Photoregulation of polymer conformation by photochromic moieties. I. Anionic ligand to an anionic polymer

Abstract— Photoregulated biological processes appear to make use of membrane-bound photochromic macromolecules. In order to elucidate various physicochemical pathways by which these processes can be triggered, model studies have been undertaken employing photochromic moieties bound to synthetic macromolecules with a labile fold structure. Inspired by Lovrien's 1967 work, attention was first focused on the anionic dis-azo stilbene dye chrysophenine (CHP) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) in aqueous solution. This ligand is found to bind to and unfold PMA only if the degree of ionization of the polymer is below 0·75. Viscosity as well as equilibrium dialysis data indicate that maximally one CHP per ten monomer units PMA is bound. The apparent degree of ionization conferred to PMA by the ionic CHP ligand leading to polymer unfolding is the same as the known real degree of ionization leading to polymer unfolding in the absence of CHP. Upon trans→cis photoisomerization, the ligand either desorbs or creates a higher local dielectric constant because of the large cis-azo dipole moments. As a result some refolding to a more compact hydrodynamic volume occurs, as deduced from the viscosity measurements at a low degree of ionization. Simultaneously a lowering of the pK_app by 0·1 pK unit is observed at degrees of ionization below 0·075. Photoregulation of conformation as well as of pK_app indicates two possible pathways for the regulation of ionic fluxes such as have been postulated for photobiological transducers.     

Switching of the helical polymer conformation in a solid polymer film

A chiral photochromic polyisocyanate was incorporated into a solid polymer matrix of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), yielding an isotropic polymer film. Isomerization of the chiral photochromic azo side groups (cis‐trans) triggers a reversible conformational change of the helical polyisocyanate backbone. Thus the chirooptical properties of the film can be switched photochemically. The isomerization of the helix is much slower than the isomerization of the azo side groups. Below T_g , the photochemically modified helix conformation is thus stable, despite thermal relaxation of the azo chromophores.     

Zur Kenntnis des Kohlenstoffringes. 81. Mitteilung [1]. Acetolyse des 3,3,8,8-Tetramethyl-cyclodecyl-p-toluolsulfonates

Acetolysis of 3,3,8,8-tetramethyl-cyclodecyl p-toluenesulfonate yields 3,3,8,8-tetramethyl-trans-cyclodecene-(1) ( 6 ), 4,4,9,9-tetramethyl-cis-cyclodecene-(1) ( 4 ), and 4,4,9,9-tetramethyl-trans-cyclodecene-(1) ( 5 ). In each case 12 to 13 per cent of the product involves transannular hydride shifts. The rate constant k₂₅ = 4,35 · 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ is approximately the same as for cyclodecyl p-toluenesulfonate. The reaction is discussed in terms of conformational analysis.     

Synthesis of homochiral spiro [4.4]nonane-l,6-diols

Homochiral cis, cis-; cis,trans and trans,trans-spiro[4,4]-nonane-1,6-diols were prepared via diastereoselective reduction of enantiomerically pure spiro[4.4]nonane-l,6-dione (1) with the corresponding reducing agents: lithium n-butyldiisobutylaluminium hydride for cis,cis-diol (2) with 88% yield; BH₃·THF for cis, trans-diol (8) with 91% yield; LiAlH₄ for trans,trans-diol (4) with 15% yield.     

Determination of the geometric structure of three substituted polyacetylenes: Polymethylacetylene,polypentylacetylene, and poly(tbutylacetylene)

The geometric structure of polymethylacetylene (PMA), polypentylacetylene (PPA), and poly(t-butylacetylene) (PTA) was investigated by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopies. It was shown that both NMR techniques can be used to determine the trans isomer content of PPA and PTA, whereas the ¹H NMR and IR methods can be used for PMA. A calibration curve was constructed by using the 965- and 720-cm^?1 bands of the IR spectrum of PPA, and could be used in future work for the same purpose if the samples had molecular weights similar to that of the one used in this study. The isomerization kinetics of PTA was investigated and cis^→ trans activation energies of 88 and 121 kJ/mol were calculated in solution and in the solid state, respectively. Heat treatment of the PMA and PPA samples always leads to a cis^→ trans isomerization with a 100% trans content under extreme conditions. Moreover, a cis^→ trans isomerization of PTA was induced in CCl₄, CDCl₃, toluene, and benzene, but a trans^→ cis isomerization was induced in decalin. The reversible isomerization of PTA covered a trans isomer concentration ranging form 25 to 60%.     

