A Helical Polyphenylacetylene Having Amino Alcohol Moieties Without Chiral Side Groups as a Chiral Ligand for the Asymmetric Addition of Diethylzinc to Benzaldehyde

One‐handed helical polyphenylacetylenes having achiral amino alcohol moieties, but no chiral side groups, were synthesized by the helix‐sense‐selective copolymerization of an achiral phenylacetylene having an amino alcohol side group with a phenylacetylene having two hydroxyl groups. Since the resulting helical copolymers were successfully utilized as chiral ligands for the enantioselective alkylation of benzaldehyde with diethylzinc, we can conclude that the main‐chain chirality based on the one‐handed helical conformation is useful for the chiral catalysis of an asymmetric reaction for the first time. The enantioselectivities of the reaction were controlled by the optical purities of the helical polymer ligands. In addition, the polymer ligands could be easily recovered by precipitation after the reaction. Chirality 27:454–458, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Helical Polybissilsesquioxane Bundles Prepared Using a Self‐Templating Approach

Polybissilsesquioxanes with single‐handed helical morphologies attracted much attention during the last decade, which could be applied as asymmetric catalysts and chiral stationary phases. Herein, a pair of chiral biphenylene‐bridged bissilsesquioxanes were synthesized. They self‐assembled into helical bundles in ethanol, behavior that was confirmed in field emission scanning electron microscopy images. Circular dichroism analysis indicated that the biphenylene groups twisted in a single‐handed fashion. Single‐handed helical polybissilsesquioxane bundles were prepared via polycondensation of the bissilsesquioxanes, using a self‐templating approach. Because of the shrinkage that occurred during polycondensation, the helical pitches of the bundles were shorter than those of their corresponding organic self‐assemblies. The wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction pattern indicated that there were no π–π interactions among the diphenylene groups. The circular dichroism spectra indicated that the chirality was successfully transferred from the bissilsesquioxane self‐assemblies to the polybissilsesquioxane. The polybissilsesquioxanes displayed a capacity for the adsorption of nitrobenzene and had potential application for enantioseparation. Chirality 28:44–48, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of one D‐Leu residue on right‐handed helical ‐L‐Leu‐Aib‐ peptides in the crystal state

Four diastereomeric‐Leu‐Leu‐Aib‐Leu‐Leu‐Aib‐peptides, Boc‐D ‐Leu‐L ‐Leu‐Aib‐L ‐Leu‐L ‐Leu‐Aib‐OMe (1), Boc‐L ‐Leu‐D ‐Leu‐Aib‐L ‐Leu‐L ‐Leu‐Aib‐OMe (2), Boc‐L ‐Leu‐L ‐Leu‐Aib‐D ‐Leu‐L ‐Leu‐Aib‐OMe (3), and Boc‐L ‐Leu‐L ‐Leu‐Aib‐L ‐Leu‐D ‐Leu‐Aib‐OMe (4), were synthesized. The crystals of the four hexapeptides were characterized by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Two diastereomeric hexapeptides 1 and 2 having D ‐Leu(1) or D ‐Leu(2) were folded into right‐handed (P) 3 ₁₀ ‐helical structures, while peptide 3 having D ‐Leu(4) was folded into a turn structure nucleated by type III′ and I$' \bf{\beta}$ ‐turns, and peptide 4 having D ‐Leu(5) was folded into a left‐handed (M) 3 ₁₀ ‐helical structure. Copyright © 2011 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Terminal effect of chiral residue on helical screw sense in achiral peptides

