menge und Reinheit würde die Untersuchung von Fructanen auf ihre präbiotischen Eigenschaften erleichtern und zum Verständnis der Korrelation zwischen dem Darmmikrobiom und verschiedenen Krankheits¬bildern beitragen.[125] Mit Hilfe der Levansucrase-Variante K373L wurde ein Fructan-Gemisch synthetisiert, das im Vergleich zum Produkt¬profil des Wildtyps einen höheren Anteil kurzkettiger Oligosaccharide aufwies. In einem dreistufigen Reinigungsprozess wurde das Produktgemisch im ersten Schritt von den Monosacchariden Glucose und Fructose sowohl fermentativ durch den Hefe¬stamm H. polymorpha als auch chromatographisch per Silicagel separiert. Anschließend erfolgte eine grobe Trennung der Oligosaccharide nach dem Größen¬ausschlussprinzip mit einer Bio-Gel®P2-Säule. Im letzten Schritt wurde die Oligosaccharidfraktion, die hauptsächlich Tri- und Tetrasaccharide enthielt, schließlich mittels Umkehrphasen-Säulenchromatographie (RP18-HPLC) in die gewünschten Produkte aufgetrennt. Auf diese Weise gelang es, die Oligosaccharide 1 Kestose (28 %), 6 Kestose (56 %) und 6 Nystose (20 %) in hoher Reinheit (> 95 %) und moderaten Ausbeuten zu isolieren (Übersicht 2).
Der letzte Teil dieser Arbeit sollte die verschiedenen Disziplinen der Biokatalyse, chemischen Protein-Modifikation und Click-Reaktion mit einer neuen Kompontente, der Photokatalyse, verbinden und in einem innovativen Konzept die Grundlage für die Kombination dieser Forschungsbereiche schaffen. In diesem Kontext wurde einerseits eine lineare photo-biokatalysierte Kaskaden-Reaktion entworfen und vorbereitet, während andererseits die Synthese eines clickbaren Photokatalysators durchgeführt wurde (Übersicht 3). Für den enzymatischen Teil der Kaskaden-Reaktion wurden die Halogenasen RebH und RadH mit den zugehörigen Regenerationssystemen Fre und GDH erfolgreich in E. coli exprimiert, gereinigt und deren Aktivität nachgewiesen. Darüber hinaus wurde ein aktiver Alkin-funktionalisierter Photokatalysator synthetisiert, dessen Aktivität auch nach der Click-Reaktion mit einer Aminosäure und einem Peptid erhalten blieb. Damit wurden die Grundlagen geschaffen, um z. B. photoaktive Bausteine in ein Enzym einzubringen und somit neue lichtabhängige Reaktionszentren oder sogenannte Designer-Enzyme zu erzeugen.
Fluorogenic Aptamers and Fluorescent Nucleoside Analogs as Probes for RNA Structure and Function
(2020)
RNA plays a key role in numerous cellular processes beyond the central dogma of molecular biology. Observing and understanding this wealth of functions, discovering new ones and engineering them into purpose-built tools requires a sensitive means of observation. Over the past decade, fluorogenic aptamers have emerged to fill this niche. These short oligonucleotides are generated by in vitro selection to specifically interact with small organic fluorophores and can be utilized as genetically encoded tags for RNAs of interest.
The most versatile class of fluorogenic aptamers is based on derivatives of hydroxybenzylidene imidazolone (HBI), a conditional fluorophore mimicking the chromophore structure found in green and red fluorescent proteins. The respective aptamers are well-known by the “vegetable” nomenclature, including Spinach, Broccoli and Corn, and have found numerous applications for studying RNA function in vitro and in cells.
Their success, however, is somewhat overshadowed by individual shortcomings such as a propensity for misfolding, dependence on unphysiologically high concentrations of magnesium ions or, in the case of Corn, dimerization that might affect the function of the tagged RNA. Moreover, most fluorogenic aptamers exhibit limited ligand promiscuity by design, thereby restricting their potential for spectral tuning to a narrow window of wavelengths.
This thesis details the characterization of a new fluorogenic aptamer system nicknamed Chili. Chili is derived from an aptamer that was originally selected to bind 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy¬hydroxy-benzylidene imidazolone (DMHBI), resulting in a green fluorescent complex. Unlike other aptamers of its kind, Chili engages in a proton transfer cycle with the bound ligand, resulting in a remarkably large Stokes shift of more than 130 nm.
By means of an empirical ligand optimization approach, several new DMHBI derivatives were found that bind to Chili with high affinity, furnishing complexes up to 7.5 times brighter compared to the parent ligand. In addition, Chili binds to π-extended DMHBI derivatives that confer fluorescence in the yellow–red region of the visible spectrum. The highest affinity and degree of fluorescence turn-on for both green and red fluorogenic ligands were achieved by the incorporation of a unique, positively charged substituent into the HBI scaffold.
Supplemented by NMR spectroscopy, kinetic and thermodynamic studies showed that the binding site of Chili is loosely preorganized in the absence of ligand and likely forms a G-quadruplex upon ligand binding.
To showcase future applications, Chili was incorporated into a FRET sensor for monitoring the cleavage of an RNA substrate by a 10-23 DNAzyme.
Besides aptamers as macromolecular fluorescent complexes, fluorescent nucleobase analogs are powerful small isomorphic components of RNA suitable for studying structure and folding. Here, the highly emissive nucleobase analog 4-cyanoindole (4CI) was developed into a ribonucleoside (r4CI) for this purpose. A new phosphoramidite building block was synthesized to enable site-specific incorporation of 4CI into RNA.
Thermal denaturation experiments confirmed that 4CI behaves as a universal nucleobase, i.e. without bias towards any particular hybridization partner. Photophysical characterization established r4CI as a generally useful fluorescent ribonucleoside analog. In this work, it was employed to gain further insight into the structure of the Chili aptamer. Using several 4CI-modified Chili–HBI complexes, a novel base–ligand FRET assay was established to obtain a set of combined distance and orientation restraints for the tertiary structure of the aptamer.
In addition to their utility for interrogating structure and binding, supramolecular FRET pairs comprising a fluorescent nucleobase analog donor and an innately fluorogenic acceptor hold great promise for the construction of color-switchable RNA aptamer sensor devices.
The aim of the thesis was to develop water soluble poly(2-oxazoline) (POx) copolymers with new side group functionalities, which can be used for the formation of hydrogels in biomedical applications and for the development of peptide-polymer conjugates.
First, random copolymers of the monomer MeOx or EtOx with ButEnOx and EtOx with DecEnOx were synthesized and characterized. The vinyl functionality brought into the copolymer by the monomers ButEnOx and DecEnOx would later serve for post-polymerization functionalization. The synthesized copolymers were further functionalized with thiols via post-polymerization functionalization using a newly developed synthesis protocol or with a protected catechol molecule for hydrogel formation. For the formation of peptide-polymer conjugates, a cyclic thioester, namely thiolactone acrylamide and an azlactone precursor, whose synthesis was newly developed, were attached to the side chain of P(EtOx-co-ButEnOx) copolymers.