NMR experiments on acetals—XXXIX: Conformational insights through NMR studies at 300 MHz of 2-methyl-4-halogenomethyl-1,3-dioxolanes

NMR spectra of cis- and trans-2-methyl-4-halogeno-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes have been analysed at 300 MHz. Some of the extracted parameters facilitate easy distinction between these 1,3-dioxolanes and the corresponding structurally isomeric 2-Methyl-5-halogeno-1,3-dioxanes. Criteria enabling configurational assignments to be made for the cis-trans isomers of the dioxolane series are tested. The Me-2 group causes an upfield shift (0·2 to 0·3 ppm) of a trans proton at position 5, but the reversed shift for the corresponding cis proton. This competes with, or even overwhelms the effect of the CH₂X-4 substituent, which by virtue of its pronounced preferential rotameric orientation and in comparison with a simple Me-group, has no large upfield effect on the shift of the syn-adjacent proton. Shift criteria and coupling constants J_{H-4, H-5} in cis- and trans derivatives allow further conformational insights into these 1,3-dioxolanes.     

Conformational analysis of substituted polyacetylenes

A conformational analysis of isolated chains of polymethylacetylene (PMA), polypentylacetylene (PPA), and poly(t-butylacetylene) (PTA) was carried out taking into account interactions between nonbonded atoms and torsional potentials. It was found that the trans configuration of all three polymers is more stable than the cis configuration, the difference in potential energy between the trans and the cis isomers however being very small for PTA, leading to the possibility of observing a trans^→ cis isomerization in some solvents. The calculations show that the substituted polyacetylenes are not found in a planar conformation, the larger deviations from planarity being found with the bulkier substituents: PTA > PPA > PMA. A correlation could be established between the UV absorption limit of the samples and the minimum torsional angle of the potential-energy functions. This relation predicts that the absorption limit is shifted to long wavelengths on increasing the planarity of the molecule. Moreover, UV spectra could be calculated from the potential-energy functions, and it is shown that the potential-energy functions of other substituted polyacetylenes can be calculated from their experimental UV spectra.     

Effects of Nonionic, Cationic, and Mixed Nonionic-Cationic Surfactants on the Acid-Base Behavior of Phenyl Salicylate

The effects of Brij 35 micelles, CTABr micelles, and mixed Brij 35–CTABr micelles on the acid–base behavior of phenyl salicylate (PST) have been studied in aqueous solution containing 2% v/v acetonitrile. The apparent pK_b (pK^app_b) of PST is decreased by 1.5 pK units with the increase in [Brij 35] from 0 to 0.02 M which is attributed to micellar medium effect. The values of pK^app_b remain almost independent of [CTABr] within its range 0.01–0.03 M. The increase in [CTABr] from 0 to 0.03 M in aqueous solution containing 0.02 M Brij 35 has not resulted in a change in pK^app_b. This shows that the characeristic structural features of nonionic Brij 35 micelles remain essentially unchanged on addition of CTABr under the present experimental conditions.     

