6533b7d9fe1ef96bd126caf7

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Conformational Switching of Multi-Responsive Ferrocenyl-Phenol Conjugates

subject

description

Multifunctional conformational switches based on the ferrocenyl-salicylic acid amide motif with increasing additional complexity at the Fc moiety (R = COOMe, CONHEt, CONHFc; H-2–H-4; Fc = ferrocenyl) have been prepared and their preferred secondary structures in solution have been elucidated by NMR and IR spectroscopy in combination with conformational searches based on DFT calculations. Their distinct conformational responses to deprotonation ([2]––[4]–) and oxidation ([H-2]+·–[H-4]+·) have been revealed by IR, EPR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy as well as by DFT calculations. Deprotonation inverts all amide units (double amide twist) whereas oxidation selectively flips the terminal amide unit (single amide twist). The combined action of deprotonation and oxidation has also been explored.