Absolute structures of some naturally occurring isopropenyldihydrobenzofurans,remirol, remiridiol,angenomalin, and isoangenomalin

The absolute structures of some naturally occurring chiral 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, (+)-remirol (1a), (+)-remiridiol (1b), (+)-angenomalin (2), and (+)-isoangenomalin (3), were studied by respective chiral synthesis. Kinetic resolutions of racemic 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans, 2-isopropenyl-4,6-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (4), 4-hydroxy-2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-carbaldehyde (8), and 2-isopropenyl-6-(MOM)oxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-5-carbaldehyde (11c), by Sharpless dihydroxylation using (DHQ)(2)AQN or (DHQD)(2)AQN gave the corresponding chiral 2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans. Chiral (S)-(+)-4 (99% ee, using (DHQD)(2)AQN) was converted to natural remirol (S)-(+)-1a and then to natural remiridiol (S)-(+)-1b. (S)-(+)-8 (97% ee, using (DHQD)(2)AQN) was converted to natural angenomalin (S)-(+)-2. (R)-(-)-11c (>99% ee, using (DHQ)(2)AQN), was converted to natural isoangenomalin (R)-(+)-3. Thus, the absolute structures of natural remirol (+)-1a and remiridiol (+)-1b and angenomalin (+)-2 were determined to be S, and the structure of natural isoangenomalin (+)-3 was R.     

(+)-Kunstlerone, a new antioxidant neolignan from the Leaves of Beilschmiedia kunstleri gamble

A new neolignan, 3,4-dimethoxy-3',4'-methylenedioxy-2,9-epoxy-6,7-cyclo-1,8-neolign-11-en-5(5H)-one, which has been named (+)-kunstlerone (1), together with six known alkaloids: (+)-norboldine (2), (+)-N-methylisococlaurine (3), (+)-cassythicine (4), (+)-laurotetanine (5), (+)-boldine (6) and (-)-pallidine (7), were isolated from the leaves of Beilschmiedia kunstleri. The structures were established through various spectroscopic methods notably 1D- and 2D-NMR, UV, IR and LCMS-IT-TOF. (+)- Kunstlerone (1) showed a strong antioxidant activity, with an SC(50) of 20.0 μg/mL.     

Application of the Helquist annulation in Lycopodium alkaloid synthesis: unified total syntheses of (-)-8-deoxyserratinine, (+)-fawcettimine, and (+)-lycoflexine

A unified strategy for total synthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloids (-)-8-deoxyserratinine (7), (+)-fawcettimine (1), and (+)-lycoflexine (4) is detailed. The key features include a highly efficient Helquist annulation to assemble the cis-fused 6/5 bicycle, facile construction of the aza nine-membered ring system employing double N-alkylation strategy, providing access to the common tricyclic skeleton, asymmetric Shi epoxidation, delivering the desired β-epoxide stereospecifically to furnish (-)-8-deoxyserratinine (7), SmI(2) reduction of dihydroxylation derivative 35 to enable formation of (+)-fawcettimine (1), and a rapid biomimetic transformation of (+)-fawcettimine (1) into (+)-lycoflexine (4) via an intramolecular Mannich cyclization.     

Concise syntheses of coronarin A, coronarin E, austrochaparol and pacovatinin A

Total syntheses of (+)-coronarin A (1), (+)-coronarin E (2), (+)-austrochaparol (3) and (+)-pacovatinin A (4) were achieved from the synthetic (+)-albicanyl acetate (6). Dess-Martin oxidation of (+)-albicanol (5) derived from the chemoenzymatic product (6) gave an aldehyde (7), which was subjected to Julia one-pot olefination using beta-furylmethyl-heteroaromatic sulfones (8 or 9 ) gave (+)-trans coronarin E (2) and (+)-cis coronarin E (12) with high cis-selectivity. The synthesis of (+)-coronarin A (1) from (+)-trans coronarin E (2) was achiev-ed, while (+)-cis coronarin E (12) was converted to the natural products (+)-(5S,9S,10S)-15,16-epoxy-8(17),13(16),14-labdatriene (13) and (+)-austrochaparol (3). By the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-3, the absolute structure of (+)-3 was determined to be 5S, 7R, 9R, 10S configurations. Homologation of (+)-albicanol (5) followed by allylic oxidation gave (7 alpha)-hydroxy nitrile (17), which was finally converted to the natural (+)-pacovatinin A (4) in 8 steps from (+)-albicanol (5).     