The application of the functionalized thiol copolymers as hydrogels using thiol-ene chemistry for cross-linking was demonstrated. The swelling behavior and mechanical properties were characterized. The hydrophilicity of the network as well as the cross-linking density strongly influenced the swelling behavior and the mechanical strength of the hydrogels. All hydrogels showed good cell viability results.
The hydrogel networks based on MeOx and EtOx were loaded with two dyes, fluorescein and methylene blue. It was observed that the uptake of the more hydrophilic dye fluorescein depended more on the ability of the hydrogel to swell. In contrast, the uptake of the more hydrophobic dye methylene blue was less dependent on the swelling degree, but much more on the hydrophilicity of the network.
For the potential application as cartilage glue, (biohybrid) hydrogels were synthesized based on the catechol-functionalized copolymers, with and without additional fibrinogen, using sodium periodate as the oxidizing agent. The system allowed for degradation due to the incorporated ester linkages at the cross-linking points. The swelling behavior as well as the mechanical properties were characterized. As expected, hydrogels with higher degrees of cross-linking showed less swelling and higher elastic modulus. The addition of fibrinogen however increased the elasticity of the network, which can be favorable for the intended application as a cartilage glue. Biological evaluation clearly demonstrated the advantage of degradable ester links in the hydrogel network, where chondrocytes were able to bridge the artificial gap in contrast to hydrogels without any ester motifs.
Lastly, different ways to form peptide-polymer conjugates were presented. Peptides were attached with the thiol of the terminal cysteine group to the vinyl side chain of P(EtOx-co-ButEnOx) copolymers by radical thiol-ene chemistry. Another approach was to use a cyclic thioester, thiolactone, or an azlactone functionality to bind a model peptide via native chemical ligation. The two latter named strategies to bind peptides to POx side chains are especially interesting as one and in the case of thiolactone two free thiols are still present at the binding site after the reaction, which can, for example, be used for further thiol-ene cross-linking to form POx hydrogels.
In summary, side functional poly(oxazoline) copolymers show great potential for numerous biomedical applications. The various side chain functionalities can be introduced by an appropriate monomer or by post-polymerization functionalization, as demonstrated. By their multi-functionality, hydrogel characteristics, such as cross-linking degree and mechanical strength, can be fine-tuned and adjusted depending on the application in the human body. In addition, the presented chemoselective and orthogonal reaction strategies can be used in the future to synthesize polymer conjugates, which can, for example, be used in drug delivery or in tissue regeneration.
The initial goal was the conversion of Bifidobacterium adolescentis Sucrose Phosphorylase (BaSP) into a polyphenol glucosidase by structure based enzyme engineering. BaSP was chosen because of its ability to utilize sucrose, an economically viable and sustainable donor substrate, and transfer the glucosyl moiety to various acceptor substrates. The introduction of aromatic residues into the active site was considered a viable way to render it more suitable for aromatic acceptor compounds by reducing its polarity and potentially introducing π-π-interactions with the polyphenols. An investigation of the active site revealed Gln345 as a suitable mutagenesis target. As a proof of concept BaSP Q345F was employed in the glycosylation of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and resveratrol. The variant was selective for the aromatic acceptor substrates and the glucose disaccharide side reaction was only observed after almost quantitative conversion of the aromatic substrates. A crystal structure of BaSP Q345F in complex with glucose was obtained and it displayed an unexpected shift of an entire domain by 3.3 Å. A crystal structure of BaSP D192N-Q345F, an inactive variant in complex with resveratrol-3-α-D-glucosid, the glucosylation product of resveratrol, synthesized by BaSP Q345F was solved. It proved that the domain shift is in fact responsible for the ability of the variant to glycosylate aromatic compounds. Simultaneously a ligand free crystal structure of BaSP Q345F disproved an induced fit effect as the cause of the domain shift. The missing link, a crystal structure of BaSP Q345F in the F-conformation is obtained. This does not feature the domain shift, but is in outstanding agreement with the wildtype structure. The domain shift is therefore not static but rather a step in a dynamic process. It is further conceivable that the domain shifted conformation of BaSP Q345F resembles the open conformation of the wild type and that an adjustment of a conformational equilibrium as a result of the Q345F point mutation is observed. An investigation into the background reaction, the formation of glucose-glucose disaccharides of BaSP Q345F and three further variants that addressed the same region (L341C, D316C-L341C and D316C-N340C) revealed the formation of nigerose by BaSP Q345F.
In this work the catalytic activity of nanodiamond particles with different dopants and surface terminations and of diamond nanomaterials funtionalized with ruthenium-based photocatalysts was investigated, illustrating materials application in photoredox chemistry and the photo(electro)catalytic reduction of CO2. Regarding the application of diamond nanomaterials in photocatalysis, methods to fabricate and characterize several (un)doped nanoparticles with different surface termination were successfully developed. Various photocatalysts, attached to nanodiamond particles via linker systems, were tested in photoredox catalysis and the photo(electro)catalytic reduction of CO2.
