Hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals built from hydrogen-bonding donors and acceptors. Infrared study on the stability of the hydrogen bond between carboxylic acid and pyridyl moieties

Abstract

The stability of a hydrogen-bonded complex built through inter-molecular hydrogen bonding between carboxylic acid and pyridine fragments has been examined using infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectra as a function of temperature have been recorded for the 1:1 complex of 4-hexyloxybenzoic acid and trans-4-propoxy-4′-stilbazole from the crystalline state to the isotropic state. A dependence of the stability of the hydrogen bond on molecular orientation is observed clearly in the infrared spectra. The spectra also suggest that the hydrogen bond is an unionized type with a double minimum potential energy.     

Characterization of flower-inducing compound in Lemna paucicostata exposed to drought stress

A flower-inducing compound, LDS1, was isolated from a free-floating aquatic plant, Lemna paucicostata. The chemical structure and the absolute stereochemistry of LDS1 were determined as (9R,13R,11E,15Z)-9,13-dihydroxy-10-oxooctadeca-11,15-dienoic acid for its most abundant diastereomer. LDS1 was enzymatically produced when the plant was exposed to drought stress, and induced flowering at a concentration of 10 nM.     

Dibenzo[a,f]perylene Bisimide: Effects of Introducing Two Fused Rings

Perylene bisimides (PBIs) are fascinating dyes with various potential applications. To study the effects of introducing a dibenzo‐fused structure to the perylene moiety, π‐extended PBI derivatives with a dibenzo‐fused structure at both of the a and f bonds were synthesized. The twisted structure was characterized by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. In the cyclic voltammograms, the dibenzo[a,f]‐fused PBI showed a reversible oxidation wave at much less positive potential, relative to a dibenzo[a,o]‐fused PBI derivative. These data indicated that two ring fusions at both sides of a naphthalene moiety, which construct a tetracene core, effectively raise the HOMO level compared to fusion of one ring at each naphthalene moiety (two anthracene cores). The dibenzo[a,f]‐fused PBI derivative showed an absorption band at 735 nm with a shoulder band reaching 900 nm.     

Formation of a Ligand‐Assisted Complex of Two RNA Hairpin Loops

The hairpin structure is one of the most common secondary structures in RNA and holds a central position in the stream of RNA folding from a non‐structured RNA to structurally complex and functional ribonucleoproteins. Since the RNA secondary structure is strongly correlated to the function and can be modulated by the binding of small molecules, we have investigated the modulation of RNA folding by a ligand‐assisted formation of loop–loop complexes of two RNA hairpin loops. With a ligand (NCT6), designed based on the ligand binding to the G–G mismatches in double‐stranded DNA, we successfully demonstrated the formation of both inter‐ and intra‐molecular NCT6‐assisted complex of two RNA hairpin loops. NCT6 selectively bound to the two hairpin loops containing (CGG)₃ in the loop region. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of two doubly‐labeled RNA hairpin loops clearly showed the formation of intermolecular NCT6‐assisted loop–loop complex. Förster resonance energy‐transfer studies of RNA constructs containing two hairpin loops, in which each hairpin was labeled with Alexa488 and Cy3 fluorophores, showed the conformational change of the RNA constructs upon binding of NCT6. These experimental data showed that NCT6 simultaneously bound to two hairpin RNAs at the loop region, and can induce the conformational change of the RNA molecule. These data strongly support that NCT6 functions as molecular glue for two hairpin RNAs.     

Reactions of C60 with Pyridazine and Phthalazine

Cage-opened bisfulleroids are one of suitable building blocks for making a large hole on fullerenes. This work focuses on the Diels-Alder reaction of C₆₀ with azines, among synthetic methods developed thus far, to provide bisfulleroids. Surprisingly, the computational study predicted that the reaction proceeds with normal electron demand in contrast to hitherto considered inverse-electron-demand pathway. The benzoannulation to the pyridazine ring, i. e., phthalazine, resulted in the remarkably shortened reaction time due to the better interaction between the HOMO of phthalazine and the LUMO of C₆₀ as well as stronger 2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene character in the phthalazine as confirmed crystallographically. Contrary to expectations, the benzobisfulleroid was converted into corresponding orifice-enlarged derivative via the photooxygenation slightly faster than the fulleroid derived from pyridazine.     

Structural evidence for the arc-shaped topology of hetero[5]polynorbornanes

Two novel polarofacial-[5]-polynorbornanes, O ² N ₂ O ²– and COCOC–, were synthesized by cycloaddition reactions and their molecular and crystal structures were determined. These hetero[5]polynorbornanes posses heteroatoms at the norbornene bridges located at the outer convex surface, whereas functionalities are positioned on the inner concave surface. Molecular structures attest the extent of the curvature of their polycyclic backbone, and established that the COCOC-[5]-polynorbornane possesses more curved topology due to larger steric repulsion of 7-norbornane bridges. These experimental results are in good agreement with computational predictions of geometry. Quantum chemical study has identified lone pair repulsive interactions and steric repulsions of bridges as important factors for determining curvature.     

Metallic conductivity and ferromagnetic interaction of iron(III) d spins in the needle crystals of (ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalenoquinone-1,3-dithiolemethide)(2).FeBr(4) salt

The 2:1 charge-transfer (CT) salts (1(2).FeBr(4) and 1(2).GaBr(4)) of ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalenoquinone-1,3-dithiolemethide (1) with FeBr(4)(-) and GaBr(4)(-) counteranions were obtained as needle crystals, whose structures are almost the same as each other. The 1 molecules form a one dimensionally stacked column with alternation of their molecular axis direction, while the counteranions are aligned in parallel with the 1-stacked columns with the direction of their distorted-tetrahedral geometry maintained. The room-temperature electrical conductivities measured on the single crystals of 1(2).FeBr(4) and 1(2).GaBr(4) were 4.6 and 2.1 S cm(-1), respectively. From the temperature dependences of their electrical conductivities in both cases the electrical conducting properties were metallic between ca. 170 and 300 K, but below ca. 170 K converted to be semiconducting and continued till 5 K, although the activation energies are very small (4-10 meV). For 1(2).FeBr(4) very weak and antiferromagnetic interaction occurred between the d spins of FeBr(4)(-) ions in the temperature range of ca. 1-300 K. However, below ca. 15 K the ferromagnetic interaction was reversely preferential possibly by participation of the pi spin of 1.