Electronic energy transfer from the S2 state of rhodamine 6G

In this paper we present the results of an experimental study of intermolecular electronic energy transfer (EET) from the short-lived Second excited singlet state of rhodamine 6G (R6G) to the ground state of 2,5-bis [5′-tert-butyl-2-benzoxazolyl] thiophene (BBOT). The S₂ state of the donor was excited by sequential, time-delayed, two-photon excitation (STDTPE) utilizing the second harmonic and the first harmonic of a mode-locked Nd³⁺: glass laser, while the EET process was interrogated by monitoring the enhancement of the S₁ → S₀ fluorescence of BBOT. The enhancement of the fluorescence intensity of BBOT was found to be linear in the energies of the two exciting pulses, and linear in the concentration of the energy acceptor (over the BBOT concentration range of (0.3–7) × 10^?5 M), which is in accord with the predictions of the Forster—Dexter mechanism for resonant EET from an ultrashort-lived donor state at low acceptor concentrations. Quantitative measurements of the S₂ → S₀ fluorescence yield in R6G solution directly excited by STDTPE and of the S₁ → S₀ fluorescence of BBOT from R6G + BBOT solutions resulting from EET led to the values of Y_D(S₂ → S₀) = (2.1 ± 0.5) × 10^?6 for the emission quantum yield of the S₂ state of R6G and τr_D(S₂) ≈ 3 × 10^?14 s for the lifetime of the metastable S₂ state of this molecule.     

Mössbauer studies of iron incorporation into ferritins

Iron(III) monomers, dimers and clusters have been identified by Mössbauer spectroscopy during the initial stages of iron incorporation into ferritins, following Fe(II) oxidation. Iron(III) monomers seem to arise from dimer dissociation. Some of the monomers are transferred from iron poor to iron rich ferritin molecules, where they join the iron core clusters. Horse spleen ferritin, several variants of human H chain ferritin andEscherichia coli ferritin (Ec-FTN) can all accept the iron from human H chain ferritin. The small iron cores of Ec-FTN are different from those of mammalian ferritins, which indicates that the structure of the iron core depends on the protein shell.     

Synthesis of 2-amino-6-chloro- and 2,6-diammopunne 3-oxides

N-Oxidation of 2-amino-6-chloropurine to the 3-oxide provided a convenient intermediate for the synthesis of 2-amino-6-substituted purine 3-oxides, including the previously unavailable 2,6-diaminopurine 3-oxide. Thiation of the 6-halogen was accompanied by reduction of the N-oxide. The properties of the 1- and 3-oxides of 2,6-diaminopurine are compared.     

Hydro­gen‐bonded supramolecular lattice of the 1:3:4 complex between [5,10,15,20‐meso‐tetrakis(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)­porphyrinato‐κ4N]­zinc(II), dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8 and methanol

The title compound, [5,10,15,20‐meso‐tetrakis(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)­porphyrinato‐κ⁴N]­zinc(II) tris(dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8) methanol tetrasolvate, [Zn(C₄₄H₂₈N₄O₄)]·3C₂₄H₃₂O₈·4CH₄O, was synthesized and its molecular structure precisely charac­terized by low‐temperature single‐crystal analysis. All the components are involved in hydrogen bonding with each other, thus forming an extensively hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular lattice. The functionalized porphyrin moiety coordinates both equatorially and axially to the neighboring species.     

Composition of the black crusts from the Saint Denis Basilica, France, as revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The organic fraction of black crusts from Saint Denis Basilica, France, is composed of a complex mixture of aliphatic and aromatic compounds. These compounds were studied by two different analytical approaches: tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) thermochemolysis in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and solvent extraction, fractionation by silica column, and identification of the fraction components by GC-MS. The first approach, feasible at the microscale level, is able to supply fairly general information on a wide range of compounds. Using the second approach, we were able to separate the complex mixture of compounds into four fractions, enabling a better identification of the extractable compounds. These compounds belong to different classes: aliphatic hydrocarbons (nalkanes, n-alkenes), aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids (n-fatty acids, alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acids, and benzenecarboxylic acids), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and molecular biomarkers (isoprenoid hydrocarbons, diterpenoids, and triterpenoids). With each approach, similar classes of compounds were identified, although TMAH thermochemolysis failed to identify compounds present at low concentrations in black crusts. The two proposed methodological approaches are complementary, particularly in the study of polar fractions.     