Optically active polymers containing side-chain photochromic moieties: Synthesis and chiroptical properties of copolymers of trans-4-(phenylazo)-1-naphthyl acrylate and trans-4-(1-naphthylazo)-phenyl acrylate with (?)-menthyl acrylate

The synthesis of photochromic optically active copolymers from trans-4-(phenylazo)-1-naphthyl acrylate (PANA), or trans-4-(1-naphthylazo)-phenyl acrylate (NAPA), and (?)-menthyl acrylate (MtA) is described. The copolymers prepared, having different contents of trans-phenylazonaphthalene moieties, have been characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR, UV, and GPC techniques. The chiroptical properties have been investigated by circular dichroism (CD) and the induced optical activity on the side-chain trans-phenylazonaphthalene chromophores discussed in terms of different conformational situations of the macromolecules in both the copolymer series. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis,complex formation,and dilute‐solution associative behavior of linear poly(methacrylic acid)‐graft‐poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline)*

Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) and poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PEOZO) are a polyacid/polybase pair capable of forming reversible, pH‐responsive, hydrogen‐bonding complexes stabilized by hydrophobic effects in aqueous media. Linear PMA was modified with long‐chain (number‐average molecular weight: 10,000) PEOZO via statistical coupling reactions in organic media to prepare a series of PMA‐graft‐PEOZO copolymers. Potentiometric titrations revealed that the presence of tethered PEOZO markedly increases the pK_a values for PMA‐g‐PEOZO copolymers as compared with simple PMA/PEOZO mixtures at degrees of ionization, α, between 0.0 and 0.1. The dilute‐solution PMA–PEOZO intramolecular association has been probed by monitoring the PEOZO NMR spin–spin (T₂) relaxation as a function of pH. Covalently attached PEOZO side chains participate in complexation at higher values of α than untethered PEOZO. Surprisingly, most PEOZO side chains did not take part in hydrogen bonding at low α, and the highest level of PEOZO incorporation induced a decrease in the number of PMA/PEOZO hydrogen bonds. The polymer self‐diffusion as a function of α was measured with dynamic light scattering. At low pH, the copolymers had no charge and they were in a collapsed form. At high pH, the expected conformational expansion of the PMA units was enhanced at moderate levels of PEOZO incorporation. However, the highest PEOZO incorporation induced the onset of intramolecular associations between PEOZO units along the copolymer chains. Low shear rheometry and light scattering measurements were used in conjunction with the T₂ NMR measurements to propose a model consistent with the aforementioned behavior. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2520–2533, 2004     

Delocalization resonance energy of the allylic radical from the geometrical isomerization of hexa-1,3,5-trienes

Thermal cis, trans geometrical isomerization theoretically involves a 90° twisted, singlet diradical-like transition state which may serve as a base for the examination of structural perturbations. Although thermal rearrangement of hexa-1, trans-3,5-triene (and all-trans octa-2,4,6-triene) to the cis isomer cannot be followed directly owing to subsequent cyclization and 1,5 hydrogen shifts, activation parameters for disappearance have been determined. Experimental complications and mechanistic uncertainties which make interpretation difficult are removed in the bicyclic hexatriene, cyclopentenylidenecyclopentene. These geometrical isomers undergo uncomplicated thermal cis, trans isomerization in vessels of lead-potash glass: log k₁ = 12·03±0·32?41·7±0·8/(0·004575T_abs). Extraction of a value for allylic delocalization energy from the behavior of hexa-1, trans-3,5-triene [log k₁ = 12·91 ± 0·47?44·3±1·2/(0·004575 T_abs)] requires corrections of the Dewar-Schmeising type for changes in hybridization of the σ bonds. Depending on whether ethylene or trans-butene is taken as standard, values of 12·2 and 13·1 kcal/mol are obtained (estimated uncertainty ± 2 kcal/mol).     

