Primary Ammonium Group Research Articles

Mimicking Charged Host-Defense Peptides to Tune the Antifungal Activity and Biocompatibility of Amphiphilic Polymers.

Invasive fungal infections impose a substantial global health burden. They cause more than 1.5 million deaths annually and are insufficiently met by the currently approved antifungal drugs. Antifungal peptides are a promising alternative to existing antifungal drugs; however, they can be challenging to synthesize, and are often susceptible to proteases in vivo. Synthetic polymers which mimic the properties of natural antifungal peptides can circumvent these limitations. In this study, we developed a library of 29 amphiphilic polyacrylamides with different charged units, namely, amines, guanidinium, imidazole, and carboxylic acid groups, representative of the natural amino acids lysine, arginine, histidine, and glutamic acid. Ternary polymers incorporating primary ammonium (lysine-like) or imidazole (histidine-like) groups demonstrated superior activity against Candida albicans and biocompatibility with mammalian cells compared to the polymers containing the other charged groups. Furthermore, a combination of primary ammonium, imidazole, and guanidinium (arginine-like) within the same polymer outperformed the antifungal drug amphotericin B in terms of therapeutic index and exhibited fast C. albicans-killing activity. The most promising polymer compositions showed synergistic effects in combination with caspofungin and fluconazole against C. albicans and additionally demonstrated activity against other clinically relevant fungi. Collectively, these results indicate the strong potential of these easily producible polymers to be used as antifungals.

Spectral Stable Blue-Light-Emitting Diodes via Asymmetric Organic Diamine Based Dion-Jacobson Perovskites.

The spectral instability issue is a challenge in blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs). Dion–Jacobson (DJ) phase perovskites are promising alternatives to achieve high-quality blue PeLEDs. However, the current exploration of DJ phase perovskites is focused on symmetric divalent cations, and the corresponding efficiency of blue PeLEDs is still inferior to that of green and red ones. In this work, we report a new type of DJ phase CsPb(Br/Cl)3 perovskite via introduction of an asymmetric molecular configuration as the organic spacer cation in perovskites. The primary and tertiary ammonium groups on the asymmetric cations bridge with the lead halide octahedra forming the DJ phase structures. Stable photoluminescence spectra were demonstrated in perovskite films owing to the suppressed halide segregation. Meanwhile, the radiative recombination efficiency of charges is improved significantly as a result of the confinement effects and passivation of charge traps. Finally, we achieved an external quantum efficiency of 2.65% in blue PeLEDs with stable spectra emission under applied bias voltages. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of asymmetric cations used in PeLEDs, which provides a facile solution to the halide segregation issue in PeLEDs.

Synthesis of Polystyrene-Based Cationic Nanomaterials with Pro-Oxidant Cytotoxic Activity on Etoposide-Resistant Neuroblastoma Cells.

Drug resistance is a multifactorial phenomenon that limits the action of antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Therefore, it is essential to develop new therapeutic strategies capable of inducing cytotoxic effects circumventing chemoresistance. In this regard, the employment of natural and synthetic cationic peptides and polymers has given satisfactory results both in microbiology, as antibacterial agents, but also in the oncological field, resulting in effective treatment against several tumors, including neuroblastoma (NB). To this end, two polystyrene-based copolymers (P5, P7), containing primary ammonium groups, were herein synthetized and tested on etoposide-sensitive (HTLA-230) and etoposide-resistant (HTLA-ER) NB cells. Both copolymers were water-soluble and showed a positive surface charge due to nitrogen atoms, which resulted in protonation in the whole physiological pH range. Furthermore, P5 and P7 exhibited stability in solution, excellent buffer capacity, and nanosized particles, and they were able to reduce NB cell viability in a concentration-dependent way. Interestingly, a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was observed in both NB cell populations treated with P5 or P7, establishing for both copolymers an unequivocal correlation between cytotoxicity and ROS generation. Therefore, P5 and P7 could be promising template macromolecules for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents able to fight NB chemoresistance.

Phenylalanine-Tethered pH-Responsive Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate).