Vanadium(III) and vanadium(V) amine tris(phenolate) complexes

The coordination chemistry of amine tris(phenolate) ligands around V(III) and V(V) is described for the first time. Three amine tris(phenolate) ligands were employed featuring different steric and electronic influence exerted by the phenolate substituents in the ortho and para positions being either t-Bu, Me, or Cl. V(III) complexes of all ligands (1-3) were readily obtained by reaction between the ligand precursors and VCl3(THF)3 in the presence of triethylamine. The complexes obtained were pentacoordinate, a THF ligand completing the coordination sphere of the metal, which was found to be of almost perfect TBP geometry, as revealed by crystallography. V(V) oxo complexes of all the ligands (4-6) were readily obtained by a reaction between the ligand precursors and VO(OPr)3. The oxo complexes of the alkyl-bearing ligands (4 and 5) could also be synthesized by the air oxidation of the corresponding V(III) complexes (1 and 2); however, the attempted air oxidation of the V(III) complex bound to the electron-poor ligand (3) did not yield the corresponding oxo complex 6. 1H NMR and crystallographic analysis of complexes 4 and 5 supported their TBP structures. Complex 6, on the other hand, was found to be composed of a TBP complex (6a) and an octahedral complex (6b) in equilibrium, the octahedral complex being more stable at lower temperatures. An X-ray structure of 6b revealed a mononuclear oxo complex, the sixth coordination site being occupied by an aqua ligand to which two THF molecules are H-bonded. Complexes 4-6 catalyze the epoxidation of olefins by t-BuOOH, albeit slowly. These complexes may thus be considered as structural and functional models of vanadium-dependent haloperoxidase enzymes.     

Multiple magnetic phase transitions,dilute Fe hyperfine fields and europium valence instabilities in RMn2Si2-xGex,R=rare earth

Mössbauer studies of dilute⁵⁷Fe and¹⁵¹Eu in RMn₂Si_2-xGe_x (R=La, Sm, Eu and Gd) at temperatures 4.2 K to 480 K have been performed. The diamagnetic iron and europium reveal the magnetic order of the Mn and rare earth sublattices through transferred hyperfine interactions. The⁵⁷Fe studies show that in LaMn₂Si₂, LaMn₂Ge₂, and SmMn₂Ge₂ the Mn is magnetically ordered above the known Curie temperatures, and the compounds are antiferromagnets up to T_N=470 K, 415 K and 385 K respectively. Studies of¹⁵¹Eu in R_1-xEu_xMn₂Si₂, (R=La, Gd) display Eu subspectra corresponding to Eu²⁺, Eu³⁺ and intermediate valant Eu. All display large magnetic hyperfine fields.     

Porphyrin Clathrates. Crystal Structures of Two Unexpected Products Obtained by Solvothermal Reactions of Pt-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin with Copper Acetate

The X-ray crystal structure of IX, perchlorate salt of R-(–-2-ethyl-N-benzyl-4,7,19,13-tetraoxa-8,9-benzo-1-azacyclopentadec-8-ene has been determined. In the molecule, the protonated nitrogen atom participates in two N-HO hydrogen bonds. The unusually high proton affinity of aza crown ether leads to the formation of diastreomer instead of complex formation with chiral R-(+)-1-phenyl ethyl ammonium perchlorate and S-(–)-1-phenyl ethyl ammonium perchlorate. The complex ability of host ethers was evaluated in terms of structural modification.     

New strategy for the determination of gliadins in maize- or rice-based foods matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: fractionation of gliadins from maize or rice prolamins by acidic treatment

A procedure for determining small quantities of gliadins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) in gluten-free foods containing relatively large amounts of prolamin proteins from maize or rice is described. We report for the first time that gliadins, the ethanol-soluble wheat prolamin fraction, can be quantitatively solubilized in 1.0 M acetic acid, while the corresponding ethanol-soluble maize or rice prolamin fraction remains insoluble in acetic acid. We describe a methodology for the detection of gliadins in maize and rice foods based on a two-step procedure of extraction (60% aqueous ethanol followed by 1 M acetic acid). Subsequent MALDI-TOFMS analysis of the resulting acidic extract from these gluten-free foods clearly confirms the presence of a typical mass pattern corresponding to gliadin components, ranging from 30 to 45 kDa. Depending on the percentages of maize or rice flours employed in the elaboration of these foods, the combined procedure enables levels of gliadins from 100 to 400 ppm to be detected. The efficiency of this combined procedure corroborates enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay data for a large number of maize/rice gluten-free foods by means of direct visualization of the characteristic gliadin mass pattern in maize or rice foods.