Magnetic resonance and kinetic studies of the mechanism of membrane-bound sodium and potassium ion- activated adenosine triphosphatase.

EPR and water proton relaxation rate (1/T1) studies of partially (40%) and "fully" (90%) purified preparations of membrane-bound (Na+ + K+) activated ATPase from sheep kidney indicate one tight binding site for Mn2+ per enzyme dimer, with a dissociation constant (KD = 0.88 muM) in agreement with the kinetically determined activator constant, identifying this Mn2+-binding site as the active site of the ATPase. Competition studies indicate that Mg2+ binds at this site with a dissociation constant of 1 mM in agreement with its activator constant. Inorganic phosphate and methylphosphonate bind to the enzyme-Mn2+ complex with similar high affinities and decrease 1/T1 of water protons due to a decrease from four to three in the number of rapidly exchanging water protons in the coordination sphere of enzyme-bound Mn2+. The relative effectiveness of Na+ and K+ in facilitating ternary complex formation with HPO2-4 and CH3PO2-3 as a function of pH indicates that Na+ induces the phosphate monoanion to interact with enzyme-bound Mn2+. Thus protonation of an enzyme-bound phosphoryl group would convert a K+-binding site to a Na+-binding site. Dissociation constants for K+ and Na+, estimated from NMR titrations, agreed with kinetically determined activator constants of these ions consistent with binding to the active site. Parallel 32Pi-binding studies show negligible formation (less than 7%) of a covalent E-P complex under these conditions, indicating that the NMR method has detected an additional noncovalent intermediate in ion transport. Ouabain, which increases the extent of phosphorylation of the enzyme to 24% at pH 7.8 and to 106% at pH 6.1, produced further decreases in 1/T1 of water protons. Preliminary 31P- relaxation studies of CH3PO2-3 in the presence of ATPase and Mn2+ yield an Mn to P distance (6.9 +/- 0.5 A) suggesting a second sphere enzyme-Mn-ligand-CH3PO2-3 complex. Previous kinetic studies have shown that T1+ substitutes for K+ in the activation of the enzyme but competes with Na+ at higher levels. From the paramagnetic effect of Mn2+ at the active site on the enzyme on I/T1 of 205T1 bound at the Na+ site, a Mn2+ to T1+ distance of 4.0 +/- 0.1 A is calculated, suggesting the sharing of a common ligand atomy by Mn2+ and T1+ on the ATPase. Addition of Pi increases this distance to 5.4 A consistent with the insertion of P between Mn2+ and T1+. These results are consistent with a mechanism for the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and for ion transport in which the ionization state of Pi at a single enzyme active site controls the binding and transport of Na+ and K+, and indicate that the transport site for monovalent cations is very near the catalytic site of the ATPase. Our mechanism also accounts for the order of magnitude weaker binding of Na+ compared to K+.     

Heavier alkali metal complexes of 2-phenylamidopyridine: an X-ray crystallographic and theoretical study of a structurally diverse series of crown ether adducts

Complexes of the anion of the secondary amine 2-phenylaminopyridine (LH) with the heavier alkali metals Na-Cs have been prepared in the presence of various macrocyclic polyether crowns [12-crown-4 (12C4), 15-crown-5 (15C5), and 18-crown-6 (18C6)], which coordinate to the metal ions in all cases. Depending on the combination of alkali metal and crown, the products include separated ion pairs [(crown)(2)M](+)L(-)(12C4/Na, 15C5/K, 15C5/Rb, 15C5/Cs) and contact-ion-pair neutral molecules [(crown)ML](15C5/Na, 18C6/Na, 18C6/K, 18C6/Rb) in which L(-) acts as a bidentate ligand. [((12C4)KL)(2)] is a dimer in which the amido and pyridine N atoms of two ligands bridge the metal ions, while [((18C6)KL(2)K)([infinity])] is a chain polymer with crown O and pyridyl N atoms acting as bridges in corner-sharing KOKN four-membered rings and may be regarded as a potassium potassate complex. [((18C6)Cs(2)L(2))([infinity])] is also polymeric, with a basic arrangement like that of [((12C4)KL)(2)], but with each 18C6 ligand mu-kappa6:kappa6 to two metal centres, generating the polymer. Although most of the [(crown)(2)M](+) sandwich cations have essentially parallel crown ligands, [(12C4)(2)Rb](+) is markedly bent, both in the complex incorporating THF as an additional ligand and in the THF-free complex, where two of these cations form a centrosymmetric dimer through two bridging oxygen atoms; DFT calculations indicate that the bending is inherent, thus enabling the coordination by an extra oxygen atom rather than being a consequence of this coordination. Attempts to isolate the caesium 12C4 derivative were unsuccessful. The compounds have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, CHN microanalysis and, in most cases, X-ray crystallography.     

