Biomedical subjects

Marcus Weck

Publications and source records attributed to Marcus Weck.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Modular and dynamic functionalization of polymeric scaffolds.

The design and synthesis of multifunctionalized, architecturally controlled polymers is a prerequisite for a variety of future applications of polymeric materials. On the basis of Nature's use of self-assembly in the creation of biomaterials, this Account describes concepts that were developed over the past 5 years that utilize noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions, electrostatic interactions, metal coordination, and pi-pi stacking in modification of copolymer side-chains to obtain multifunctional polymeric materials, induce polymer morphology changes, and influence bulk-polymer properties.

Models, Theoretical↗

PubMed2006

Investigations of metal-coordinated peptides as supramolecular synthons.

This article describes the synthesis and controlled assembly of four model biological-hybrid scaffolds via coordination of a metal complex to four new tripeptides. Each model tripeptide investigated has either a central pyridyl glycyl or a pyridyl alanyl residue between two terminally protected glycines. All tripeptides were coordinated to their complementary recognition unit, a p-methoxy SCS-Pd pincer complex. The assembly events were fully characterized and investigated by 1H NMR, ES-MS, and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to elucidate how the substitution and spatial distance of the pyridyl moiety to the peptide backbone affects the metal coordination. Using these characterization techniques, we have shown that the metal-coordination events in all cases are fast and quantitative and that the peptide backbones do not interfere with the self-assembly. The ITC analyses showed that the 4-pyridyl tripeptides are the tightest binding ligands toward the palladated pincer complexes with the alanyl derivative being the strongest overall, demonstrating the superiority of the 4-pyridyl peptides over their 3-pyridyl analogues. The measured association constants are comparable to other pincer-pyridine systems in DMSO suggesting that the controlled coordination of the metalated pincer/pyridine interaction is an interesting biological synthon and will allow for the future development of important noncovalent peptide-based hybrid materials.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

PubMed2006

Self-assembly with block copolymers through metal coordination of SCS-Pd(II) pincer complexes and pseudorotaxane formation.

Poly(norbornene)-based block copolymers containing side chains of palladated pincer complexes/dibenzo[24]crown-8 or palladated pincer complexes/dibenzylammonium salts were synthesized. Noncovalent functionalization was accomplished with their corresponding recognition units through simple 1:1 addition with association constants (Ka) greater than 10(5) m(-1). The self-assembly processes were monitored by using both 1H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. In all cases, we found that the self-assembly of the recognition units along each polymer block does not preclude the self-assembly processes along the other block.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

A practical one-pot synthesis of enantiopure unsymmetrical salen ligands.

A practical, one-pot synthesis of enantiopure unsymmetrical salen ligands is described, using a 1:1:1 molar ratio of a chiral diamine and two different salicylaldehydes. The new synthetic protocol can be readily performed in good yields (60-85%) on a multigram scale with good tolerance toward various functional groups.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Supramolecular cruciforms.

By self-assembling fluorescent pyridyl cruciforms with bis-Pd-pincer complexes, supramolecular assemblies with attractive optical properties were synthesized; these assemblies show potential as electro-optical materials.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Modular approach for the development of supported, monofunctionalized, salen catalysts.

We report a modular approach toward polymer-supported, metalated, salen catalysts. This strategy is based on the synthesis of monofunctionalized Mn- and Co-salen complexes attached to a norbornene monomer via a stable phenylene-acetylene linker. The resulting functionalized monomers can be polymerized in a controlled fashion using ring-opening metathesis polymerization. This polymerization method allows for the synthesis of copolymers, resulting in an unprecedented control over the catalyst density and catalytic-site isolation. The obtained polymeric manganese and cobalt complexes were successfully used as supported catalysts for the asymmetric epoxidation of olefins and the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epoxides. All polymeric catalysts showed outstanding catalytic activities and selectivities comparable to the original catalysts reported by Jacobsen. Moreover, the copolymer-supported catalysts are more active and selective than their homopolymer analogues, providing further proof that catalyst density and site isolation are key toward highly active and selective supported salen catalysts.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Functional lactide monomers: methodology and polymerization.

