A Family of Superhelicenes: Easily Tunable, Chiral Nanographenes by Merging Helicity with Planar π Systems

We designed a straightforward synthetic route towards a full-fledged family of π-extended helicenes: superhelicenes. They have two hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes (HBCs) in common that are connected via a central five-membered ring. By means of structurally altering this 5-membered ring, we realized a versatile library of molecular building blocks. Not only the superhelicene structure, but also their features are tuned with ease. In-depth physico-chemical characterizations served as a proof of concept thereof. The superhelicene enantiomers were separated, their circular dichroism was measured in preliminary studies and concluded with an enantiomeric assignment. Our work was rounded-off by crystal structure analyses. Mixed stacks of M- and P-isomers led to twisted molecular wires. Using such stacks, charge-carrier mobilities were calculated, giving reason to expect outstanding hole transporting properties.

Controlling and Fine-Tuning Charge-Transfer Emission in 2,6-Dicyanoaniline Multichromophores Prepared through Domino Reactions: Entry to a Potentially New Class of OLEDs

Substituted 2,6-dicyanoanilines are versatile electron donor-acceptor compounds, which have recently received considerable attention, since they exhibit strong fluorescence and may have utility in the synthesis of fluorescent materials, non-natural photosynthetic systems, and materials with nonlinear optical properties. The majority of known synthetic procedures are, however, "stop-and-go" reaction processes involving time-consuming and waste-producing isolation and purification of product intermediates. Here, we present the synthesis of substituted 2,6-dicyanoanilines via atom-economical and eco-friendly one-pot processes, involving metal-free domino reactions, and their subsequent photochemical and photophysical measurements and theoretical calculations. These studies exhibit the existence of an easily tunable radical ion pair-based charge-transfer (CT) emission in the synthesized 2,6-dicyanoaniline-based electron donor-acceptor systems. The charge-transfer processes were explored by photochemical and radiation chemical measurements, in particular, based on femtosecond laser photolysis transient absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved emission spectroscopy, accompanied by pulse radiolysis and complemented by quantum chemical investigations employing time-dependent density-functional theory. This chromophore class exhibits a broad-wavelength-range fine-tunable charge recombination emission with high photoluminescence quantum yields up to 0.98. Together with its rather simple and cost-effective synthesis (using easily available starting materials) and customizable properties, it renders this class of compounds feasible candidates as potential dyes for future optoelectronic devices like organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

Extraction of source functions of surface photovoltage transients at very short times

The measurement of surface photovoltage (SPV) transients over 12 orders of magnitude in time was recently demonstrated [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 88, 053904 (2017)]. In dedicated experiments, however, a high-impedance buffer shall be placed outside the measurement chamber, which has consequences for SPV measurements at very short times. By varying the LCR circuit of a measurement configuration, applying a multi-parameter fit and simulating the corresponding SPV transients, we show, on the examples of highly doped silicon and a CdS thin film, that the source function of SPV transients can be reconstructed with a resolution time better than 1 ns.

Back Cover: Deeper Insight into the Six-Step Domino Reaction of Aldehydes with Malononitrile and Evaluation of Antiviral and Antimalarial Activities of the Obtained Bicyclic Products (ChemistryOpen 3/2017)

The Back Cover picture highlights the easy generation of complex azabicyclic and carbobicyclic molecules from two simple compounds in a single operation through a highly efficient six‐step domino reaction. Within a multi‐step domino reaction, one transformation triggers the next, similar to a row of dominoes where one tile hits the next. The in vitro studies against the herpes virus and malaria reveal domino products as highly active compounds, outperforming the clinical reference drugs ganciclovir and chloroquine. More information can be found in the Full Paper by S. B. Tsogoeva and co‐workers on page 364 in Issue 3, 2017 (10.1002/open.201700005).

Deeper Insight into the Six-Step Domino Reaction of Aldehydes with Malononitrile and Evaluation of Antiviral and Antimalarial Activities of the Obtained Bicyclic Products

The straightforward and efficient synthesis of complex aza‐ and carbobicyclic compounds, which are of importance for medicinal chemistry, is a challenge for modern chemical methodology. An unprecedented metal‐free six‐step domino reaction of aldehydes with malononitrile was presented in our previous study to provide, in a single operation, these bicyclic nitrogen‐containing molecules. Presented here is a deeper investigation of this atom‐economical domino process by extending the scope of aldehydes, performing post‐modifications of domino products, applying bifunctional organocatalysts and comprehensive NMR studies of selected domino products. The thermodynamic aspects of the overall reaction are also demonstrated using DFT methods in conjunction with a semi‐empirical treatment of van der Waals interactions. Furthermore, biological studies of seven highly functionalized and artemisinin‐containing domino products against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 are presented. Remarkably, in vitro tests against HCMV revealed five domino products to be highly active compounds (EC₅₀ 0.071–1.8 μm), outperforming the clinical reference drug ganciclovir (EC₅₀ 2.6 μm). Against P. falciparum 3D7, three of the investigated artemisinin‐derived domino products (EC₅₀ 0.72–1.8 nm) were more potent than the clinical drug chloroquine (EC₅₀ 9.1 nm).