Physico-chemical study of ionic equilibria for poly-2 and poly-4-vinylpyridines in alcohol-water solutions

The ionic equilibria for poly-4-vinyl pyridine (P4VP) and poly-2-vinyl pyridine (P2VP) were studied by physico-chemical techniques such as potentiometry, viscosity and NMR-¹H. The mixture of ethanol (45 per cent w.p.) and water was used as solvent to obtain the total range of ionization (0–1). It was found that the dissociation constants of pyridine residue of polymers in the absence of electrostatic interaction (pK₀ = 3·3–3·9) are lower than for the monomer analogues 4-ethylpyridine and 2-ethylpyridine (5·02) and depend on ionic strength (NaCl).A sharp decrease of pK_app at the beginning of titration and increase of specific viscosity for P4VP and P2VP are both explained by electrostatic interactions between positive charges forming during titration of the macromolecules. Most probably, these interactions act through the organic part of the macromolecule. On the other hand, it is shown by NMR-¹H that sharp changes in pK_app and specific viscosity at the beginning of the titration are not associated with changes in the average conformation of the monomer unit in the polymer. This conformation can be destroyed only when the energy of electrostatic interactions is large enough and this occurs when the mean distance between positive charges is relatively short.     

Synthesis and structure assignments of cis- and trans-2-(diethylaminomethyl)cyclohexanols

The synthesis of cis- and trans-2-(diethylaminomethyl)-cyclohexanols and their structural assignments by NMR using the shift reagent Eu(dpm)₃ are described. The correlation of the induced shifts with the equation Δν = K(3 cos²θ – 1)r^?3, assuming an Eu? O distance of 2·4 Å and θ less than 30°, suggests that the interactions are pseudocontact. The values of K are 452 and 420 for the two cyclohexanols, respectively.     

Potassium hydrogen trans‐glutaconate monohydrate at 295, 245 and 40 K,and its rubidium analogue at 298 K

A centrosymmetric and short O—H?O hydrogen bond was found in isomorphic crystals of potassium hydrogen trans‐glutaconate monohydrate (potassium hydrogen trans‐pent‐2‐ene‐1,5‐dioate, K⁺·C₅H₅O₄^?·H₂O), (I), and rubidium hydrogen trans‐glutaconate monohydrate (rubidium hydrogen trans‐pent‐2‐ene‐1,5‐dioate, Rb⁺·C₅H₅O₄^?·H₂O), (II). The O?O distance at room temperature is 2.444 (3) Å in (I), and 2.417 (4) Å in (II). The O?O distance for (I) showed no significant decrease at low temperatures.     

Stereochemical applications of mass spectrometry. 3—Energy dependence of the fragmentation of stereoisomeric methylcyclohexanols

Breakdown graphs have been constructed from charge exchange data for the epimeric 2-methyl-, 3-methyl- and 4-methyl-cyclohexanols. Although the breakdown graphs for epimeric pairs are essentially identical above ～12 eV recombination energy, significant differences are observed for the epimeric 2-methyl- and 4-methyl-cyclohexanols at low internal energies. For the 2-methylcyclohexanols the ratio ([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_cis/([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_trans is 3.2 in the [C₆F₆]^+· charge exchange mass spectra. This is attributed to both energetic and conformational effects which favour the stereospecific cis-1,4-H₂O elimination for the cis epimer. The breakdown graph for trans-4-methylcyclohexanol shows a sharp peak in the abundance of the [M? H₂O]^+· ion at ～10 eV recombination energy which is absent from the breakdown graph for the cis epimer. This peak is attributed to the stereospecific cis-1,4-elimination of water from the molecular ion of the trans isomer; the reaction appears to have a low critical energy but a very unfavourable frequency factor, and alternative modes of water loss common to both epimers are observed at higher energies. As a result, in the [C₆F₆]^+· charge exchange mass spectra the ([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_trans/([M? H₂O]^+·/[M]^+·)_cis ratio is ～24, compared to the value of 13 observed in the 70 eV EI mass spectra. No differences are observed in either the metastable ion abundances or the associated kinetic energy releases for epimeric molecules.     

The influence of N-protected amino acid residues on the cis/trans isomerism of proline moieties in peptides

¹³C NMR spectroscopy is an excellent tool for studying the influence of N-protecting groups on the cis/trans isomerism of proline residues in proline peptides. This communication demonstrates the usefulness of ¹³C NMR spectroscopy in investigating conformational problems in protein and peptide chemistry.     