Syntheses, structure, and derivatization of potassium complexes of penta(organo)[60]fullerene-monoanion, -dianion, and -trianion into hepta- and octa(organo)fullerenes

Two-electron reduction of penta(organo)[60]fullerenes C(60)Ar(5)H (Ar = Ph and biphenyl) by potassium/mercury amalgam afforded potassium complexes of the corresponding open-shell radical dianions [K+(thf)n]2[C60Ar5(2-.)]. These compounds were characterized by UV-visible-near-IR and electron spin resonance spectroscopy in solution. Anaerobic crystallization of [K+(thf)n]2[C60(biphenyl)(5)(2-.)] that exists largely as a monomer in solution gave black crystals of its dimer [K+(thf)3]4[(biphenyl)5C60-C60(biphenyl)5(4-)], in which the two fullerene units are connected by a C-C single bond [1.577(11) A] as determined by X-ray diffraction. Three-electron reduction of C60Ar5H with metallic potassium gave a black-green trianion [K+(thf)n]3[C60Ar5(3-)]. The reaction of the trianion with an alkyl halide RBr (R = PhCH(2) and Ph(2)CH) regioselectively afforded a hepta-organofullerene C60Ar5R2H, from which a potassium complex [K+(thf)n][C60(biphenyl)5(CH2Ph)(2)(-)] and a palladium complex Pd[C60(biphenyl)5(CH2Ph)2](pi-methallyl) as well as octa-organofullerene compounds C60(biphenyl)5(CH2Ph)3H2 and Ru[C60(biphenyl)5(C2Ph)3H]Cp were synthesized. These compounds possess a dibenzo-fused corannulene pi-electron conjugated system and are luminescent.     

Glucomannan from Narcissus poeticus Studied by PMR and 13C NMR Spectroscopy

Native acetylated glucomannan of molecular weight (MW) 32000 with a glucose:mannose ratio 1:30 was isolated from bulbs of Narcissus poeticus. Glucomannan was depolymerized to a fragment of MW 15000 with an unchanged primary structure and was studied using PMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the linear chain of the biopolymer consists of 1-4-bound D-gluco- and D-mannopyranose units and the O-Ac groups are localized on C-2, C-3, and C-6 hydroxyls in certain anhydromannose units.     

Molecular recognition: preorganization of a bis(pyrrole) Schiff base derivative for tight dimerization by hydrogen bonding

Multiple techniques have been used to delineate the self-assembly of a bis(pyrrole) Schiff base derivative (compound 4, C(16)H(14)N(4)), which forms an unusual dimer through complementary N-H...N=C hydrogen bonds between twisted, C2-symmetric monomer units. The asymmetric unit of the crystal structure comprises one and a half dimer units, with one dimer exhibiting approximate D2 point-group symmetry and the other exact D2 symmetry (space group C2/c). The dimers pack into columns whose axes are collinear with the a axis of the unit cell. The columns assemble into discrete layers with two distinct types of hydrogen-sized voids residing between the layers. Despite the promising architecture of the voids within the lattice of 4, the absence of genuine channels to interconnect the voids precludes the uptake of hydrogen gas, even at elevated pressures (10 bar). AM1 calculations of the structure of dimeric 4 indicate that self-recognition through hydrogen bonding depends primarily on favorable electrostatic interactions. The potential-energy surface for monomeric 4 mapped by counter-rotation of an adjacent pair of C=C-N=C torsion angles indicates that the X-ray structures of the four monomeric units are global minima with highly nonplanar conformations that are preorganized for self-recognition by hydrogen bonding. The in vacuo enthalpy of association for the dimer was calculated to be significantly exergonic (DeltaG(assoc)=-21.9 kJ mol(-1), 298 K) and in excellent agreement with that determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl3 (DeltaG(assoc)=-16.6(4) kJ mol(-1), 298 K). Using population and bond order analyses, in conjunction with the conformation dependence of the frontier MO energies, we have been able to show that pi-electron delocalization is only marginally diminished in the nonplanar conformers of 4 and that the electronic structures of the constituent monomers of the dimer are well mixed.     

