A Stable Aluminum Tris(dithiolene) Triradical
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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
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Enhanced Benzene Adsorption in Chloro-Functionalized Metal–Organic Frameworks
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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Enriched Molecular-Level View of Saline Wetland Soil Carbon by Sensitivity-Enhanced Solid-State NMR
Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a major role in mitigating greenhouse gas emission and regulating earth’s climate, carbon cycle, and biodiversity. Wetland soils account for one-third of all SOM; however, globally, coastal wetland soils are eroding faster due to increasing sea-level rise. Our understanding of carbon sequestration dynamics in wetlands lags behind that of upland soils. Here, we employ solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) to investigate the molecular-level structure of biopolymers in wetland soils spanning 11 centuries. High-resolution multidimensional spectra, enabled by dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), demonstrate enduring preservation of molecular structures within herbaceous plant cores, notably condensing aromatic motifs and carbohydrates, even over a millennium, with the preserved cores constituting a decreasing minority among molecules from decomposition and repolymerization with depth and age. Such preserved cores occur alongside molecules from the decomposition of loosely packed parent biopolymers. These findings emphasize the relative vulnerability of coastal wetland SOM when exposed to oxygenated water due to geological and anthropogenic changes.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Substituent and Heteroatom Effects on π–π Interactions: Evidence That Parallel-Displaced π-Stacking is Not Driven by Quadrupolar Electrostatics
Stacking interactions are a recurring motif in supramolecular chemistry and biochemistry, where a persistent theme is a preference for parallel-displaced aromatic rings rather than face-to-face π-stacking. This is usually explained in terms of quadrupole–quadrupole interactions between the arene moieties but that interpretation is inconsistent with accurate calculations, which reveal that the quadrupolar picture is qualitatively wrong. At typical π-stacking distances, quadrupolar electrostatics may differ in sign from an exact calculation based on charge densities of the interacting arenes. We apply symmetry-adapted perturbation theory to dimers composed of substituted benzene and various aromatic heterocycles, which display a wide range of electrostatic interactions, and we investigate the interplay of Pauli repulsion, dispersion, and electrostatics as it pertains to parallel-displaced π-stacking. Profiles of energy components along cofacial slip-stacking coordinates support a prominent role for the “van der Waals model” (dispersion in competition with Pauli repulsion), even for polar monomers where electrostatic interactions are significant. While electrostatic interactions are necessary to explain the optimal face-to-face π-stacking distance and to account for the relative orientation of one polar arene with respect to another, we find no evidence to support continued invocation of quadrupolar electrostatics as a basis for π-stacking. Our results suggest that a driving force for offset-stacking exists even in the absence of electrostatic interactions. Consequently, tuning electrostatics via functionalization does not guarantee that slip-stacking can be avoided. This has implications for rational design of soft materials and other supramolecular architectures.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Aligning the Induced Anisotropy of Isotropic Nanoparticles with Liquid Crystals
Thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs) present opportunities for synergistic interactions with ligand-functionalized nanoparticles (NPs). Understanding the dynamics and structures of ligand-coated NPs in an anisotropic LC environment allows for better design and control of versatile LC-NP hybrid materials. Here, simulations and experiments yield direct evidence that cyanobiphenyl LCs induce anisotropy in the biphenylalkyl ligand shells of spherical NPs. The ellipsoidal NP aligns with the LC director. Magnetic fields can dictate the directional ordering of mesogens and consequently allow control of the orientation of the nonmagnetic NPs. Further, controlling the alignment and deformation advances the design and engineering of these hybrid nanomaterials.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
A Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Exhibiting Room Temperature Spin-Correlated Radical Pair Character for Biological Sensing
We report a water-soluble conjugated oligoelectrolyte (COE) composed of carbazole-benzophenone, COE-CbzBP, that exhibits photogenerated spin-correlated radical pair (SCRP) behavior sensitive to static electric fields from DNA but not from lipid bilayers. The SCRP forms from a thermally activated, spin-polarized state enabled by partial π-conjugation disruption at the donor–acceptor (carbazole-benzophenone) nitrogen–carbon (N–C) junction, which facilitates a twisted intramolecular charge-transfer (TICT) geometry. This state minimizes the singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔE ST = 0.12 eV), radical–pair exchange coupling (J RP ∼ ΔE ST /2), and charge separation free energy (ΔG CS ) in both DNA (−0.19 eV) and lipid bilayers (−0.55 eV). Room-temperature continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW-EPR) reveals a photogenerated spin-polarized singlet for COE-CbzBP that splits upon DNA association, consistent with modulation of J RP and hyperfine coupling (A x ), presumably via electric field-spin coupling. No spin-polarized signal was observed under dark, cryogenic conditions, or in liposomes, but was quenched by the spin trap 4-POBN. Transient absorption and spectroelectrochemistry confirmed magnetic-field sensitive long-lived excited-state absorption features attributed to charge-separated states 3 [Cbz •+ -BP •– ]*, which were lengthened by DNA, and quenched in lipid bilayers and 4-POBN. Quantum chemical simulations show that planar geometries (lipid-like) increase ΔE ST by 0.31 eV compared to TICT-optimized structures. This geometry-dependent modulation explains the absence of SCRP signatures in rigid environments, underscoring the importance of TICT states, minimized ΔE ST , and favorable ΔG CS for achieving room-temperature SCRP generation. These findings establish design principles for TICT-enabled molecules exhibiting qubit-like behavior that operate under ambient and biologically relevant conditions, with direct implications for quantum information science (QIS).
