Electronic decoupling of a cyclophane from a metal surface.

Electronic self-decoupling of an organic chromophore from a metal substrate is achieved using a naphtalenediimide cyclophane to spatially separate one chromophore unit of the cyclophane from the substrate. Observations of vibronic excitations in scanning tunneling spectra demonstrate the success of this approach. These excitations contribute a significant part of the tunneling current and give rise to clear structure in scanning tunneling microscope images. We suggest that this approach may be extended to implement molecular functions at metal surfaces.

Experimental evidence for the functional relevance of anion-pi interactions.

Attractive in theory and confirmed to exist, anion-pi interactions have never really been seen at work. To catch them in action, we prepared a collection of monomeric, cyclic and rod-shaped naphthalenediimide transporters. Their ability to exert anion-pi interactions was demonstrated by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry in combination with theoretical calculations. To relate this structural evidence to transport activity in bilayer membranes, affinity and selectivity sequences were recorded. pi-acidification and active-site decrowding increased binding, transport and chloride > bromide > iodide selectivity, and supramolecular organization inverted acetate > nitrate to nitrate > acetate selectivity. We conclude that anion-pi interactions on monomeric surfaces are ideal for chloride recognition, whereas their supramolecular enhancement by pi,pi-interactions appears perfect to target nitrate. Chloride transporters are relevant to treat channelopathies, and nitrate sensors to monitor cellular signaling and cardiovascular diseases. A big impact on organocatalysis can be expected from the stabilization of anionic transition states on chiral pi-acidic surfaces.

Planar chiral asymmetric naphthalenediimide cyclophanes: synthesis, characterization and tunable FRET properties.

A series of planar chiral asymmetric naphthalenediimide (NDI) cyclophanes () consisting of two different NDIs interlinked by rigid meta-dimethylenebenzene spacers was synthesized. A modular synthetic strategy based on the dichloro cyclophane as common precursor gave a straightforward access to racemic mixtures of the NDI cyclophane dyes . In particular the substitution of both chlorine atoms of by tert-butylsulfanyl-, methoxy- and piperidinyl-groups provided racemic mixtures of the fluorescent NDI cyclophane dyes , and respectively. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed chemically tuneable intramolecular FRET properties, as the spectral overlap between the emission of the unsubstituted NDI and the absorption of the core-substituted NDI subunit of the cyclophane could be adjusted by the core substituents. The racemic nature of the samples of cyclophanes , and in the case of the di-tert-butylsulfanyl functionalized cyclophane the enrichment of both enantiomers, was demonstrated by HPLC using a chiral stationary phase. The solid state structure of was determined by X-ray analysis. A periodic arrangement of both enantiomers of the planar chiral cyclophane in pillars such that NDI- and 2,6-core substituted NDI chromophores alternate periodically was observed.

A rigid sublimable naphthalenediimide cyclophane as model compound for UHV STM experiments.

The design, synthesis and characterization of a rigid naphthalenediimide cyclophane as a model compound for ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) STM experiments are described together with first self-assembly investigations on an Au(111) substrate displaying the formation of densely packed parallel rows of molecules.