Synthesis, structure, and unexpected magnetic properties of La3Re2O10

The compound La(3)Re(2)O(10) has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and characterized by powder neutron diffraction, SQUID magnetometry, and heat capacity measurements. Its structure consists of isolated [Re(2)O(10)](9-) dimer units of two edge-shared ReO(6) octahedra, separated by La(3+) within the lattice. The Re-Re distance within the dimer units is 2.488 A, which is indicative of metal-metal bonding with a bond order of 1.5. The average oxidation state of the Re atom is +5.5, leaving one unpaired electron per dimer unit (S = 1/2). Although the closest interdimer distance is 5.561 A, the magnetic susceptibility data and heat capacity measurements indicate this compound exhibits both short- and long-range magnetic order at surprisingly high temperatures. The zero field cooled (ZFC) magnetic susceptibility data show two broad features at 55 and 105 K, indicating short-range order, and a sharper cusp at 18 K, which signifies long-range antiferromagnetic order. The heat capacity of La(3)Re(2)O(10) shows a lambda-type anomaly at 18 K, which is characteristic of long-range magnetic order. DFT calculations determined that the unpaired electron resides in a pi-bonding orbital and that the unpaired electron density is widely delocalized over the atoms within the dimer, with high values at the bridging oxygens. Extended Hückel spin dimer calculations suggest possible interaction pathways between these dimer units within the crystal lattice. Results from the calculations and fits to the susceptibility data indicate that the short-range magnetic ordering may consist of 1-D antiferromagnetic linear chains of coupled S = 1/2 dimers. The magnetic structure of the antiferromagnetic ground state could not be determined by unpolarized neutron powder diffraction.     

The asymmetric,rectifier-like I-V curve of the Na/K pump transient currents in frog skeletal muscle fibers

The Na/K pump transient currents in skeletal muscle fiber were identified using an improved double Vaseline gap voltage clamp technique. The asymmetric characteristics of the pump current-voltage relationship were studied. The definition of the Na/K pump currents was the ouabain-sensitive currents, where ouabain is a specific Na/K ATPase inhibitor. Membrane potential was held at -90 mV, the membrane resting potential. A series of stimulation pulse-pairs symmetric to the membrane resting potential were applied to the cell membrane. The summation of the currents responding to the two pulses in each pair indicates the asymmetry of the pump currents with respect to the membrane resting potential.The voltage dependence of the Na/K pump transient currents from skeletal muscle is similar to the steady-state I-V curve from either skeletal muscle fibers or cardiac muscles. It is a sigmoidal-shaped, asymmetric curve with respect to the membrane resting potential. This asymmetric, rectifier-like voltage dependence indicates that a symmetric oscillating membrane potential may generate a net, outward pump current. In other words, the Na/K pump molecules may be activated by an oscillating membrane potential.     

苯并18－冠－6与M2[Pt(SCN)6](M=Na,K)配合物的合成、结构

合成了苯并18－冠－6(B18C6)与M2[Pt(SCN)6](M=Na,K)的配合物：{[Na (B18C6)]6[Pt(SCN)6]}[Pt(SCN)6](SCN)2(1),[K(B18C6)]2[Pt(SCN)6]·4H2O(2). 通过元素分析、红外光谱、单晶X射线衍射进行了表征.1为单斜晶系、空间群R3^-, a=b=1.9933(3)nm,c=2.9760(6)nm,α=β=90°,γ=120°,V=10.240(3)nm^3,Z=3, Dcalcd=1.564g/cm^3,F(000)=4908,R1=0.0535,wR2=0.1030.2为三斜晶纱、空间群 P1^-,a=1.1692(3)nm,b=1.1853(4)nm,c=1.2381(5)nm,α=61.419(5)°,β=80.757 (8)°,γ=89.003(5)°,V=1.4836(9)nm^3,Z=1,Dcalcd=1.476g/cm^3,F(000)=666, R1=0.0696,wR2=0.1346.1由{[Na(B18C6)]6[Pt(SCN)6]}^4+配阳离子、[Pt(SCN)6] ^2-配阴离子和SCN^-阴离子组成。相邻{[Na(B18C6)]6[Pt(SCN)6]}^4+通过Na-O键 形成三维网状结构。[Pt(SCN)6]^2-和SCN^-仅起平衡电荷的作用.2由两个[K (B18C6)]^+配阳离子和一个[Pt(SCN)6]^2-配阴离子组成。相邻[K(B18C6)]2[Pt (SCN)6]离子对通过K－O键形成一维链状结构。     

