From an S(T) = 3 single-molecule magnet to diamagnetic ground state depending on the molecular packing of Mn(III)salen-type dimers decorated by N,N'-dicyano-1,4-naphthoquinonediiminate radicals

Two manganese(III) tetradentate Schiff-base dimers to which N,N'-dicyano-1,4-naphthoquinonediiminate (DCNNQI) radicals are attached have been selectively synthesized by varying the solvents used in the reactions: [Mn2(5-MeOsaltmen)2(DCNNQI)2].MeOH (1) and [Mn2(5-MeOsaltmen)(2)(DCNNQI)(2)] x 2CH2Cl2.2CH3CN (2) [5-MeOsaltmen2- = N,N'-(1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene)bis(5-methoxysalicylideneiminate)]. These two complexes share the same molecular core, [(DCNNQI.-)-Mn(III)-(O)2-Mn(III)-(DCNNQI.-)], where -(O)2- is a biphenolate bridge in the out-of-plane dimerized [Mn(2)(5-MeOsaltmen)2]2+ moiety. However, their packing arrangements are completely different. Whereas complex 1 is found to be relatively isolated, strong intermolecular dimerization of the DCNNQI moieties (with the nearest contact being approximately 3.0 A) is observed in 2, forming a one-dimensional chain of [-Mn(III)-(O)2-Mn(III)-(DCNNQI.-)2-](infinity). The magnetic susceptibility of 1 can be modeled with an [S = 1/2, 2, 2, 1/2] four-spin system including strong antiferromagnetic Mn(III)/DCNNQI radical coupling (J(Mn/rad)/kB = -23 K) and ferromagnetic Mn(III)/Mn(III) coupling through the biphenolate bridge (J(Mn/Mn)/kB = +2.0 K). These interactions lead to an ST = 3 ground state that possesses significant uniaxial anisotropy (D(S=3)/kB = -2.1 K). Low-temperature ac and dc magnetic data of 1 reveal its single-molecule magnet behavior with quantum tunneling of the magnetization. By contrast, 2 possesses the diamagnetic ground state induced by dominating Mn(III)-Mn(III) antiferromagnetic interactions mediated by the diamagnetic DCNNQI dimers and/or pi-pi contact along the b axis.     

Construction of segregated arrays of multiple donor and acceptor units using a dendritic scaffold: remarkable dendrimer effects on photoinduced charge separation

Dendritic molecules appended with multiple zinc porphyrin units (DPm, m [number of zinc porphyrin units] = 6, 12, and 24) trap bipyridine compounds carrying multiple fullerene units (Py2Fn, n [number of C60 units] = 1-3), affording coordination complexes DPm superset Py2Fn having a photoactive layer consisting of spatially segregated donor and acceptor arrays on their surface. Complexes DPm superset Py2Fn are stable enough (K [average binding affinity] = 1.1 x 10(6)-4.4 x 10(6) M(-1) in CHCl3 at 25 degrees C) to be isolated by gel permeation chromatography. UHV-STM microscopy enables clear visualization of a petal-like structure of DP12 superset Py2F3. Photoexcitation of the zinc porphyrin units in DPm superset Py2Fn results in a zinc porphyrin-to-fullerene electron transfer to generate a charge separation. The charge-separation rate constant (kCS) in CH2Cl2 at 20 degrees C increases from 0.26 x 10(10) to 2.3 x 10(10) s(-1) upon increment of m and n, whereas the charge-recombination rate constant (kCR) remains almost unchanged at 4.5 x 10(6)-6.7 x 10(6) s(-1). Consequently, DP24 supersetPy2F3 furnishes the largest ratio of kCS/kCR (3400) among the family.     

Thiocyanate hydrolase is a cobalt-containing metalloenzyme with a cysteine-sulfinic acid ligand

Thiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) purified from Thiobacillus thioparus THI115 hydrolyzes thiocyanate to carbonyl sulfide and ammonia. DNA sequences of the cloned genes revealed the close relation of SCNase to nitrile hydratase (NHase). The consensus sequences for coordination of the metal ion found in NHases were also conserved in the gamma subunit of SCNase. Here, we showed that the SCNase contained one cobalt atom per alphabetagamma heterotrimer. UV-vis absorption spectrum suggested that the cobalt exists as a non-corrin ion. Reduced SCNase showed an ESR signal characteristic of low-spin Co2+, which closely resembled that of the Co-type NHases. Mass spectrometry for the peptide fragment containing the metal-binding motif of the SCNase gamma subunit indicated that the cysteine residue at position 131 was post-translationally oxidized to a cysteine-sulfinic acid. From these results, we concluded that SCNases and NHases form a novel non-corrin and/or non-heme protein family having post-translationally modified cysteine ligands.     

Implementation of quantum gate operations in molecules with weak laser fields

We numerically propose a way to perform quantum computations by combining an ensemble of molecular states and weak laser pulses. A logical input state is expressed as a superposition state (a wave packet) of molecular states, which is initially prepared by a designed femtosecond laser pulse. The free propagation of the wave packet for a specified time interval leads to the specified change in the relative phases among the molecular basis states, which corresponds to a computational result. The computational results are retrieved by means of quantum interferometry. Numerical tests are implemented in the vibrational states of the B state of I2 employing controlled-NOT gate, and 2 and 3 qubits Fourier transforms. All the steps involved in the computational scheme, i.e., the initial preparation, gate operation, and detection steps, are achieved with extremely high precision.     