A series of pH-responsive random copolymers comprised of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and tert-butyl carbamate (Boc)-protected phenylalanine methacryloyloxyethyl ester (Boc-Phe-EMA) were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 70 °C. The synthesized copolymers were comprehensively characterized using a combination of techniques, including 1 H NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Reactivity of each monomers towards controlled radical polymerization was evaluated by determining the reactivity ratios by virtue of extended Kelen-Tüdös method at high conversions revealed the higher reactivity of non-modified HEMA (rHEMA =1.03) in contrast to Boc-Phe-EMA (rBoc-Phe-EMA =0.48). Furthermore, the expulsion of the Boc-groups resulted copolymers with ionizable pendant primary ammonium and hydroxyl groups. To understand the glass transition behaviours of homo- and co-polymers, differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements were carried out. The effect of HEMA content on the pH-sensitivity of the copolymers in aqueous medium was investigated through turbidity measurements. Finally, the counteranion exchange from trifluoroacetate to chloride provided copolymers with enhanced water solubility and unaltered phase transition pH.

Mild, Rapid, and Chemoselective Procedure for the Introduction of the 9-Phenyl-9-fluorenyl Protecting Group into Amines, Acids, Alcohols, Sulfonamides, Amides, and Thiols.

The 9-phenyl-9-fluorenyl (PhF) group has been used as an Nα protecting group of amino acids and their derivatives mainly as a result of its ability to prevent racemization. However, installing this group using the standard protocol, which employs 9-bromo-9-phenylfluorene/K3PO4/Pb(NO3)2, often takes days and yields can be variable. Here, we demonstrate that the PhF group can be introduced into the amino group of Weinreb's amides and methyl esters of amino acids, as well as into alcohols and carboxylic acids, rapidly and in excellent yields, using 9-chloro-9-phenylfluorene (PhFCl)/N-methylmorpholine (NMM)/AgNO3. Nα-PhF-protected amino acids can be prepared from unprotected α-amino acids, rapidly and often in near quantitative yields, by treatment with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) and then PhFCl/NMM/AgNO3. Primary alcohols can be protected with the PhF group in the presence of secondary alcohols in moderate yield. Using PhFCl/AgNO3, a primary alcohol can be protected in good yield in the presence of a primary ammonium salt or a carboxylic acid. Primary sulfonamides and amides can be protected in moderate to good yields using phenylfluorenyl alcohol (PhFOH)/BF3·OEt2/K3PO4, while thiols can be protected in good to excellent yield using PhFOH/BF3·OEt2 even in the presence of a carboxylic acid or primary ammonium group.

Stimulus-Responsive Polyzwitterionic Surfaces Made from Itaconic Acid: Self-Triggered Antimicrobial Activity, Protein Repellency, and Cell Compatibility.

A functional monomer carrying a carboxylate and a protected primary ammonium group is synthesized from itaconic acid. When copolymerized with dimethyl acrylamide and 4-methacryloyloxybenzophenone, cross-linkable polyzwitterions are obtained. These are converted to surface-attached polyzwitterion networks by simultaneous UV-triggered C,H insertion reactions. The resulting polyzwitterion-coated substrates were studied by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy measurements, ζ potential and various biological assays. They were (expectedly) protein repellent, yet at the same time (and unexpectedly) cell-adhesive and antimicrobially active. This was attributed to stimulus-responsiveness of the polyzwitterion (confirmed by the ζ potential measurements), which enables charge adjustment at different pH values. When protonated, the polyzwitterions become amphiphilic polycations and, in this state, kill bacteria upon contact like their parent structures (polymer-based synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides, SMAMPs).

Structure and Dynamics of Cinnamycin-Lipid Complexes: Mechanisms of Selectivity for Phosphatidylethanolamine Lipids.

Cinnamycin is a lantibiotic peptide, which selectively binds to and permeabilizes membranes containing phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids. As PE is a major component of many bacterial cell membranes, cinnamycin has considerable potential for destroying these. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are used to elucidate the structure of a lipid–cinnamycin complex and the origin of selective lipid binding. The simulations reveal that cinnamycin selectively binds to PE by forming an extensive hydrogen-bonding network involving all three hydrogen atoms of the primary ammonium group of the PE head group. The substitution of a single hydrogen atom with a methyl group on the ammonium nitrogen destabilizes this hydrogen-bonding network. In addition to binding the primary ammonium group, cinnamycin also interacts with the phosphate group of the lipid through a previously uncharacterized phosphate-binding site formed by the backbone Phe10-Abu11-Phe12-Val13 moieties (Abu = 1-α-aminobutyric acid). In addition, hydroxylation of Asp15 at Cβ plays a role in selective binding of PE due to its tight interaction with the charged amine of the lipid head group. The simulations reveal that the position and orientation of the peptide in the membrane depend on the type of lipid to which it binds, suggesting a reason for why cinnamycin selectively permeabilizes PE-containing membranes.