Preparation and magnetic properties of Mn(hfac)(2)-complexes of 2-(5-pyrimidinyl)- and 2-(3-pyridyl)-substituted nitronyl nitroxides

Mn(hfac)(2) complexes of [2-(5-pyrimidinyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H- imidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide] (1) and its 2-(3-pyridyl) analogue (2) were prepared. Both complexes formed similar dimer structures. However, their packing patterns were considerably different. The pyrimidine dimers were aligned to form a linear chain structure, and each dimer was weakly bound by two sets of O6-C2 short contacts. In the pyridine dimer complex, two structurally similar but independent dimers were alternatively arranged, and two dimer-dimer contacts, O6-C2 (3.13 A) and O6-C3 (3.30 A), were observed. The pyrimidine complex showed strong antiferromagnetic behavior in the high temperature region (150-300 K) and weak ferromagnetic behavior below 100 K. Two models were used to analyze these magnetic properties. One is a quintet-septet thermal equilibrium model with mean-field approximation, which can reproduce the round minimum observed at about 150 K in chi(p)T plots (J(1)/k(B) = -148 +/- 2 K with theta = +2.5 +/- 0.1 K). The other is a ferromagnetic S = 2 chain model to fit the chi(p)T values in the lower temperature region (J(S=2)/k(B) = +0.31 +/- 0.01 K). The pyridine complex showed antiferromagnetic interactions both in the high and low temperature regions. The magnetic behavior was similarly analyzed with the following parameters: J(1)/k(B) = -140 +/- 2 K with theta = -0.55 +/- 0.05 K, and J(S=2)/k(B) = -0.075 +/- 0.003 K. The ligand-ligand interactions for both of the complexes were theoretically analyzed. The calculated results agreed well with the experiments. The stronger antiferromagnetic behavior observed in both the complexes at high temperatures was attributed to the magnetic interaction between the Mn(II) and the coordinating nitroxide oxygen atom. The weaker ferromagnetic interaction, J(S=2)/k(B) = +0.31 +/- 0.01 K, in the pyrimidine complex was attributed to the coulombic O6-C2 contact. Antiferromagnetic interaction J(S=2)/k(B) = -0.075 +/- 0.003 K in the pyridine complex was attributed to the O6-C3 contact.     

Electronic interactions in a new pi-extended tetrathiafulvalene dimer

The first pi-extended tetrathiafulvalene (exTTF) dimer in which the two exTTF units are covalently connected by 1,3-dithiole rings has been obtained in a multistep synthetic procedure involving the Ullmann cross-coupling reaction by using copper(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC). The electronic spectrum reveals a significant electronic interaction between the exTTF units. The electrochemical study carried out by cyclic voltammetry in solution and in thin-layer conditions, and the electrochemical simulation and spectroelectrochemical (SEC) measurements confirm the electronic communication and show that the oxidation of dimer 14 occurs as two consecutive 2 e(-) processes D(0)-D(0)-->D(2+)-D(0)-->D(2+)-D(2+). Theoretical calculations, performed at the B3P86/6-31G* level, confirm the experimental findings and predict that 14(2+) exists as a delocalized D(.+)-D(.+) species in the gas phase and as a localized D(2+)-D(0) species in solution (CH(3)CN or CH(2)Cl(2)). Oxidation of 14(2+) forms the tetracation 14(4+) which is constituted by two aromatic anthracene units bearing four aromatic, almost orthogonal 1,3-dithiolium cations.     