Electron localization function and electron localizability indicator applied to study the bonding in the peroxynitrous acid HOONO

The ground‐state electronic structure of peroxynitrous acid (HOONO) and its singlet biradicaloid form (HO ··· ONO) have been studied using topological analysis of the electron localization function (ELF), together with the electron localizability indicator (ELI‐D), at the DFT (B3LYP, M05, M052X, and M06), CCSD, and CASSCF levels. Three isomers of HOONO (cis‐cis, cis‐perp, and trans‐perp) have been considered. The results show that from all functionals applied, only B3LYP yields the correct geometrical structure. The ELF and ELI‐D‐topology of the O? O and central N? O bonds strongly depends on the wave function used for analysis. Calculations carried out at CAS (14,12)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ//CCSD(T)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level reveal two bonds of the charge‐shift type: a protocovalent N? O bond with a basin population of 0.82–1.08e, and a more electron depleted O? O bond with a population of 0.66–0.71e. The most favorable dissociation channel (HOONO → HO + ONO) corresponds to breaking of the most electron‐deficient bond (O? O). In the case of cis‐ and trans‐HO ··· ONO, the ELF, ELI‐D, and electron density fields results demonstrate a closed‐shell O ··· O interaction. The α‐spin electrons are found mainly (0.64e) in the lone pairs of oxygen V_{i = 1,2} (O) from the OH group. The β‐spin electrons are delocalized over the ONO group, with the largest concentration (0.34e) on the lone pair of nitrogen V(N). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

HPLC method with on-line SPE preconcentration for quantification of permethric acid sorption to goethite

Pesticide metabolites are often found to be more mobile in soil than their parent compounds. Pyrethroids are bound strongly to soil and therefore sorption of the pyrethroid metabolite permethric acid (PA) to a typical soil sorbent, goethite, was investigated. An on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE)-HPLC-UV procedure was developed for quantification of trans- and cis-permethric acid in aqueous samples. Limits of detection (LOD) were 500 times lower than those obtained with conventional HPLC-UV, resulting in LODs of 1.4 and 0.3?nM for the trans- and cis-isomers, respectively. Sorption of nanomolar concentrations of PA to goethite was found to be specific up to less than 1% surface coverage. In this range the data was described by a Langmuir equation with K _ads = 7.1 × 10^?9?L/mol and Γ_max = 7.1 × 10^?9?mol/m² for total PA (trans + cis) at pH = 3. K _ads,?cis (1.4 × 10⁶?L/mol) was approximately twice K _ads,?trans (7.9 × 10⁵?L/mol). At higher PA concentrations the slope of the sorption isotherm increased, which is ascribed to hydrophobic interactions between adsorbed and dissolved PA molecules. Based on comparison with reported K _om values, metal oxides are expected to have a relatively greater significance to the retention of PA than soil organic matter.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of novel low spin Fe(II)-azo amino acid complexes with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solutions and in aqua-methanol binary mixtures

Kinetics of Fe(II)-azo complexes derived from amino acids (DL-phenylalanine, DL-tryptophane, histidine and alanine) and p-nitroso aromatic substituted amines (N,N-dimethylamino-4-nitrosoaniline and N,N-dimethylamino-4-nitrosoaniline) with hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous solutions and under pseudo-first order conditions have been studied. The reaction exhibits two-stage kinetics. The reaction mechanism was proposed and discussed in terms of complex structure, pH and nature of the medium. The activation parameters and pK _a values were evaluated and correlated with the structural effects of the complexes.     

13C n.m.r. investigation on the first and second nitrogen protonation in the diazanaphthalenes

The ¹³C chemical shifts of the diazanaphthalenes have been recorded as a function of the pH value, providing classical titration curves. From these curves the pK₁ and pK₂ values have been determined taking into account the activity coefficients. The changes in ¹³C chemical shift under the influence of nitrogen protonation (Δδ) can be described by two protonation parameter sets.