Search

Three novel tetracationic bis‐triarylboranes with 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) linkers, and their neutral precursors, showed significant red‐shifted absorption and emission compared to their thiophene‐containing analogues, with one of the EDOT‐derivatives emitting in the NIR region. Only the EDOT‐linked trixylylborane tetracation was stable in aqueous solution, indicating that direct attachment of a thiophene or even 3‐methylthiophene to the boron atom is insufficient to provide hydrolytic stability in aqueous solution. Further comparative analysis of the EDOT‐linked trixylylborane tetracation and its bis‐thiophene analogue revealed efficient photo‐induced singlet oxygen production, with the consequent biological implications. Thus, both analogues bind strongly to ds‐DNA and BSA, very efficiently enter living human cells, accumulate in several different cytoplasmic organelles with no toxic effect but, under intense visible light irradiation, they exhibit almost instantaneous and very strong cytotoxic effects, presumably attributed to singlet oxygen production. Thus, both compounds are intriguing theranostic agents, whose intracellular and probably intra‐tissue location can be monitored by strong fluorescence, allowing switching on of the strong bioactivity by well‐focused visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four different three-dimensional metal-fullerene frameworks were synthesized through polymerization of two C60-derived dodecaacids with varying alkyl spacers in the presence of Ca2+, Cu2+ or Cd2+ ions. Structural analysis of the frameworks was performed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and porosity of the materials was investigated by sorption measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridging the gap between fullerenes and MOFs: Against the background of the Golden Gate Bridge, various metal‐organic coordination motifs illustrate the great potential of highly functionalized [60]fullerene derivatives as organic connectivity centers in metal‐organic frameworks. In their Communication on page 15864 ff., Beuerle et al. report on the synthesis and crystallographic analysis of four new metal‐fullerene frameworks cross‐linked by Cu2+, Ca2+, or Cd2+ clusters that feature chiral pores or extended hydrogen‐bonding networks throughout the crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]