Unraveling the Degradation Mechanism of Purine Nucleotides Photosensitized by Pterins: The Role of Charge‐Transfer Steps

Photosensitized reactions contribute to the development of skin cancer and are used in many applications. Photosensitizers can act through different mechanisms. It is currently accepted that if the photosensitizer generates singlet molecular oxygen (¹O₂) upon irradiation, the target molecule can undergo oxidation by this reactive oxygen species and the reaction needs dissolved O₂ to proceed, therefore the reaction is classified as ¹O₂‐mediated oxidation (type II mechanism). However, this assumption is not always correct, and as an example, a study on the degradation of 2′‐deoxyguanosine 5′‐monophosphate photosensitized by pterin is presented. A general mechanism is proposed to explain how the degradation of biological targets, such as nucleotides, photosensitized by pterins, naturally occurring ¹O₂ photosensitizers, takes place through an electron‐transfer‐initiated process (type I mechanism), whereas the contribution of the ¹O₂‐mediated oxidation is almost negligible.     

Depolymerization of Free‐Radical Polymers with Spin Migrations

The mechanism of depolymerization is one of the most essential issues in chemical engineering and materials science. In this work, we investigate the depolymerization reactions of three typical free‐radical poly(alpha‐methylstyrene) tetramers by using first‐principles density functional theory. The calculated results show that these reactions all need to overcome the energy barriers in the range of 0.58 to 0.77 eV, and that breaking the C?C bond at the chain end leads to the dissociation of alpha‐methylstyrene monomers from the polymers. Electronic‐structure analysis indicates that the reactions occur easily at the CR₃ unsaturated end, and that the frontier molecular orbitals that participate in the reactions are mainly localized at the unsaturated ends. Meanwhile, spin population analysis presents the unique net spin‐transfer process in free‐radical depolymerization reactions. We hope the current findings can contribute to understanding the free‐radical depolymerization mechanism and help guide future experiments.     

Construction of Nitronyl Nitroxide‐Based 3d–4f Clusters: Structure and Magnetism

Three unprecedented nitronyl nitroxide radical‐bridged 3d–4f clusters, [Ln₂Cu₂(hfac)₁₀(NIT‐3py)₂(H₂O)₂](Ln^III=Y, Gd, Dy), have been obtained from the self‐assembly of Ln(hfac)₃, Cu(hfac)₂, and the radical ligand. The Dy complex shows a slow relaxation of magnetization, representing the first nitronyl nitroxide radical‐based 3d–4f cluster with single‐molecule magnet behavior.     

Computational, 1H NMR,and X‐ray structural studies on 1‐arylurazole tetrazane dimers

Nitrogen‐centered urazole radicals exist in equilibrium with tetrazane dimers in solution. The equilibrium established typically favors the free‐radical form. However, 1‐arylurazole radicals bearing substituents at the ortho position favor the dimeric form. We were able to determine the structure of one of the dimers (substituted at both ortho positions with methyl groups), namely 1,2‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐2‐[2‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐methyl‐3,5‐dioxo‐1,2,4‐triazolidin‐1‐yl]‐4‐methyl‐1,2,4‐triazolidine‐3,5‐dione, C₂₄H₂₈N₆O₄, via X‐ray crystallography. The experimentally determined structure agreed well with the computationally obtained geometry at the B3LYP/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory. The preferred syn conformation of these 1‐arylurazole dimers results in the two aromatic rings being proximate and nearly parallel, which leads to some interesting shielding effects of certain signals in the ¹H NMR spectrum. Armed with this information, we were able to decipher the more complicated ¹H NMR spectrum obtained from a dimer that was monosubstituted at the ortho position with a methyl group.     

One-Electron Bonds in Frustrated Lewis Pair TPB Ligands: Boron Behaving as a Lewis Base

Owing to its versatility in synthetic chemistry, TPB (tris[2-diisopropylphospino)phenyl]borane) is a very important frustrated Lewis Pair. The unusual stability of the neutral radical (TPB)Cu has been related to the presence of a one-electron B−Cu bond. Herein we show, through the use of different computational chemistry methods, that the existence and nature of this kind of A⋅⋅⋅M bond (A=donor atom, M=transition metal) depends on the surrounding chemical structure, and can be genuine one-electron sigma bonds only if appropriate metal ligands (Y), able to trap the charge in the desired region, are chosen. This ability is modulated by the subtle balance between the electronegativity of the different atoms along the A⋅⋅⋅M⋅⋅⋅Y bond paths. Most importantly, contrary to many TPB complexes in which boron acts as a Lewis acid, in one-electron-bond-containing structures boron behaves as a Lewis base.     

