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.     

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.     

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].     

Chloroplast Biogenesis 81: Transient Formation of Divinyl Chlorophyll a Following a 2.5 ms Light Flash Treatment of Etiolated Cucumber Cotyledons

Abstract— The possible conversion of nascent divinyl (DV) chloro-phyllide a (Chlide a ) to DV chlorophyll a (Chi a during the early stages of greening in a dark divinyl-light divinyl-light/dark divinyl (DDV-LDV-LDDV) plant species was investigated. Etiolated cucumber cotyledons ( Cucu-mis sativus L .) were subjected to a 2.5 ms light flash followed by darkness. The DV and monovinyl (MV) components of the protochlorophyllide a (Pchlide a ), Chlide a , Pchlide a ester and Chi a pools were monitored quantitatively by high-resolution spectrofluorometry, immediately following the light treatments and after various periods in darkness. The light treatment photoconverted DV and MV Pchlide a to DV and MV Chlide a . Some photoconversion of MV Pchlide a ester to MV Chi a also appeared to take place. A sharp rise in the level of DV Chi a following the light treatment could not be accounted for by photoconversion of DV Pchlide a ester. It must have arisen by rapid esterification of nascent DV Chlide a. After illumination, the level of DV Chi a rose for 5 s and then declined. The implications of the transient rise and fall of DV Chi a content following illumination to the Chi a biosynthetic heterogeneity is discussed.     

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.     

Total synthesis of lodopyridone

A convergent total synthesis of the structurally unprecedented alkaloid lodopyridone was achieved using a cross-coupling of an iodopyridone fragment with a quinolinethiazolylstannane. Key features of the syntheses of the pentasubstituted 4-pyridone were a regioselective bromination of a 4-pyridone derived from kojic acid, a subsequent Cu-mediated introduction of the thioether, and a directed lithiation/iodination step. A chemoselective Negishi cross-coupling of a dibromothiazole and a quinolinylzinc reagent was used to assemble the chloroquinolinethiazol moiety.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric observation of a peptide triplet induced by thermal cleavage of cystine.

Heat-induced (90 degrees C, 30 min) beta-elimination of a cystine residue leads to cleavage of a disulfide bond and produces a set of three peptides with a cysteine residue, a thiocysteine residue (+32Da), and a dehydroalanine residue (-34Da). This characteristic feature was observed from somatostatin and insulin by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometric observation of this triplet is useful in identifying the presence of a cystine residue in a peptide, and could assist mass spectrometric identification of the peptide from a database.     

Electrophoresis of a sphere at an arbitrary position in a spherical cavity filled with Carreau fluid

Boundary effects on the electrophoretic behavior of a charged entity are of both fundamental and practical significance. Here, they are examined by considering the case where a sphere is at an arbitrary position in a spherical cavity under conditions of low surface potential and weak applied electrical field. Previous analyses are extended to the case of a non-Newtonian fluid, and a Carreau model is adopted for this purpose. The effects of key parameters such as the thickness of a double layer, the relative sizes of particle and cavity, the position of a particle, and the nature of a fluid on the electrophoretic mobility of a particle are discussed. Several interesting phenomena are observed. For example, if the applied electric field points toward north, the mobility of a particle has a local maximum when it is at the center of a cavity. However, if a particle is sufficiently close to the north pole of a cavity, its mobility exhibits a local minimum as its position varies. This does not occur when the particle is close to the south pole of the cavity; instead, it may move in the direction opposite to that of the applied electric field. For a Newtonian fluid, if a particle is close to the north pole of a cavity, its upward movement yields a clockwise (counterclockwise) vortex near the north pole of the cavity and a counterclockwise (clockwise) vortex near the south pole of the cavity on its right (left)-hand side. The latter is not observed for a Carreau fluid.     

Stochastic transitions through unstable limit cycles in a model of bistable thermochemical system

The master equation approach is used to study transitions through an unstable limit cycle surrounding a stable focus in two-variable systems with three stationary states. The model considered describes a bistable thermochemical system. Two cases are studied. In the first one transitions occur from a basin of attraction of a stable limit cycle to a basin of attraction of a stable focus surrounded by an unstable limit cycle. In the second case, stochastic trajectories cross the unstable limit cycle going from a basin of attraction of a stable node to a basin of attraction of a stable focus. Distribution functions of the first passage time between these attractors are calculated and discussed for systems with various numbers of particles. The distribution functions in both cases exhibit a multi-peak character. A fine structure of single peaks is observed in the first case.     

