Photochromism of mixed crystals containing bisthienyl-, bisthiazolyl-, and bisoxazolylethene derivatives

Single crystals composed of two or three different kinds of diarylethenes, having similar geometrical structures but different colors in the closed-ring isomers, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a), 1,2-bis(5-methyl-2-phenyl- 4-thiazolyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2a), and 1,2-bis(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolyl)perfluorocyclopentene (3a) have been prepared in an attempt to form single crystals which exhibit different colors, depending on illumination wavelengths. When 1a and 2a are mixed in ethanol and the content of 2a in the feed is higher than that of 1a, only a needle-shaped crystal is obtained. The crystal shape is similar to that of 2a. On the other hand, high content of 1a in the feed leads to formation of a block-shaped crystal, of which the shape is similar to that of 1a. At a feed ratio of 1:1 for 1a and 2a, two types of crystals such as needle- and block-shapes are obtained from the same batch. Mixed crystals composed of three kinds of derivatives 1a/2a/3a have also been prepared. A crystal composed of the three derivatives in the molar ratio of 32 (1a):53 (2a):15 (3a) was obtained. X-ray analysis proved that 1a and 3a are packed in the crystal lattice of 2a. The mixed crystal 1a/2a/3a changed color from colorless to yellow, red, and blue upon irradiation with light of appropriate wavelengths.     

四氟乙烯齐聚体的反应 四氟乙烯四、五聚体和芳香胺的反应

前已报道四氟乙烯四聚体(全氟-3,4-甲基己烯-3)(1)、五聚体(全氟-3,4-二甲基-4-乙基己烯-2)(2)和脂肪烷氧以及脂肪胺的亲核反应.本文报道化合物1,2和芳香胺如苯胺、β-萘胺的反应.由于烯烃1、2双键处于分子中间,因而当亲核试剂进攻时,双键容易发生重排,生成的末端基烯烃更具反应性,故导致一取代、二取代、三取代以及环化降解等复杂产物.     

Highly Stereoselective Cationic Cyclization Assisted by a Sulfenyl Group. Scope, Limitation, and Mechanism

When 8-acetoxy-2-methyl-9-(phenylthio)-2-nonene (1a) was treated with an acid, followed by a base, alkylative cyclization proceeded to give a mixture of 1,2-disubstituted cyclohexanes: 2a, 3a, and 4a. The stereochemistry of the reaction was only slightly affected by the leaving group and the reaction conditions, such as the temperature, solvent, and acid. However, the bulkiness of the sulfenyl group had a great effect on the stereochemical course of the reaction. High trans selectivity was attained when 1c (a derivative of 1a with a bulkier sulfenyl group) was used as a substrate. On the other hand, the length and rigidity of the carbon chain of the substrate also had a major effect on the stereochemistry of the reaction; a high cis selectivity was observed when 10a (a one-carbon-fewer analog of 1a) or 15a (a derivative with one more double bond in the carbon chain than in 1a) was used as the substrate. The reaction proceeded via a 6,5- or 5,5-fused-ring intermediate. The sulfenyl-group-assisted reaction could be a useful method for the stereoselective cyclization of acetates of alpha-sulfenylated secondary alcohols.     

Synthesis of dihydrofuro[2,3‐b]pyridines by the reaction of 2‐amino‐4,5‐dihydro‐3‐furancarbonitriles with α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds

The reactions of 2‐amino‐4,5‐dihydro‐3‐furancarbonitriles 1a‐d with α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the presence of sodium ethoxide (0.1 equivalent) gave the corresponding Michael adducts 2a‐d , 3a‐d and 4a‐d. Compounds 2a‐d and 3a‐c reacted with sodium alkoxide (1 equivalent) to yield the corresponding 7a‐alkoxyhexahydrofuro[2,3‐b]pyridines 5a‐d, 6a‐d, 7a‐c and 8a‐c . Treatment of 5a‐d, 6a‐d, 7a‐c and 8a‐c with potassium tert‐butoxide produced the corresponding dihydrofuro[2,3‐b]pyridines 9a‐d and 10a‐c . The reaction of 4a‐c with sodium ethoxide (1 equivalent) afforded the corresponding dihydro‐furo[2,3‐b]pyridines 11a‐c .     