Aromatic compounds↗
An Unconventional Dark Radical Chemistry in Dense Molecular Clouds: Directed Gas-Phase Formation of Naphthyl Radicals
The synthetic pathways to aromatic molecules inside photon-shielded dense molecular clouds remain a fundamental, unsolved enigma in astrochemistry and astrophysics, with low-temperature molecular growth routes involving aromatic radicals, such as prototype bicyclic naphthyl (C 10 H 7 • ), implicated as key sources. Here, exploiting crossed molecular beam experiments augmented by electronic structure calculations, unexpected pathways are exposed leading to the gas-phase formation of 1- and 2-naphthyl via barrierless bimolecular reactions of atomic carbon (C) with indene (C 9 H 8 ) and of dicarbon (C 2 ) with styrene (C 8 H 8 ) accompanied by ring expansion and cyclization together with aromatization. These facile routes challenge conventional wisdom that aromatic radicals are formed in deep space solely via “bright” gas-phase photochemistry of their closed-shell polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) precursors. A hitherto disregarded “dark” aromatic radical chemistry with aromatic radicals synthesized via gas-phase reactions offers new concepts on the chemical evolution of the chemistry of dark molecular clouds eventually culminating in the rapid formation of aromatics, fullerenes, and carbonaceous nanostructures.
Aromatic compounds↗
Solvent Polarity Independent Symmetry-Breaking Charge Separation in a Slip-Stacked Covalent Terrylene Monoimide Dimer
The design of organic materials capable of efficient photoinduced charge separation in low-polarity environments is a critical challenge for advancing organic photovoltaics. Symmetry-breaking charge separation (SB-CS) offers a promising route to efficient charge separation with minimal energy loss; however, in conventional organic materials this process typically relies on polar solvents to stabilize the charge-separated state. Here, we investigate a slip-stacked terrylene monoimide dimer (TMI 2 ) engineered with intrinsic electronic asymmetry to circumvent this limitation. We demonstrate through a comprehensive suite of ultrafast spectroscopic techniques that TMI 2 undergoes remarkably efficient SB-CS regardless of solvent polarity enabled by the permanent dipole moment of TMI and the accessible intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) character of its monomer units. Furthermore, analysis of vibronic coherences reveals that the initial state mixing is actively driven by a 193 cm –1 intermolecular mode, while the final SB-CS state is marked by a distinct vibrational fingerprint of the radical ion pair product. Our findings reveal how the intrinsic electronic asymmetry of the TMI monomers that constitute TMI 2 creates an efficient charge separation pathway that precludes the need for external stabilization from a polar solvent. Here, this work establishes a powerful molecular design principle for leveraging intrinsic monomeric asymmetry to achieve efficient charge separation in low-dielectric environments, with significant implications for the development of next-generation organic optoelectronic materials.
