Single crystal X- and Q-band EPR spectroscopy of a binuclear Mn(2)(III,IV) complex relevant to the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II

The anisotropic g and hyperfine tensors of the Mn di-micro-oxo complex, [Mn(2)(III,IV)O(2)(phen)(4)](PF(6))(3).CH(3)CN, were derived by single-crystal EPR measurements at X- and Q-band frequencies. This is the first simulation of EPR parameters from single-crystal EPR spectra for multinuclear Mn complexes, which are of importance in several metalloenzymes; one of them is the oxygen-evolving complex in photosystem II (PS II). Single-crystal [Mn(2)(III,IV)O(2)(phen)(4)](PF(6))(3).CH(3)CN EPR spectra showed distinct resolved (55)Mn hyperfine lines in all crystal orientations, unlike single-crystal EPR spectra of other Mn(2)(III,IV) di-micro-oxo bridged complexes. We measured the EPR spectra in the crystal ab- and bc-planes, and from these spectra we obtained the EPR spectra of the complex along the unique a-, b-, and c-axes of the crystal. The crystal orientation was determined by X-ray diffraction and single-crystal EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure) measurements. In this complex, the three crystallographic axes, a, b, and c, are parallel or nearly parallel to the principal molecular axes of Mn(2)(III,IV)O(2)(phen)(4) as shown in the crystallographic data by Stebler et al. (Inorg. Chem. 1986, 25, 4743). This direct relation together with the resolved hyperfine lines significantly simplified the simulation of single-crystal spectra in the three principal directions due to the reduction of free parameters and, thus, allowed us to define the magnetic g and A tensors of the molecule with a high degree of reliability. These parameters were subsequently used to generate the solution EPR spectra at both X- and Q-bands with excellent agreement. The anisotropic g and hyperfine tensors determined by the simulation of the X- and Q-band single-crystal and solution EPR spectra are as follows: g(x) = 1.9887, g(y) = 1.9957, g(z) = 1.9775, and hyperfine coupling constants are A(III)(x) = |171| G, A(III)(y) = |176| G, A(III)(z) = |129| G, A(IV)(x) = |77| G, A(IV)(y) = |74| G, A(IV)(z) = |80| G.     

The effect of fluorination: a crystallographic and computational study of mesogenic alkyl 4-[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethoxy]benzoates

The series of alkyl 4-[2-(perfluorooctyl)ethoxy]benzoates (F8-n) shows a systematic change of crystal structures depending on the length of the alkyl chain: separate packing of perfluorooctyl (Rf) and alkyl (Rh) chains from each other for shorter (n=2) and longer (n=11) members, alternate packing of Rf and Rh chains for middle (n=6,7) members, and an intermediate type of packing for n=4. Semiempirical MO calculations show slightly repulsive interactions between the Rf chains, and attractive ones between Rf and Rh chains and between Rh and the core of a molecular pair. It is concluded that fluorination determines the molecular shape of the crystal structures by making the chain rigid. It is confirmed that the interactions between Rf chains are small compared with those between other moieties and that they are forced to aggregate owing to the exclusion from other moieties. Thus, the effect is dependent on the geometries and intermolecular interactions of the other moieties.     

Laser-induced fluorescence of cyclohexadienyl (c-C6H7) radical in the gas phase

A laser-induced fluorescence spectrum was observed in the 500-560 nm region when a mixture of 1,4-cyclohexadiene and oxalyl chloride was photolyzed at 193 nm. The observed excitation spectrum was assigned to the A (2)A(2)<--X (2)B(1) transition of the cyclohexadienyl radical c-C6H7, produced by abstraction of a hydrogen atom from 1,4-cyclohexadiene by Cl atoms. The origin of the A<--X transition of c-C(6)H(7) was at 18 207 cm(-1). From measurements of the dispersed fluorescence spectra and ab initio calculations, the frequencies of several vibrational modes in both the ground and excited states of c-C(6)H(7) were determined: nu(5)(C-H in-plane bend)=1571, nu(8)(C-H in-plane bend)=1174, nu(10)(C-C-C in-plane bend)=981, nu(12)(C-C-C in-plane bend)=559, nu(16)(C-C-C out-of-plane bend)=375, and nu(33)(C-C-C in-plane bend)=600 cm(-1) for the ground state and nu(8)=1118, nu(10)=967, nu(12)=502, nu(16)=172, and nu(33)=536 cm(-1) for the excited states.     