Simultaneously Antimicrobial, Protein-repellent and Cell-compatible Polyzwitterion Networks: More Insight on Bioactivity and Physical Properties.

A poly(oxanorbornene)-based polyzwitterion with primary ammonium and carboxylate groups (PZI) has been reported previously as the first simultaneously antimicrobial and protein-repellent polyzwitterion. Here, additional physical and biological properties of three poly(oxanorbornene)-based polyzwitterions with different functional groups (PZI, the polycarboxybetaine PCB, and the polysulfobetaine PSB) are compared to understand the molecular origins of this unusual bioactivity. Additionally, the three polyzwitterions and the antimicrobial, polycationic SMAMP are exposed to proteins, bacteria suspensions, human plasma and serum. These interactions are investigated by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. In protein adhesion studies, neither fibrinogen nor lysozyme adhere irreversibly to PZI, yet reversible interaction with lysozyme is observed at pH 7 and 8. In the presence of bivalent cations, reversible fibrinogen adhesion on PZI and PSB is observed, but not on PCB. This might explain why mammalian cells grow on PZI and PSB, but not on PCB. PZI does not show human plasma adhesion, while PCB and PSB have 0.27 and 0.48 ng mm-2 adhered plasma, and SMAMP even 6.3 ng mm-2. Both PZI and SMAMP show strong serum adhesion, while no serum adhered to PCB, and only little to PSB. This could be related to the pH difference between serum and plasma, to which the pH-responsive primary ammonium groups are susceptible, while the permanently charged NR4 + groups are unaffected. Both PZI and PCB showed none or only little bacterial adhesion. PCB is also intrinsically antimicrobial against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria and thus is also simultaneously protein-repellent and antimicrobially active. Thus, while the carboxylate groups of PZI and PCB seems to be a prerequisite for the dual antimicrobial activity and protein-repellency, the pH-responsiveness of the primary ammonium group seems to make the PZI molecule vulnerable for protein adhesion in fluids that are slightly out of the physiological range.

5-Alkyloxytryptamines are membrane-targeting, broad-spectrum antibiotics

Antibiotic adjuvant therapy represents an exciting opportunity to enhance the activity of clinical antibiotics by co-dosing with a secondary small molecule. Successful adjuvants decrease the concentration of antibiotics used to defeat bacteria, increase activity (in some cases introducing activity against organisms that are drug resistant), and reduce the frequency at which drug-resistant bacteria emerge. We report that 5-alkyloxytryptamines are a new class of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents with exciting activity as antibiotic adjuvants. We synthesized 5-alkyloxytryptamine analogs and found that an alkyl chain length of 6–12 carbons and a primary ammonium group are necessary for the antibacterial activity of the compounds, and an alkyl chain length of 6–10 carbons increased the membrane permeability of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Although several of the most potent analogs also have activity against the membranes of human embryonic kidney cells, we demonstrate that below the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)—where mammalian cell toxicity is low—these compounds may be successfully used as adjuvants for chloramphenicol, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and rifampicin against clinical strains of Salmonella typhimurium, Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus, reducing MIC values by as much as several logs.

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Supramolecular Photoswitches Based on Ammonioalkyl Derivatives of Crown Ether Styryl Dyes

The synthesis of new styryl dyes derived from 4-pyridine and 4-quinoline and having an ammonioalkyl N-substituent and benzocrown ether moieties of different sizes and with different sets of heteroatoms was developed. Spontaneous "head-to-tail" dimerization of these dyes via the formation of numerous hydrogen bonds between the terminal NH3(+) groups and crown ether moieties was detected in MeCN solutions. The stability constants of the dimeric complexes having pseudocyclic structure were studied by (1)H NMR titration. The most stable complexes (log Kd up to 8.2) were found in the case of dyes with the 18-crown-6 ether moiety, which is most complementary for binding a primary ammonium group. Stacking interaction of the conjugated systems in the dimeric complexes contributes to their stability to a much lesser extent. In dimeric complexes, the ethylene bonds of the dyes are preorganized for stereospecific [2 + 2] photocycloaddition (PCA) induced by visible light. PCA yields only rctt isomers of bis-crown-containing cyclobutane derivatives. The dyes were studied by X-ray diffraction; it was found that the dimeric arrangement is also retained in the crystalline state. The possibility of topochemical PCA of the dyes in single crystals without their destruction was demonstrated. The possibility of retro-PCA of the obtained cyclobutane derivatives to give the starting dyes was shown. The elucidated regularities of PCA can be used to fabricate optical data recording systems based on ammonioalkyl derivatives of crown ether styryl dyes.