Aromatic compounds↗
Torsional Flexibility Tuning of Hexa-Carboxylate Ligands to Unlock Distinct Topological Access to Zirconium Metal–Organic Frameworks
Zirconium-based metal–organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) exhibit remarkable structural diversity and functionality. However, uncovering new topological types within this family remains a considerable challenge today. Herein, we report two new hexa-topic ligands designed through the introduction of torsional flexibility, which enable the construction of two Zr-MOFs featuring rare network topologies. The (4,4′,4″,4‴,4‴′,4‴′′-((2-carboxybenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(9H-carbazole-9,3,6-triyl))hexabenzoic acid ligand (BTCH)) was obtained by replacing the rigid triptycene core in the H6PET-1 ligand (4,4′,4″,4‴,4‴′,4‴′′-(9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1,2]benzenoanthracene-2,3,6,7,14,15-hexayl)hexabenzoic acid) with a benzene-tricarbazole unit. Owing to its torsionally flexible core that allows rotational freedom to the arms, this ligand directs the construction of NU-2620 (NU represents Northwestern University), a Zr-MOF with 8-connected Zr6 clusters and the rare nuh topology. Further flexibilization of the carbazole units to benzene rings yielded the even more torsionally flexible 5′,5‴-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-5″-(4,4″-dicarboxy-[1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl]-5′-yl)-[1,1′:3′,1″:3″,1‴:3‴,1‴′-quinquephenyl]-4,4‴′-dicarboxylic acid ligand (CCTT), which forms NU-2630 featuring 6-connected clusters and the pcu topology. Both frameworks exhibit good chemical stability, prompting evaluation of their performance in CO2 photoreduction catalysis. Under low-concentration CO2 conditions, NU-2620 displays markedly higher catalytic activity than its benzene-based analogue, NU-2630, thanks to the abundance of photoactive carbazole units within its structure. These results demonstrate that introducing torsional flexibility in high-connected linkers can unlock access to new topologies and accelerates the reticular expansion of Zr-MOFs.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Mimicking Extradiol Dioxygenase Reactivity on Iridium
Extradiol dioxygenases catalyze the cleavage of benzenediol (catechol) or vicinal aminophenols via oxygen atom insertion into the 2,3- C–C bond. These reactions are most often proposed to proceed through the migratory rearrangement of a d6 alkylperoxide, generating the corresponding d 6 ring expanded product. However, regiospecific insertion remains a rare outcome among synthetic model complexes. Here, a dioxygenated Ir complex (2) converts to (a) the paramagnetic metallatrioxolane (3) and (b) oxygen atom inserted products (4) and (5); all three complexes are third-row metal analogues of enzymatic intermediates. The conversion of 2 to 3 was triggered by an H• abstraction, generating a third-row metallatrioxolane that is one electron reduced from the canonical d 6 alkylperoxide. Alternatively, photolysis of 2 (467 nm) results in ring-expanded product 4, from which an H• can be abstracted to generate 5. This latter complex is also one electron reduced relative to the canonical ring expansion product. Because extradiol mechanisms were largely defined using Fe(II) metallocofactors, 3 and 5 may be especially relevant to the known Co(II) accepting variants. We propose these states became synthetically accessible via the incorporation of a catechol-like substrate into the larger, multidentate ligand L1. This perturbation enhances the affinity of L1 (and related intermediates) to the metal. The same perturbation may have also been key in characterizing the first κ 2 -bound, dianionic ortho ester ligand – the observed binding mode in the x-ray structure of 5. Broadly, we propose through this case study that connecting abiological dioxygen complexes to non-heme oxygenase-like intermediates might be a “roadmap” towards regiospecific aerobic oxygenations.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Transient Triamidoamine Neptunium(V)–Mono(Imido) Complexes: C–H Activations and Hydrogen Atom Transfer Driven by Effective Nuclear Charge
Metal-mono(imido) linkages have been known for seven decades, and they are found in transition metal, main group, lanthanide, thorium, and uranium complexes. However, transuranium-mono(imido) complexes remain unknown in any scenario. Here, we present evidence for transient neptunium(V)–mono(imido) complexes. Treatment of [Np III (Tren TIPS )] (1, Tren TIPS = {N(CH 2 CH 2 NSiPr i 3 ) 3 } 3– ) with N 3 R (R = SiMe 3 ; 1-adamantyl, Ad) results in N 2 evolution and dark purple solutions consistent with the formation of [Np V (Tren TIPS )(NR)] (3NpNR). However, solutions of 3NpNR rapidly turn orange, where for R = SiMe 3 the isolated 1:1 products are [Np IV (Tren TIPS ){N(H)SiMe 3 }] (4a) and [Np IV (Tren TIPS-2H ){N(H)SiMe 3 }] (4b, Tren TIPS-2H = {N(CH 2 CH 2 NS i Pri 3 ) 2 (NCH 2 CH 2 NSiPr i 2 C[Me]=CH 2 )} 3– ). The latter contains a dehydrogenated-Pr i vinyl functionality accounting for the source of the two amido H atoms. The reaction for R = Ad proceeds similarly, but only [Np IV (Tren TIPS ){N(H)Ad}] (5a) could be unequivocally confirmed, though its isolation suggests generality of the imido-to-amido functional group transformation. Complexes 4a/4b exhibit slow relaxation of their magnetization, adding to the small number of transuranium single ion magnets. Experimental and computational analysis suggests that the amido products are formed by C–H activation and two sequential hydrogen atom transfer reactions involving a three-step proton-coupled electron-transfer sequence of H • radical abstraction, electron transfer, then another H • radical abstraction step. In contrast to transient 3NpNR, the 5f 2 uranium(IV)-imido complex [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][U IV (Tren TIPS )(NSiMe 3 )] (8UNSiMe 3 ) is robust, even in boiling THF, suggesting the transience of 5f 2 3NpNR is not due to the 5f n -count but the increased effective nuclear charge of neptunium vs uranium. This work highlights divergence of uranium- and neptunium-imido stabilities, emphasizing that the latter is an inherently challenging synthetic target.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