Synthesis, properties, and redox behavior of di(1-azulenyl)(2- and 3-thienyl)methyl cations and dications composed of two di(1-azulenyl)methylium units connected with 2,5-thiophenediyl and 2,5-thienothiophenediyl spacers

The titled stable monocations, di(1-azulenyl)(2- and 3-thienyl)methyl cations 7a,b and 8a,b and dications composed of two di(1-azulenyl)methylium units connected with 2,5-thiophenediyl and 2,5-thieno[3,2-b]thiophenediyl spacers 9a,b and 10a,b were prepared by hydride abstraction of the corresponding methane derivatives. These mono- and dications 7a,b, 8a,b, 9a,b, and 10a,b showed high stability with large pK(R)+ values. The values of monocations 7a,b and 8a,b were 11.2-11.8 +/- 0.1 and 11.4-12.4 +/- 0.1, respectively. Two cation units in dications 9a,b and 10a,b were neutralized via one step at the pH of 11.1-11.7 +/- 0.1, which corresponds to the average of the pK(R)+ values of the dications and half-neutralized monocations. Electrochemical behavior of 7a,b, 8a,b, 9a,b, and 10a,b was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Formation of the thienoquinoid products 18a,b and 19a,b from 9a,b and 10a,b was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy under electrochemical reduction conditions. Chemical reduction of 9a,b and 10a,b with Zn powder in acetonitrile afforded 18a,b and 19a,b as deep-colored crystals, which exhibited rather high electron-donating ability.     

Re-entrant and induced mesophases: Mixed systems showing re-entrant TGBA and re-entrant cholesteric phases

We have investigated the behaviour of chiral carbohydrate-based trioxadecalines with a cyano group in mixed systems. The mixture of a trioxadecaline having a Ch phase and a trioxadecaline having a Ch, S_A and a S*_Cphase sequence induces a re-entrant TGB_A and Ch phase. Below the stabilized S*_C phase, a re-entrant Ch phase is observed. In the mixture of the cholesteric trioxadecaline with CCH7, itself only showing a nematic phase, a TGB_A phase and a broad range S_A phase are induced from two non-smectic compounds. Both mixtures show a blue phase with a pitch ranging from the UV to red depending on the molar fraction.     

Surface integration approach: a new technique for evaluating geometry dependent forces between objects of various geometry and a plate

We present a new approach, which can be considered as a generalization of the Derjaguin approximation, that provides exact means to determine the force acting between a three-dimensional body of any shape and a half-space mutually interacting via pairwise potentials. Using it, in the cases of the Lennard-Jones, standard and the retarded (Casimir) van der Waals interactions we derive exact expressions for the forces between a half-space or a slab of finite thickness and an ellipsoid in a general orientation, which in the simplest case reduces to a sphere, a tilted fully elliptic torus, and a body obtained via rotation of a single loop generalized Cassini oval, a particular example of which mimics the shape of a red blood cell. The results are obtained for the case when the object is separated from the plane via a non-polar continuous medium that can be gas, liquid or vacuum. Specific examples of biological objects of various shapes interacting with a plate like substrates are also considered.     

Refolding foldamers: triazene-arylene oligomers that change shape with chemical stimuli

We describe the preparation of five triazene-arylene oligomers (3, 4, 7, 8, and 11) and investigations of their folding properties in aqueous solution. These oligomers contain four 2-fold rotors and populate a conformational ensemble comprising at least 10 states. Extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies as well as X-ray crystallography establish that the presence of three members of the cucurbit[n]uril family (CB[n]), CB[10], CB[7], and CB[8], results in the selective population of the (a,a,a,a)-, (a,s,s,a)-, and (a,a,a,s)-conformers. As a result of the high affinity and highly selective binding properties of the CB[n] family, it is possible to fold a single foldamer strand (3) into the CB[8].(a,a,a,s)-3 conformer by the addition of CB[8], then unfold and refold it into the CB[7].(a,s,s,a)-3.CB[7] conformer by addition of CB[7] and 3,5-dimethylaminoadamantane (17), then unfold and refold it again into the CB[10].(a,a,a,a)-3 conformer by addition of CB[10].CB[5] and aminoadamantane (18). The transformation of CB[8].(a,a,a,s)-3 into CB[7].(a,s,s,a)-3.CB[7] proceeds through the intermediacy of CB [8].(a,a,s,a)-3.CB[7], which enhances the rate of dissociation of strand 3 from CB[8].     

Total synthesis of iejimalide B. An application of the Shiina macrolactonization

The potent anticancer compound iejimalide B (1) was prepared by a total synthesis through a strategy that features Julia olefinations, Wittig olefinations, a Carreira enantioselective alkynylation, a Heck reaction, a Marshall propargylation reaction, a Stille coupling, and a Shiina macrolactonization.     

