Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
11:09
Constructing Thioether/Vinyl Sulfide-tethered Helical Peptides Via Photo-induced Thiol-ene/yne Hydrothiolation
Published on: August 1, 2018
10.9K
Combining Hydroxyl-Yne and Thiol-Ene Click Reactions to Facilely Access Sequence-Defined Macromolecules for
1State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, AIE Institute, Center for Aggregation-Induced Emission, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|December 28, 2021
Summary
Scientists developed a new, eco-friendly click chemistry to create sequence-defined oligo(monothioacetals). These digital macromolecules offer high-density data storage and potential applications in information encryption and secure communication.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Macromolecular Science
- Organic Synthesis
Background:
- Mimicking nucleic acid synthesis is key for creating sequence-defined macromolecules.
- Existing methods often require protecting groups or metal catalysts, limiting efficiency and sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a protecting-group-free, metal-free, and atom-economical method for synthesizing sequence-defined oligo(monothioacetals).
- To explore the data storage capabilities and potential applications of these novel macromolecules.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a combination of hydroxyl-yne and thiol-ene click reactions under ambient conditions.
- Employed tandem electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) for sequence decoding.
- Investigated divergent, convergent, and combined strategies for generating star and miktoarm star architectures.
Main Results:
- Achieved an efficient synthesis of linear oligo(monothioacetals) with a 54% overall yield for an 11-step process.
- Demonstrated high data storage density (0.013 bit/Da) in linear digital macromolecules.
- Successfully synthesized unprecedented sequence-defined miktoarm star oligo(monothioacetals) for 2D information encoding.
Conclusions:
- The developed chemistry provides a powerful, stepwise iterative approach for accessing sequence-defined linear and topological oligo(monothioacetals).
- These macromolecules hold significant potential for high-density data storage, information encryption, anticounterfeiting, and secret communication.
Related Concept Videos
01:28ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis
6.3K
Biological macromolecules are organic compounds, predominantly composed of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are covalently bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other minor elements. There are four major biological macromolecule classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...
6.3K
01:15Dehydration Synthesis
145.9K
Overview
Dehydration synthesis (also called a condensation reaction) is the chemical process in which two molecules covalently link together to form a new molecule, along with the release of a water molecule. Many physiologically important compounds form by dehydration synthesis reactions, such as complex carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, and RNA.
Synthesis of carbohydrates
Sugar molecules are covalently linked together by dehydration synthesis. During the reaction, the hydroxyl (-OH) group from...
Dehydration synthesis (also called a condensation reaction) is the chemical process in which two molecules covalently link together to form a new molecule, along with the release of a water molecule. Many physiologically important compounds form by dehydration synthesis reactions, such as complex carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, and RNA.
Synthesis of carbohydrates
Sugar molecules are covalently linked together by dehydration synthesis. During the reaction, the hydroxyl (-OH) group from...
145.9K
00:53Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
2.0K
Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization or ADMET polymerization involves cross-metathesis of terminal dienes, such as 1,8-nonadiene, to give linear unsaturated polymer and ethylene. As ADMET is a reversible process, the formed ethylene gas must be removed from the reaction mixture to complete the polymerization process.
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
2.0K
01:15Hydrolysis
118.5K
Overview
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
118.5K
01:01Phosphodiester Linkages
105.0K
Overview
Phosphodiester bond forms when a phosphoric acid molecule (H3PO4) links with two hydroxyl groups (–OH) of two other molecules, forming two ester bonds. Two water molecules are released in this process. The phosphodiester bond is commonly found in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and plays a critical role in their structure and function.
Phosphodiester Bonds Link Nucleotides Together
DNA and RNA are polynucleotides or long chains of nucleotides that are linked together. A nucleotide is...
Phosphodiester bond forms when a phosphoric acid molecule (H3PO4) links with two hydroxyl groups (–OH) of two other molecules, forming two ester bonds. Two water molecules are released in this process. The phosphodiester bond is commonly found in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and plays a critical role in their structure and function.
Phosphodiester Bonds Link Nucleotides Together
DNA and RNA are polynucleotides or long chains of nucleotides that are linked together. A nucleotide is...
105.0K