Group 4 Metallocenes Supported on Sulfated Zirconium Oxide Catalyze Benzene C–H Borylation
C−H bond functionalization of arenes with boranes continues to be a challenge in catalysis, with late transition and rare earth metals shown to be catalytically active. In this study, group 4 metallocenes grafted onto acidic sulfated zirconia (SZO) are demonstrated to catalyze arene borylation with pinacolborane (HBpin). Catalysis studies at partial HBpin conversions (59−68%) using Cp 2 M(Me)/SZO (M = Ti, Zr, or Hf; Cp = cyclopentadienyl) catalysts reveal that Zr exhibits greater selectivity and activity than Ti and Hf. At 0.16 mol % of Zr, Cp 2 ZrMe/SZO achieves 332 turnovers at high HBpin conversion (86%), making this catalyst comparably active to previously reported Ir and Rh C−H borylation catalysts. At 160 °C, a maximum chemoselectivity of 82% for PhBpin was observed at 24% HBpin conversion. The superior activity of ionic Cp 2 ZrMe/SZO compared to neutral Cp 2 ZrMe/SiO 2 demonstrates the borylation mechanism relies on the highly electrophilic, coordinatively unsaturated cationic sites stabilized by the weakly coordinating sulfated support. Furthermore, both catalysts significantly outperform their molecular analogues, Cp 2 ZrMe 2 and [Cp 2 ZrMe][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ], suggesting that the support enhances catalytic performance by stabilizing the active species.
Aromatic compounds↗
Controlled Placement of Trivalent Heteroatoms in MFI Zeolite Frameworks Using Structure-Directing Agents
MFI zeolites contain distinct confining pore environments, either smaller (∼0.55 nm) channels or larger (∼0.70 nm) intersections. The substitution of trivalent heteroatoms generates Brønsted acid sites of varying acid strength, which, together with their location within different pore environments, dictates the stability of transition states via electrostatic (ion-pair) and van der Waals interactions. Here, we report that structure-directing agents (SDAs) that control Al 3+ substitutional patterns during MFI crystallization analogously position other trivalent heteroatoms (Ga 3+ , Fe 3+ , B 3+ ), altering the distribution of acid sites between channels and intersections, as probed by low-temperature (403 K) toluene methylation kinetics. Heteroatom-substituted MFI crystallized with tetrapropylammonium result in low selectivity toward p-xylene (<30%), while those crystallized using (co-)SDAs containing peripheral hydrogen-bonding groups (e.g., ethylenediamine) show high p-xylene selectivity (∼80%). These selectivities are consistent with DFT-calculated Gibbs free energy barriers for intersection-dominant and channel-dominant active site distributions, respectively. Transition states to form each xylene isomer are similar in size and charge; thus, their rate constants decrease with acid strength similarly, causing isomer selectivity to depend strongly on confinement but not on acid strength. These generalizable synthetic strategies enable independently controlling acid site strength and location in MFI zeolites and, in turn, catalytic rates and selectivities.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
A biosynthetic gene cluster for three post-chorismate pathways in Arabidopsis
Chorismate is a branch-point metabolite in the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids, vitamins, antibiotics and various other aromatic products in bacteria, fungi and plants. Although 13 chorismate-utilizing enzymes have been identified in bacteria, only 6 have been described in plants, where an estimated 30% of all photosynthetically fixed carbon passes through chorismate. Here, in this study, we describe a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) consisting of five core genes, including two reductases, two methyltransferases and one glucosyltransferase. Genetic and biochemical evidence shows that these five enzymes collectively give rise to three biosynthetic pathways, each originating from chorismate: two parallel pathways produce a class of non-aromatic, isomeric compounds abundant in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana, whereas the third pathway produces methylated and glucosylated chorismate derivatives that subsequently react non-enzymatically with glutathione. Genome analysis revealed that variants of this BGC are present in some but not all species in the Brassicaceae family. Taken together, our study uncovered a BGC, containing three chorismate-utilizing enzymes, that controls three distinct post-chorismate pathways in A. thaliana. This work not only advances our understanding of carbon flow in this model plant but also highlights that the biochemical complexity encoded by plant BGCs is greater than previously appreciated.