Topological investigations of the molecular species and molecular interactions that characterize pyrrolidin-2-one + lower alkanol mixtures

Molar excess volumes, V^E, molar excess enthalpies, H^E, and speeds of sound data, u, of pyrrolidin-2-one (i) + ethanol or propan-1-ol or propan-2-ol or butan-1-ol (j) binary mixtures have been determined over entire composition range at 308.15 K. The observed speeds of sound data have been utilized to predict excess isentropic compressibilities, of the investigated binary mixtures. The observed excess thermodynamic properties V^E, H^E and have been analyzed in terms of Graph theory. The analysis of V^E data by the Graph theory suggests that pyrrolidin-2-one exists mainly as a mixture of cyclic and open dimer; ethanol as a mixture of dimer and trimer; butan-1-ol and propan-2-ol as mixture of monomer and dimer and propan-1-ol as a dimer in the pure state, and their mixtures contain 1:1 molecular complex. The IR studies lend additional credence to the nature and extent of interactions for the proposed molecular entities in the mixtures. Also, it has been observed that V^E, H^E and values predicted by the Graph theory compare well to with their corresponding experimental values.     

Ab initio structure of the (Na(2)[CAl(4)])(2) dimer. Next step toward solid materials containing tetracoordinate planar carbon

We performed ab initio calculations on the (Na(2)[CAl(4)])(2) dimer in order to test if the two CAl(4)(2-) groups react to form the more stable dimeric structure, or if the two CAl(4)(2-) groups remain separated in a true dimeric structure. Working at the B3LYP/6-311+G* level of theory (previously found to be satisfactory in our earlier calculations with CAl(4)(-) and Na[CAl(4)](-)), we established that structures with the C-C bond are higher in energy than the structures with two isolated structural CAl(4)(-) units separated by more than 5 A with their structural and electronic integrity preserved. However, alternative structures involving reaction between two CAl(4)(2-) groups forming a C(2)Al(8)(4-) cluster without the C-C bond are higher in energy, but they are still competitive with the true dimeric structure. While we found alternative structures of Na(4)C(2)Al(8) with the energy comparable to that of the true dimeric structure, we hope that the solid ionic salt with the pentaatomic tetracoordinate planar carbon [CAl(4)](2)(-) building block can be synthesized.     

Effect of alkali metal ions on photochromic behavior of bisviologen-incorporated oligo-oxyethylene units

Two bisviologen derivatives, 1,11-bis(N-propyl-4,4'-bipyridinium)-3,6,9-trioxaundecane tetrakis-(hexafluorophosphate) (1) and 1,8-bis(N-propyl-4,4'-bipyridinium)-3,6-dioxaoctane tetrakis-(hexafluorophosphate) (2), each incorporating trioxaundecane and dioxaoctane groups between two viologen units, respectively, were prepared so that their photochromic behavior in the absence and the presence of alkali metal ions in a thin polymer film could be investigated. Photoirradiation of the films containing 1 and 2 caused color changes from pale yellow to blue, associated with the photoinduced reduction of the viologen units from the dication to the radical cation. The addition of alkali metal ions, especially, K+ and Na+, caused change in the spectra of the photoreduced viologen radical cation for 1 and 2, respectively, because of the increase in the fractional amplitude for the dimer component of the radical cation rather than the monomer one. This may be related to the guest-induced conformational change of 1 and 2, in which the alkali metal ion is surrounded by the oligo-oxyethylene unit of 1 and 2. The regulation in photochromic properties of viologen derivatives can be achieved by addition of alkali metal ions.     

Multi-iron silicotungstates: synthesis, characterization, and stability studies of polyoxometalate dimers

