Chemical Shift Analysis Research Articles

Accumulative Charging of Redox-Active Side-Chain-Modified Polymers: Experimental and Computational Insights from Oligo- to Polymeric Triarylamines

The anionic polymerization of three functionalized styrenic triarylamines is presented, including a series of oligomers to analyze the configurational and conformational details. Advanced NMR techniques were utilized for end group analysis to enable definite peak assignments. An inferior preference for stereoregularity was found, i.e., the formation of diastereomers for each new chiral center (ca. 60/40 ratio). Chemical shift analysis revealed the degree of conformational flexibility, which is governed by the three nearest repeating units. The electrochemical properties were detailed by semidifferential analysis of conventional cyclovoltammetric data, showing fully reversible oxidation in all cases. The data deconvolution resolved the individual formal oxidation steps, which revealed the expected entropic peak broadening and additional contributions in a consistent manner. The effect was particularly pronounced for the densely decorated polymer, which displayed an anodic shift (+0.1) V for ca. 30% of all redox-active units. The origin was assigned to an electrostatic penalty due to the diminished charge compensation by the electrolyte-excluded volume. For example, microelectrode measurements of the trimer also revealed a slower transfer rate of the third oxidation step. A series of density functional theory calculations corroborated the assignments of accumulative charging, i.e., reproduced the steric and electrochemical features in good agreement. Spectroelectrochemical measurements revealed the occurrence of side reactions at higher applied potentials for the polymers, but not in the case of the oligomers. The presented analysis is expected to complement the general electrochemical characterization of redox-active polymers, e.g., to elucidate the precise role of solubilizing substituents or the architecture dictated by spacing units or upon copolymerization with various monomers.

The Cytoplasm-Entry Domain of Antibacterial CdiA Is a Dynamic α-Helical Bundle with Disulfide-Dependent Structural Features

Many Gram‐negative bacterial species use contact-dependent growth inhibition (CDI) systems to compete with neighboring cells. CDI+ strains express cell-surface CdiA effector proteins, which carry a toxic C-terminal region (CdiA-CT) that is cleaved from the effector upon transfer into the periplasm of target bacteria. The released CdiA-CT consists of two domains. The C-terminal domain is typically a nuclease that inhibits cell growth, and the N-terminal “cytoplasm-entry” domain mediates toxin translocation into the target-cell cytosol. Here, we use NMR and circular dichroism spectroscopic approaches to probe the structure, stability, and dynamics of the cytoplasm-entry domain from Escherichia coli STEC_MHI813. Chemical shift analysis reveals that the CdiA-CTMHI813 entry domain is composed of a C-terminal helical bundle and a dynamic N-terminal region containing two disulfide linkages. Disruption of the disulfides by mutagenesis or chemical reduction destabilizes secondary structure over the N-terminus, but has no effect on the C-terminal helices. Although critical for N-terminal structure, the disulfides have only modest effects on global thermodynamic stability, and the entry domain exhibits characteristics of a molten globule. We find that the disulfides form in vivo as the entry domain dwells in the periplasm of inhibitor cells prior to target-cell recognition. CdiA-CTMHI813 variants lacking either disulfide still kill target bacteria, but disruption of both bonds abrogates growth inhibition activity. We propose that the entry domain's dynamic structural features are critical for function. In its molten globule-like state, the domain resists degradation after delivery, yet remains pliable enough to unfold for membrane translocation.

New Spin‐Crossover Complexes of Substituted 2,6‐Bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridines

Here we report two new ligands from a 2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine family often used in spin‐crossover research and their iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with the metal ion trapped in the high‐spin state in solids (according to magnetometry and X‐ray diffraction data). The iron(II) complexes, however, show a gradual spin‐crossover in acetonitrile solution, as probed by the popular Evans method and an analysis of temperature dependent chemical shifts, both rooted in variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy. The observed stabilization of the high‐spin state by the electron‐withdrawing substituents mirrors the trend previously reported for spin‐crossover iron(II) complexes of isomeric 2,6‐bis(pyrazol‐1‐yl)pyridines.