Dual-Reactive Hyperbranched Polymer Synthesis through Proton Transfer Polymerization of Thiol and Epoxide Groups

A new synthesis of hyperbranched polymers through proton transfer polymerization of thiol and epoxide groups is presented. For this, an AB2 monomer bearing two epoxides and a thiol groups is synthesized. Base-catalyzed proton transfer polymerization of this monomer led to the formation of a polythioether-based hyperbranched polymer with a 65–69% degree of branching and carrying about 2% of disulfide-based structural defects. This polymer contained two reactive sites, a hydroxyl group and an epoxide unit, distributed throughout the branched scaffold. The epoxide groups could be employed in anchoring an alkyl, aryl, or ethylene oxide chain through a thiol–epoxy reaction, while the hydroxyl groups produced during the polymerization and the first functionalization reactions could be engaged in attaching positively charged primary ammonium groups to the branched backbone. These sequential postpolymerization modifications transformed the general dual-reactive scaffold into dual-functionalized hyperbranched mate...

Hydrogen bonds and steric effects induced structural modulation of three layered iodoplumbate hybrids from nonperovskite to perovskite structure.

Directed by diprotonated organic diamines containing both primary and tertiary ammonium groups, three layered iodoplumbate hybrids, {[H2DMPDA][PbI4]}n (1), {[H2DEPDA]4[Pb5I18]}n (2) and {[H2TMEDA][Pb3I8]}n (3) (DMPDA = N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine, DEPDA = N,N-diethyl-1,3-propanediamine, TMEDA = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine), have been synthesized solvothermally. 1 presents a layered perovskite structure based on corner-sharing PbI6 octahedra, compound 2 consists of a Pb4I20 perovskite motif and a Pb2I10 dimeric motif and compound 3 comprises Pb3I13 units connected by face-sharing and edge-sharing modes. Structural modulations from nonperovskite to perovskite structure are strongly correlated to steric effects and hydrogen bonding interaction at the organic-inorganic interface. Band gaps for 1-3 , estimated as 2.21, 2.58 and 2.73 eV, respectively, also reveal an interesting correlation with structural modulation, and the red shift for 1 is attributed to large Pb-I(equatorial)-Pb bond angles.

Mono- and quaternary-ammonium functionalized mesoporous silica materials for nitrate adsorptive removal from water and wastewaters

Mesostructured porous silica SBA-15 materials functionalized with either primary or quaternary ammonium groups have been prepared by co-condensation and post-synthesis grafting using either aminopropyltriethoxysilane or N-((trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride as functional groups precursors. The materials functionalized with aminopropyl groups were further treated in acid solutions to convert the amine groups into charged propyl-ammonium groups. The physicochemical characteristics of the resulting adsorbent materials have been investigated using various techniques and discussed with respect to the nature of organo-functional groups in the materials. The adsorption performances were evaluated from batch experiments for the removal of nitrate anions from aqueous solutions. Results showed that adsorption capacity was influenced by the organic functional group nature and the functionalization strategy. In the case of propyl-ammonium functional groups, the adsorption capacity reached 46 and 55 mg NO3 −/g for the materials synthesized via co-condensation and grafting, respectively. Similar tendency was observed in the case of propyl-trimethyl-ammonium organic functional groups where the grafted material registered a remarkably high capacity of 63 mg NO3 −/g under the experimental conditions investigated.

Cationic Spacer Arm Design Strategy for Control of Antimicrobial Activity and Conformation of Amphiphilic Methacrylate Random Copolymers