To understand the terminal effect of chiral residue for determining a helical screw sense, we adopted five kinds of peptides I – V containing N‐ and/or C‐terminal chiral Leu residue(s): Boc–L ‐Leu–(Aib–ΔPhe)₂–Aib–OMe ( I ), Boc–(Aib–ΔPhe)₂–L ‐Leu–OMe ( II ), Boc–L ‐Leu–(Aib–ΔPhe)₂–L ‐Leu–OMe ( III ), Boc–D ‐Leu–(Aib–ΔPhe)₂–L ‐Leu–OMe ( IV ), and Boc–D ‐Leu–(Aib–ΔPhe)₂–Aib–OMe ( V ). The segment –(Aib–ΔPhe)₂– was used for a backbone composed of two “enantiomeric” (left‐/right‐handed) helices. Actually, this could be confirmed by ¹H‐nmr [nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) and solvent accessibility of NH resonances] and CD spectroscopy on Boc–(Aib–ΔPhe)₂–Aib–OMe, which took a left‐/right‐handed 3₁₀‐helix. Peptides I – V were also found to take 3₁₀‐type helical conformations in CDCl₃, from difference NOE measurement and solvent accessibility of NH resonances. Chloroform, acetonitrile, methanol, and tetrahydrofuran were used for CD measurement. The CD spectra of peptides I – III in all solvents showed marked exciton couplets with a positive peak at longer wavelengths, indicating that their main chains prefer a left‐handed screw sense over a right‐handed one. Peptide V in all solvents showed exciton couplets with a negative peak at longer wavelengths, indicating it prefers a right‐handed screw sense. Peptide IV in chloroform showed a nonsplit type CD pattern having only a small negative signal around 280 nm, meaning that left‐ and right‐handed helices should exist with almost the same content. In the other solvents, peptide IV showed exciton couplets with a negative peak at longer wavelengths, corresponding to a right‐handed screw sense. From conformational energy calculation and the above ¹H‐nmr studies, an N‐ or C‐terminal L ‐Leu residue in the lowest energy left‐handed 3₁₀‐helical conformation was found to take an irregular conformation that deviates from a left‐handed helix. The positional effect of the L ‐residue on helical screw sense was discussed based on CD data of peptides I – V and of Boc–(L ‐Leu–ΔPhe)_n–L ‐Leu–OMe (n = 2 and 3). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 49: 551–564, 1999     

Physically Stable Polymer‐Membrane Electrolytes for Highly Efficient Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells with Long‐Term Stability

A 3D polymer‐network‐membrane (3D‐PNM) electrolyte is described for highly stable, solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with excellent power‐conversion efficiency (PCE). The 3D‐PNM electrolyte is prepared by using one‐pot in situ cross‐linking polymerization on the surface of dye‐sensitized TiO₂ particles in the presence of redox species. This method allows the direct connection of the 3D‐PNM to the surface of the TiO₂ particles as well as the in situ preparation of the electrolyte gel during device assembly. There are two junction areas (liquid and solid‐state junctions) in the DSCs that employ conventional polymer electrolytes, and the major interface is at the liquid‐state junction. The solid‐state junction is dominant in the DSCs that employ the 3D‐PNM electrolyte, which exhibit almost constant performance during aging at 65 °C for over 700 h (17.0 to 17.2 mA cm^–2). The best cell performance gives a PCE of 9.1%; this is slightly better than the performance of a DSC that employs a liquid electrolyte.     

Controlling the helical screw sense of peptides with C‐terminal L‐valine

One chiral L ‐valine (L ‐Val) was inserted into the C‐terminal position of achiral peptide segments constructed from α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and α,β‐dehydrophenylalanine (Δ^ZPhe) residues. The IR, ¹H NMR and CD spectra indicated that the dominant conformations of the pentapeptide Boc‐Aib‐ΔPhe‐(Aib)₂‐L ‐Val‐NH‐Bn (3) and the hexapeptide Boc‐Aib‐ΔPhe‐(Aib)₃‐L ‐Val‐NH‐Bn (4) in solution were both right‐handed (P) 3₁₀‐helical structures. X‐ray crystallographic analyses of 3 and 4 revealed that only a right‐handed (P) 3₁₀‐helical structure was present in their crystalline states. The conformation of 4 was also studied by molecular‐mechanics calculations. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self‐assembling study of sarcolipin and its mutants in multiple molecular dynamic simulations

The Sarcolipin (SLN) is a single trans‐membrane protein that can self‐assembly to dimer and oligomer for playing importantphysiological function. In this work, we addressed the dimerization of wild type SLN (wSLN) and its mutants (mSLNs) – I17A and I20A, using both coarse‐grained (CG) and atomistic (AT) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our results demonstrated that wSLN homodimer assembled as a left‐handed helical complex, while mSLNs heterodimers assembled as right‐handed complexes. Analysis of residue‐residue contacts map indicated that isoleucine (Ile)‐leucione (Leu) zipper domain played an important role in dimerization. The potential of mean force (PMF) demonstrated that wSLN homodimer was more stable than mSLNs heterodimers. Meanwhile, the mSLNs heterodimers preferred right‐handed rather than left‐handed helix. AT‐MD simulations for wSLN and mSLNs were also in line with CG‐MD simulations. These results provided the insights for understanding the mechanisms of SLNs self‐assembling. Proteins 2017; 85:1065–1077. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Structure of the hypothetical protein Ton 1535 from Thermococcus onnurineus NA1 reveals unique structural properties by a left‐handed helical turn in normal α‐solenoid protein