Characterisation of denatured states of sensory rhodopsin II by solution-state NMR

Sensory rhodopsin II (pSRII), a retinal-binding photophobic receptor from Natronomonas pharaonis, is a novel model system for membrane protein folding studies. Recently, the SDS-denatured states and the kinetics for reversible unfolding of pSRII have been investigated, opening the door to the first detailed characterisation of denatured states of a membrane protein by solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) using uniformly 15N-labelled pSRII. SDS denaturation and acid denaturation of pSRII both lead to fraying of helix ends but otherwise small structural changes in the transmembrane domain, consistent with little changes in secondary structure and disruption of the retinal-binding pocket and tertiary structure. Widespread changes in the backbone amide dynamics are detected in the form of line broadening, indicative of μs-to-ms timescale conformational exchange in the transmembrane region. Detailed analysis of chemical shift and intensity changes lead to high-resolution molecular insights on structural and dynamics changes in SDS- and acid-denatured pSRII, thus highlighting differences in the unfolding pathways under the two different denaturing conditions. These results will form the foundation for furthering our understanding on the folding and unfolding pathways of retinal-binding proteins and membrane proteins in general, and also for investigating the importance of ligand-binding in the folding pathways of other ligand-binding membrane proteins, such as GPCRs.

Chemical Shift Tensors - Why Should We Care?

Chemical shift tensors give valuable insights into the nature and the relative energy of frontier orbitals and their analysis allows for rationalizing the reactivities of molecules. In this article, we point out the principles that allow for the analysis of chemical shift. Through selected, illustrative examples we show how one can relate chemical shift to molecular electronic structure and thus to reactivity.

SUN-373 Small Adrenal Incidentaloma Stable in Size Becoming a Stage IV Adrenocortical Carcinoma 10 Years Later in a Young Patient Carrying a Germline APC Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS)

Recent guidelines on adrenal incidentalomas suggested that patients with an indeterminate adrenal mass on imaging choosing not to undergo adrenalectomy to repeat imaging with either unenhanced computed tomography (CT) or Magnetic resonance imaging with chemical shift analysis in 6 to 12 months. If the adrenal mass is non-functioning and stable in size, patients may not require any additional monitoring.We report here a case of a young woman known for a small adrenal mass, stable in size for 4 years who was ultimately diagnosed with a Stage IV adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC) 10 years later. Case report. In 2006, a 32-year-old French Canadian woman was referred in endocrinology for evaluation of a left 2.7 x 2.0 cm incidentally discovered adrenal mass. On presentation, her hormonal work up included a normal 1mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) within normal limits. On unenhanced computed tomography (CT), the radiodensity of the adrenal mass was 23 Hounsfield units (HU). The patient was followed with adrenal imaging and hormonal investigation yearly for 4 years and the adrenal mass demonstrated no growth in 4 years. Ten years after initial presentation, in 2016, after five years lost to follow up the patient presented with renal colic. Urological CT has unexpectedly revealed that the left adrenal mass had significantly progressed measuring 9 x 8.2 cm and 2 new hepatic lesions were identified. Biochemical work up demonstrated hypercortisolism and hyperandrogenemia: plasma cortisol after 1 mg overnight DST was 486 nmol/L and DHEA-S was 14.0 mmol/L (N 0.9-6.5). Twenty-four-hour urine steroid profiling was consistent with an ACC co-secreting cortisol, androgens and glucocorticoid precursors. The diagnosis of ACC with hepatic ACC metastases was confirmed by histology. Following genetic analysis, germline heterozygous variant of uncertain significance (VUS) was identified in the exon 16 of the APC gene NM_000038.5:c.2414G>A,(p.Arg805Gln) (rs200593940). The patient had no clinical manifestations of familial adenomatous polyposis. Immunohistochemical staining of the ACC were positive for IGF-2 and cytoplasmic/nuclear β-catenin, however, no somatic APC or beta-catenin mutations were found. This case illustrates that 1) small adrenal incidentaloma stable in size may progress to ACC 2) better genetic characterization of these patients may eventually give clues to this unusual evolution.