Antimicrobial and hemolytic activities of amphiphilic random copolymers were modulated by the structure of the cationic side chain spacer arms, including 2-aminoethylene, 4-aminobutylene, and 6-aminohexylene groups. Cationic amphiphilic random copolymers with ethyl methacrylate (EMA) comonomer were prepared with a range of comonomer fractions, and the library of copolymers was screened for antimicrobial and hemolytic activities. Copolymers with 4-aminobutylene cationic side chains showed an order of magnitude enhancement in their antimicrobial activity relative to those with 2-aminoethylene spacer arms, without causing adverse hemolysis. When the spacer arms were further elongated to hexylene, the copolymers displayed potent antimicrobial and hemolytic activities. The 4-aminobutylene side chain appears to be the optimal spacer arm length for maximal antimicrobial potency and minimal hemolysis, when combined with hydrophobic ethylmethacrylate in a roughly 70/30 ratio. The copolymers displayed relatively rapid bactericidal kinetics and broad-spectrum activity against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The effect of the spacer arms on the polymer conformation in the membrane-bound state was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The polymer backbones adopt an extended chain conformation, parallel to the membrane surface. A facially amphiphilic conformation at the membrane surface was observed, with the primary ammonium groups localized at the lipid phoshophate region and the nonpolar side chains of EMA comonomers buried in the hydrophobic membrane environment. This study demonstrates that the antimicrobial activity and molecular conformation of amphiphilic methacrylate random copolymers can be modulated by adjustment of cationic side chain spacer arms.

Mechanism of Polymer-Induced Hemolysis: Nanosized Pore Formation and Osmotic Lysis

Hemolysis induced by antimicrobial polymers was examined to gain an understanding of the mechanism of polymer toxicity to human cells. A series of cationic amphiphilic methacrylate random copolymers containing primary ammonium groups as the cationic functionality and either butyl or methyl groups as hydrophobic side chains have been prepared by radical copolymerization. Polymers with 0-47 mol % methyl groups in the side chains, relative to the total number of monomeric units, showed antimicrobial activity but no hemolysis. The polymers with 65 mol % methyl groups or 27 mol % butyl groups displayed both antimicrobial and hemolytic activity. These polymers induced leakage of the fluorescent dye calcein trapped in human red blood cells (RBCs), exhibiting the same dose-response curves as for hemoglobin leakage. The percentage of disappeared RBCs after hemolysis increased in direct proportion to the hemolysis percentage, indicating complete release of hemoglobin from fractions of RBCs (all-or-none leakage) rather than partial release from all cells (graded leakage). An osmoprotection assay using poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) as osmolytes indicated that the PEGs with MW > 600 provided protection against hemolysis while low molecular weight PEGs and sucrose had no significant effect on the hemolytic activity of polymers. Accordingly, we propose the mechanism of polymer-induced hemolysis is that the polymers produce nanosized pores in the cell membranes of RBCs, causing an influx of small solutes into the cells and leading to colloid-osmotic lysis.

Synthesis and characterization of dicarboranylmethylammonium polyoxometallates

The reaction of [C2B10H11CH2NH3]Cl (3) with [NH4]6[Mo7O24][H2O]4 in water instantly afforded a white precipitate: crystallization from acetone–hexane thence gave the hybrid dicarborane octamolybdate salt, [C2B10H11CH2NH3]2[C2B10H11CH2NH=CMe2]2[Mo8O26][Me2CO]4.5 (5), whereas crystallization from acetonitrile–ether gave three further salts: [C2B10H11CH2NH3]2[C2B10H11CH2NH2CHMe2]2[Mo8O26][MeCN]2 (6), [C2B10H11CH2NH3]4[Mo8O26][MeCN]2[Et2O]2 (7) and [C2B10H11CH2NH3]2[C2B10H11CH2NH2Et]2[Mo8O26][MeCN]2 (8). Similarly, treatment of an acidified solution of Na2WO4 with [C2B10H11CH2NH3]Cl (3) in water also yielded a white precipitate: crystallization from acetone–hexane afforded the salt [C2B10H11CH2NH=CHMe2]4[W10O32][H2O]2[Me2CO]4 (10), whereas crystallization from acetonitrile–ether gave the double salt [C2B10H11CH2NH3]2[C5H5NH]2[W10O32][MeCN]2-[Et2O] (11). All these ‘globule–globule’ salts 5, 6, 8, 10 and 11 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Crystal structures reveal the presence of various small solvate molecules, together with an extensive network of hydrogen bonds between ammonium groups and oxygen atoms of the isopolyoxometallates. The isopropyl substituent in one of the carborane cations of the salts 6 and the ethyl substituent in one of the carborane cations of salts 8 may result from occluded isopropanol and ethanol in the starting salt 3 with alkylations of the primary ammonium group being assisted by isopolymolybdate anions. The presence of the pyridinium cation in 11 is believed to arise from contamination during work-up the reaction mixture.