Die photolytische Stickstoffabspaltung aus Azoalkanen vom DBH-Typ verläuft stereoselektiv unter bevorzugter Bildung des invertierten Hausans. Bei cyclopentenannelierten DBH-Derivaten kann die Selektivität in Abhängigkeit von den Brückenkopfsubstituenten auch umgekehrt sein. Bei der Photolyse von Azoalkan DBH-d2 zeigt sich, dass das Verhältnis von Inversions- zu von der Viskosität des Lösungsmittels abhängig ist. Die Viskosität wird sowohl durch Verwendung einer Serie von Alkoholen verschiedener Viskosität als auch durch Variation der Temperatur in n-Butanol geändert. Der Wert für die Photolyse in Acetonitril fügt sich in die Reihe der alkoholischen Solventien ein, womit eine Beteiligung von Wasserstoffbrücken ausgeschlossen ist. Der Viskositätseffekt ist mit einem schrittweisen Mechanismus der Stickstoffabspaltung vereinbar, der über ein unsymmetrisches Singulettdiazenyldiradikal verläuft. Die Abweichung der Viskositätprofile des kinv/kret-Verhältnisses für die Viskositätsänderung durch Lösungsmittel- und Temperaturvariation lässt einen kleinen aber messbaren Unterschied in der Aktivierungsenergie für den Inversions- und Retentionsprozess ableiten. Das kinv/kret-Verhältnis bei der Photolyse von DBH-d2 wird auch in Abhängigkeit vom Druck in superkritischem Ethan und Kohlendioxid untersucht, wofür zunächst eine spezielle Apparatur aufgebaut werden musste. Die Analyse der beobachteten Druckabhängigkeit im Hinblick auf Stoß- (Selbstdiffusionskoeffi-zient) und Reibungseffekte (Viskosität) lässt schließen, dass eine Behinderung des Inversionsprozesses durch Reibung mit Mediummolekülen die experimentellen Beobachtungen am besten erklärt. Dies entspricht den Beobachtungen in flüssiger Phase und bestätigt den Mechanismus. In einer vergleichenden Untersuchung der Photolyse (bei + 25 °C) von Azaolkan Ib und der thermischen (bei +25 °C) syn-zu-anti-Isomerisierung des entsprechenden Hausans IIb wird festgestellt, dass die kinv/kret-Verhältnisse bei der Photolyse des Azoalkans in einer Serie von Alkoholen und die Geschwindigkeitskonstanten kiso der Isomerisierung in der gleichen Reihe von Lösungsmitteln einer sehr ähnlichen Viskositätsabhängigkeit gehorchen. Daraus wird geschlossen, dass die Bewegung bei der Gerüstinversion in beiden Fällen durch Reibung mit Lösungsmittelmolekülen gehemmt und damit die Stereoselektivität bestimmt wird. Die Photolyse von DBH-d2 in Isooctan/Nujol-Gemischen zeigt die gleiche Viskositätsabhängigkeit des kinv/kret-Verhältnisses wie die in alkoholischen Medien. Aus dem Unterschied der absoluten kinv/kret-Werte der beiden Serien und durch die Verwendung weite-rer aprotischer Lösungsmittel wird eine Beeinflussung der Selektivität durch die "bulk" Polarität des Mediums festgestellt. Fazit: Durch die Untersuchung des Einflusses der Viskosität und Polarität des Lösungsmittels auf die Stereoselektivität bei der Photolyse von bicyclischen Azoalkanen und die thermi-sche Isomerisierung der entsprechenden Hausane wird das Auftreten eines Diazenyldiradi-kals als Schlüsselintermediat bestätigt und dynamische Effekte werden ausgeschlossen. Bei der Photolyse der cyclopentenannelierten Azoalkane Ic,d mit n-Propyl- und Acetoxy-methylsubstituenten an den Brückenkopfpositionen (Schema IV) entstehen unter Singulettbedingungen (direkte Photolyse bei höherer Temperatur) unter Retention hauptsächlich die anti-IIc,d Hausane. Unter Triplettbedingungen (direkte Photolyse bei tiefer Temperatur oder sensibilisierte Photolyse) wird das Inversionsprodukt syn-IIc,d bevorzugt. Die favorisierte Inversion beim Triplettweg wird mit der unsymmetrischen Natur der Brückenkopfsubstituenten nPropyl und Acetoxymethyl bei der Rotation um die Brückenkopfposition des planaren Cyclopentan-1,3-diyltriplettdiradikal erklärt. Die rotationsunsymmetrischen Brückenkopfsubstituenten stehen in ihrer Konformation niedrigster Energie (AM1-Rechnungen) auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite des Diylrings als der annelierte Cyclopentenring. Nach ISC führt der Ringschluss aufgrund sterischer Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Brückenkopfsubstituenten und der gem-dimethylsubstituierten Methylenbrücke bevorzugt zum syn-Hausan. Beim Vergleich des Verhältnisses von Inversion zu Retention bei der Photolyse des ungesät-tigten und gesättigten Azoalkans Ie und If (Schema IV) zeigt sich, dass bei beiden Derivaten unter Singulettbedingungen das syn-Hausan in etwa gleichem Ausmaß entsteht. Unter Triplettbedingungen führt die Photolyse zum Retentionsprodukt anti-IIe,f als Hauptdiastereomer, aber mit einem beträchtlichen Unterschied im syn/anti-Hausan-Verhältnis für Ie (38 : 62) und If (6 : 94). Dieser signifikante Unterschied der anti-Stereoselektivität im Triplettweg wird mechanistisch durch weitreichende sterische Wechselwirkungen zwischen dem annelierten Ring und der gem-dimethylsubstituierten Methylenbrücke während des Ringschlusses nach ISC des planaren Cyclopentan-1,3-diyltriplettdiradikals gedeutet. Im Gegensatz dazu ist die Denitrogenierung des intermediären Diazenyldiradikals Ie,f-1DZ (analog zu Ia-1DZ) im SH2-Prozess (Inversion) des Singulettwegs relativ unempfindlich gegenüber solchen sterischen Effekten zwischen den entfernten Substituenten. Fazit: Bei der Photolyse von fünfringannelierten Azoalkanen wirken sich kleinere strukturelle Variationen (rotationsunsymmetrische Brückenkopfsubstituenten oder die Hydrierung der Doppelbindung im annelierten Ring) vor allem im Triplettweg über sterische Wechselwirkungen im planaren Cyclopentan-1,3-diyltriplettdiradikal auf das Verhältnis der entstehenden syn/anti-Hausane aus. Der SH2-Prozess im Singulettweg ist relativ unempfindlich gegenüber solchen sterischen Effekten.
The aim of this work was the selective functionalisation of tribenzotriquinacene (TBTQ) in order to extend the aromatic system and tune the electronic properties. The synthesised molecules could be starting materials for a model system of a defective graphene fragment. The “triple cyclisation pathway” by Hopf et al. was adapted and fluorinated tribenzotriquinacenes were synthesised for the first time.
Phenanthrene groups were also introduced in other model systems and the crystal structures of phenanthrene functionalised TBTQs were compared with the parent molecules.
In addition, the arrangement of TBTQ and centro methyl functionalised TBTQ was investigated on a Ag(111) surface for the first time using scanning transmission microscopy (STM). Different arrangements were observed, depending on the coverage of the surface.
The insights gained about the interaction between TBTQs as well as their synthesis provide a foundation for further work and potential applications as components in organic electronic devices.
Supramolecular Block Copolymers by Seeded Living Supramolecular Polymerization of Perylene Bisimides
(2019)
The research on supramolecular polymerization has undergone a rapid development in the last two decades, particularly since supramolecular polymers exhibit a broad variety of functionalities and applications in organic electronics, biological science or as functional materials (Chapter 2.1). Although former studies have focused on investigation of the thermodynamics of supramolecular polymerization (Chapter 2.2), the academic interest in the recent years shifted towards gaining insight into kinetically controlled self-assembly and pathway complexity to generate novel out-of-equilibrium architectures with interesting nanostructures and features (Chapter 2.3). Along this path, the concepts of seeded and living supramolecular polymerization were recently developed to enable the formation of supramolecular polymers with controlled length and low polydispersity under precise kinetic control (Chapter 2.4). Besides that, novel strategies were developed to achieve supramolecular copolymerization resulting in complex multicomponent nanostructures with different structural motives. The classification of these supramolecular copolymers on the basis of literature examples and an overview of previously reported principles to create such supramolecular architectures are provided in Chapter 2.5.