Neomacrophorin and premacrophorin congeners from Trichoderma sp. 1212-03

Six novel neomacrophorin and four novel premacrophorin congeners were isolated from the fungus Trichoderma sp. 1212-03. Their planar structures and relative configurations were determined by conventional NMR and mass spectrometry techniques. The electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectral comparisons with known neomacrophorins were effective for elucidating the structures of congeners carrying 2,3-epoxybenzoquinone (1, 2) and 2,3-epoxybenzosemiquinol substructures (3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9). The configuration of the 6-hydroxy-2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione moiety in 5′-deoxyneomacrophorin IV (6) was elucidated by NMR spectral comparison with those of known purpurogemutantidin (16) and mancrophorin F (17). This also resulted in the configurational revision of 16. The relative configuration of the 5,6-epoxy-2-cyclohexen-1,4-diol in premacrophorintriol-II (10) was determined by 13C chemical shift analysis using density functional theory calculations at the ωB97X-D/6-31G* level of theory. Compounds 1 and 6 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against human Caucasian colon adenocarcinoma cell line COLO 201.

Solution NMR Analysis of Ligand Environment in Quaternary Ammonium-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold Nanoparticles: The Effect of Surface Curvature and Ligand Structure.

We report a solution NMR-based analysis of (16-mercaptohexadecyl)trimethylammonium bromide (MTAB) self-assembled monolayers on colloidal gold nanospheres (AuNSs) with diameters from 1.2 to 25 nm and gold nanorods (AuNRs) with aspect ratios from 1.4 to 3.9. The chemical shift analysis of the proton signals from the solvent-exposed headgroups of bound ligands suggests that the headgroups are saturated on the ligand shell as the sizes of the nanoparticles increase beyond ∼10 nm. Quantitative NMR shows that the ligand density of MTAB-AuNSs is size-dependent. Ligand density ranges from ∼3 molecules per nm2 for 25 nm particles to up to 5-6 molecules per nm2 in ∼10 nm and smaller particles for in situ measurements of bound ligands; after I2/I- treatment to etch away the gold cores, ligand density ranges from ∼2 molecules per nm2 for 25 nm particles to up to 4-5 molecules per nm2 in ∼10 nm and smaller particles. T2 relaxation analysis shows greater hydrocarbon chain ordering and less headgroup motion as the diameter of the particles increases from 1.2 nm to ∼13 nm. Molecular dynamics simulations of 4, 6, and 8 nm (11-mercaptoundecyl)trimethylammonium bromide-capped AuNSs confirm greater hydrophobic chain packing order and saturation of charged headgroups within the same spherical ligand shell at larger nanoparticle sizes and higher ligand densities. Combining the NMR studies and MD simulations, we suggest that the headgroup packing limits the ligand density, rather than the sulfur packing on the nanoparticle surface, for ∼10 nm and larger particles. For MTAB-AuNRs, no chemical shift data nor ligand density data suggest that two populations of ligands that might correspond to side-ligands and end-ligands exist; yet T2 relaxation dynamics data suggest that headgroup mobility depends on aspect ratio and absolute nanoparticle dimensions.

1H, 15N and 13C backbone assignment of apo TDP-43 RNA recognition motifs.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein that influences diverse cellular processes by regulating alternative splicing of RNA and microRNA biogenesis. It is also a pathological protein found in sporadic ALS and in the most common subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitinated inclusions (FLTD-U). TDP-43 has two tandem RNA-binding domains, RRM1 and RRM2. The NMR structure of TDP-43 was solved in the presence of UG-rich RNA sequences bound to the RRM1 and RRM2 domains. Here we report the backbone assignment of apo TDP-43. The chemical shift (HN, N, C, Cα and Cβ) analysis shows the predicted regions of secondary structure are in good agreement with those observed for TDP-43 in complex with RNA. However, our data show that the apo structure of TPD-43 has increased flexibility in the regions that would normally have been used to anchor the RNA bases. The backbone chemical shifts assignments will prove useful in the study of TDP-43 interaction with non-canonical RNA and RRM-binding proteins.

Oxygen transfer in electrophilic epoxidation probed by 17O NMR: differentiating between oxidants and role of spectator metal oxo.

Peroxide compounds are used both in laboratory and industrial processes for the electrophilic epoxidation of olefins. Using NMR-spectroscopy, we investigate why certain peroxides engage in this type of reaction while others require activation by metal catalysts, e.g. methyltrioxorhenium (MTO). More precisely, an analysis of 17O NMR chemical shift and quadrupolar coupling parameters provides insights into the relative energy of specific frontier molecular orbitals relevant for reactivity. For organic peroxides or H2O2 a large deshielding is indicative of an energetically high-lying lone-pair on oxygen in combination with a low-lying σ*(O-O) orbital. This feature is particularly pronounced in species that engage in electrophilic epoxidation, such as peracids or dimethyldioxirane (DMDO), and much less pronounced in unreactive peroxides such as H2O2 and ROOH, which can however be activated by transition-metal catalysts. In fact, for the proposed active peroxo species in MTO-catalyzed electrophilic epoxidation with H2O2 an analysis of the 17O NMR chemical shift highlights specific π- and δ-type orbital interactions between the so-called metal spectator oxo and the peroxo moieties that raise the energy of the high-lying lone-pair on oxygen, thus increasing the reactivity of the peroxo species.