Initiator-Loaded Gold Nanocages as a Light-Induced Free-Radical Generator for Cancer Therapy

Tumor hypoxia greatly suppresses the therapeutic efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), mainly because the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PDT is highly oxygen-dependent. In contrast to ROS, the generation of oxygen-irrelevant free radicals is oxygen-independent. A new therapeutic strategy based on the light-induced generation of free radicals for cancer therapy is reported. Initiator-loaded gold nanocages (AuNCs) as the free-radical generator were synthesized. Under near-infrared light (NIR) irradiation, the plasmonic heating effect of AuNCs can induce the decomposition of the initiator to generate alkyl radicals (R^.), which can elevate oxidative-stress (OS) and cause DNA damages in cancer cells, and finally lead to apoptotic cell death under different oxygen tensions. As a proof of concept, this research opens up a new field to use various free radicals for cancer therapy.     

Cationic Polymerization: From Photoinitiation to Photocontrol

During the last 40 years, researchers investigating photoinitiated cationic polymerizations have delivered tremendous success in both industrial and academic settings. A myriad of photoinitiating systems have been developed, thus allowing polymerization of a broad array of monomers (e.g., epoxides, vinyl ethers, alkenes, cyclic ethers, and lactones) under practical, inexpensive, and environmentally benign conditions. More recently, owing to progress in photoredox catalysis, photocontrolled cationic polymerization has emerged as a means to precisely regulate polymer chain growth. This Minireview provides a concise historical perspective on cationic polymerization induced by light and discusses the latest advances in both photoinitiated and photocontrolled processes. The latter are exciting new directions for the field that will likely impact industries ranging from micropatterning to the synthesis of complex biomaterials and sequence‐controlled polymers.     

Trapping a Silicon(I) Radical with Carbenes: A Cationic cAAC–Silicon(I) Radical and an NHC–Parent-Silyliumylidene Cation

The trapping of a silicon(I) radical with N-heterocyclic carbenes is described. The reaction of the cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene [cAAC_Me] (cAAC_Me=:C(CMe₂)₂(CH₂)NAr, Ar=2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃) with H₂SiI₂ in a 3:1 molar ratio in DME afforded a mixture of the separated ion pair [(cAAC_Me)₂Si:^.]⁺I⁻ ( 1 ), which features a cationic cAAC–silicon(I) radical, and [cAAC_Me−H]⁺I⁻. In addition, the reaction of the NHC–iodosilicon(I) dimer [I_Ar(I)Si:]₂ (I_Ar=:C{N(Ar)CH}₂) with 4 equiv of I_Me (:C{N(Me)CMe}₂), which proceeded through the formation of a silicon(I) radical intermediate, afforded [(I_Me)₂SiH]⁺I⁻ ( 2 ) comprising the first NHC–parent-silyliumylidene cation. Its further reaction with fluorobenzene afforded the C_Ar−H bond activation product [1-F-2-I_Me-C₆H₄]⁺I⁻ ( 3 ). The isolation of 2 and 3 confirmed the reaction mechanism for the formation of 1 . Compounds 1 – 3 were analyzed by EPR and NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and X-ray crystallography.     

A Near-Infrared Dye That Undergoes Multiple Interconversions through Acid–Base Equilibrium and Reversible Redox Processes

A near-infrared (NIR) polymethine dye ( 1 ), consisting of a cyclohepta[1,2-b;4,3-b′]dithiophene and two phenol moieties, was synthesized. This dye exhibited pH-responsive changes in its photophysical properties due to a two-step acid–base equilibrium that produced a protonated cation ( 1H⁺ ) and an anion ( 1⁻ ). While 1H⁺ showed an intense fluorescence in the red region of the visible spectrum, 1⁻ exhibited a strong absorption in the NIR region. The tropylium ion character in 1H⁺ induces high pK_a1 and pK_a2 values for 1 . Moreover, a stable radical ( 1^. ) was prepared, which showed a NIR absorption band with a maximum at circa 1600 nm. The cyclic voltammogram of 1^. revealed a two-step reversible redox process that produced 1⁻ and the cation 1⁺ , which is different from 1H⁺ . These redox processes accompany drastic electrochromic changes in the vis–NIR region. Overall, 1 is susceptible to multiple interconversions between five forms, due to the multifaceted character of the cycloheptadithiophene skeleton.     

Diverse Visible-Light-Promoted Functionalizations of Benzotriazoles Inspired by Mechanism-Based Luminescence Screening

Three new visible-light-promoted functionalizations of benzotriazole substrates were discovered using a mechanism-based screening method. ortho-Thiolated, borylated, and alkylated N-arylbenzamide products were obtained under mild reaction conditions in a new denitrogenative synthetic approach to functionalized aniline derivatives. The functional group tolerance of the borylation reaction was further analyzed in the first application of an additive-based robustness screen in a photocatalytic transformation. All the functionalizations proceed via photocatalytically initiated chain mechanisms as indicated by determination of the reaction quantum yields and Stern–Volmer analyses.