High precision differential measurement of surface photovoltage transients on ultrathin CdS layers

Time-resolved surface photovoltage (SPV) is an important method for studying charge separation, for example, in nanostructured semiconductors. High precision differential measurement of SPV transients was realized with two identical measurement capacitors and high-impedance buffers. In addition, logarithmic readout and averaging procedures were implemented for single transients over eight magnitudes in time. As a model system ultrathin CdS layers were investigated. The thickness dependencies of the SPV amplitudes and that of the dominating relaxation mechanisms are demonstrated and discussed.

Inhibitory effect of calcium channel blockers on human mesangial cell growth: evidence for actions independent of L-type Ca2+ channels

Calcium channel blockers (CCB) are known to affect the outcome of glomerulosclerosis in vivo and to suppress mesangial cell proliferation and cytokine production in vitro. It is uncertain, however, whether (i) human adult mesangial cells (HMC) express L-type Ca2+ channels and (ii) whether the effect of CCB on HMC is mediated by inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channels. In single cell preparations of HMC, the L-type Ca2+ channel agonist Bay K 8644 and K+-depolarization of the cell membrane caused a transient increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in 60 to 80% of the cells. The CCB verapamil and nifedipine partially inhibited the effect of Bay K 8644 and K+-depolarization on [Ca2+]i. Binding experiments confirmed these functional studies by showing specific binding at the phenylalkylamine binding site of L-Type Ca2+ channels. Quiescent HMC were stimulated with fetal calf serum (FCS) or growth factors (platelet derived growth factor A/B, epidermal growth factor, angiotensin II, endothelin 1) in the presence of various concentrations (10(-10) to 10(-5) M) of different CCB: either (R)-verapamil, (S)-verapamil or the raceme of verapamil, and nifedipine or diltiazem, respectively. In addition, the enantiomers of devapamil were studied, because their action on the L-type Ca2+ channel is more stereoselective than that of the enantiomers of verapamil. At high concentrations (10(-6) to 10(-5) M) (R,S)-verapamil decreased cell numbers in cultures of quiescent HMC, increased LDH in the supernatant, and caused loss of trypan blue exclusion (cytotoxicity). At lower concentrations (R,S)-verapamil showed no cytotoxicity, but had two effects: (1.) concentration dependent (down to 10(-8) M) inhibition of indices of cell proliferation, that is, (i) stimulated (FCS or growth factor) 3H-thymidine incorporation and (ii) increment in cell number; and (2.) inhibition of indices of cell or matrix protein synthesis, that is, (i) stimulated 3H-methionine incorporation and (ii) 3H-proline incorporation. At equimolar concentrations the dihydropyridine nifedipine was equipotent with verapamil, whereas the benzothiazepine diltiazem was conspicuously less effective. Even at the lowest effective concentration (10(-8) M) comparison of (R)- and (S)-verapamil showed no significant difference between the enantiomer with weak or with strong effect on L-type Ca2+ channels, and this was true even when the more stereoselective enantiomers of devapamil were tested. These observations argue against the notion that effects of CCB result from specific interaction with L-type Ca2+ channels. The data are more consistent with the idea that interactions with targets other than L-type Ca2+ channels are involved.

Angiotensin II induces hypertrophy and hyperplasia in adult human mesangial cells

Several experimental studies point to a potential role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the progression of glomerulosclerosis even in the absence of glomerular hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that Ang II acts as a growth factor for adult human mesangial cells (AHMC). AHMC were isolated from noninvolved parts of tumor nephrectomy specimens and grown in RPMI medium with the addition of fetal calf serum (FCS). All studies were performed with growth-arrested cells. Proliferation studies were done in serum-free standard growth medium (SF) with the addition of either various concentrations of insulin, plasma-derived serum, or FCS. Ang II (10(-10) to 10(-6) M) dose dependently increased the 3H-thymidine uptake of AHMC up to 57 +/- 13% over solvent controls (p < 0.01). In parallel, the DNA content was 36 +/- 10% higher (p < 0.05) than in solvent controls after 2 days of culture. The cell numbers were higher up to 47 +/- 8% in Ang II (10(-6) M) stimulated cultures after 4 days of incubation (p < 0.01). The effect of Ang II was specific, since it was almost completely obliterated by the AT1 receptor antagonist DuP753. The effect of Ang II was particularly marked when cultures were incubated with SF plus high concentrations (1.7 x 10(-6) M) of insulin or SF plus 10% plasma-derived serum. In contrast, the effect was not significant when cultures were incubated with SF plus 10% FCS. Ang II, when added to platelet-derived growth factor at various concentrations, did not further increase the proliferation. The effect on protein synthesis was assessed in growth-arrested AHMC by 3H-methionine uptake and protein/DNA ratio in cell lysates. Ang II (10(-10) to 10(-6) M) dose dependently increased the 3H-methionine uptake of AHMC up to 47 +/- 10% over solvent controls (p < 0.01). In parallel Ang II (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) dose dependently increased the 3H-methionine uptake of the protein/DNA ratio by 24 +/- 6% after 48 h of incubation. DuP753 obliterated the stimulatory effect of Ang II. Ang II (10(-6) M) also increased the mRNA of the immediate-early growth-related gene Egr-1. We conclude that Ang II induces hypertrophy and proliferation in adult human mesangial cells. This result is of interest with respect to a potential role of Ang II in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis in humans.