The aim of the thesis was the non-covalent synthesis of highly desirable supramolecular block copolymers by the approach of living seeded supramolecular polymerization and to study the impact of the molecular shape of the monomeric building blocks on the supramolecular copolymerization. Based on the structure of the previously investigated PBI organogelator H-PBI a series of novel PBIs, bearing identical hydrogen-bonding amide side-groups in imide-position and various kind or number of substituents in bay-position, was synthesized and analyzed within this thesis. The new PBIs were successfully obtained in three steps starting from the respective bromo-substituted perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid tetrabutylesters or from the N,N’-dicyclohexyl-1,7-dibromoperylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisimide. All target compounds were obtained in the final step by imidization reactions of the respective perylene tetracarboxylic acid bisanhydride precursors with N-(2-aminoethyl)-3,4,5-tris(dodecyloxy)-benzamide and were fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as high resolution mass spectrometry.
The variation of bay-substituents strongly changes the optical properties of the monomeric PBIs which were investigated by UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The increase of the number of the methoxy-substituents provokes, for example, a red-shift of the absorption maxima concomitant with a decrease of extinction coefficients and leads to a drastic increase of the fluorescence quantum yields. Furthermore, the molecular geometry of the PBIs is also affected by variations of the bay-substituents. Thus, increasing the steric demand of the bay-substituents leads to an enlargement of the twist angles of the PBI cores as revealed by DFT calculations.
Especially the 1,7-dimethoxy bay-substituted MeO-PBI proved to be very well-suited for the studies envisioned within this thesis. The self-assembly of this PBI derivative was analyzed in detail by UV/vis, fluorescence and FT-IR spectroscopy as well as atomic force microscopy (Chapter 3). These studies revealed that MeO-PBI forms in a solvent mixture of methylcyclohexane and toluene (2:1, v/v) kinetically trapped off-pathway H-aggregated nanoparticles upon fast cooling of a monomeric solution from 90 to 20 °C. However, upon slow cooling of the monomer solution fluorescent J-type nanofibers are formed by π π interactions and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding.
The kinetically metastable off-pathway H-aggregates can be transformed into the thermodynamically more favored J-type aggregates by addition of seeds, which are produced by ultrasonication of the polymeric nanofibers. Interestingly, the living character of this seed-induced supramolecular polymerization process was proven by a newly designed multicycle polymerization experimental protocol. This living polymerization experiment clearly proves, that the polymerization can only occur at the “active” ends of the polymeric seed and that almost no recombination or chain termination processes are present. Hence, the approach of living supramolecular polymerization enables the formation of supramolecular polymers with controlled length and narrow polydispersity.
In Chapter 4 the copolymerization of MeO-PBI with the structurally similar 1,7-dichloro (Cl-PBI) and 1,7-dimethylthio (MeS-PBI) bay-substituted PBIs is studied in detail. Both PBIs form analogous to MeO-PBI kinetically trapped off-pathway aggregates, which can be converted into the thermodynamically stable supramolecular polymers by seed-induced living supramolecular polymerization under precise kinetic control. However, the stability of the kinetically trapped aggregates of Cl-PBI and MeS-PBI is distinctly reduced compared to that of MeO-PBI, because the π-π-interactions of the kinetically metastable aggregates are hampered through the increased twisting of the PBI-cores of the former PBIs. UV/vis studies revealed that the two-component seeded copolymerization of the kinetically trapped state of MeO-PBI with seeds of Cl-PBI leads to the formation of unprecedented supramolecular block copolymers with A-B-A pattern by a living supramolecular polymerization process at the termini of the seeds. Remarkably, the resulting A-B-A block pattern of the obtained copolymers was clearly confirmed by atomic force microscopy studies as the respective blocks formed by the individual monomeric units could be distinguished by the pitches of the helical nanofibers.
Moreover, detailed UV/vis and AFM studies have shown that by inverted two-component seed-induced polymerization, e.g., upon addition of seeds of MeO-PBI to the kinetically trapped aggregates of Cl-PBI, triblock supramolecular copolymers with B-A-B pattern can be generated. The switching of the block pattern could only be achieved because of the perfectly matching conditions for the copolymerization process and the tailored molecular geometry of the individual building blocks of both PBIs. These studies have demonstrated for the first time, that the block pattern of a supramolecular copolymer can be modulated by the experimental protocol through the approach of living supramolecular polymerization. Furthermore, by UV/vis analysis of the living copolymerization of MeO-PBI and MeS-PBI similar results were obtained showing also the formation of both A-B-A and B-A-B type supramolecular block copolymers. Although for these two PBIs the individual blocks could not be identified by AFM because the helical nanofibers of both PBIs exhibit identical helical pitches, these studies revealed for the first time that the approach of seeded living polymerization is not limited to a special pair of monomeric building blocks.
In the last part of the thesis (Chapter 5) a systematic study on the two-component living copolymerization of PBIs with various sterical demanding bay-substituents is provided. Thus, a series of PBIs containing identical hydrogen-bonding amide groups in imide position but variable number (1-MeO-PBI, MeO-PBI, 1,6,7-MeO-PBI, 1,6,7,12-MeO-PBI) or size (EtO-PBI, iPrO-PBI) of alkoxy bay-substituents was investigated. The molecular geometry of the monomeric building blocks has a strong impact on the thermodynamically and even more pronounced on the kinetically controlled aggregation in solvent mixtures of MCH and Tol. While the mono- and dialkoxy-substituted PBIs form kinetically metastable species, the self-assembly of the tri- and tetramethoxy-substituted PBIs (1,6,7-MeO-PBI and 1,6,7,12-MeO-PBI) is completely thermodynamically controlled. The two 1,7-alkoxy substituted PBIs (EtO-PBI, iPrO-PBI) form very similar to MeO-PBI kinetically off-pathway H-aggregates and thermodynamically more favored J-type aggregates. However, the stability of the kinetically metastable state is drastically lower and the conversion into the thermodynamically favored state much faster than for MeO-PBI. In contrast, the monomethoxy-substituted PBI derivative (1-MeO-PBI) forms a kinetically trapped species by intramolecular hydrogen-bonding of the monomers, which can be transformed into the thermodynamically favored nanofibers by seeded polymerization.