Excitation dynamics in the LHCII complex of higher plants: modeling based on the 2.72 Angstrom crystal structure

We have modeled steady-state spectra and energy-transfer dynamics in the peripheral plant light-harvesting complex LHCII using new structural data. The dynamics of the chlorophyll (Chl) b-->Chl a transfer and decay of selectively excited "bottleneck" Chl a and b states have been studied by femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. We propose an exciton model of the LHCII trimer (with specific site energies) which allows a simultaneous quantitative fit of the absorption, linear-dichroism, steady-state fluorescence spectra, and transient absorption kinetics upon excitation at different wavelengths. In the modeling we use the experimental exciton-phonon spectral density and modified Redfield theory. We have found that fast b-->a transfer is determined by a good connection of the Chls b to strongly coupled Chl a clusters, i.e., a610-a611-a612 trimer and a602-a603 and a613-a614 dimers. Long-lived components of the energy-transfer kinetics are determined by a quick population of red-shifted Chl b605 and blue-shifted Chl a604 followed by a very slow (3 ps for b605 and 12 ps for a604) flow of energy from these monomeric bottleneck sites to the Chl a clusters. The dynamics within the Chl a region is determined by fast (with time constants down to sub-100 fs) exciton relaxation within the a610-a611-a612 trimer, slower 200-300 fs relaxation within the a602-a603 and a613-a614 dimers, even slower 300-800 fs migration between these clusters, and very slow transfer from a604 to the quasi-equilibrated a sites. The final equilibrium is characterized by predominant population of the a610-a611-a612 cluster (mostly the a610 site). The location of this cluster on the outer side of the LHCII trimer probably provides a good connection with the other subunits of PSII.     

Delivery of MicroRNAs by plant virus-based nanoparticles to functionally alter the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

MicroRNA-26a (miR-26a) has been verified to promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in recent years. The main obstacles to its application in bone regeneration are instability in the physiological environment and low efficiency of cellular membrane penetration. To overcome these problems, we constructed a novel plant virus gene delivery system based on Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV). By encapsulating miR-26a with purified capsid protein (CP) dimers derived from CCMV, CP-miR-26a (CP26a) virus-like particles (VLPs) were obtained. CP26a retained a structure similar to the native CCMV and protected miR-26a from digestion with its exterior CP. Moreover, CP26a featured similar cellular uptake efficiency, osteogenesis promotion ability, and better biocompatibility compared with Lipofectamine2000-miR-26a (lipo26a), which indicated a promising prospect for CCMV as a novel gene delivery system.     

Photochromic reactions of diarylethenes in single crystals with intermolecular O--H...N hydrogen-bonding networks

The crystal structures and photochromic performance of a single crystal of a diarylethene derivative possessing carboxyl groups, 1,2-bis(5-carboxyl-2-methyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1 a), and cocrystals of 1 a with 4,4'-, 2,4'-, and 2,2'-bipyridines were examined. In crystal 1 a, a discrete cyclic structure was observed, in which four 1 a molecules are linked through hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl groups. In the homocrystal, photoreactive and photoinactive conformers of 1 a exist in the ratio of 1:1. In the cocrystals of 1 a with bipyridines, O--HN-type hydrogen bonds between 1 a and pyridyl groups were formed, and all 1 a molecules are fixed in a photoreactive conformation. Both the homocrystal 1 a and the cocrystals showed photochromic performances, and color variation from bluish-violet to cyan was observed, depending on the conformation of the packed diarylethene molecules.     

A novel method that improves sensitivity of protein detection in PAGE and Western blot

We have developed a simple and inexpensive method that improves sensitivity of protein and antigen detection in standard PAGE procedures. Our technique uses a sample microloader device with a funnel‐like structure, filled with a 4% stacking gel. When attach to the top of a polyacrylamide slab gel, the proteins in a sample are concentrated by electrophoresis into a small volume as they emerge from the device's narrow outlet. Our microloader has several advantages over previous devices, including simple assembly, high versatility, and absence of cross‐contamination between lanes. Addition of this device to a slab gel results in a fivefold increase in the sensitivity of antigen detection in a Western blot. As a result, less protein is required for loading and signal detection. Our protocol is a straightforward modification of a standard experimental technique, and is especially useful when only limited sample quantities are available.     