The crystal structure of Ton1535, a hypothetical protein from Thermococcus onnurineus NA1, was determined at 2.3 Å resolution. With two antiparallel α‐helices in a helix‐turn‐helix motif as a repeating unit, Ton1535 consists of right‐handed coiled N‐ and C‐terminal regions that are stacked together using helix bundles containing a left‐handed helical turn. One left‐handed helical turn in the right‐handed coiled structure produces two unique structural properties. One is the presence of separated concave grooves rather than one continuous concave groove, and the other is the contribution of α‐helices on the convex surfaces of the N‐terminal region to the extended surface of the concave groove of the C‐terminal region and vice versa. Proteins 2014; 82:1072–1078. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Conformations of peptides containing a chiral cyclic α, α‐disubstituted α‐amino acid within the sequence of Aib residues

A single chiral cyclic α,α‐disubstituted amino acid, (3S,4S)‐1‐amino‐(3,4‐dimethoxy)cyclopentanecarboxylic acid [(S,S)‐Ac₅c^dOM], was placed at the N‐terminal or C‐terminal positions of achiral α‐aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) peptide segments. The IR and ¹H NMR spectra indicated that the dominant conformations of two peptides Cbz‐[(S,S)‐Ac₅c^dOM]‐(Aib)₄‐OEt ( 1) and Cbz‐(Aib)₄‐[(S,S)‐Ac₅c^dOM]‐OMe (2) in solution were helical structures. X‐ray crystallographic analysis of 1 and 2 revealed that a left‐handed (M) 3₁₀‐helical structure was present in 1 and that a right‐handed (P) 3₁₀‐helical structure was present in 2 in their crystalline states. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of Chiral Building Blocks Having a Bicyclo[3.3.0]Octane Framework Using a Diastereomeric Resolution‐Selective Deprotection

A protocol is presented for an efficient and practical approach to the synthesis of enantiomerically pure bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives from achiral C_s‐symmetric bicyclo[3.3.0]octane‐2,8‐dione using a diastereomeric resolution‐selective deprotection method. This method affords chiral building blocks having bicyclo[3.3.0]octane framework with the same site of diastereotopic carbonyl functional group. Chirality 27:364–369, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantiopure 4‐oxazolin‐2‐ones and 4‐methylene‐2‐oxazolidinones as chiral building blocks in a divergent asymmetric synthesis of heterocycles

Enantiopure 3‐((R)‐ and 3‐((S)‐1‐phenylethyl)‐4‐oxazoline‐2‐ones were evaluated as chiral building blocks for the divergent construction of heterocycles with stereogenic quaternary centers. The N‐(R)‐ or N‐(S)‐1‐phenylethyl group of these compounds proved to be an efficient chiral auxiliary for the asymmetric induction of the 4‐ and 5‐positions of the 4‐oxazolin‐2‐one ring through thermal and MW‐promoted nucleophilic conjugated addition to Michael acceptors and alkyl halides. The resulting adducts were transformed via a cascade process into fused six‐membered carbo‐ and heterocycles. The structure of the reaction products depended on the electrophiles and reaction conditions used. Alternative isomeric 4‐methylene‐2‐oxazolidinones served as chiral precursors for a versatile and divergent approach to highly substituted cyclic carbamates. DFT quantum calculations showed that the formation of bicyclic pyranyl compounds was generated by a diastereoselective concerted hetero‐Diels‐Alder cycloaddition.     