Peng, Meng [Ghent Univ. (Belgium); Flemish Institu↗
Biosensors for the detection of chorismate and cis,cis -muconic acid in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Abstract Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 is a promising microbial chassis for industrial production of valuable compounds, including aromatic amino acids derived from the shikimate pathway. In this work, we developed two whole-cell, transcription factor based fluorescent biosensors to track cis,cis-muconic acid (ccMA) and chorismate in C. glutamicum. Chorismate is a key intermediate in the shikimate pathway from which value-added chemicals can be produced, and a shunt from the shikimate pathway can divert carbon to ccMA, a high value chemical. We transferred a ccMA-inducible transcription factor, CatM, from Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 into C. glutamicum and screened a promoter library to isolate variants with high sensitivity and dynamic range to ccMA by providing benzoate, which is converted to ccMA intracellularly. The biosensor also detected exogenously supplied ccMA, suggesting the presence of a putative ccMA transporter in C. glutamicum, though the external ccMA concentration threshold to elicit a response was 100-fold higher than the concentration of benzoate required to do so through intracellular ccMA production. We then developed a chorismate biosensor, in which a chorismate inducible promoter regulated by natively expressed QsuR was optimized to exhibit a dose-dependent response to exogenously supplemented quinate (a chorismate precursor). A chorismate–pyruvate lyase encoding gene, ubiC, was introduced into C. glutamicum to lower the intracellular chorismate pool, which resulted in loss of dose dependence to quinate. Further, a knockout strain that blocked the conversion of quinate to chorismate also resulted in absence of dose dependence to quinate, validating that the chorismate biosensor is specific to intracellular chorismate pool. The ccMA and chorismate biosensors were dually inserted into C. glutamicum to simultaneously detect intracellularly produced chorismate and ccMA. Biosensors, such as those developed in this study, can be applied in C. glutamicum for multiplex sensing to expedite pathway design and optimization through metabolic engineering in this promising chassis organism. One-Sentence Summary High-throughput screening of promoter libraries in Corynebacterium glutamicum to establish transcription factor based biosensors for key metabolic intermediates in shikimate and β-ketoadipate pathways.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
Feedstock variability impacts the bioconversion of sugar and lignin streams derived from corn stover by Clostridium tyrobutyricum and engineered Pseudomonas putida
Abstract Feedstock variability represents a challenge in lignocellulosic biorefineries, as it can influence both lignocellulose deconstruction and microbial conversion processes for biofuels and biochemicals production. The impact of feedstock variability on microbial performance remains underexplored, and predictive tools for microbial behaviour are needed to mitigate risks in biorefinery scale‐up. Here, twelve batches of corn stover were deconstructed via deacetylation, mechanical refining, and enzymatic hydrolysis to generate lignin‐rich and sugar streams. These batches and their derived streams were characterised to identify their chemical components, and the streams were used as substrates for producing muconate and butyrate by engineered Pseudomonas putida and wildtype Clostridium tyrobutyricum , respectively. Bacterial performance (growth, product titers, yields, and productivities) differed among the batches, but no strong correlations were identified between feedstock composition and performance. To provide metabolic insights into the origin of these differences, we evaluated the effect of twenty‐three isolated chemical components on these microbes, including three components in relevant bioprocess settings in bioreactors, and we found that growth‐inhibitory concentrations were outside the ranges observed in the streams. Overall, this study generates a foundational dataset on P. putida and C. tyrobutyricum performance to enable future predictive models and underscores their resilience in effectively converting fluctuating lignocellulose‐derived streams into bioproducts.
09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
Equilibria between metallic sodium and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Temperature effect on absorption spectrum in equilibria between metallic sodium and aromatic hydrocarbons
SODIUM↗