Structural characterization of vanadium environments in MCM-41 molecular sieve catalysts by solid state 51V NMR

Advanced analysis of 51V NMR chemical shift and quadrupolar tensor parameters revealed novel insights into the structure of vanadium species in MCM-41-based catalysts.

Revealing full chemical forms of lead in wine with combined XRF-NMR technologies

Since 1953, The World Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) Member States have reduced the lead maximum limits (ML) in wines, down to 0.05 mg/L (2018). Evidently, this ML value is too restrictive for wine industry as it excludes from international market a significant portion of wine production. Currently, the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods and OIV had recognized the value of gathering robust and novel data to better assess the best lowest ML for wine industry. Currently, there is not a direct statement within international reference documents, of which chemical form of lead must be controlled and/ or reduced. This work presents for the first time a method combining Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (EDAX) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopies in order to determine presence and concentrations of major and trace elements of lead and other element moieties in wine that can allow to better redefine lead's ML. By identification of K, L, M, radiation shells with additional αβi labelling of lead's major and minor components with semi-quantitative XRF, combined with chemical-shift analysis of inorganic Pb4+, Pb2+ and/or organo-lead within wine samples, we propose a full discrimination framework to disentangle and quantify different chemical forms of lead.

Molecular Thorium Compounds with Dichalcogenide Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, 77Se NMR Study, and Thermolysis.

A series of dimeric thorium disulfides and diselenides have been prepared with sterically undemanding ancillary ligands. Five complexes, (py)6Th2I4(μ2-S2)2, (py)6Th2Br2(SC6F5)2(μ2-S2)2, (py)6Th2I4(μ2-Se2)2, (py)6Th2I2(SC6F5)2(μ2-Se2)2, and (py)6Th2Br2(SC6F5)2(μ2-Se2)2, were isolated in high yields by first reducing mixtures of I2, F5C6SSC6F5, PhSeSePh, or PhSSPh, and PhSeBr with elemental Th, followed by in situ ligand-based redox reactions with elemental sulfur or selenium. These are the first examples of thorium compounds with bridging dichalcogenide ligands. Attempts to prepare chloride derivatives gave mixtures of (py)4ThCl4 and either (py)6Th2Cl2(SC6F5)2(μ2-S2)2 or (py)8Th4Se4(SePh)4(SC6F5)4. All products were characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and IR, UV-visible, and NMR spectroscopy. A computational analysis of experimental 77Se NMR chemical shifts reveals that the solvated dimeric structures with two bridging dichalcogenides are maintained in solution. Thermolysis of (py)6Th2I4(μ2-Se2)2 leads to reduction of the bridging Se22- moieties, oxidation of the I- ligand, and formation of solid-state ThSe2 and I2.

A CON-based NMR assignment strategy for pro-rich intrinsically disordered proteins with low signal dispersion: the C-terminal domain of histone H1.0 as a case study.

The C-terminal domain of histone H1.0 (C-H1.0) is involved in DNA binding and is a main determinant of the chromatin condensing properties of histone H1.0. Phosphorylation at the (S/T)-P-X-(K/R) motifs affects DNA binding and is crucial for regulation of C-H1.0 function. Since C-H1.0 is an intrinsically disordered domain, solution NMR is an excellent approach to characterize the effect of phosphorylation on the structural and dynamic properties of C-H1.0. However, its very repetitive, low-amino acid-diverse and Pro-rich sequence, together with the low signal dispersion observed at the 1H-15N HSQC spectra of both non- and tri-phosphorylated C-H1.0 preclude the use of standard 1H-detected assignment strategies. We have achieved an essentially complete assignment of the heavy backbone atoms (15N, 13C' and 13Cα), as well as 1HN and 13Cβ nuclei, of non- and tri-phosphorylated C-H1.0 by applying a novel 13C-detected CON-based strategy. No C-H1.0 region with a clear secondary structure tendency was detected by chemical shift analyses, confirming at residue level that C-H1.0 is disordered in aqueous solution. Phosphorylation only affected the chemical shifts of phosphorylated Thr's, and their adjacent residues. Heteronuclear {1H}-15N NOEs were also essentially equal in the non- and tri-phosphorylated states. Hence, structural tendencies and dynamic properties of C-H1.0 free in aqueous solution are unmodified by phosphorylation. We propose that the assignment strategy used for C-H1.0, which is based on the acquisition of only a few 3D spectra, is an excellent choice for short-lived intrinsically disordered proteins with repetitive sequences.

