Mapping the Complete Photocycle that Powers a Large Stokes Shift Red Fluorescent Protein

Large Stokes shift (LSS) red fluorescent proteins (RFPs) are highly desirable for bioimaging advances. The RFP mKeima, with coexisting cis- and trans-isomers, holds significance as an archetypal system for LSS emission due to excited-state proton transfer (ESPT), yet the mechanisms remain elusive. We implemented femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) and various time-resolved electronic spectroscopies, aided by quantum calculations, to dissect the cis- and trans-mKeima photocycle from ESPT, isomerization, to ground-state proton transfer in solution. This work manifests the power of FSRS with global analysis to resolve Raman fingerprints of intermediate states. Importantly, the deprotonated trans-isomer governs LSS emission at 620 nm, while the deprotonated cis-isomer's 520 nm emission is weak due to an ultrafast cis-to-trans isomerization. Complementary spectroscopic techniques as a table-top toolset are thus essential to study photochemistry in physiological environments.     

双功能[Sn,Al]-Beta分子筛一步催化葡萄糖生成5-羟甲基糠醛

以部分脱铝的Beta分子筛为母体,采用同晶置换法将Sn植入骨架制备双功能[Sn,Al]-Beta分子筛,并应用于葡萄糖一步催化生成5-羟甲基糠醛(5-HMF)反应中.样品中Sn与Al的含量通过酸洗的浓度和酸洗的时间以及SnCl4处理的时间来控制.由于骨架中有与Al相关为B酸位,和Sn相关的L酸位,[Sn,Al]-Beta可作为一种双功能的固体酸催化剂.优化了[Sn,Al]-Beta催化葡萄糖一步催化生成5-HMF的反应参数,在最优Sn/Al比条件下,葡萄糖转化率为60.0%,5-HMF选择性为62.1%.     

The influence of distal substitution on the base-induced isomerization of long-chain terminal alkynes

When compared to a long-straight chain terminal alkyne, a long chain terminal alkyne with a distal isopropyl unit (isobranched) isomerizes about two times faster when treated with strong base under identical conditions, and appears to follow pseudo first order kinetics. In both cases, equilibration to a 95–97:5–3 mixture of terminal:internal alkyne accompanies isomerization. The difference in rate may be due to an unusual folding of both long-chain alkynes, bringing the distal substituent close to the carbon-carbon-triple bond moiety. The distal isopropyl moiety may provide unanticipated steric hindrance that disrupts such folding, making the propargylic proton more available for reaction with base.     

Doubly N‐Confused [36]Octaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1): Isomerization,Bis‐Metal Coordination,and Topological Chirality

A novel [36]octaphyrin analogue embedding two N‐confused pyrrole units demonstrated unique prototropy‐coupled isomerization between the Figure‐of‐eight and dumbbell conformers. Upon bis‐metal coordination, fixation of fully π‐conjugated Figure‐of‐eight structures was achieved as referred from the X‐ray crystal structure. Chirogenesis of the helical enantiomers was proved by intense circular dichroism (CD) response in the near infrared (NIR) region.     

Light-induced cis/trans isomerization of cis-[Pd(L-S,O)2] and cis-[Pt(L-S,O)2] complexes of chelating N,N-dialkyl-N′-acylthioureas: key to the formation and isolation of trans isomers

Irradiation cis-[M(Lⁿ-S,O)₂] complexes (M = Pt^II, Pd^II) derived from N,N-dialkyl-N′-benzoylthioureas (HLⁿ) with various sources of intense visible polychromatic or monochromatic light with λ < 500 nm leads to light-induced cis?→?trans isomerization in organic solvents. In all cases, white light derived from several sources or monochromatic blue-violet laser 405 nm light, efficiently results in substantial amounts of the trans isomer appearing in solution, as shown by ¹H NMR and/or reversed-phase HPLC separation in dilute solutions at room temperature. The extent and relative rates of cis/trans isomerization induced by in situ laser light (λ = 405 nm) of cis-[Pd(L²-S,O)₂] was directly monitored by ¹H NMR and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy of selected cis-[Pt(L-S,O)₂] compounds in chloroform-d; both with and without light irradiation allows the δ(¹⁹⁵Pt) chemical shifts cis/trans isomer pairs to be recorded. The cis/trans isomers appear to be in a photo-thermal equilibrium between the thermodynamically favored cis isomer and its trans counterpart. In the dark, the trans isomer reverts back to the cis complex in what is probably a thermal process. The light-induced cis/trans process is the key to preparing and isolating the rare trans complexes which cannot be prepared by conventional synthesis as confirmed by the first example of trans-[Pd(L-S,O)₂] characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, deliberately prepared after photo-induced isomerization in acetonitrile solution.     

Syntheses of β- and γ-fluorophenyl cis- and trans-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones

Preparation of a series of cis-γ-fluorophenyl-β-phenyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones is reported via ‘allylboration’ of fluorobenzaldehydes with (E)-methyl 3-phenyl-2-((4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)methyl)acrylate. The corresponding trans-γ-fluorophenyl lactones were prepared either (i) via ‘allylboration’ using the (Z)-reagents or (ii) via an indium triflate-mediated isomerization of the cis-products. The difficulty in isomerizing difluorinated cis-products confirms the probable intermediacy of carbocations. Finally, the synthesis of cis-β-fluorophenyl-γ-phenyl-α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones was achieved via an indium-catalyzed allylation–lactonization of aldehydes with (Z)-2-(bromomethyl)-3-(fluorophenyl)acrylates.     

Reactions of azepinones with electrophiles

Azepinones are available via a one-pot cycloaddition-ring expansion reaction sequence in good yield. The reactions of azepinones with alkyl halides and epoxides were studied. We report herein protocols for the alkylation of azepinones at nitrogen with alkyl halides and epoxides and the isomerizations that occur in the presence of a base. We also report an unexpected ring contraction under oxidative conditions.     

Selective formation of non-conjugated olefins by samarium(II)-mediated elimination/isomerization of allylic benzoates

Aromatic allylic benzoates can be selectively transformed to the corresponding benzoate eliminated olefin by the action of samarium diiodide. Depending on the substrate and the elimination conditions, high selectivity for the non-conjugated alkene product can be achieved.     

Synthesis of aspergillide A via proline-catalyzed trans-to-cis isomerization of a substituted tetrahydropyran

The transformation of a common synthetic intermediate of aspergillides B and C into aspergillide A, a cytotoxin produced by a marine-derived fungus, has been accomplished in an eleven-step sequence involving an efficient proline-catalyzed isomerization of a 2,6-trans-substituted tetrahydropyran-2-acetaldehyde intermediate into the corresponding cis isomer and the Yamaguchi macrolactonization as the key steps.     

Functionalized pyrroles from vinylaziridines and alkynes via rhodium-catalyzed domino ring-opening cyclization followed by CC bond migration

Rhodium(I)-catalyzed intermolecular cycloadditions of alkynes with vinyl aziridines bearing a conjugated carbonyl group in the olefin moiety followed by the double migration resulted in the formation of pyrrole derivatives in a one pot fashion.