Photochemistry of molecules relevant to the atmosphere: photodissociation of nitric acid in the gas phase.

This Minireview gives an account of the photochemical decay of nitric acid HNO3 in the gas phase, which has been well investigated under bulk and molecular-beam conditions. Due to the importance of this molecule in atmospheric chemistry, attention was paid to the irradiation regions around 300 and 200 nm, where solar photolysis of HNO3 is expected to be particularly efficient. While the low-energy region is characterized by the products OH and NO2, the high-energy region gives rise to a variety of photochemical decay pathways, dominated by channels which lead to the products HONO + O in different electronic states.     

Inclusion of molybdenocene dichloride (Cp2MoCl2) in 2-hydroxypropyl- and trimethyl-β-cyclodextrin: Structural and biological properties

Organometallic-cyclodextrin inclusion compounds were obtained by the treatment of molybdenocene dichloride (Cp₂MoCl₂) with the modified cyclodextrins (CDs) heptakis-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-CD (TRIMEB) and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HPβCD) in aqueous solution. The products were isolated by liophilisation and characterised in the solid-state by powder XRD, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, and ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectroscopy. The results are consistent with inclusion of Cp₂MoCl₂, rather than hydrolysis products such as [Cp₂Mo(H₂O)X]⁺ (X = Cl, OH) or [Cp₂Mo(H₂O)₂]²⁺. The pure non-included metallocene Cp₂MoCl₂ and its inclusion compounds with unmodified β-CD, TRIMEB and HPβCD were screened for their potential antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, in both human cancer and healthy cell lines. Inclusion in CD was found to enhance the cytotoxic effect of Cp₂MoCl₂, with the TRIMEB adduct displaying the highest anti-tumour activity, along with the lowest toxicity towards non-neoplastic cells.     

Two-photon absorption in quadrupolar pi-conjugated molecules: influence of the nature of the conjugated bridge and the donor-acceptor separation

Quadrupolar-type substitution of pi-conjugated chromophores with donor and acceptor groups has been shown to increase their two-photon absorption (TPA) response by up to two orders of magnitude. Here, we apply highly correlated quantum-chemical calculations to evaluate the impact of the nature of conjugated bridge and the charge-transfer distance on that enhancement. We compare chromophores with phenylenevinylene-, thienylenevinylene-, polyene-, and indenofluorene-type backbones substituted by dimethylamino and cyano groups. In all compounds, we find a strongly TPA-active A(g) state (either 2A(g) or 3A(g)) in the low-energy region, as well as a higher lying TPA-active state (mA(g)) at close to twice the energy of the lowest lying one-photon allowed state; the smaller energy detuning in the mA(g) states results in very large TPA cross sections delta. We also investigate the influence of the degree of ground-state polarization on TPA. Independent of the nature of the backbone and the donor-acceptor separation, delta displays the same qualitative evolution with a maximum before the cyanine-like limit; the highest TPA cross sections are calculated for distirylbenzene- and polyene-based systems.     

5,7′-(亚甲胺基)-二-8-羟基喹啉的合成及其理论研究

以4-甲基苯磺酸作催化剂、用三乙胺调节pH值约为9的条件下, 由5-甲酰基-8-羟基喹啉和5-氨基-8-羟基喹啉合成了新的5,7′-(亚甲胺基)-二-8-羟基喹啉, 利用IR, UV, ¹H NMR, MS确认了分子结构, 比较研究了其光致发光特性, 运用Gaussian 98量子化学程序包, 采用B3LYP密度泛函(DFT)的方法, 在6-31G(d,p)水平上对分子的几何构型进行结构优化; 并对目标化合物的稳定结构通过计算预测其振动光谱, 计算结果与实验值基本相符.     

A comparative study of the thermal reactivities of some transition metal oxalates in selected atmospheres

A comparative investigation has been made of the nonisothermal, solid-state thermal decompositions of the oxalates of six divalent transition metals (cations: manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc) in alternative flowing atmospheres, inert (N₂, CO₂), reducing (H₂) and oxidizing (air). Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) response peak maxima, providing a measure of reaction temperatures, have been used to determine salt reactivities and thus to characterize the factors that control the relative stabilities of this set of chemically related reactants. Two trends were identified. Trend (1): in the inert and reducing atmospheres, the decomposition temperature (salt stability) increased with rise in enthalpy of formation of the divalent transition metal oxide, MO. It is concluded that the rupture of the cation-oxygen (oxalate) bond is the parameter that determines the stability of salts within this set. Trend (2): the diminution of decomposition temperatures from values for reactions in inert/reducing atmosphere to those for reactions in an oxidizing atmosphere increased with the difference in formation enthalpy between MO and the other participating oxide (MO_3/2 or MO_1/2). The change of cation valence tended to promote reaction, most decompositions in O₂ occurred at lower temperatures, but the magnitude of the effect varied considerably within this set of reactants. Observed variations in stoichiometric and kinetic characteristics with reaction conditions are discussed, together with the mechanisms of thermal decompositions of these solid oxalates.This approach to the elucidation of crystolysis reaction mechanisms emphasizes the value of comparative investigations within the group of chemically related reactants. Previous isothermal kinetic studies had been made for each of the reactants selected here. From these, much has been learned about the form of the (isothermal) solid-state yield-time curves, often interpreted to provide information about the geometry of interface development for the individual rate processes. However, identification of the controls of reactivity, reaction initiation (nucleation) and advance (nucleus growth), is much more difficult to characterize and less progress has been made towards elucidation of the interface chemistry. The trends of reactivity changes with salt compositions, identified here, offer a complementary approach to that provided by the study of single salts. Much of the recent literature on thermal decompositions of solids has been concerned with individual reactants, but many results and conclusions are not presented in the widest possible perspective. Comparisons between systematically related reactants are identified here as providing a chemical context for the elucidation of the chemical steps that participate in interface reactions. The article advocates the use of a more chemical approach in investigations of crystolysis (solid-state chemical) reactions.     