Surface Chirality of Gly‐Pro Dipeptide Adsorbed on a Cu(110) Surface

The adsorption of chiral Gly‐Pro dipeptide on Cu(110) has been characterized by combining in situ polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM‐RAIRS) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The chemical state of the dipeptide, and its anchoring points and adsorption geometry, were determined at various coverage values. Gly‐Pro molecules are present on Cu(110) in their anionic form (NH₂/COO⁻) and adsorb under a 3‐point binding via both oxygen atoms of the carboxylate group and via the nitrogen atom of the amine group. Low‐energy electron diffraction (LEED) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have shown the presence of an extended 2D chiral array, sustained via intermolecular H‐bonds interactions. Furthermore, due to the particular shape of the molecule, only one homochiral domain is formed, creating thus a truly chiral surface. Chirality 27:411–416, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantioselective Photolysis and Quantitative Chiral Analysis of Tryptophan Complexed With Alkali‐Metalized L‐Serine in the Gas Phase

The enantioselective photolysis of a cold gas‐phase noncovalent complex of tryptophan with alkali‐metalized L‐serine, M⁺(L‐Ser)(Trp) (M = Na and Li), was examined using a tandem mass spectrometer containing a variable‐temperature ion trap. CO₂ loss from Trp in the clusters was enantiomerically selective in ultraviolet excitation with linearly polarized light. M⁺(L‐Ser) promoted the enantioselective photolysis of Trp as a chiral auxiliary. The enantioselective photolysis of the D‐enantiomer was applied to a quantitative chiral analysis, in which the optical purity of tryptophan could be determined by measuring the relative abundance ratio R of the enantioselective CO₂ loss to the chiral‐independent evaporation of L‐Ser in a single photodissociation mass spectrum of M⁺(L‐Ser)(Trp). Chirality 27:349–352, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Chirality Transfer and Modulation in LB Films Derived From the Diacetylene/Melamine Hydrogen‐Bonded Complex

Introduction of hydrogen‐bonding interaction into π‐conjugated systems is a promising strategy, since the highly selective and directional hydrogen‐bonding can increase the binding strength, provide enhanced stability to the assemblies, and position the π‐conjugated molecules in a desired arrangement. The helical packing of the rigid melamine cores seems to play a dominating role in the subsequent formation of the peripheral helical PDA backbone. The polymerized Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films exhibited reversible colorimetric and chiroptical changes during repeated heating–cooling cycles, which should be ascribed to the strong hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the carboxylic acid and the melamine core. Further, the closely helical packing of the melamine cores could be destroyed upon exposure to HCl or NH₃ gas, whereas the peripheral helical polyaniline and polydiacetylene (PDA) backbone exhibited excellent stability. Although similar absorption changes could be observed for the films upon exposure to HCl or NH₃ gas, their distinct circular dichroism (CD) responses enabled us to distinguish the above two stimuli. Chirality 27:492‐499, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Use of a Novel Sub‐2 µm Silica Hydride Vancomycin Stationary Phase in Nano‐Liquid Chromatography. II. Separation of Derivatized Amino Acid Enantiomers

A novel vancomycin silica hydride stationary phase was synthesized and the particles of 1.8 µm were packed into fused silica capillaries of 75 µm internal diameter (I.D.). The chiral stationary phase (CSP) was tested for the separation of some derivatized amino acid enantiomers by using nano‐liquid chromatography (nano‐LC). Some experimental parameters such as the type and the content of organic modifier, the pH, and the concentration of the buffer added to the mobile phase were modified and the effect on enantioselectivity, retention time, and enantioresolution factor was studied. The separation of selected dansyl amino acids (Dns‐AAs), e.g., Asp, Glu, Leu, and Phe in their enantiomers was initially achieved utilizing a mobile phase containing 85% (v/v) methanol (MeOH) and formate buffer measuring the enantioresolution factor and enantioselectivity in the range 1.74–4.17 and 1.39–1.59, respectively. Better results were obtained employing a more polar organic solvent as acetonitrile (ACN) in the mobile phase. Optimum results (Rs 1.41–6.09 and α 1.28–2.36) were obtained using a mobile phase containing formate buffer pH 2.5/water/MeOH/ACN 6:19:12.5:62.5 (v/v/v/v) in isocratic elution mode at flow rate of 130 nL/min. Chirality 27:767–772, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Designing 1,5‐Naphthyridine‐2,6‐dione‐Based Conjugated Polymers for Higher Crystallinity and Enhanced Light Absorption to Achieve 9.63% Efficiency Polymer Solar Cells

