Dynamic covalent chemistry relates to chemical reactions carried out reversibly under conditions of equilibrium control. The reversible nature of the reactions introduces the prospects of "error checking" and "proof-reading" into synthetic processes where dynamic covalent chemistry operates. Since the formation of products occurs under thermodynamic control, product distributions depend only on the relative stabilities of the final products. In kinetically controlled reactions, however, it is the free energy differences between the transition states leading to the products that determines their relative proportions. Supramolecular chemistry has had a huge impact on synthesis at two levels: one is noncovalent synthesis, or strict self-assembly, and the other is supramolecular assistance to molecular synthesis, also referred to as self-assembly followed by covalent modification. Noncovalent synthesis has given us access to finite supermolecules and infinite supramolecular arrays. Supramolecular assistance to covalent synthesis has been exploited in the construction of more-complex systems, such as interlocked molecular compounds (for example, catenanes and rotaxanes) as well as container molecules (molecular capsules). The appealing prospect of also synthesizing these types of compounds with complex molecular architectures using reversible covalent bond forming chemistry has led to the development of dynamic covalent chemistry. Historically, dynamic covalent chemistry has played a central role in the development of conformational analysis by opening up the possibility to be able to equilibrate configurational isomers, sometimes with base (for example, esters) and sometimes with acid (for example, acetals). These stereochemical "balancing acts" revealed another major advantage that dynamic covalent chemistry offers the chemist, which is not so easily accessible in the kinetically controlled regime: the ability to re-adjust the product distribution of a reaction, even once the initial products have been formed, by changing the reaction's environment (for example, concentration, temperature, presence or absence of a template). This highly transparent, yet tremendously subtle, characteristic of dynamic covalent chemistry has led to key discoveries in polymer chemistry. In this review, some recent examples where dynamic covalent chemistry has been demonstrated are shown to emphasise the basic concepts of this area of science.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/1521-3773%2820020503%2941%3A9%3C1460%3A%3AAID-ANIE11111460%3E3.0.CO%3B2-N

Dynamic covalent chemistry.

3.2. Thienothiophenes 1216 3.2.1. Thieno[3,4-b]thiophene Analogues 1216 3.2.2. Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Analogues 1217 3.2.3. Thieno[2,3-b]thiophene Analogues 1218 3.3. , ′-Bridged Bithiophenes 1219 3.3.1. Dithienothiophene (DTT) Analogues 1220 3.3.2. Dithieno[3,2-b:2′3′-d]thiophene-4,4-dioxides 1221 3.3.3. Dithienosilole (DTS) Analogues 1221 3.3.4. Cyclopentadithiophene (CPDT) Analogues 1221 3.3.5. Nitrogen and Phosphor Atom Bridged Bithiophenes 1222

Functional oligothiophenes: molecular design for multidimensional nanoarchitectures and their applications.

The convergence of our understanding of structure-property relationships for selected biological macromolecules and our increased ability to prepare large synthetic macromolecules with a structural precision that approaches that of proteins have spawned a new area of research where chemistry and materials science join with biology. While evolution has enabled nature to perfect processes involving energy transfer or catalysis by incorporating functions such as self-replication and repair, synthetic macromolecules still depend on our synthetic skills and abilities to mesh structure and function in our designs. Clearly, we can take advantage of our understanding of natural systems to mimic the structural features that lead to optimized function. For example, numerous biological systems make use of the concept of site isolation whereby an active center or catalytic site is encapsulated, frequently within a protein, to afford properties that would not be encountered in the bulk state. The ability of the dendritic shell to encapsulate functional core moieties and to create specific site-isolated nanoenvironments, and thereby affect molecular properties, has been explored. By utilizing the distinct properties of the dendrimer architecture active sites that have either photophysical, photochemical, electrochemical, or catalytic functions have been placed at the core. Applying the general concept of site isolation to problems in materials research is likely to prove extremely fruitful in the long term, with short-term applications in areas such as the construction of improved optoelectronic devices. This review focuses on the evolution of a natural design principle that contributes to bridging the gap between biology and materials science. The recent progress in the synthesis of dendrimer-encapsulated molecules and their study by a variety of techniques is discussed. These investigations have implications that range from the preliminary design of artificial enzymes, catalysts, or light-harvesting systems to the construction of insulated molecular wires, light-emitting diodes, and fiber optics.

Dendritic Encapsulation of Function: Applying Nature's Site Isolation Principle from Biomimetics to Materials Science.

Porphyrin-based photosensitizers for use in photodynamic therapy

Porphyrins and phthalocyanines have outstanding chemical and thermal stability. The macrocyclic structure and chemical reactivity of tetrapyrroles offers architectural flexibility and facilitates the tailoring of chemical, physical and optoelectronic parameters. The specific optical properties of the tetrapyrrole macrocycle combined with the synthetic methodologies now available and the already available theoretical and spectroscopic knowledge on their optical behavior make porphyrins a target of choice for this area. They are versatile organic nanomaterials with a rich photochemistry and their excited state properties are easily modulated through conformational design, molecular symmetry, metal complexation, orientation and strength of the molecular dipole moment, size and degree of conjugation of the π-systems, and appropriate donor-acceptor substituents. Here we review the structural chemistry and optical properties of recently synthesized porphyrin derivatives that offer potential for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications and complement existing studies on phthalocyanines. Classes of interest include the classic A4 symmetric tetrapyrroles, while optimized systems include push-pull porphyrins, oligomeric and supramolecular self-assembled systems, films and nanoparticle systems, and highly conjugated porphyrin arrays.

Nonlinear Optical Properties of Porphyrins

We present a new synthetic strategy for preparing tetraphenylporphyrins that should greatly expand synthetic entries into porphyrin containing model systems. Pyrrole and the desired benzaldehyde react reversibly at room temperature with trace acid catalysis to form the cyclic tetraphenylporphyrinogen at thermodynamic equilibrium. An oxidant is then added to irreversibly convert the porphyrinogen to the porphyrin. The greater stability of the cyclic porphyrinogen over the open-chain polypyrrylmethanes occurs when the reaction is performed at moderate dilution (10-2 M). The reaction at high dilution or high concentration affords a negligible yield of the cyclic porphyrinogen. Porphyrinogen exchange reactions provide proof of equilibrium. This methodology is complementary to the Adler-Longo procedure, allowing small quantities of porphyrins to be prepared from sensitive aldehydes in 30-40% yield without difficult purification problems. This methodology is also extended to the preparation of meso-tetraalkylporphyrins and one hybrid porphyrin containing both aryl and alkyl substituents. The mild reaction conditions and convenience of this method permit consideration of new design strategies in preparing complex porphyrins.

Rothemund and Adler-Longo reactions revisited: synthesis of tetraphenylporphyrins under equilibrium conditions

Synthesis of tetraphenylporphyrins under very mild conditions

Rothemund and Adler‐Longo Reactions Revisited: Synthesis of Tetraphenylporphyrins Under Equilibrium Conditions.

Reaction of pyrrole and an aromatic aldehyde at room temperature affords the corresponding tetraarylporphyrinogen in high yield at thermodynamic equilibrium. Oxidation yields the porphyrin. The reaction conditions are of broad scope.

Henry C. Hsu

Papers

Rothemund and Adler-Longo reactions revisited: synthesis of tetraphenylporphyrins under equilibrium conditions

Synthesis of tetraphenylporphyrins under very mild conditions

Rothemund and Adler‐Longo Reactions Revisited: Synthesis of Tetraphenylporphyrins Under Equilibrium Conditions.

Synthesis of Tetraphenylporphyrins Under very Mild Conditions.