Galia Maayan

Folded biomimetic oligomers for enantioselective catalysis

Many naturally occurring biopolymers (i.e., proteins, RNA, DNA) owe their unique properties to their well-defined three-dimensional structures. These attributes have inspired the design and synthesis of folded architectures with functions ranging from molecular recognition to asymmetric catalysis. Among these are synthetic oligomeric peptide (“foldamer”) mimics, which can display conformational ordering at short chain lengths. Foldamers, however, have not been explored as platforms for asymmetric catalysis. This report describes a library of synthetic helical “peptoid” oligomers that enable enantioselective transformations at an embedded achiral catalytic center, as illustrated by the oxidative kinetic resolution of 1-phenylethanol. In an investigation aimed at elucidating key structure–function relationships, we have discovered that the enantioselectivity of the catalytic peptoids depends on the handedness of the asymmetric environment derived from the helical scaffold, the position of the catalytic center along the peptoid backbone, and the degree of conformational ordering of the peptoid scaffold. The transfer of chiral information from a folded scaffold can enable the use of a diverse assortment of embedded achiral catalytic centers, promising a generation of synthetic foldamer catalysts for enantioselective transformations that can be performed under a broad range of reaction environments.

'Old' clusters with new function: oxidation catalysis by high oxidation state manganese and cerium/manganese clusters using O2 gas.

The family of polynuclear manganese clusters of formula [Mn(12)O(12)(O(2)CR)(16)(H(2)O)(4)] (R = Et, Ph, etc.) has been investigated in great detail over the years for their ability to function as single-molecule magnets (SMMs), but they have not been employed as oxidation catalysts. In the present report, the ability is described of these clusters to act as catalysts in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde using molecular O(2) as the primary oxidant and the nitroxyl radical TEMPO as a cocatalyst. A systematic investigation of Mn clusters varied in their R group, oxidation state, and size was conducted in order to realize the electronic requirements that will lead to the best catalytic activity. The best reactivity (>99%) was obtained when the catalyst was the mixed-metal cluster [CeMn(6)O(9)(O(2)CMe)(9)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(2)], which contains Ce(4+)Mn(4+)(6) ions; in this case, lower loadings of catalysts (cluster and TEMPO) are required and the reaction can proceed even without a solvent. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the high efficiency can be only achieved when both high oxidation Ce(4+) and Mn(4+) ions are present within the same cluster.

Metallofoldamers : supramolecular architectures from helicates to biomimetics

Metallofoldamers are oligomers that fold into three-dimensional structures in a controlled manner upon coordination with metal ions. Molecules in this class have shown an impressive ability to form single-handed helical structures and other three-dimensional architectures. Several metallofoldamers have been applied as sensors due to their selective folding when binding to a specific metal ion, while others show promise for applications as responsive materials on the basis of their ability to fold and unfold upon changes in the oxidation state of the coordinated metal ion, and as novel catalysts.

A Facile Strategy for the Construction of Cyclic Peptoids under Microwave Irradiation through a Simple Substitution Reaction.

We describe a fast and efficient side chain-to-tail cyclization of N-substituted glycine oligomers, peptoids, on a solid support and under microwave irradiation. We demonstrate that cyclic peptoids varied in their ring size and side chains can be synthesized by a bond formation between a chloropropyl group placed anywhere along the sequence and the secondary amine at the N-terminus. This SN2 reaction leads to the formation of a new C-N bond using only one reagent (a base).

Direct aerobic epoxidation of alkenes catalyzed by metal nanoparticles stabilized by the H5PV2Mo10O40 polyoxometalate

Ag and Ru nanoparticles stabilized by H5PV2Mo10O40, prepared by a sequence of redox reactions and supported on alpha-alumina, were effective catalysts for the direct aerobic epoxidation of alkenes in the liquid phase.

Water‐soluble chiral metallopeptoids

Metal ions play a significant role in the activity of biological systems including catalysis, recognition and folding. Therefore, introducing metal ions into peptidomimetic oligomers is a potential way for creating biomimetic metal complexes toward applications in sensing, recognition, drug design and catalysis. Herein we report the design, synthesis and characterization of water‐soluble chiral N‐substituted glycine oligomers, “peptoids,” with one and two distinct intramolecular binding sites for metal ions such as copper and cobalt. We demonstrate for the first time the incorporation of the chiral hydrophilic group (S)‐(+)‐1‐methoxy‐2‐propylamine (Nsmp) within peptoid sequences, which provides both chirality and water solubility. Two peptoids, a heptamer, and a dodecamer bearing two and four 8‐hydroxyquinoline (HQ) groups respectively as metal‐binding ligands, were synthesized on solid support using the submonomer approach. Using UV‐titrations and ESI‐MS analysis we demonstrate the creation of a novel metallopeptoid bearing two metal ions in distinct binding sites via intramolecular chelation. Exciton couplet circular dichroism (ECCD) demonstrated chiral induction from the chiral non‐helical peptoids to the metal centers.

