Biomedical subjects

James N Lowe

Publications and source records attributed to James N Lowe.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Polyvalent interactions in unnatural recognition processes.

The synthesis of two cluster compounds, one containing six secondary dialkylammonium ion centers and the other possessing six benzo-m-phenylene[25]crown-8 (BMP25C8) macrocycles, both appended to hexakis(thiophenyl)benzene cores, is described. The binding of these clusters with complementary mono- and divalent ligands is investigated with NMR spectroscopy to probe polyvalency in these unnatural recognition systems. The ability of the two different families of clusters to bind complementary monovalent ligands is compared with that of the monovalent receptor pair, namely the dibenzylammonium ion and BMP25C8. This comparison is made possible by determining an average association constant (K(AVE)) for the binding of each recognition site on the cluster with the corresponding monovalent ligand. We have found that the clustering of recognition sites together in one molecule is detrimental to their individual abilities to bind monovalent ligands. In the case of the polyvalent interaction between the hexakisBMP25C8 cluster and divalent dialkylammonium ions, an association constant, K(POLY), was calculated from the value of K(AVE) determined for the complexation of the individual component recognition sites. This polyvalent interaction is significantly stronger than that associated with the averaged monovalent interactions.

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PubMed2004

A mechanically interlocked bundle.

The prototype of an artificial molecular machine consisting of a trisammonium tricationic component interlocked with a tris(crown ether) component to form a molecular bundle with averaged C(3v) symmetry has been designed and synthesized. The system is based on noncovalent interactions, which include 1) N(+)-H...O hydrogen bonds; 2) C-H...O interactions between the CH(2)NH(2) (+)CH(2) protons on three dibenzylammonium-ion-containing arms, which are attached symmetrically to a benzenoid core, and three dibenzo[24]crown-8 macrorings fused onto a triphenylene core; and 3) pi...pi stacking interactions between the aromatic cores. The template-directed synthesis of the mechanically interlocked, triply threaded bundle involves post-assembly covalent modification, that is, the efficient conversion of three azide functions at the ends of the arms of the bound and threaded trication into bulky triazole stoppers, after 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with di-tert-butylacetylenedicarboxylate to the extremely strong 1:1 adduct that is formed in dichloromethane/acetonitrile (3:2), on account of a cluster effect associated with the paucivalent adduct. Evidence for the averaged C(3v) symmetry of the molecular bundle comes from absorption and luminescence data, as well as from electrochemical experiments, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The photophysical properties of the mechanically interlocked bundle are very similar to those of the superbundle that precedes the formation of the bundle in the process of supramolecular assistance to covalent synthesis. Although weak non-nucleophilic bases (e.g., nBu(3)N and iPr(2)NEt) fail to deprotonate the bundle, the strong tBuOK does, as indicated by both luminescence and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. While deprotonation undoubtedly loosens up the interlocked structure of the molecular bundle by replacing relatively strong N(+)-H...O hydrogen bonds by much weaker N-H...O ones, the pi...pi stacking interactions ensure that any structural changes are inconsequential, particularly when the temperature of the solution of the neutral molecular bundle in dichloromethane is cooled down to considerably below room temperature.

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PubMed2003

Controlling multivalent interactions in triply-threaded two-component superbundles.

We have investigated the (1)H NMR spectra, the absorption spectra, the fluorescence spectra and decays, and the electrochemical properties of i). a tritopic receptor in which three benzo[24]crown-8 macrorings are fused onto a triphenylene core, ii). a trifurcated trication wherein three dibenzylammonium ions are linked 1,3,5 to a central benzenoid core, and iii). their 1:1 adduct which constitutes a triply-threaded, two-component supramolecular bundle. X-Ray crystallography has established the precise geometry of this paucivalent recognition motif in the solid state. In addition to [N(+)-H...O] hydrogen bonding and [C-H...O] interactions between the NH(2) (+) centers on the three dibenzylammonium ion containing arms of the trication and the three crown ether rings in the tritopic receptor, there is a stabilizing [pi...pi] stacking interaction between the two aromatic cores. Mass spectrometry and (1)H NMR spectroscopy have confirmed the integrity of the 1:1 adduct beyond the solid state, provided the solvents are relatively apolar (e.g., chloroform and acetonitrile). The intense fluorescence emissions of the two recognition components are quenched upon association with the concomitant appearance of a lower energy, broad fluorescence band originating from the pi-pi stacking in the 1:1 adduct of the aromatic cores in the two matching components. Titration experiments, including Job plots, establish the 1:1 stoichiometry of the adduct, an observation which is also confirmed by electrochemical experiments. The electrochemical results show that, both in the tritopic receptor and in the superbundle itself, the first oxidation process is associated with the hexaalkoxytriphenylene core. The successive oxidation processes of the peripheral dioxybenzene units are affected by charge-transfer interactions in the tritopic receptor, whereas, in the superbundle, such units are not interacting. In acetonitrile solution, dethreading/rethreading of the 1:1 adduct can be controlled quantitatively by addition of base and acid. Dethreading and rethreading is also observed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy when dimethylsulfoxide is added to a solution of the 1:1 adduct in equal volumes of acetonitrile and chloroform. A trifurcated trication where methyl groups are located on the para positions of the three dibenzylammonium ions, which are linked 1,3,5 to the neutral benzenoid core, has been employed to demonstrate that dethreading of the 1:1 adduct involves doubly-threaded and singly-threaded species, that is, the paucivalent site is dismembered in a sequence of logical steps involving stable intermediates. This molecular recognition system is a rare example of a supramolecular entity based on a cooperative binding motif that can be switched on and off by chemical means.

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