Side-chain-functionalized lactide analogues have been synthesized from commercially available amino acids and polymerized using stannous octoate as a catalyst. The synthetic strategy presented allows for the incorporation of any protected amino acid for the preparation of functionalized diastereomerically pure lactide monomers. The resulting functionalized cyclic monomers can be homopolymerized and copolymerized with lactides and then quantitatively deprotected forming new functional poly(lactide)-based materials. This strategy allows for the introduction of functional groups along a poly(lactide) (PLA) backbone that after deprotection can be viewed as chemical handles for further functionalization of PLA, yielding improved biomaterials for a variety of applications.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2005

Poly(styrene)-supported co-salen complexes as efficient recyclable catalysts for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epichlorohydrin.

Here we describe an unprecedented synthetic approach to poly(styrene)-supported chiral salen ligands by the free radical polymerization of an unsymmetrical styryl-substituted salen monomer (H2salen = bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine). The new method allows for the attachment of salen moieties to the polymer main chain in a flexible, pendant fashion, avoiding grafting reactions that often introduce ill-defined species on the polymers. Moreover, the loading of the salen is controlled by the copolymerization of the styryl-substituted salen monomer with styrene in different ratios. The polymeric salen ligands are metallated with cobalt(II) acetate to afford the corresponding supported Co-salen complexes, which are used in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic epichlorohydrin, exhibiting high reactivity and enantioselectivity. Remarkably, the copolymer-supported Co-salen complexes showed a better catalytic performance (>99 % ee, 54 % conversion, one hour) in comparison to the homopolymeric analogues and the small molecule Co-salen complex. The soluble poly(styrene)-supported catalysts were recovered by precipitation after the catalytic reactions and were recycled three times to afford almost identical enantiomeric excesses as the first run, with slightly reduced reaction rates.

Acetates↗

PubMed2005

Synthesis and hydrolysis behavior of side-chain functionalized norbornenes.

[reaction: see text] The stabilities of various functionalized norbornenes that are monomers for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) in aqueous solution were evaluated toward hydrolysis under a range of temperatures (37, 60, and 80 degrees C) and pH values (3-9). All monomers contain hydrolyzable linkages to pendant functional groups, and conclusions were drawn relating to how the chemical diversity of these pendant functional groups, in accordance with the pH and temperature variations, affect hydrolysis of the aforementioned linkages. The hydrolysis was monitored by reverse phase HPLC analysis, and/or NMR spectroscopy. As expected, monomers containing ester linkages were fairly labile at higher pH values, while acetal-based linkers were cleaved at lower pH values. Beta-amino ester groups experienced a significant increase in hydrolysis rate, while carboxylic acid-containing monomers did not follow any clear trend. Saccharide-containing monomers exhibited unique behaviors for various pH values and temperature ranges.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

A modular approach toward block copolymers.

A novel methodology for the formation of block copolymers has been developed that combines ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with functional chain-transfer agents (CTAs) and self-assembly. Telechelic homopolymers of cyclooctene derivatives end-functionalized with hydrogen-bonding or metal-coordination sites are formed through the combination of ROMP with a corresponding functional CTA. These telechelic homopolymers are fashioned with a high control over molecular weight and without the need for post-polymerization procedures. The homopolymers undergo fast and efficient self-assembly with their complement homopolymer or small molecule analogue to form block-copolymer architectures. The block copolymers show equivalent association constants as their small molecule analogues described in the literature, regardless of size or nature of the complementary unit or the polymer side chain.

Carbon↗

PubMed2005

Non-covalent side-chain polymers: design principles, functionalization strategies, and perspectives.

Side-chain functionalized polymers have a profound impact on complex materials synthesis with a variety of applications ranging from liquid crystalline and electro-optical materials to drug delivery systems. In the last decade, the use of self-assembly towards the synthesis of side-chain functionalized polymers has been investigated extensively as a result of its modular character and ease of synthesis. This tutorial review describes recent advances in the literature and establishes basic design principles and synthetic approaches towards the fabrication of supramolecular materials that are based on side-chain functionalized polymers.

Crystallization↗

PubMed2004

Multifunctionalization of synthetic polymer systems through self-assembly.

A straightforward methodology towards the replacement of covalent strategies for the synthesis of multifunctional synthetic materials with a self-assembling strategy that employs multiple noncovalent recognition units to attach multiple functional molecules to a polymeric scaffold is outlined. Design requirements, advantages, and potential applications, as well as the possibility of rapid optimization of materials during the manufacturing process as a result of the parallel character of self-assembly, are presented. While still in its infancy, this novel methodology may overcome several shortcomings of current covalent multifunctionalization strategies and may yield highly complex materials that are extremely difficult or impossible to fabricate with current methods.