Highly crystalline conjugated polymers represent a key material for producing high‐performance thick‐active‐layer polymer solar cells (PSCs). However, despite their potential, a limited number of crystalline polymers are used in PSCs because of the lack of highly coplanar acceptor building blocks and insufficient light absorptivity (α < 10⁵) of most donor (D)–acceptor (A)‐type polymers. This study reports a series of novel 3,7‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,5‐naphthyridine‐2,6‐dione (NTDT) acceptor‐based conjugated polymers, PNTDT‐2T, PNTDT‐TT, and PNTDT‐2F2T, synthesized with 2,2′‐bithiophene (2T), thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (TT), and 3,3′‐difluoro‐2,2′‐bithiophene (2F2T) donor units, respectively. PNTDT‐2F2T exhibits superior polymer crystallinity and a much higher absorption coefficient than those of PNTDT‐2T or PNTDT‐TT because of adequate matching between highly coplanar A (NTDT) and D (2F2T) building blocks. A bulk heterojunction solar cell based on PNTDT‐2F2T exhibits a power conversion efficiency of up to 9.63%, with a high short circuit current of 18.80 mA cm^?2 and fill factor of 0.70, when a thick active layer (>200 nm) is used, without postfabrication hot processing. The findings demonstrate that the polymer crystallinity and absorption coefficient can be effectively controlled by selecting appropriate D and A building blocks, and that NTDT is a novel and versatile A building block for highly efficient thick‐active‐layer PSCs.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of (3R)‐3‐Alkyl‐4,1‐Benzoxazepine‐2,5‐Diones

Novel 3‐alkyl‐4,1‐benzoxazepine‐2,5‐diones were synthesized in good ee exploiting the chiral pool methodology, an economical way of asymmetric synthesis. Various anthranilic acids are coupled with different α‐haloacids to afford N‐acylated anthranilic acid intermediates which undergo cyclization to (3R)‐3‐alkyl‐4,1‐benzoxazepines‐2,5‐diones. Chirality 25:865–870, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High‐Performance Liquid Chromatographic Enantioseparation of Unusual Isoxazoline‐Fused 2‐Aminocyclopentanecarboxylic Acids on (+)‐(18‐Crown‐6)‐2,3,11,12‐Tetracarboxylic Acid‐Based Chiral Stationary Phases

The enantiomers of four unusual isoxazoline‐fused 2‐aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acids were directly separated on chiral stationary phases containing (+)‐(18‐crown‐6)‐2,3,11,12‐tetracarboxylic acid as chiral selector. The nature of the alcoholic modifier (MeOH, EtOH, IPA) exerted a great effect on the retention, whereas the selectivity and resolution did not change substantially. Two types of dependence of retention on alcohol content were detected: k₁ increased continuously with increasing alcohol content or a U‐shaped retention curve was observed. A comparison of the chromatographic data obtained with HCOOH, AcOH, TFA, HClO₄, H₂SO₄, or H₃PO₄ as acidic modifier at a constant concentration demonstrated that in most cases, larger k values were obtained on the application of AcOH or HCOOH, and an increase of the acid content resulted in a decrease of retention. Some mechanistic aspects of the chiral recognition process are discussed with respect to the structures of the analytes and selector. The sequence of elution of the enantiomers was determined in all cases. Chirality 24:817‐824, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Left‐handed helical polymer resin nanotubes prepared by using N‐palmitoyl glucosamine

Although the preparation of single‐handed helical inorganic and hybrid organic‐inorganic nanotubes is well developed, approaches to the formation of single‐handed organopolymeric nanotubes are limited. Here, left‐handed helical m‐phenylenediamine‐formaldehyde resin and 3‐aminophenol‐formaldehyde resin nanotubes were prepared by using N‐palmitoyl glucosamine that can self‐assemble into left‐handed twisted nanoribbons in a mixture of methanol and water. In the reaction mixture, the helical pitch of the nanoribbons decreased with increasing reaction time. The resin nanotubes were obtained after removing the N‐palmitoyl glucosamine template, and circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that the organopolymeric nanotubes had optical activity. Carbonaceous nanotubes were then prepared by carbonization of the 3‐aminophenol‐formaldehyde resin nanotubes.