Laser control of reactions of photoswitching functional molecules

Laser control schemes of reactions of photoswitching functional molecules are proposed based on the quantum mechanical wave-packet dynamics and the design of laser parameters. The appropriately designed quadratically chirped laser pulses can achieve nearly complete transitions of wave packet among electronic states. The laser parameters can be optimized by using the Zhu-Nakamura theory of nonadiabatic transition. This method is effective not only for the initial photoexcitation process but also for the pump and dump scheme in the middle of the overall photoswitching process. The effects of momentum of the wave packet crossing a conical intersection on the branching ratio of products have also been clarified. These control schemes mentioned above are successfully applied to the cyclohexadiene/hexatriene photoisomerization (ring-opening) process which is the reaction center of practical photoswitching molecules such as diarylethenes. The overall efficiency of the ring opening can be appreciably increased by using the appropriately designed laser pulses compared to that of the natural photoisomerization without any control schemes.     

Local and network structure of thermoreversible polyrotaxane hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) and methylated alpha-cyclodextrins

Thermoreversible gelation and microphase formation of aqueous solutions of a methylated polyrotaxane (MePR) were investigated by means of differential scanning microcalorimetry, rheometry, and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The aqueous solutions of MePR show a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and form an elastic gel with increasing temperature. The sol-gel transition of the MePR solutions was induced by formation and deformation of aggregates of methylated alpha-cyclodextrins (alpha-CDs) of polyrotaxane due to hydrophobic dehydration and hydration, respectively. The XRD investigation revealed localization and highly ordered arrangement of methylated alpha-CDs along the PEG chain in the gel. The arrangement of CDs was also reflected by the changes in elasticity and long relaxation behavior of the solution around the sol-gel transition. The quasiequilibrium shear modulus of MePR solutions showed the critical phenomena against temperature. The scaling exponents measured at two different concentrations were almost equal to the values predicted by a gel percolation theory. Therefore, the heat-induced gelation of aqueous MePR solutions is well explained by a model in which clusters assembled with methylated alpha-CDs are gradually connected to the network as the temperature increases.     

Two-photon fluorescence spectroscopy of individually trapped pseudoisocyanine J-aggregates in aqueous solution

We have investigated a pseudoisocyanine dye aqueous solution including nanometer-sized J-aggregates by combining optical trapping and two-photon fluorescence spectroscopy. By focusing an intense near-infrared laser into an 8 x 10(-3) M solution, the intense fluorescence from J-aggregates for a few to tens of seconds is observed intermittently, indicating that individual J-aggregates are trapped in and diffuse out from a focal spot. The peak position and full width at half-maximum of the J-band are different from each other. By measuring 171 J-aggregates, it was found that J-aggregates can be classified largely into two groups. The existence of two kinds of groups of J-aggregates could be attributed to the difference in the nucleation process, which is affected by the substrate. J-aggregates possessing a J-band of a narrower bandwidth in a shorter wavelength region are trapped for a longer period of time, indicating that highly ordered J-aggregates are trapped for a longer period of time because of their high polarizability.     

Temperature scanning FTIR analysis of hydrogen bonding states of various saccharides in amorphous matrixes below and above their glass transition temperatures

Temperature scanning Fourier transform infrared, TS-FTIR, spectroscopy of various amorphous sugar matrixes was conducted to investigate the relationship between the glass transition temperature, T(g), of an amorphous sugar matrix and the nature of the hydrogen bonds in the matrix. An amorphous sugar matrix was prepared by air-drying an aqueous solution of sugar, and the degree of formation of hydrogen bonds in the matrix was evaluated at different temperatures using the peak positions of the IR band corresponding to the O-H stretching vibration at around 3400 cm(-1). The T(g) value increased with increasing peak position of the O-H stretching vibration at T(g) and were correlated reasonably well with the magnitude of the peak shift by the temperature increase (from 25 degrees C) to the T(g) value. This demonstrates that the amorphous sugar matrix, in which the segments are fixed by fewer hydrogen bonds, has a higher thermal resistance. The glycosidic linkage largely contributes to the restriction of the segments, pyranose ring, rather than a hydrogen bond. As the degree of polymerization of pyranose rings increases, the degree of hydrogen bond formation needed to hold the matrix in a fixed position decreases. However, the magnitude of the restriction of pyranose rings by a glycosidic linkage changes depending on the type: the restrictions imposed by alpha-1,1 and -1,6 glycosidic linkages are the tightest and most flexible of all of the types of glycosidic linkages, respectively.     

Generation of allylic indium by hydroindation of 1,3-dienes and one-pot reaction with carbonyl compounds

A hydroindation of 1,3-dienes by dichloroindium hydride (HInCl2) generates allylic indiums that react with carbonyl or imine moieties in a one-pot treatment. The former reaction proceeds in a radical manner, and the latter is ionic allylation. Moreover, both reactions require no additives such as radical initiators, Lewis acids, or transition metal catalysts.     

Computational study on the reaction mechanism of the key thermal [4 + 4] cycloaddition reaction in the biosynthesis of epoxytwinol A

[reaction: see text] The key [4 + 4] cycloaddition in the biosynthesis of epoxytwinol A has been established by theoretical calculations to comprise of three processes. The first step is formation of the C8-C8' bond generating a biradical intermediate. Next, rotation about the C8-C8' bond occurs, and finally the C1-C1' bond is formed. Biradicals stabilized by conjugation and two hydrogen bonds are essential for realization of this rare thermal [4 + 4] cycloaddition.