Title： From “Geländer” Architectures to Mechanosensitivity

Speaker：Prof. Marcel Mayor (University of Berne of Switzerland)

Time：November12th, 2024, 15:00pm

Location: C3-c204, GuangzhouInternational Campus,SCUT 

Abstract:

Helical chiralπ-systems can be classified by the spatial relationship between their aromaticsubunits and their axles. The atropisomerization of (1,1’)-bi-phenyl systemsstabilized by additional alkyl bridges interlinking the 2,2’ positions, awokeour interest in the stabilization of helically arranged π-systems. Thedimensional mismatch of two tightly fixed oligomer chains was predicted toresult in the helical wrapping of the expanded subunit around the more compactone. And indeed, in a first model compound, the longer benzylic ether oligomerentwined helically around the oligophenyl back-bone. In the next step, allcarbon “Geländer” structures consist of a para-ethanyl-phenyl subunit fixed toa para-terphenyl backbone were prepared. Sulfone bridged “Geländer”architectures not only provided insight about the parameters controlling theracemization barrier, but also gave access to all carbon model compoundsconsisting of OPVs wrapped around OP axis. As alternative molecular design fora B-field sensitive helical chiral structure, a [2.2]paracyclophane subunit wasintegrated into a thiophene macrocycle. A pronounced mechanosenstitivity of thepseudo-para[2.2]paracyclophane subunit was unraveled, which was subsequentlyinvestigated in details by a small series of model compounds. The concept ofmechanosensitive molecular structures was expanded to porphyrin cyclophanes,and it was revealed that pseudo-meta[2.2]paracyclophane is interesting buildingblock for conjugate macrocycles. 

Brief Biography：

Prof. Mayorobtained his diploma and doctoral degree from University of Berne ofSwitzerland. He then conducted his postdoc with Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn atUniversité Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. After a short postdoc stay inGermany, he returned to Université Louis Pasteur for his habilitation. Hejoined University of Basel as associate professor in 2005, and promoted to fullprofessor in 2011. Since 2011, he also became an adjunct professor at SunYet-Sen University. He served as Head of the Chemistry department, and is nowthe Dean of Faculty of Natural Sciences.