The reaction of Fe(III) with Na(+) and K(+) salts of the trivacant [alpha-SiW(9)O(34)](10)(-) ligand have been investigated at pH 6 and pH 1. A new dimer, [(alpha-SiFe(3)W(9)(OH)(3)O(34))(2)(OH)(3)](11-) (1), is synthesized by reacting Na(7)H(3)[alpha-SiW(9)O(34)] or K(10)[alpha-SiW(9)O(34)] with exactly 3 equiv of Fe(III) in a 0.5 M sodium acetate solution (pH 6). The structure of 1, determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (a = 22.454(2) A, b = 12.387(2) A, c = 37.421(2), beta = 100.107(8) degrees , monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 4, R(1) = 5.11% based on 12739 independent reflections), consists of two [alpha-SiFe(3)W(9)(OH)(3)O(34)](4-) units linked by three Fe-mu-OH-Fe bonds. Reaction of K(10)[alpha-SiW(9)O(34)] with 3 equiv of Fe(III) in water (pH 1) yields [(alpha-Si(FeOH(2))(2)FeW(9)(OH)(3)O(34))(2)](8)(-2). The structure of 2 was also determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (a = 36.903(2) A, b = 13.9868(9) A, c = 21.7839(13) A, beta = 122.709(1) degrees , monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 4, R(1) = 4.57% based on 11787 independent reflections). It consists of two [alpha-Si(FeOH(2))(2)FeW(9)(OH)(3)O(34)](4-) Keggin units linked by a single edge. The terminal ligand on Fe1 in each trisubstituted Keggin unit becomes a mu(2) oxo ligand bridging to a [WO(6)](2-) moiety. The UV-vis spectra of both complexes show the characteristic oxygen-to-metal-charge-transfer bands of polyoxometalates as well as an Fe(III)-centered band at 436 nm (epsilon = 146 M(-1) cm(-1)) and 456 nm (epsilon = 104 M(-1) cm(-1)) for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry data show that complex 1 decomposes between 575 and 600 degrees C whereas no decomposition is observed for complex 2 up to temperatures of 600 degrees C.     

Structural studies of bacterial cellulose through the solid-phase nitration and acetylation by CP/MAS <Superscript>13</Superscript>C NMR spectroscopy

The solid-phase nitration and acetylation processes of bacterial cellulose have been investigated mainly by CP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to clarify the features of these reactions in relation to the characterization of the disordered component included in the microfibrils. CP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectra of bacterial and Valonia cellulose samples are markedly changed as the nitration progresses, in a similar way to the case of cotton linters previously reported; and the relative reactivity of the OH groups in the glucose residues is found to decrease in the order of O(6)H>O(2)H>O(3)H. Moreover, the nitration rate and mode greatly depend on the concentration of nitric acid in the reaction media. At dilute and medium concentrations, the O(6)H groups in the crystalline and disordered components are subjected to nitration at nearly the same rate, indicating that these two components are distributed almost at random in the entire region of each microfibril. The preferential penetration of nitric acid into each microfibril also occurs prior to nitration at the medium concentration, resulting in an increase in the mole fraction of the disordered component. In contrast, all OH groups undergo nitration very rapidly at the higher concentration, although nitration levels off to a certain extent for O(3)H groups. In solid-phase acetylation, no regio-selective reactivity is observed among the three kinds of OH groups, which may be due to the characteristic reaction that proceeds in a very thin layer between the acetylated and nonacetylated regions in each microfibril. The almost random distribution of the disordered component in the entire region of the microfibrils is also confirmed in this solid-phase acetylation. On the basis of these results, the mechanism of the solid-phase reactions and the microfibril structure are discussed.     

Stability of silicon-doped C60 dimers

A theoretical investigation on the structure, stability, and thermal behaviors of the smallest polymeric units, the dimers, formed from substitutionally Si-doped fullerenes is presented. A density functional based nonorthogonal tight-binding model has been employed for describing the interatomic interactions. The study focuses on those polymeric structures which involve Si-Si or Si-C interfullerene bonds. The binding energy of the dimers increases with their Si content from about 0.25 eV in C(60)-C(60) to about 4.5 eV in C(58)Si(2)-C(58)Si(2). Moreover, the C(59)SiC(59) dimer, linked through the sharing of the Si atom between the two fullerenes, has been also considered. Upon heating, the dimers eventually fragment into their constituent fullerene units. The fragmentation temperature correlates with the strength of the interfullerene bonds. C(58)Si(2)-C(58)Si(2) exhibits a higher thermal stability (fragmentation temperature of approximately 500 K) than the pure carbon C(60)-C(60) dimer (with a fragmentation temperature of approximately 325 K). Given the higher structural and thermal stabilities of the Si-doped fullerene dimers, the authors propose the use of substitutionally Si-doped fullerenes as the basic units for constructing new fullerene-based polymers.     