Chemistry of 1-fluoro-2,3,4-triphenylcyclobutadiene dimers

The reaction of 2,4-dichloro-1,1-difluoro-3-phenyl-2-cyclobutene 1 with excess phenyllithium and subsequent transformations of the products have been reinvestigated. The phenyllithium reaction appears to proceed through the intermediacy of a fluorotriphenylcyclobutadiene 2 to produce a well-characterized dimeric trans-hexaphenyldifluorotricyclooctadiene 3a. Subsequent transformations of 3a gave a pentaphenyldihydrodifluoropentalene 4, which on acid hydrolysis formed a pentaphenyldihydropentalenone 5. When 3a was photolyzed in benzene, after purification, it afforded 6, an isomer of 5, probably by way of 7, an isomer of 4. Thermolysis of 3a also provided, in low yield, a substance believed to be a pentaphenylfluorophenanthrene 8. Along with isolation of 3a, and probably arising from a different isomer of the 3 family, was a pentaphenylfluorophenanthrene 9, which was suspected of being an isomer of 8. Single-crystal X-ray studies were used to derive structures for 4, 5, 6, and 9. Formation of the unusual and intriguing transformation products has at least been rationalized.     

Controlled Dynamic Helicity of a Folded Macrocycle Based on a Bisterephthalamide with a Twofold Z‐Shaped Structure

Dynamic helicity in a folded macrocycle and control of the helical preference are described. We designed macrocycle 1 with a dual mode of folding through the integration of two flexible units that are arranged twice to form a cyclic structure. As a folding unit, we used a terephthalamide skeleton and a Z‐shaped hydrocarbon: the former acted as a control unit to induce a preference of a particular sense of dynamic helicity and the latter was just a spacer. A terephthalamide unit provided a binding site for capturing a ditopic hydrogen‐bonding guest when it adopted helically folded syn forms (M/P). Thus, only the terephthalamide unit controlled the helical sense of dynamic helicity in a folded macrocycle through the supramolecular transmission of chirality upon complexation with a chiral ditopic guest. In addition, chirality on a host could also contribute to the control of the helical preference in a folded macrocycle, which led to exceptionally enhanced chiroptical signals.     

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.     

Gibbs free energy of liquid drops on conical fibers

Small drops can move spontaneously on conical fibers. As a drop moves along the cone, it must change shape to maintain a constant volume, and thus, it must change its surface energy. Simultaneously, the exposed surface area of the underlying cone must also change. The associated surface energies should balance each other, and the drop should stop moving when it reaches a location where the free energy is a minimum. In this paper, a minimum Gibbs free energy analysis has been performed to predict where a drop will stop on a conical fiber. To obtain the Gibbs free energies of a drop at different locations of a conical fiber, the theoretical expressions for the shape of a droplet on a conical fiber are derived by extending Carroll's equations for a drop on a cylindrical fiber. The predicted Gibbs free energy exhibits a minimum along the length of the cone. For a constant cone angle, as the contact angle between the liquid and the cone increases, the drop will move toward the apex of the cone. Likewise, for a constant contact angle, as the cone angle increases, the drop moves toward the apex. Experiments in which water and dodecane were placed on glass cones verify these dependencies. Thus, the final location of a drop on a conical fiber can be predicted on the basis of the geometry and surface energy of the cone, the surface tension and volume of the liquid, and the original location where the drop was deposited.     

Tautomeric equilibrium between penta- and hexacoordinate silicon chelates. A chloride bridge between two pentacoordinate silicons.

