Dynamic Covalent Platform for Chiroptically Tunable Figure-Eight Macrocycles from Preorganized Alkaloidal Scaffolds
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Chiral D 2 -symmetric figure-eight macrocycles with extended π-conjugated systems represent versatile scaffolds for developing advanced chiroptical materials. Here, we present a dynamic covalent platform that transforms a preorganized alkaloidal bispyrrolidinoindoline (BPI) scaffold into a series of chiroptically tunable figure-eight macrocycles through thermodynamically controlled imine formation. Strategic installation of aryl-ethynyl substituents precisely preorganized the BPI scaffold, enabling highly efficient macrocyclization (up to a 81% yield) under reversible imine-forming conditions. This modular approach allowed systematic assembly of diverse intercrossing chromophores, affording 44–90-membered macrocycles exhibiting predictable variations in both optical and chiroptical responses. Postsynthetic conversion of dynamic imine linkages into rigid π-extended B–N chelates via boranil formation further fixed the macrocyclic conformation, producing a bright orange emitter (Φ fl = 0.54) with enhanced circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) activity ( g lum = 1.97 × 10 –3 ). This work establishes a general design principle integrating dynamic covalent chemistry and conformational preorganization to generate functional figure-eight macrocycles, translating natural-product-inspired molecular architecture into tunable chiroptical materials.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Synthesis and Properties of Aromatic Compounds
Supramolecular Chemistry and Complexes
Organoboron and organosilicon chemistry
Publication details
- Journal / source
- JACS Au
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 1089–1101
- Publication date
- 5 February 2026
- Language
- EN