2023-07-22 04:00:03
Controlling the spatial arrangement of molecular fragments during their assembly into complex architectures is a challenge with many implications in therapeutic chemistry and materials science. In a study published in Chemical Science, chemists play Tetris with simple molecular bricks to form complex supramolecular assemblies with a remarkable level of stereochemical control.
Tetris of 8 simple basic bricks to form via disulphide bridges (in yellow) a complex supramolecular building carrying 16 stereochemical elements.
© Laurent Vial
From drugs to materials, the precise spatial arrangement of the different atoms (An atom (from the Greek ατομος, atomos, “that cannot be…) that make up a molecule (A molecule is an electrically neutral chemical assembly of at least two atoms, which…) or an assembly of molecules is a crucial parameter (A parameter is in the broad sense a piece of information to be taken into account…) which governs ( A control surface is a mobile surface acting in the air or in the water used to control a…) properties. We are talking about the stereochemical characteristics of molecules, the control of which during synthesis is essential. The most telling example are biopolymers such as DNA and proteins, whose folding properties and functions are largely dictated by the stereochemical characteristics of the units (nucleotides and amino acids) that constitute them. What nature seems to do so easily, however, turns out to be a real puzzle in chemistry (Chemistry is a natural science divided into several specialities, to…) synthesis. Catalytic stratagems and complex purification steps must be implemented to control the stereochemistry of synthetic (macro)molecules.
In this context, chemists from the Molecular and Supramolecular Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry (Biochemistry is the scientific discipline that studies chemical reactions that take place…) (CNRS/Claude Bernard University) and the Institute of Molecular Sciences of Marseille (CNRS/Aix (AIX is IBM’s UNIX-like operating system. AIX is the acronym for Advanced…) Marseille University) have recently developed point (Graphie) a biomimetic stratagem to build complex supramolecular buildings from basic bricks of simple geometry (Geometry is the part of mathematics that studies the shapes of space…). They show that an exceptional level of stereochemical control can be achieved by programming how these molecular building blocks fit together. A bit like a game of Tetris, but where the non-directional links and interactions between the bricks act like a stacking algorithm. Each new brick fits into the growing supramolecular edifice according to an arrangement guided by its already present neighbour. In concrete terms, the building blocks used are cyclic molecules capable of forming disulphide bridges between them. This interaction (An interaction is an exchange of information, affects or energy between two agents within…) and the minimization of the spatial encumbrance between the consecutive bricks govern their stacking.
This study, published in the journal Chemical Science, could for example help molecular biologists to explore the propagation of stereochemical information through the disulfide bridges that structure protein architectures (Architectures is a documentary series proposed by Frédéric Campain and Richard Copans,…). More generally in supramolecular chemistry, it opens the way to the production of polyfunctional architectures with a perfectly controlled structure from simple building blocks.
Reference
Self-assembly of Achiral Building Blocks into Chiral Cyclophanes using Non-directional Interactions
Y. Zhang, B. Ourri, P.-T. Skowron, E. Jeamet, T. Chetot, C. Duchamp, AM Belenguer, N. Vanthuyne, O. Cala, E. Dumont, PK Mandal, I. Huc, F. Perret, L. Vial, J. Leclaire.
Chem. Sci. 2023.
1690008558
#chemists #play #Tetris