Achieving Complexity at the Bottom: Molecular Metamorphosis Generated by Anthocyanins and Related Compounds

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Basilio, N (Author) Other; Parola, AJ (Author) Other; Sousa, D (Author) Other; Petrov, V (Author) Other; Luis Cruz (Author) FCUP; Victor de Freitas (Author) FCUP; Pina, F (Author) Other

Journal

Title: ACS Omega

Vol. 6

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-MMS

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04456

Abstract (EN): The concept of molecular metamorphosis is described. A molecule (flavylium cation) generates a sequence of other different molecules by means of external stimuli. The reversibility of the system allows for the flavylium cation to be recovered by other external stimuli, completing one cycle. Differently from supramolecular chemistry, molecular metamorphosis is not a bottom-up approach. All events occur at the bottom. The procedures to characterize the kinetics and thermodynamics of the cycles are summarized. They are based on direct pH jumps (addition of a base to the flavylium cation) and reverse pH jumps (addition of an acid to equilibrated solutions at higher pH values). Stopped flow is an indispensable tool to characterize these systems. The following metamorphic cycles will be described to illustrate the concept: (i) introducing the flavanone in the metamorphic system and illustrating the concept of a timer at the molecular level; (ii) response of the flavylium-based metamorphosis to light inputs and the write-lock-read-unlock-erase molecular system; (iii) a one-way cycle of direct-reverse pH jumps; (iv) interconversion of the flavylium cation with 2,2'-spirobis[chromene] derivatives; (v) 6,8 A-ring substituent rearrangements.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17