A bioinspired soluble manganese cluster as a water oxidation electrocatalyst with low overpotential

AbstractThe electrocatalytic oxidation of water is a challenging step towards the production of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. In nature, water oxidation is catalysed by a high oxidation state Mn4CaOx cluster. The corresponding industrial development of manganese catalysts for water oxidation is very attractive due to the low cost of this metal. A few manganese complexes have been previously explored as water oxidation catalysts using various chemical oxidants in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Efficient electrochemical water oxidation catalysed by a soluble manganese-oxo cluster, however, has not been achieved. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of [Mn12O12(O2CC6H3(OH)2)16(H2O)4] (Mn12DH), a unique example within this class of compounds in being both highly soluble and stable in water. We demonstrate that Mn12DH, which is readily prepared from cheap and environmentally benign starting materials, is a stable homogeneous water oxidation electrocatalyst operating at pH 6 with an exceptionally low overpotential of only 334 mV.During photosynthesis, nature uses an enzyme with a manganese–calcium core for water oxidation. Here, the authors report the synthesis of a stable, water-soluble manganese cluster that acts as a homogeneous water oxidation electrocatalyst, displaying low overpotential and high Faradaic efficiency.

A Pure Polyproline Type I-like Peptoid Helix via Metal Coordination

Peptoids, N-substituted glycine oligomers, are an important class of foldamers that can adopt polyproline-type helices (PP-I and PP-II), given that the majority of their sequence consists of chiral, bulky side chains. Herein a new approach for the stabilization of a pure PP-I-like peptoid helix through metal coordination is introduced. A systematic spectroscopic study was performed on a series of peptoid heptamers bearing two 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands at fixed positions, and a mixture of chiral benzyl and alkyl substituents in varied positions along the peptoid backbone. When the benzyl groups are located at the 3rd and 4th positions, the peptoid (7P6) gives upon Cu2+ binding a circular dichroism (CD) signal similar to that of a PP-I helix. Exciton couplet CD spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy, as well as modifications to the length of 7P6 and derivatization through acetylation provided insights into the unique folding of 7P6 upon Cu binding, showing that it is led by two competing driving forces, namely coordination geometry and sequence.

Nanoparticles assemblies on demand: Controlled aggregation of Ag(0) mediated by modified peptoid sequences

Assemblies of metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been broadly used for the construction of materials with distinct spectroscopic properties towards sensing applications. On the other hand, well-dispersed NPs are exploit for applications in catalysis and medicine. Biopolymers or biomimetic oligomers can serve both as efficient stabilizers of NPs and as useful aggregation mediators that can lead to assemblies with unique properties. Controlling aggregation processes, however, is still challenging and often relies on trial and error rather than on defined thumb rules. Herein we develop specific guidelines for the controlled aggregation of Ag(0) NPs at room temperature in water near neutral pH and without any additives. We use short peptide mimics, N-substituted glycine oligomers called peptoids, as mediators, and investigate the influence of sequences variations on the NPs assembly. Spectroscopic and electron microscopy data reveal that both the length of the peptoids and their sequences have an effect on the NPs aggregation. Thus, we demonstrate that we can control both the degree of aggregation and the aggregates sizes by tuning these properties. Specifically we show that longer peptoid sequences as well as sequences consisting of aromatic side chains are required for the formation of uniform NPs assemblies in an average size of 70nm, while a short hydrophilic sequence can stabilize well-dispersed Ag(0) NPs. Moreover, the catalytic activity of Ag(0) NPs towards the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol can be also controlled by varying the properties of the peptoid mediators.

Self‐Assembled Cyclic Structures from Copper(II) Peptoids

Metal-ligand coordination is a key interaction in the self-assembly of both biopolymers and synthetic oligomers. Although the binding of metal ions to synthetic proteins and peptides is known to yield high-order structures, the self-assembly of peptidomimetic molecules upon metal binding is still challenging. Herein we explore the self-assembly of three peptoid trimers bearing a bipyridine ligand at their C-terminus, a benzyl group at their N-terminus, and a polar group (N-ethyl-R) in the middle position (R=OH, OCH3 , or NH2 ) upon Cu2+ coordination. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed unique, highly symmetric, dinuclear cyclic structure or aqua-bridged dinuclear double-stranded peptoid helicates, formed by the self-assembly of two peptoid molecules with two Cu2+ ions. Only the macrocycle with the highest number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds is stable in solution, while the other two disassemble to their corresponding monometallic complexes.