The reaction of O-trimethylsilyl-1,1-dimethyl-2-trifluoroacetylhydrazine (1a) with chloromethyl(methyl)dichlorosilane affords an unexpected equilibrium mixture, 10a right arrow over left arrow 11a, between a neutral hexacoordinate silicon chelate with a covalent chloro ligand (10a) and an ionic pentacoordinate silicon complex (11a). The equilibrium reaction consists formally of a migration of the covalent chloro ligand from silicon to an adjacent ammonium nitrogen, as a chloride anion, and thus constitutes a novel type of tautomeric reaction. Crystallographic and NMR data provide evidence for the reaction. Temperature, solvent, substituent, and counterion effects on the tautomeric equilibrium are discussed: when the temperature of the mixture is raised, the equilibrium ratio 10a/11a increases. Formation of the mixture in toluene, a nonionizing solvent, shifts the equilibrium completely toward the neutral 10a. When the initial hydrazide has a phenyl (11c) or a hydrogen (11b) group as substituent, rather than CF3, the equilibrium is shifted to the ionic side. Replacement of the chloride counterion by triflate, using trimethylsilyl triflate, shifts the 10a/11a mixture to the ionic side. Low-temperature NMR monitoring of the stepwise formation of 10/11 was carried out and provided insight into the reaction mechanism. In an attempt to grow crystals of 11c, the pentacoordinate tautomer analogue, an unprecedented chloride-bridged disiloxane complex, with two pentacoordinate silicons sharing a common axial chloro ligand, crystallized and was characterized and described.     

Estimating statistical distributions using an integral identity

We present an identity for an unbiased estimate of a general statistical distribution. The identity computes the distribution density from dividing a histogram sum over a local window by a correction factor from a mean-force integral, and the mean force can be evaluated as a configuration average. We show that the optimal window size is roughly the inverse of the local mean-force fluctuation. The new identity offers a more robust and precise estimate than a previous one by Adib and Jarzynski [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 014114 (2005)]. It also allows a straightforward generalization to an arbitrary ensemble and a joint distribution of multiple variables. Particularly we derive a mean-force enhanced version of the weighted histogram analysis method. The method can be used to improve distributions computed from molecular simulations. We illustrate the use in computing a potential energy distribution, a volume distribution in a constant-pressure ensemble, a radial distribution function, and a joint distribution of amino acid backbone dihedral angles.     

Synthesis of 3, 4, 4a, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8a α-Octahydro-4a β, 8α-Dimethyl-2(1H)-Naphthalenones from the Wieland-Miescher Ketone

Conversion of the Wieland-Miescher ketone to a bicyclic dienophile capable of providing the AB rings of the picrasane skeleton of the guassinoids required the introduction of a C-8α methyl group in a 2-decalone. Among the routes explored, the conversion of the Wieland-Miescher ketone to a 4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-4aβ-methyl-8-methylene-2(3H)-napthalenone and subsequent reduction to a 3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8aα-octahydro-4aβ,8α-dimethyl-2(1H)-napthalenone proved most useful.     

Formation of a stable 14-helix in short oligomers of furanoid cis-beta-sugar-amino acid

Oligomers of a new class of sugar amino acids (SAA) using a xylofuranoic acid has been shown to generate a robust 14-helix. The design involved the use of xylofuranose with a cis arrangement between the amine and carboxyl groups to promote the adoption of a 14-helix instead of a mixed 12/10-helix observed in a sugar oligomer using a ribofuranoic acid and beta-Ala. The observation of a stable right-handed 14-helix in a cis-SAA is unprecedented.     

Modeling of the pseudo-colloids migration for multi-member decay chains with a arbitrary flux boundary condition in a fractured porous medium

A deep geologic disposal is the prime option for the long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in many countries. For deeply located repositories, a radionuclide released from a failed waste container moves through the engineered and natural barriers before it reaches a biosphere. The pseudo-colloid which a radionuclide is adsorbed on a moving natural humic or fulvic colloid can be generated in a fractured porous medium. The size of a colloid is in general in the order of a hundred nanometer so that its migration velocity in a fracture is higher than that of a radionuclide due to the hydrochromatic effect. A large colloid cannot diffuse easily into a surrounding rock. Also, there are many kinds of actinides and these actinides have decay chains. In this analysis, the canonical form solution is derived for a pseudo-colloid and a solute in a fracture and a surrounding rock with a realistic inlet boundary condition with multi-member decay chains. It is used the Fortran based a computational code which uses a special subroutine for the inversion of Laplace transform. Consequently, the role of the pseudo-colloid in the fractured porous medium is important and also their decay chains aren’t neglected in the performance assessment of the HLW.