Differentiation of Boc- alpha,beta- and beta,alpha-peptides and a pair of diastereomeric beta,alpha-dipeptides by positive and negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS)

Positive and negative ion electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectral study of a new series of hybrid peptides, viz, BocN-alpha,beta-peptides and BocN-beta,alpha-peptides, synthesized from C-linked carbo-beta3-amino acids [Caa (S)] and L-Ala has been carried out. The alpha,beta-peptides have been differentiated from beta,alpha-peptides by the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of [M + H]+ and [M - H]- ions in positive and negative ion ESI-MS respectively. The fragment ion [M + H - C(CH3)3 + H]+ formed from [M + H]+ ions by the loss of 2-methyl-prop-2-ene in alpha,beta-peptides with L-Ala at the N-terminus is insignificant or totally absent for beta,alpha-peptides which have the Caa (S) at N-terminus. The fragment ion [M - H-C(CH3)3OH - HNCO]- formed from [M - H]- of beta,alpha-peptide acids is totally absent for alpha,beta-peptide acids. This has been attributed to the absence of the beta-methylene group in alpha,beta-peptides, and the participation of the beta-methylene group in the loss of HNCO in beta,alpha-peptide acids is confirmed by the deuteration experiments. The CID of [M + H-Boc + H]+ ions of these peptides also produce characteristic fragmentation. In the CID spectra of alpha,beta-peptides, the b(n)+ ions and the resulting y(n)+ ions occur at a mass difference of 243 and 71 Da corresponding to the successive losses of Caa and L-Ala, whereas a mass difference of 71 and 243 Da is observed for beta,alpha-peptides. In contrast to the CID of protonated peptides, the CID of [M - H]- ions of the alpha,beta- and beta,alpha-peptide acids do not give b(n)- ions and show abundant z(n) (-) ions. Further, a pair of diastereomeric dipeptide esters and acids have been distinguished by the CID of [M + H]+ ions. The loss of 2-methyl-prop-2-ene is more pronounced for Boc-NH-Caa(R)-D-Ala-OCH3 (21) and Boc-NH-Caa(R)-D-Ala-OH (23) with Caa (R) at the N-terminus, whereas it is totally absent for Boc-NH-Caa (S)-D-Ala-OCH3 (22) and Boc-NH-Caa(S)-D-Ala-OH (24) peptides, which have Caa (S) at the N-terminus. Thus, on the basis of our previous and present studies, we propose that the CID of [M + H]+ ions provides a simple and useful method for distinguishing the configuration of Caa (S or R) at the N-terminus of BocN-carbo beta,alpha- and beta,beta-dipeptides.     

The new facial tripod ligand 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionic acid and carbonyl complexes thereof containing manganese and rhenium

The new facially coordinating tripod ligand 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (bmip) has been studied. A synthetic route to sodium 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (Na[bmip], 2a) and its hydrochloride (Hbmip · 2HCl, 2b) is reported. The electronic properties of Hbmip were calculated by DFT methods and are compared to those of structurally similar bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acids. The ligand was applied in the synthesis of the two tricarbonyl complexes [Re(bmip)(CO)₃] (3) and [Mn(bmip)(CO)₃] (4). Methyl 3,3-bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)propionate (bmipme) (1), which is the precursor of Hbmip, and the complexes [Re(bmip)(CO)₃] (3) and [Mn(bmip)(CO)₃] (4) were characterised by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Co‐Conformational Distribution of Nanosized [2]Catenanes Determined by Pulse EPR Measurements

The co‐conformational ensembles of three differently sized [2]catenanes were studied by measuring pair correlation functions corresponding to the separation of nitroxide spin labels—one attached to each of the two macrocycles—with the double electron–electron resonance (DEER) experiment. A geometric model for the [2]catenanes was derived that approximates the macrocycles by circles and takes into account the topological constraint. Comparison of the experimental to the theoretically predicted pair correlation functions gives insight into the co‐conformational distribution and the size of the macrocycles. It was found that the macrocycles of the medium‐ and large‐sized catenanes in chloroform are close to fully expanded, while they are partially collapsed in glassy o‐terphenyl. For the small‐sized catenane, moderate interaction between the unsaturated sections of the macrocycles in chloroform is indicated by a slight overrepresentation of short label‐to‐label separations in the pair correlation function.     

A novel phosphoramidite method for automated synthesis of oligonucleotides on glass supports for biosensor development

Two protocols for functionalization of glass supports with hexaethylene glycol (HEG)-linked oligonucleotides were developed. The first method (standard amidite protocol) made use of the 2-cyanoethyl-phosphoramidite derivative of 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl-protected HEG. This was first coupled to the support by standard solid-phase phosphoramidite chemistry followed by extension with a thymidylic acid icosanucleotide. Stepwise addition of the linker phosphoramidite graduated at 1% (relative to the total sites available) perstep at 50°C resulted in an optimal yield of immobilized oligonucleotides at a density of 2.24 × 10¹⁰ strands/mm². This observed loading maximum lies well below the theoretical maximum loading owing to nonspecific adsorption of HEG on the glass and subsequent blocking of reactive sites. Surface loadings as high as 3.73 × 10¹⁰/mm² and of excellent sequence quality were achieved with a reverse amidite protocol. The support was first modified into a 2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite analog followed by coupling with 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl-protected HEG. This protocol is conveniently available when using a conventional DNA synthesizer. The reverse amidite protocol allowed for control of the surface loading at values suitable for subsequent analytical applications that make use of immobilized oligonucleotides as probes for selective hybridization of sample nucleic acids of unknown sequence and concentration.