Structural characterization, photoluminescence, computational studies and bioassay of newly synthesized N-(3-oxo-3-morpholino-1-phenyl-propyl) benzo sulfonamide with multifunctional application

N-(3-oxo-3-morpholino-1-phenyl-propyl) benzo sulfonamide (BMS) (C19H22N2O4S) has been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR, and ESI-mass spectrometric methods. The 2-D NMR (COSY, HSQC, DEPT and TOCSY spectra) of BMS is recorded to study the correlation between protons and carbons. The optimized geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities are calculated using B3LYP/6-311++(2d,p) basis set on the Gaussian. 13C and 1H NMR chemical shifts are calculated using the gauge independent atomic orbital method with B3LYP/6-311++(2d,p) basis set. The detailed analysis of experimental NMR chemical shifts as well as IR vibrations is supported by quantum chemical calculations using the Gaussian approach. The HOMO and LUMO energy calculation and Mulliken charges were calculated by the DFT approach. The UV–Vis and photoluminescence study confirms the light emitting nature of the molecule. BMS showed better antimicrobial activities against resistant and non-resistant strains. Further, the anticancer activity of the compound is studied against the PC-3 cancer cell line in comparison to mitoxantrone. Comparative docking study of BMS with mitoxantrone and doxorubicin has been carried out on the p53 tumor suppressor-DNA complex. Effective binding is observed at ARG-248, which is an experimentally proved mutated site of the p53 protein.

Trichophycins B-F, Chlorovinylidene-Containing Polyketides Isolated from a Cyanobacterial Bloom.

NMR-guided isolation (based on 1D 1H and 13C NMR resonances consistent with a chlorovinylidene moiety) resulted in the characterization of five new highly functionalized polyketides, trichophycins B-F (1-5), and one nonchlorinated metabolite tricholactone (6) from a collection of Trichodesmium bloom material from the Gulf of Mexico. The planar structures of 1-6 were determined using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and complementary spectroscopic procedures. Absolute configuration analysis of 1 and 2 were carried out by 1H NMR analysis of diastereomeric Mosher esters in addition to ECD spectroscopy, J-based configuration analysis, and DFT calculations. The absolute configurations of 3-6 were proposed on the basis of comparative analysis of 13C NMR chemical shifts, relative configurations, and optical rotation values to compounds 1 and 2. Compounds 1-5 represent new additions to the trichophycin family and are hallmarked by a chlorovinylidene moiety. These new trichophycins and tricholactone (1-6) feature intriguing variations with respect to putative biosynthetic starting units, halogenation, and terminations, and trichophycin E (4) features a rare alkynyl bromide functionality. The phenyl-containing trichophycins showed low cytotoxicity to neuro-2A cells, while the alkyne-containing trichophycins showed no toxicity.

FT-IR, Laser-Raman, UV-Vis, and NMR Spectroscopic Studies of Antidiabetic Molecule Nateglinide

The quantum chemical calculations and spectroscopic and theoretical characterizations of nateglinide molecule, a derivative of meglitinide and an oral antidiabetic drug, were performed using FT-IR, Laser-Raman, and NMR chemical shift and UV-Vis analysis methods. The other parameters including geometric structures, optimized geometry, vibrational frequencies, dipole moments, infrared and Raman intensities, and HOMO and LUMO energies of nateglinide molecules were studied using the density functional theory. In addition, the 13C and 1H NMRs were calculated using Gaussian 09 program with the DFT/B3LYP method at the 6-31G + (d, p) basis set. TD-DFT calculations were performed to examine the electronic transitions including orbital energies, absorption wavelengths, oscillator strengths, and excitation energies in methanol. The research was performed to provide detailed spectroscopic information of antidiabetic nateglinide molecule’s monomer conformations.