Folding transition of a single semiflexible polyelectrolyte chain through toroidal bundling of loop structures

We consider how the DNA coil-globule transition progresses via the formation of a toroidal ring structure. We formulate a theoretical model of this transition as a phenomenon in which an unstable single loop generated as a result of thermal fluctuation is stabilized through association with other loops along a polyelectrolyte chain. An essential property of the chain under consideration is that it follows a wormlike chain model. A toroidal bundle of loop structures is characterized by a radius and a winding number. The statistical properties of such a chain are discussed in terms of the free energy as a function of the fraction of unfolded segments. We also present an actual experimental observation of the coil-globule transition of single giant DNA molecules, T4 DNA (165.5 kbp), with spermidine (3+), where intrachain phase segregation appears at a NaCl concentration of more than 10 mM. Both the theory and experiments lead to two important points. First, the transition from a partially folded state to a completely folded state has the characteristics of a continuous transition, while the transition from an unfolded state to a folded state has the characteristics of a first-order phase transition. Second, the appearance of a partially folded structure requires a folded structure to be less densely packed than in the fully folded compact state.     

Crystal engineering of photochromic diarylethene single crystals

Photochromic performance of diarylethene single crystals was controlled by crystal engineering using non-covalent aromatic-aromatic interactions as the directional intermolecular force. A diarylethene derivative with two pentafluorophenyl groups, 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-pentafluorophenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (1a), formed stoichiometric co-crystals with benzene (Bz) and naphthalene (Np) by aryl-perfluoroaryl interactions. Face-to-face pi-stacking interactions between the pentafluorophenyl groups of 1a and the aromatic molecules are responsible for 2:1 and 1:1 stoichiometric compositions in 1a/Bz and 1a/Np co-crystals, respectively. The diarylethene underwent thermally stable and photoreversible photochromic reactions in a homo-crystal of 1a and co-crystals 1a/Bz and 1a/Np. The absorption spectra of the photogenerated closed-ring isomers varied depending on the conformation of the diarylethene molecules packed in the crystals. The diarylethene 1a also formed 1:1 stoichiometric co-crystals with different kinds of diarylethenes, 1,2-bis(2-ethyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene (2a) and 1,2-bis[2-methyl-5-(1-naphthyl)-3-thienyl]perfluorocyclopentene (3a). Both co-crystals 1a/2a and 1a/3a showed photochromism. Although 1a, 2a, and 3a underwent efficient photocyclization reactions in their homo-crystals, highly selective photocyclization reactions of 2a or 3a were observed in the co-crystals. The selective reactions were confirmed by HPLC and X-ray crystallography. Excited energy transfers from 1a to 2a and from 1a to 3a are considered to occur and cause the selective reactions.     

Self-propelled motion of a fluid droplet under chemical reaction

We study self-propelled dynamics of a droplet due to a Marangoni effect and chemical reactions in a binary fluid with a dilute third component of chemical product which affects the interfacial energy of a droplet. The equation for the migration velocity of the center of mass of a droplet is derived in the limit of an infinitesimally thin interface. We found that there is a bifurcation from a motionless state to a propagating state of droplet by changing the strength of the Marangoni effect.     

Intramolecular vibrational relaxation in the dual-channel 5-methyl-3-hexyl radical system excited by different activation pathways

The Mueller matrix of a non-depolarizing, homogeneous but anisotropic medium is calculated in a closed form from the “differential matrix”, i.e. from the Mueller matrix of a thin layer of the same medium. The implications of certain symmetry properties of the sample on its Mueller matrix are discussed as well as some properties and a possible geometric visualisation of the latter originating from its relationship to a Lorentz transformation. There results a decomposition into a product of a general retarder and a general polarizer matrix. Three examples of application of the general formulas are given: (1) A suitable equation for constructing the Mueller matrices of optical elements, (2) a criticism of a CD measurement by means of a non-ideal modulator, and (3) by slight generalization to an inhomogeneous medium, a model for absorbing cholesteric phases.     

Modeling the inhibition of peptide deformylase by hydroxamic acids: influence of the sulfur donor

The first complexes containing both a sulfur atom and a hydroxamate moiety coordinated to a biologically relevant transition metal were synthesized as models for the structure of inhibited peptide deformylases. Two of these [(N(2)S)Zn(hydroxamate)] complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The first contains a thioether and a simple hydroxamate, the second a thiolate and a N-substituted hydroxamate. Isolation of a complex with a thiolate and a simple hydroxamate group was not possible.     

A cyclodextrin-based molecular shuttle containing energetically favored and disfavored portions in its dumbbell component

A molecular shuttle containing dodecamethylene units, 4, 4'-bipyridinium units, and alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) has been prepared. Shuttling behavior is solvent- and temperature-sensitive and could be controlled by double interactions: hydrophobic interaction between a CD ring and a station and a repulsive interaction between a CD ring and a linker. This is a novel method to control the mobility of a bead in a molecular shuttle.