Importantly, the two-component seeded copolymerization of the kinetically trapped MeO PBI with seeds of other PBIs of the present series was studied by UV/vis and AFM revealing that the formation of supramolecular block copolymers is only possible for appropriate combinations of PBI building blocks. Thus, the seeded polymerization of the trapped state of the moderately core-twisted MeO-PBI with the, according to DFT-calculations, structurally similar PBIs (EtO-PBI and iPrO-PBI) leads to the formation of A-B-A block copolymers, like in the seeded copolymerization of MeO-PBItrapped with seeds of Cl-PBI and MeS-PBI already described in Chapter 4. However, by addition of seeds of the almost planar PBIs (H-PBI and 1-MeO-PBI) or seeds of the strongly core-twisted PBIs (1,6,7-MeO-PBI and 1,6,7,12-MeO-PBI) to the kinetically trapped state of MeO-PBI no block copolymers can be obtained. The mismatching geometry of these molecular building blocks strongly hampers both the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding and the π-π-interactions between the two different PBIs and consequently prevents the copolymerization process.
Furthermore, the studies of the two-component seeded copolymerization of the kinetically trapped species of 1-MeO-PBI with seeds of the other PBIs also corroborated that a precise shape complementarity is crucial to generate supramolecular block copolymers. Thus, by addition of seeds of H-PBI to the kinetically trapped monomers of 1-MeO-PBI supramolecular block copolymers were generated. Both PBIs exhibit an almost planar PBI core according to DFT-calculations leading to strong non-covalent interactions between these PBIs. This perfectly matching geometry of both PBIs also enables the inverted seeded copolymerization of the kinetically trapped monomers of H-PBI with 1-MeO-PBIseed concomitant with a switching of the block pattern of the supramolecular copolymer from A-B-A to B-A-B type. In contrast, the seeding with the moderately twisted (MeO-PBI, EtO-PBI and iPrO-PBI) and the strongly twisted PBIs (1,6,7-MeO-PBI and 1,6,7,12 MeO-PBI) has no effect on the kinetically trapped state of 1-MeO-PBI, because the copolymerization of these PBIs is prevented by the mismatching geometry of the molecular building blocks.
In conclusion, the supramolecular polymerization and two-component seeded copolymerization of a series of PBI monomers was investigated within this thesis. The studies revealed that the thermodynamically and kinetically controlled self-assembly can be strongly modified by subtle changes of the monomeric building blocks. Moreover, the results have shown that living supramolecular polymerization is an exceedingly powerful method to generate unprecedented supramolecular polymeric nanostructures with controlled block pattern and length distribution. The formation of supramolecular block copolymers can only be achieved under precise kinetic control of the polymerization process and is strongly governed by the shape complementarity already imparted in the individual components. Thus, these insightful studies might enable a more rational design of monomeric building blocks for the non-covalent synthesis of highly complex supramolecular architectures with interesting properties for possible future applications, e.g., as novel functional materials.
Nowadays, the management of infectious diseases is especially threatened by the rapid emergence of drug resistance. It has been suggested that the medicine quality assurance combined with good medication adherence may help to reduce this impendence. Moreover, the search for new antimicrobial agents from medicinal plants is strongly encouraged for the exploration of alternatives to existing therapies. In this context, the present work focused on both the quality evaluation of commercialized antimalarial medicines from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and on the phytochemical investigations of a Congolese Ancistrocladus species.
Supramolecular self-assembly of perylene bisimide (PBI) dyes via non-covalent forces gives rise to a high number of different PBI architectures with unique optical and functional properties. As these properties can be drastically influenced by only slightly structural changes of the formed supramolecular ensembles (Chapter 2.1) the controlled self-assembly of PBI dyes became a central point of current research to design innovative materials with a high potential for different applications as for example in the fields of organic electronics or photovoltaics.
As PBI dyes show a strong tendency to form infinite aggregated structures (Chapter 2.2) the aim of this thesis was to precisely control their self-assembly to create small, structurally well-defined PBI assemblies in solution. Chapter 2.3 provides an overview on literature known strategies that were established to realize this aim. It could be demonstrated that especially backbone-directed intra- and intermolecular self-assembly of covalently linked Bis-PBI dyes evolved as one of the most used strategies to define the number of stacked PBI chromophores by using careful designed spacer units with regard to their length and flexibility.
By using conventional spectroscopic methods like UV/Vis and fluorescence experiments in combination with NMR measurements an in-depth comparison of the molecular and optical properties in solution both in the non-stacked and aggregated state of the target compounds could be elucidated to reveal structure-property relationships of different PBI architectures. Thus, it could be demonstrated, that spacer units that pre-organize two PBI chromophores with an inter-planar distance of r < 7 Å lead to an intramolecular folding, whereas linker moieties with a length between 7 to 11 Å result in an intermolecular self-assembly of the respective Bis-PBIs dyes via dimerization to form well-defined quadruple PBI pi-stacks. Hence, if the used spacer units ensure an inter-planar distance r > 14 Å larger oligomeric PBI pi-stacks are generated.
In Chapter 4 a detailed analysis of the exciton coupling in a highly defined H-aggregate quadruple PBI pi-stack is presented. Therefore, bay-tethered PBI dye Bis-PBI 1 was investigated by concentration-dependent UV/Vis spectroscopy in THF and toluene as well as by 2D-DOSY-NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry and AFM measurements confirming that Bis-PBI 1 self-assembles exclusively into dimers with four closely pi-stacked PBI chromophores. Furthermore, with the aid of broadband fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy (FLUPS) ensuring broadband detection range and ultrafast time resolution at once, ultrafast Frenkel exciton relaxation and excimer formation dynamics in the PBI quadruple pi-stack within 1 ps was successfully investigated in cooperation with the group of Dongho Kim. Thus, it was possible to gain for the first time insights into the exciton dynamics within a highly defined synthetic dye aggregate beyond dimers. By analysing the vibronic line shape in the early-time transient fluorescence spectra in detail, it could be demonstrated that the Frenkel exciton is entirely delocalized along the quadruple stack after photoexcitation and immediately loses its coherence followed by the formation of the excimer state.
In Chapter 5 four well-defined Bis-PBI folda-dimers Bis-PBIs 2-4 were introduced, where linker units of different length (r < 7 Å) and steric demand were used to gain distinct PBI dye assemblies in the folded state. Structural elucidation based on in-depth UV/Vis, CD and fluorescence experiments in combination with 1D and 2D NMR studies reveals a stacking of the two PBI chromophores upon folding, where geometry-optimized structures obtained from DFT calculations suggest only slightly different arrangements of the PBI units enforced by the distinct spacer moieties. With the resulting optical signatures of Bis-PBIs 2-4 ranging from conventional Hj-type to monomer like absorption features, the first experimental proof of a PBI-based “null-aggregate” could be presented, in which long- and short-range exciton coupling fully compensate each other. Hence, the insights of this chapter pinpoint the importance of charge-transfer mediated short-range exciton coupling that can significantly influence the properties of pi-stacked PBI chromophores
In the last part of this thesis (Chapter 6), spacer-controlled self-assembly of four bay-linked Bis-PBI dyes Bis-PBIs 5-8 into well-defined supramolecular architectures was investigated, where the final aggregate structures are substantially defined by the nature of the used spacer units. By systematically extending the backbone length from 7 to 15 Å defining the inter-planar distance between the tethered chromophores, different assemblies from defined quadruple PBI pi-stacks to larger oligomeric pi-stacks could be gained upon aggregation.