Novel carbohydrate-appended metal complexes for potential use in molecular imaging

Seven discrete sugar-pendant diamines were complexed to the {M(CO)(3)}(+) ((99m)Tc/Re) core: 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (L(1)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-D-xylopyranoside (L(2)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside (L(3)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside (L(4)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-D-galactopyranoside (L(5)), 1,3-diamino-2-propyl beta-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1,4)-D-glucopyranoside) (L(6)), and bis(aminomethyl)bis[(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)methyl]methane (L(7)). The Re complexes [Re(L(1)-L(7))(Br)(CO)(3)] were characterized by (1)H and (13)C 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy which confirmed the pendant nature of the carbohydrate moieties in solution. Additional characterization was provided by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. Two analogues, [Re(L(2))(CO)(3)Br] and [Re(L(3))(CO)(3)Br], were characterized in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and represent the first reported structures of Re organometallic carbohydrate compounds. Conductivity measurements in H(2)O established that the complexes exist as [Re(L(1)-L(7))(H(2)O)(CO)(3)]Br in aqueous conditions. Radiolabelling of L(1)-L(7) with [(99m)Tc(H(2)O)(3)(CO)(3)](+) afforded in high yield compounds of identical character to the Re analogues. The radiolabelled compounds were determined to exhibit high in vitro stability towards ligand exchange in the presence of an excess of either cysteine or histidine over a 24 h period.     

Chiral lithium binaphtholate aqua complex as a highly effective asymmetric catalyst for cyanohydrin synthesis

A highly enantioselective cyanohydrin synthesis with aromatic aldehydes using chiral lithium binaphtholate aqua or alcohol complexes has been developed and is a simple and inexpensive catalyst suitable for process chemistry to give gram-scale cyanohydrins successfully. Dramatic improvements in enantiomeric excess have been realized along with an interesting changeover in absolute stereochemistry of cyanohydrin product against the thoroughly "dry" catalytic systems.     

Direct nanocomposite of crystalline TiO2 particles and mesoporous silica as a molecular selective and highly active photocatalyst

Well-crystallised TiO2 particles (P-25, 20-30 nm in diameter) were directly incorporated into surfactant-templated mesoporous silica particles (pore diameter: 2.7 nm), and the composite material with a high TiO2 content (60 wt%) showed molecular selective and enhanced photocatalysis for decomposition of 4-nonylphenol.     

A selective reductive amination of aldehydes by the use of Hantzsch dihydropyridines as reductant

Direct reductive amination of an aldehyde was carried out using a Hantzsch dihydropyridine as the reductant in the presence of a catalytic amount of scandium triflate. The reaction was highly selective towards aldehydes over ketones, and other reducible functional groups did not affect the reaction.     

A new synthesis of pyrroles by the condensation of cyclopropenes and nitriles mediated by gallium(III) and indium(III) salts

Gallium(III) and indium(III) halides were found to mediate the condensation of cyclopropenes and nitriles to give pyrrole derivatives in moderate yields. When excess nitrile was present, diazepine was also formed.     

Emission of 2-phenylethanol from its β-d-glucopyranoside and the biogenesis of these compounds from [H8] l-phenylalanine in rose flowers

The hydrolysis of 2-phenylethyl β-d-glucopyranoside (3) was found to be partially inhibited by feeding with 2-phenyl-N-glucosyl-acetamidiumbromide (8), a β-glucosidase inhibitor, resulting in a decrease in the diurnal emission of 2-phenylethanol (2) from Rosa damascena Mill. flowers. Detection of [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₇]-2 from R. ‘Hoh-Jun’ flowers fed with [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 suggested that β-glucosidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and reductase might be involved in scent emission. Comprehensive GC-SIM analyses revealed that [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 must be biosynthesized from [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′6′-²H₈] l-phenylalanine ([²H₈]-1) with a retention of the deuterium atom at α-position of [²H₈]-1.     

Synthetic studies on 3-arylquinazolin-4-ones: intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of 2-carboxamido-3-arylquinazolin-4-ones and its application to the synthesis of secondary aryl amines

The general synthesis and a novel intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) reaction of 2-carboxamido-3-arylquinazolin-4-ones, a potentially useful scaffold in the field of medicinal chemistry, are described. The synthetic utility of the S_NAr reaction as a tool for the synthesis of secondary aryl amines, including diaryl amines, is also demonstrated.