Exploring Local Disorder within CAU-1 Frameworks Using Hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR Spectroscopy.

The sorption properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be influenced by introducing covalently attached functional side chains, which make this subclass of porous materials promising for applications as diverse as gas storage and separation, catalysis, and drug delivery. The incorporation of side groups usually comes along with disorder, as the synthesis procedures rarely allow for one specific position among a larger group of equivalent sites to be selected. For a series of isoreticular CAU-1 frameworks, chosen as model compounds, one out of four positions at every linker is modified with equal probability. Here, we investigate the influence of this disorder on Ar sorption and 129Xe nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using hyperpolarized 129Xe gas. Models used for predicting the pore dimensions as well as their distributions were derived from the unfunctionalized framework by replacing one proton at every linker with either an amino, an acetamide, or a methyl urea functionality. The resulting structures were optimized using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results from void analyses and Monte Carlo force field simulations suggest that for available Ar nonlocal DFT (NLDFT) kernels, neither the pore dimensions nor the distributions induced by the side-chain disorder are well-reproduced. By contrast, we found the 129Xe chemical shift analysis for the shift observed at high temperature to be well-suited to develop a detailed fingerprint of the porosity and side-chain disorder within the isoreticular CAU-1 series. After calibrating the 129Xe limiting shift of the amino-functionalized framework with DFT calculations, the downfield shifts for the other two derivatives are an excellent measure for the reduction of the accessible pore space and reveal a strong preference for the side chains toward the octahedral voids for both cases. We expect that the strategy presented here can be commonly applied to disorder phenomena within MOFs in the future.

Backbone and side chain NMR assignments for the ribosome binding factor A (RbfA) from Staphylococcus aureus.

Ribosome binding factor A (RbfA) is a 14.9kDa adaptive protein of cold shock, which is important for bacterial growth at low temperatures. RbfA can bind to the free 30S ribosomal subunit and interacts with the 5'-terminal helix (helix I) of 16S rRNA. RbfA is important for the efficient processing of 16S rRNA and for the maturation (assembly) of 30S ribosomal subunits. Here we report backbone and side chains 1H, 13C and 15N chemical shift assignments of RbfA from Staphylococcus aureus. Analysis of the backbone chemical shifts by TALOS+ suggests that RbfA contains four α-helixes and three β-strands with α1-β1-β2-α2-α3-β3-α4 topology. Secondary structure of RbfA have KH-domain fold topology with βααβ subunit which is characterized by a helix-kink-helix motif in which the GxxG sequence is replaced by a conserved AxG sequence, where an Ala residue at position 70 forming an interhelical kink. The solution of the structure of this protein factor and its complex with the ribosome by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and cryo-electron microscopy will allow further development of highly selective substances for slowing or completely stopping the translation of the pathogenic bacterium S. aureus, which will interfere with the synthesis and isolation of its pathogenicity factors.

Fully-Zwitterionic Polymer-Supported Ionogel Electrolytes Featuring a Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid.

In this report, fully-zwitterionic (ZI) copolymer scaffolds for ionogel electrolytes have been synthesized via in situ photopolymerization using various molar ratios of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and sulfobetaine vinylimidazole (SBVI) within the hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMI TFSI). Depending on the chemical composition of the ZI scaffold, ionogel room temperature ionic conductivities are found to vary between 2.5 and 6.7 mS cm-1 at a fixed 20 mol % total polymer content. Compressive elastic moduli also exhibit a strong dependence on the co-monomer ratio, with values between 23 kPa and 11 MPa observed because of different degrees of ZI physical cross-linking. These results, together with NMR chemical shift analysis, suggest that the phosphorylcholine ZI group of MPC interacts more strongly with EMI TFSI, while SBVI prefers to self-aggregate and form dipole-dipole cross-links in the ionic liquid (IL). Self-diffusivity measurements of the EMI+ cations and TFSI- anions in both ionogel and ZI solution samples confirm that slower ion diffusion in MPC-containing systems is due to attractive zwitterion/IL interactions, and not merely reduced mobility in the presence of a polymeric scaffold. This work highlights the importance of relative zwitterion/IL and ZI dipole-dipole interactions on the properties of a novel class of fully-ZI polymer-supported ionogel electrolytes containing a hydrophobic IL suitable for future electrical energy storage applications.