In conclusion, the synthesis of nine covalently linked PBI dyes in combination with a detailed investigation of their spacer-mediated self-assembly behaviour in solution concerning structure-properties-relationships was presented within this thesis. The results confirm a strong exciton coupling in different types of Bis-PBI architectures e.g. folda-dimers or highly defined quadruple pi-stacks, which significantly influences their optical properties upon self-assembly.
The indepth metabolic profiling of the crude extracts of two African Ancistrocladus species viz. A. likoko from Central Africa and A. abbreviatus from West Africa, resulted in a total of 87 alkaloids among them 54 new ones. All of the compounds were intensely elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, as well as chemical and chiroptical techniques.
Among the newly discovered compounds are quinoid naphthylisoquinolines with an ortho-diketone in the naphthalene portion, nor-naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid lacking the always present methyl group at C-1, seco-(ring cleaved) naphthylisoquinolines, and a newly discovered class of natural products called the naphthylisoindolinones.
Some of the compounds displayed strong antitumoral activities against human pancreatic cancer cells and leukemia cells in-vitro.
In Deutschland starben im Jahr 2016 knapp 6 000 Menschen an den Folgen des Multiplen Myeloms. Die Zahl der Todesopfer dieser Krebsart ist in den letzten 16 Jahren um ca. 20% gestiegen. Da das Multiple Myelom mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 73 Jahren bei Erstdiagnose zu den Erkrankungen des höheren Lebensalters zählt, ist der Anstieg der Inzidenz und Todesfälle am ehesten auf eine höhere Lebenserwartung der Menschen durch umfassende medizinische Versorgung zurückzuführen. Auch die Behandlungsmöglichkeiten des Multiplen Myeloms wurden in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten kontinuierlich verbessert und bieten in Form von medikamentösen Therapien für alle Erkrankten und Knochenmarktransplantationen speziell für Patienten unter 70 Jahren die Chance auf eine Verlängerung der beschwerdefreien Krankheitsphase. Nach wie vor verläuft das Multiple Myelom jedoch tödlich, sodass die Erforschung und Entwicklung neuer potenter Wirkstoffe zur Verbesserung der Prognose oder zur vollständigen Heilung essentiell ist.
Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war daher die Biotinylierung von Dioncochinon B, einem natürlich vorkommenden Naphthochinon, erstmals isoliert aus Kallus-Kulturen von T. peltatum, das eine gute Aktivität (IC50 = 11 µM) gegen Zellen des Multiplen Myeloms aufweist. Der Affinitätsmarker Biotin sollte dabei über einen kurzen Linker an die 7- oder 8-Position des Naturstoffs angebracht werden. Nach der Etablierung einer geeigneten Syntheseroute sollten nanoLC-MS/MS-Analysen Aufschluss über mögliche Wirkstoff-Target-Interaktionen liefern.
Des Weiteren wurde in dieser Arbeit die Synthese von 7,8'-gekuppelten Naphthylisochinolin-Alkaloiden im Allgemeinen und von Yaoundamin A und dessen M-Atropisomer im Speziellen untersucht.
Die Naturstoffklasse der Naphthylisochinolin-Alkaloide ist neben ihrer strukturellen Vielfalt vor allem wegen ihrer Aktivitäten gegen eine Vielzahl an Erregern von Infektionskrankheiten, wie z. B. der Malaria, der Afrikanischen Schlafkrankheit oder der Leishmaniose interessant. Strukturell sind Naphthylisochinolin-Alkaloide unter anderem durch eine meist rotationsgehinderte Biaryl-Achse gekennzeichnet. Der synthetische Aufbau dieser Verbindungsachse zwischen Naphthalin- und Isochinolin-Baustein war in der Literatur bereits ausführlich behandelt worden. Da die Darstellung eines 7,8'-verknüpften Naphthyldihydroisochinolin-Alkaloids allerdings noch nie beschrieben worden war, war das Ziel dieser Arbeit die erste Totalsynthese eines Naturstoffs dieses Typs.
Tropische Infektionskrankheiten sind noch immer die Haupttodesurache in vielen Ländern der Dritten Welt. Unter ihnen ist Malaria neben der Immunschwächekrankheit AIDS und Tuberkulose am weitesten verbreitet. Laut WHO erkrankten allein im Jahr 2016 rund 216 Millionen Menschen an Malaria und weltweit verstarben 445.000 Menschen an den Folgen dieser Infektion. Solange die Wirksamkeit des Impfstoffs RTS,S/AS01 gegen Malaria noch Schwachstellen aufweist und andere Impfstoff-Kanditaten sich noch in präklinischen Testphasen befinden, ist vor allem die Entwicklung neuer Wirkstoffe, auch im Hinblick auf die rasante Ausbreitung von Resistenzen gegen herkömmliche Medikamente, weiterhin eine dringende Aufgabe.
Eine vielversprechende Wirkstoffklasse mit interessanten strukturellen Eigenschaften und einer ungewöhnlichen Biosynthese aus Acetat-Einheiten sind die Naphthylisochinolin-Alkaloide aus den beiden paläotropischen Pflanzenfamilien der Dioncophyllaceae und Ancistrocladaceae. Die Naphthylisochinolin-Alkaloide sind hervozuheben aufgrund ihrer exzellenten Aktivität gegen Plasmodium falciparum, den Erreger der Malaria tropica, sowie wegen ihrer Wirksamkeit gegen Erreger weiterer Krankheiten wie beispielsweise AIDS, Leishmaniose und Afrikanische Trypanosomiasis. Auch im Kampf gegen maligne Erkrankungen wie Leukämie und pankreatischen Krebs werden sie aufgrund ihrer cytotoxischen Eigenschaften als vielversprechende Leitstrukturen betrachtet.
Die strukturell beeindruckendsten Naphthylisochinolin-Alkaloide sind die dimeren Mbandakamine, die von unserer Arbeitsgruppe vor einiger Zeit aus einer kongolesischen Ancistrocladus-Liane isoliert wurden. Sie besitzen sieben stereogene Elemente und sind die ersten natürlich vorkommenden Dimere mit einer höchst unsymmetrischen 6',1''-gekuppelten zentralen Biarylachse. Diese impliziert eine außergewöhnlich hohe sterische Hinderung an der zentralen Achse, wie sie noch in keinem anderen dimeren Naphthylisochinolin-Alkaloid gefunden wurde. Verbunden mit ihren bemerkenswerten und vielseitigen pharmakologischen Wirkeigenschaften sind sie ausgesprochen interessante Moleküle für eine synthetische Erschließung.
