Titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups

Abstract Titanocenes are well-recognized for their diverse applications in catalysis and biomedical research. Despite their potential, challenges related to stability and functionalization have limited broader utility, especially in medicinal chemistry. In this study, we present a strategy for the f...

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Main Authors: Emanuele Casali, Andrea Gandini, Gabriele Merlo, Lorenzo Carli, Jan J. Weigand, Alessio Porta, Giuseppe Zanoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Communications Chemistry
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01624-w
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author Emanuele Casali
Andrea Gandini
Gabriele Merlo
Lorenzo Carli
Jan J. Weigand
Alessio Porta
Giuseppe Zanoni
author_facet Emanuele Casali
Andrea Gandini
Gabriele Merlo
Lorenzo Carli
Jan J. Weigand
Alessio Porta
Giuseppe Zanoni
author_sort Emanuele Casali
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Titanocenes are well-recognized for their diverse applications in catalysis and biomedical research. Despite their potential, challenges related to stability and functionalization have limited broader utility, especially in medicinal chemistry. In this study, we present a strategy for the functionalization of titanocenes using a class of titanium protecting groups. This approach provides enhanced control over reactivity and significantly broadens the scope of structurally diverse modifications accessible for these complexes. Furthermore, we demonstrate the successful integration of a BODIPY fluorophore into titanocene-based systems, enabling advanced cellular imaging and visualizing the real perinuclear distribution of these organometallic compounds in living cell. The efficient incorporation of biomolecules such as biotin and cholesteryl derivatives through click-chemistry ligation underscores the potential of this method to facilitate the development of titanocene-based agents for pharmaceutical applications. By addressing previous limitations, this work paves the way for more effective utilization of titanocenes in both synthetic and biomedical fields.
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spelling doaj-art-dbcf7fedda2645c0abb2dbd7e9538a002025-08-20T03:42:26ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Chemistry2399-36692025-07-01811910.1038/s42004-025-01624-wTitanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groupsEmanuele Casali0Andrea Gandini1Gabriele Merlo2Lorenzo Carli3Jan J. Weigand4Alessio Porta5Giuseppe Zanoni6Department of Chemistry, University of PaviaDepartment of Chemistry, University of PaviaDepartment of Chemistry, University of PaviaDepartment of Chemistry, University of PaviaFaculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universitaet DresdenDepartment of Chemistry, University of PaviaDepartment of Chemistry, University of PaviaAbstract Titanocenes are well-recognized for their diverse applications in catalysis and biomedical research. Despite their potential, challenges related to stability and functionalization have limited broader utility, especially in medicinal chemistry. In this study, we present a strategy for the functionalization of titanocenes using a class of titanium protecting groups. This approach provides enhanced control over reactivity and significantly broadens the scope of structurally diverse modifications accessible for these complexes. Furthermore, we demonstrate the successful integration of a BODIPY fluorophore into titanocene-based systems, enabling advanced cellular imaging and visualizing the real perinuclear distribution of these organometallic compounds in living cell. The efficient incorporation of biomolecules such as biotin and cholesteryl derivatives through click-chemistry ligation underscores the potential of this method to facilitate the development of titanocene-based agents for pharmaceutical applications. By addressing previous limitations, this work paves the way for more effective utilization of titanocenes in both synthetic and biomedical fields.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01624-w
spellingShingle Emanuele Casali
Andrea Gandini
Gabriele Merlo
Lorenzo Carli
Jan J. Weigand
Alessio Porta
Giuseppe Zanoni
Titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups
Communications Chemistry
title Titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups
title_full Titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups
title_fullStr Titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups
title_full_unstemmed Titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups
title_short Titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups
title_sort titanocenes functionalization with high chemical diversity via titanium protecting groups
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01624-w
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