Stepwise and dramatic enhancement of anion recognition with a triple-site receptor based on the calix[4]arene framework using two different cationic effectors

Synthesis and binding behavior of a novel multi-responsive host 1, in which two esters, two polyether moieties, two urea sites, and two bipyridine units as ion binding sites are arranged on the calix[4]arene skeleton, is reported. 1 recognizes Na(+) and Ag(+) simultaneously and quantitatively and captures an anionic guest. The ability of 1 to recognize anions, including CF(3)SO(3)(-) and BF(4)(-), remarkably increases in a stepwise manner using Na(+) and Ag(+) as effectors. The enhancement of the K(a) eventually reaches factors of 1500 and 2000 for NO(3)(-) and CF(3)SO(3)(-), respectively, in the presence of both Na(+) and Ag(+), compared to the free 1. The regulation of binding of multiple ligands may be applicable to multistep cascade systems for the amplification of molecular events, and further studies in this field could provide insight applicable to more advanced molecular devices.     

Molecular design and synthesis of artificial ion channels based on cyclic peptides containing unnatural amino acids

A series of novel cyclic peptides composed of 3 to 5 dipeptide units with alternating natural-unnatural amino acid units, have been designed and synthesized, employing 5-(N-alkanoylamino)-3-aminobenzoic acid with a long alkanoyl chain as the unnatural amino acid. All cyclic peptides with systematically varying pore size, shape, and lipophilicity are found to form ion channels with a conductance of ca. 9 pS in aqueous KCl (500 mM) upon examination by the voltage clamp method. These peptide channels are cation selective with the permeability ratio P(Cl(-))/P(K(+)) of around 0.17. The ion channels formed by the neutral, cationic, and anionic cyclic peptides containing L-alanine, L-lysine, and L-aspartate, respectively, show the monovalent cation selectivity with the permeability ratio P(Na(+))/P(K(+)) of ca. 0.39. On the basis of structural information provided by voltage-dependent blockade of the single channel current of all the tested peptides by Ca(2+), we inferred that each channel is formed from a dimer of the peptide with its peptide ring constructing the channel entrance and its alkanoyl chains lining across the membrane to build up the channel pore. The experimental results are consistent with an idea that the rate of ion conduction is determined by the nature of the hydrophobic alkanoyl chain region, which is common to all the channels.     

Synthesis,structure, and dynamic behavior of cyclopentadienyl-lithium, -sodium,and -potassium annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units: a systematic study on site exchange of alkali metals on a cyclopentadienyl ring in tetrahydrofuran

Novel cyclopentadienyl (Cp)-alkali metal complexes 1-M and 2-M (M = Li, Na, K), in which the Cp ring is annelated with two bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units and substituted with a phenyl group for 1 and a tert-butyl group for 2, were synthesized, and their structures and dynamic behaviors were investigated by means of X-ray crystallography, dynamic (13)C NMR, and DFT calculations. The X-ray crystallography results indicated that 1-Li, 1-Na, and 2-Na form monomeric contact ion pairs (CIP) with three THF molecules coordinated to the metal atom. Also, in THF-d(8), all of the 1-M and 2-M form monomeric CIP in the ground state. However, variable-temperature (13)C NMR measurements of 1-M and 2-M in THF-d(8) demonstrated dynamic behavior in which the metal ion exchanges positions between the upper and lower faces of the Cp ring. From a study of the concentration dependence of the dynamic behavior, the exchange was found to proceed principally as an intramolecular process at concentration ranges lower than 0.2 M. The experimentally observed deltaG values for the intramolecular exchange process for all the 1-M and 2-M (except for 2-Li, whose intramolecular process was too slow to observe) were found to be quite similar in THF-d(8) solution and to fall within the range of 12-14 kcal mol(-)(1). Within this range, a tendency was observed for the deltaG values to increase as the size of the metal decreased. Theoretical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) afforded considerably large values as the gas-phase dissociation energy for 1-M (162.7 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Li; 131.6 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Na; 110.9 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = K) and for 2-M (170.0 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Li; 137.5 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Na; 115.4 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = K). These values should be compensated for by a decrease in the solvation energies for the metal ions with increasing size, as exemplified by the calculated solvation energy for M(+)(Me(2)O)(4), which serves as a model for metal ions solvated with four molecules of THF (-122.9 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Li; -94.7 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Na; -67.7 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = K). This compensation results in a small difference in the overall energy for dissociation of 1-M or 2-M in ethereal solutions, thus supporting the similar deltaG values observed for the intramolecular metal exchange.