Surface Properties of Water-Soluble Glycine-Cysteamine-Protected Gold Clusters

We report the synthesis of water-soluble, nearly monodisperse glycine-cysteamine (Gly-CSA) gold monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) via base deprotection of Fmoc-Gly-CSA MPCs. The resulting Gly-CSA MPCs, which have terminal primary amine groups, are fully characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and TEM, and their surface properties were probed by dynamic light scattering and acid-base titrations. The characterization methods indicate that the as-synthesized particles are nearly monodisperse with an average particle size of 1.8 +/- 0.3 nm, but are only stable to aggregation in water at pHs of 4 and below. Acid-base titrations of the Gly-CSA MPCs show that the primary ammonium groups have a pK(a) of approximately 5.5, which is several orders of magnitude lower than the pK(a2) for the ammonium group of glycine (9.6). Thus, the particles are only partially protonated at intermediate pH's, which then drives the aggregation of the nanoparticles via hydrogen-bond formation. Dynamic light scattering results confirm the pH-driven aggregation of the nanoparticles, and studies with ninhydrin confirm that the primary amine groups are reactive and have potential for further functionalization. These results show that amine-terminated MPCs can be synthesized; however, their aggregation at intermediate pH's can limit their utility as building blocks for multifunctional nanoparticle syntheses.

21-Arm star polymers with different cationic groups based on cyclodextrin core for DNA delivery

A series of cationic star polymers with 21 arms (21ACSPs) were synthesized through atom transfer radical polymerization using a β-cyclodextrin initiator with 21 initiation sites. Monomers containing primary, tertiary amino and quaternary ammonium groups were polymerized using 21Br-β-CD, Cu(I)Br and 2,2′-dipyridyl as initiator, catalyst and ligand, respectively. It was found that a co-solvent of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidione and water (1:1) could facilitate the reaction, resulting in a well-controlled living polymerization. The conversion was up to 95% compared to the previously reported method (60%). AFM and DLS measurement revealed that 21ACSPs have the ability to condense the plasmid DNA (pCMV-Luc) to 80–180nm. 21ACSPs with primary and tertiary amino groups exhibited higher cell transfection efficiency to CHSE-214 cells than 21ACSPs with quaternary ammonium groups. Meanwhile, all of the reported star polymers have no obvious cytotoxicity. The findings from this work are expected to be helpful for the development of efficient DNA delivery system.

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials incorporating primary cyclic ammonium cations: The lead bromide and chloride series

Twelve inorganic–organic hybrids have been synthesized and characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The inorganic component is based on lead(II) bromide and lead(II) chloride units and the organic component on various cyclic hydrocarbons, each with only a primary ammonium group as a ring substituent. When the organic component is cyclopropylammonium, cyclobutylammonium, cyclopentylammonium and cyclohexylammonium, the inorganic motif observed is based on the cubic perovskite structure type and consists of 2-D layers of corner-sharing octahedra, in the ratio of 1 : 2 inorganic–organic. Lead(II) bromide and cycloheptylammonium combined to give 1-D chains of corner-sharing PbBr6 octahedra and similarly, lead(II) bromide and cyclooctylammonium gave 1-D ribbons of corner-sharing PbBr6 octahedra. Lead(II) chloride and cycloheptylammonium have a ribbon motif, and lead(II) chloride and cyclooctylammonium have 2-D layers of corner-, edge- and face-sharing octahedra. These results are compared with a similar study involving lead(II) iodide units and the same set of six cations. General trends and conclusions are discussed.

Inorganic–organic hybrid materials incorporating primary cyclic ammonium cations: The lead iodide series

Six inorganic–organic hybrids have been synthesized and characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The inorganic component is based on lead(II) iodide units and the organic component various cyclic hydrocarbons with only a primary ammonium group as a ring substituent. If the organic component is cyclopropylammonium, cyclobutylammonium, cyclopentylammonium and cyclohexylammonium, the inorganic motif observed is based on the cubic perovskite structure type and consists of 2-D layers of corner-sharing octahedra, in the ratio of 1 ∶ 2 inorganic–organic. lead(II) iodide and cycloheptylammonium combined to give 1-D chains of corner-sharing lead iodide octahedra and similarly, lead(II) iodide and cyclooctylammonium gave 1-D chains of face-sharing octahedra. A quantitative measure of the steric effects of the size of the cyclic rings on the tilting of the inorganic layers is proposed.