Ziel dieser Arbeit war die erstmalige Totalsynthese von Mbandakamin A und B sowie die Synthese ihrer monomeren Hälften 5-epi-Korupensamin E und 8-O-Methylkorupensamin A. Zudem sollten weitere Naphthylisochinolin-Dimere, die bei der Synthese der Mbandakamine anfallen, isoliert und charakterisiert werden. Alle neuen mono- und dimeren Naphthylisochinoline sollten abschließend am Schweizerischen Tropen- und Public-Health-Institut auf ihre biologische Aktivität getestet werden.
Zusätzlich gelang im Rahmen eines Kooperationsprojekts erstmals die stereochemische Charakterisierung des strukturell ganz neuartigen, inhärent chiralen Wolframbiscorrols durch online HPLC-ECD-Analyse in Kombination mit quantenchemischen Rechnungen.
Thus, the main focus of this thesis was to generate and investigate new one-dimensional LC PBI J-aggregates of an entirely new PBI organization with the transition dipole moments of the chromophores arranged parallel to the columnar axis and in slipped pi-pi stacking fashion to form highly fluorescent J-aggregates. Towards this goal, the tetra-bay substituted PBI 4c bearing free NH functional groups at the imide positions and four dendrons with branched ethylhexyl alkoxy chains at the meta-position of the phenoxy spacer (Figure 8.1a) was synthesized and compared to a literature known reference PBI 1. The mesogenic dendrons ensure LC character of the dye, which was confirmed by POM, DSC and extensive X-ray analysis. Furthermore, the sterically demanding bay-substituents prevent the cofacial assembly of the chromophores and force the dyes into a slipped pi-stacked order with the main transition dipole moments of the dyes oriented parallel to the columnar axis. X-ray analysis revealed that PBI 4c assembles into columnar triple-stranded helices consisting of side-to-side stacked molecules, which organize into a Colh phase (Figure 8.1b). FT-IR experiments of a thin film and aggregates in MCH solution confirmed the formation of H-bonds between the imide moieties. Temperature-dependent investigations furthermore proved a reversible formation of H-bonds and polarized FT-IR experiments finally gave evidence for the direction of the H-bonds along the shearing respective the columnar axis (Figure 8.1c). This was additionally verified by polarized UV-Vis absorption studies of aligned thin films. The changes in the UV-Vis absorption spectra of concentration- and temperature-dependent experiments in MCH are in agreement with the formation of J-aggregates and could be fitted to a nucleation-elongation growth mechanism. Remarkably, fluorescence spectroscopy studies revealed highly emissive aggregates in solution. These various spectroscopic techniques proved the utilization of directional noncovalent forces like hydrogen-bonding and pi-pi interactions in a cooperative manner forcing the PBI molecules in an unprecedented organization of a slipped pi-stacked arrangement with the orientation of the molecular axis and the respective transition dipole moments parallel to the columns of the LC phase. By the group of Dietrich the formation of exciton-polaritons in imprinted LC pillar microcavities as consequent use of the LC 4c was reported for the first time.In the second part of this thesis the hierarchical organization of LC PBIs into defined single-, double-, triple- and quadruple-stranded J-aggregates within crystalline and columnar LC phases, partially arranged in helical supramolecular structures in dependence of the molecular design was demonstrated. This was achieved via the preparation of a library of twelve molecules PBI 3-6(a-c) (Figure 8.2a) that was synthesized by varying the substitution position of the dendrons at the phenoxy-spacer from ortho to meta or para and by introducing an additional methyl group in ortho-position. Also the length and shape of the alkoxy chains was changed. Consequently, the impact of the sterical demand of the bay substituents concerning their phase properties, molecular arrangement and exciton coupling was investigated. POM, DSC and X-ray studies revealed the formation of only crystalline phase for the ortho-substituted PBIs 3a-c, whereas the other derivatives generated SC or LC phases. The main focus was the series with the n-C12-alkoxy chains. For the corresponding PBIs 4-6b columnar LC phases were confirmed. Retrostructural analysis by modelling and simulations gave indications for a single stranded organization for PBI 3b, a double-stranded helix for PBI 6b, a triple-stranded helical arrangement for PBI 5b and a quadruple-stranded helix for PBI 4b (Figure 8.2b-d). For all four derivatives the same molecular orientation within the columns as for PBI 4c was proven by polarized FT-IR and UV-Vis absorption studies in aligned thin films. The organization in helices of different number of strands in the Cr and LC phases of PBI 3b, 4b, 5b and 6b offered a unique possibility to elucidate the influence of particular packing arrangements on dye aggregate interactions with light. In particular, it can be investigated how exciton coupling of the dyes’ transition dipole moments and fluorescence properties are affected. In this context, the spectroscopic properties were investigated in thin film, which revealed a strong bathochromic shift of the absorption maxima compared to the monomers in solution in dependence on the number of strands for PBIs 4-6b in contrast to PBI 3b (Figure 8.2e). The same tendency was observed for the respective aggregates in MCH solution. The spectral changes obtained during concentration- and temperature-dependent UV-Vis absorption studies verified the formation of J-aggregates in MCH solution and solid state. The respective aggregates are highly likely formed via a nucleation-elongation growth mechanism. Appliance of Kasha’s exciton theory on the supramolecular aggregates revealed different contributions of H- and J-type coupling for the oligo-stranded helices. Under these considerations, it delivered an explanation for the absorption and fluorescence properties of the assemblies and declares the “best” J-aggregate for the double stranded arrangement of PBI 6b with purely negative couplings among neighbour molecules and a quantum yield above 74 % of the aggregates in MCH solution. With this H-bonded PBI-based library approach of twelve derivatives it could be shown how molecular engineering of perylene bisimide dyes can be used to design defined, complex supramolecular assemblies with unprecedented packing patterns and concomitant intriguing spectroscopic properties.