Hydrogen Bonding↗

PubMed2004

One-step multifunctionalization of random copolymers via self-assembly.

A novel methodology for random copolymer functionalization based on a noncovalent, one-step, multifunctionalization strategy has been developed. Random copolymers possessing both palladated-pincer complexes and diaminopyridine moieties (hydrogen-bonding entities) have been synthesized using ring-opening metathesis polymerization. Noncovalent functionalization of the resultant copolymers is accomplished via (1) directed self-assembly, (2) multistep self-assembly, and (3) one-step orthogonal self-assembly. This system shows complete specificity of each recognition motif for its complementary unit, with no observable changes in the association constants regardless of the degree of functionalization.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Towards a universal polymer backbone: design and synthesis of polymeric scaffolds containing terminal hydrogen-bonding recognition motifs at each repeating unit.

Polymers containing terminal hydrogen-bonding recognition motifs based on diaminotriazine and diaminopyridine groups in their side chains for the self-assembly of appropriate receptors have been prepared by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornenes. A new synthetic method for the preparation of norbornene monomers based on pure alkyl spacers is introduced. These monomers show unprecedented high reactivity using ROMP. To suppress self-association of diaminotriazine-based polymers, polymerizations were run in presence of N-butylthymine. The butylthymine acts as a protecting group via self-assembly onto the hydrogen-bonding sites of the polymeric scaffold, thereby solubilizing the polymer. Diaminopyridine monomers do not require the presence of a protecting group due to their low propensity to dimerize. In addition, they exhibit a high affinity for hydrogen-bonded receptors on both monomeric and polymeric level. These polymers present our first building blocks towards the design and synthesis of a "universal polymer scaffold".

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed2002

Tandem catalysis and self-assembly: a one-pot approach to functionalized polymers.

[reaction: see text] Side-chain functionalized polymers possessing terminal palladated SCS pincer complexes at each repeat unit were synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization. These palladium centers function as both well-defined Heck catalysts and recognition units capable of quantitative self-assembly of pyridine-containing molecules. Exploitation of both the catalytic and self-assembly properties has led to the development of a controlled, one-pot tandem catalysis/self-assembly sequence for the synthesis of functionalized polymers.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Design of three-dimensional, millimeter-scale models for molecular folding.

This communication describes the fabrication of three-dimensional structures of organic polymers using principles of design inspired by protein folding. The structures consist of rigid polyhedral components with dimensions of a few millimeters ("microdomains"), representing alpha-helical and beta-sheet secondary structures, connected with flexible linkers representing loops or turns. These structures were fabricated from polyurethane using photolithographic and soft lithographic techniques. The surfaces of the microdomains were patterned into hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, and a hydrophobic photocurable liquid (serving both as lubricant and adhesive) was selectively precipitated onto the hydrophobic areas. The unfolded structures were suspended in water and agitated by tumbling. Self-assembly occurred through coalescence of the thin films of hydrophobic liquid, and was caused by minimization of the free energy of the interface between the liquid adhesive and the water. The self-assembled structures were locked in place by curing the adhesive with UV light. These results demonstrate the use of concepts abstracted from the study of proteins-including attractive hydrophobic interactions, shape complementarity, and conformational constraint-in the self-assembly of complex, three-dimensional structures on the millimeter scale.

Models, Molecular↗

PubMed1999

Synthesis of Catenane Structures via Ring-Closing Metathesis.

This study presents a detailed description of a synthetic strategy to obtain catenane architectures through ring-closing metathesis. The approach is based on phenanthroline-based ligands containing terminal olefinic units that were designed to coordinate in a tetrahedral arrangement around a copper atom. Treatment of the assembled copper complexes with ruthenium catalyst 1 resulted in [2]catenates in high yields of 88-92%. Demetalation produced the corresponding [2]catenand in nearly quantitative yields. Hydrogenation of the catenates with Crabtree's catalyst and subsequent demetalation yielded fully saturated catenands. The presently described procedure makes [2]catenanes very accessible since the synthetic route consists of six steps (Schemes 2 and 4) from commercially available 1,10-phenanthroline, the overall yield being 51%.

Journal Article↗