So far, the formation of defined liquid crystalline supramolecular structures of tetra-bay substituted PBIs by double H-bonding between free imide moieties and pi-pi interactions between the chromophores was demonstrated. The impact of the H-bonds on the molecular arrangement was investigated in the next part of this thesis. In this regard, PBIs 7 and 8 bearing a methyl or cyclohexyl group at the imide position (Figure 8.3a) were synthesized and compared to PBI 4c. The soft character of the solid state for PBIs 7 and 8 was confirmed by POM, DSC and X-ray analysis. The X-ray studies further revealed for both PBIs a change of the molecular assembly towards helical columnar structures of conventional pi-stacked chromophores (Figure 8.3b) when the directed H-bonds cannot contribute as noncovalent interactions to the assembly formation. Temperature-dependent UV-Vis absorption studies demonstrated the importance of H-bonding in MCH solution in the way that the formation of J-aggregates as for PBI 4c could not be observed for the imide substituted molecules. In the next step, the spectroscopic properties in thin film were investigated. For PBI 7 a J-type band and fluorescence spectra with an enlarged Stokes shift and increased fluorescence lifetime of 11.4 ns, compared to PBI 4c, was obtained, suggesting the generation of excimer type emission by considering the assumed conventional stacking of rotational displaced molecules from X-ray analysis. With polarized UV-Vis absorption experiments the orientation of the molecules perpendicular to the shearing direction and subsequently to the columnar axis was confirmed. These diverse investigations clearly demonstrated the imperative of H-bonds for stable, defined, LC J-aggregates with the transition dipole moments parallel to the columnar axis. With PBIs 7 and 8 it is impressively shown how small changes in the molecular structure influence the molecular arrangement dependent on the cooperation of non-covalent interactions like H-bonding and pi-pi stacking.
In the last part of this thesis the generation of two-dimensional LC arrangements is presented. Since tetra-bay substituted PBIs lead always to twisted cores preventing lamellar arrangement, here 1,7-disubstitution and the simultaneous retention of the free imide positions was chosen to generate LC lamellar phases of PBIs 9a, 9b and 10 (Figure 8.4a). This molecular design was expected to form planar perylene cores that can strongly interact by pi-pi stacking and H-bonding. POM, DSC and X-ray investigations of the compounds suggest lamellar LC phases for PBIs 9a and 9b and a soft phase for PBI 10. In this regard, the goal of the formation of LC lamellar phase of PBIs could be attained. The change from dendrons with n-C12-alkoxy chains to large fork-like mesogens like in 9b clearly changed the phase properties. PBI 9b exhibits the lowest clearing point, high phase stability, least viscosity, easy shearability at room temperature and phase transitions between lamellar and Colh phases dependent on temperature. The formation of H-bonds parallel to the layers was demonstrated by polarized FT-IR experiments for all three PBIs. Concentration-dependent UV-Vis absorption studies revealed the formation of a J-type aggregate, which seems to exhibit an overall two-dimensional structure. With STM investigations the formation of lamellar structures from drop-casted 9a and 10 solutions in 1-phenyloctane on HOPG surface could be observed. Figure 8.4b illustrates a schematic possible arrangement of the molecules in the layers (here exemplarily demonstrated for PBI 9a), which has to be further confirmed by modelling and simulations. Unfortunately, fluorescence investigations of the thin films revealed non- or only slightly emissive LC states, which make them negligible for photonic applications. Nevertheless, the synthesized and analyzed compounds might be an inspiration for further investigations on the path to two-dimensional exciton transport for photonic devices.
In this thesis, the photophysics and spin chemistry of donor-photosensitizer-acceptor triads were investigated. While all investigated triads comprised a TAA as an electron donor and a NDI as an electron acceptor, the central photosensitizers (PS) were different chromophores based on the dipyrrin-motif. The purity and identity of all target compounds could be confirmed by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis.
The first part of the work dealt with dipyrrinato-complexes of cyclometalated heavy transition metals. The successful synthesis of novel triads based on Ir(III), Pt(II) and Pd(II) was presented. The optical and electrochemical properties indicated charge separation (CS), which was confirmed by transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. TA-spectroscopy also revealed that the process of CS is significantly slower and less efficient for the triads based on Pt(II) and Pd(II) than for the analogous Ir(III) triads. This is mostly due to a much more convoluted reaction pathway, comprising several intermediate states before the formation of the final charge separated state (CSS2). On the other hand, CSS2 exhibits long lifetimes which are dependent on the central metal ion. While the Ir(III) triads show lifetimes of about 0.5 µs in MeCN, the Pt(II) and Pd(II) analogues show lifetimes of 1.5 µs. The magnetic field effect on the charge recombination (CR) kinetics of CSS2 was investigated by magnetic field dependent ns-TA spectroscopy and could be rationalized based on a classical kinetic scheme comprising only one magnetic field dependent rate constant k±. The behavior of k± shows a clear separation of the coherent and incoherent spin interconversion mechanisms. While the coherent spin evolution is due to the isotropic hyperfine coupling with the magnetic nuclei of the radical centers, the incoherent spin relaxation is due to a rotational modulation of the anisotropic hyperfine coupling tensor and is strongly dependent on the viscosity of the solvent. This dependence could be used to measure the nanoviscosity of the oligomeric solvent pTHF, which was found to be distinctly different from its macroviscosity.
The second part of the work dealt with bisdipyrrinato complexes and their bridged porphodimethenato (PDM) analogues. Initially, the suitability of the different chromophores for the use as PS in donor-acceptor substituted triads was tested by a systematic investigation of their steady state and transient properties. While the PDM-complex of Zn(II) and Pd(II) exhibited promising characteristics such as a high exited state lifetime and relatively intense emission, the purely organic parent PDM and the non-bridged bisdipyrrinato-Pd(II) complex were less suitable. The difference between the two Pd(II) complexes could be explained by a structural rearrangement of the non-bridged complex which results in a non-emissive metal centered triplet state with disphenoidal geometry. This rearrangement is prevented by the dimethylmethylene-bridges in the bridged analogue resulting in higher phosphorescence quantum yields and excited state lifetimes.
With the exception of the Zn(II)PDM-complex, the synthesis of novel donor acceptor substituted triads could be realized for all desired central chromophores. They were investigated equivalently to the cyclometalated triads described in the first part. The steady state properties indicate a stronger electronic coupling between the subunits due to the lack of unsaturated bridges between the donor and the central chromophore. Photoinduced CS occurs in all investigated triads. Due to the low exited state lifetimes of the central chromophores, CSS is formed less efficiently for the triads based on the unbridged Pd(II)-complex as well as the purely organic PDM. In the triad based on the bridged Pd(II) complex, the CR of CSS2 is faster than its formation resulting in low intermediate concentrations. For its elongated analogue, this is not the case and CSS2 can be observed clearly. Although the spin-chemistry of the triads based on bisdipyrrinato-Pd(II) and porphodimethenato-Pd(II) is less well understood, first interpretations of the magnetic field dependent decay kinetics gave results approximately equivalent to those obtained for the cyclometalated triads. Furthermore, the MFE was shown to be useful for the investigation of the quantum yield of CS and the identity of the observed CSSs.
In both parts of this work, the influence of the central photosensitizer on the photophysics and the spin chemistry of the triads could be shown. While the process of CS is directly dependent on the PS, the PS usually is not directly involved in the final CSSs. None the less, it can still indirectly affect the CR and spin chemistry of the CSS since it influences the electronic coupling between donor and acceptor, as well as the geometry of the triads.