Kinetic studies of atmospherically relevant silicon chemistry. Part III: Reactions of Si+ and SiO+ with O3, and Si+ with O2

Silicon ions are generated in the Earth's upper atmosphere by hyperthermal collisions of material ablated from incoming meteoroids with atmospheric molecules, and from charge transfer of silicon-bearing neutral species with major atmospheric ions. Reported Si(+) number density vs. height profiles show a sharp decrease below 95 km, which has been commonly attributed to the fast reaction with H(2)O. Here we report rate coefficients and branching ratios of the reactions of Si(+) and SiO(+) with O(3), measured using a flow tube with a laser ablation source and detection of ions by quadrupole mass spectrometry. The results obtained are (2σ uncertainty): k(Si(+) + O(3), 298 K) = (6.5 ± 2.1) × 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), with three product channels (branching ratios): SiO(+) + O(2) (0.52 ± 0.24), SiO + O(2)(+) (0.48 ± 0.24), and SiO(2)(+) + O (<0.1); k(SiO(+) + O(3), 298 K) = (6 ± 4) × 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), where the major products (branching ratio ≥ 0.95) are SiO(2) + O(2)(+). Reactions (1) and (2) therefore have the unusual ability to neutralise silicon directly, as well as forming molecular ions which can undergo dissociative recombination with electrons. These reactions, along with the recently reported reaction between Si(+) and O(2)((1)Δ(g)), largely explain the disappearance of Si(+) below 95 km in the atmosphere, relative to other major meteoric ions such as Fe(+) and Mg(+). The rate coefficient of the Si(+) + O(2) + He reaction was measured to be k(298 K) = (9.0±1.3) × 10(-30) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1), in agreement with previous measurements. The SiO(2)(+) species produced from this reaction, which could be vibrationally excited, is observed to charge transfer at a relatively slow rate with O(2), with a rate constant of k(298 K) = (1.5 ± 1.0) × 10(-13) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1).     

Total synthesis of (+)-pederin. 2. Stereocontrolled synthesis of (+)-benzoylselenopederic acid and total synthesis of (+)-pederin

(+)-Benzoylselenopederic acid (1), a left half of (+)-pederin (3), was synthesized stereoselectively based on the Zn(BH₄)₂ reduction and total synthesis of (+)-pederin (3) was accomplished from 1 and the previously synthesized 2.     

Total syntheses of (+)-chloropuupehenone and (+)-chloropuupehenol and their analogues and evaluation of their bioactivities

Tetracyclic pyrans (+)-chloropuupehenone (1) and (+)-chloropuupehenol (5) and its C8-R-isomer (+)-3 were synthesized via a one-pot condensation of 1-chloro-2-lithio-3,5,6-tris(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)benzene (8) with (4aS,8aS)-3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthalene-1-carboxaldehyde (7). The major condensation product, (4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (4), after desilylation provided tetracyclic pyran (+)-(4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene-9,10-diol (3). At a dosage of 42 mg/rat over 8 h, pyran diol 3 inhibited the intestinal absorption of cholesterol by 71% in rats. Tetracyclic pyran 4 was also converted to o-quinone 28, which inhibited cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and L1210 leukemic cell viability with IC(50) values of 31 and 2.4 microM, respectively. Diol (+)-5 inhibited CETP activity with an IC(50) value of 16 microM. The minor condensation product, (4aS,6aS,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (6), was transformed into (+)-5 and (+)-1. A stepwise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-1 was also developed utilizing an oxyselenylation ring-closure reaction. The synthetic sequence also produced four biologically active naturally occurring drimanic sesquiterpenes, (+)-drimane-8alpha,11-diol (34), (-)-drimenol (38), (+)-albicanol (39), and (-)-albicanal (31) as intermediates.     

Lignans and Triterpenes from the Root of Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. atropurpureum

Two new lignans, pseuderesinol (1), pseuderanoside (2) and a new triterpene, pseuderanic acid (3) were isolated from the dried root of Pseuderanthemum carruthersii (SEEM.) GUILL. var. atropurpureum (BULL.) FOSB. (Acanthaceae), together with ten known compounds, including five lignans, (+)-eudesmin (4), (+)-magnolin (5), (+)-syringaresinol (6), (+)-episyringaresinol (7), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol (8) and five triterpenes, squalene (9), oleanolic acid (10), lupeol (11), betulin (12), betulinic acid (13). Their chemical structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR, computational quantum chemistry, as well as high resolution-electrospray ionization (HR-ESI)-MS spectroscopic analysis. The acetylcholinesterase inhibition and cytotoxic activities against HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines were evaluated on some purified compounds at the concentration of 100?μg/mL. Pseuderesinol (1) and magnolin (5) exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against the MCF-7 cancer cell line.     

(-)-Kunstleramide, a new antioxidant and cytotoxic dienamide from the bark of Beilschmiedia kunstleri gamble

A new dienamide, (2E,4E)-7-(3',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-ethyl-6-(R)-hydroxyhepta- 2,4-dienamide, named (-)-kunstleramide (1), were isolated from the bark of Beilschmiedia kunstleri Gamble together with one neolignan: (+)-kunstlerone (2) and seven known alkaloids: (+)-nornuciferine (3), (-)-isocaryachine (4), (+)-cassythicine (5), (+)-laurotetanine (6), (+)-boldine (7), noratherosperminine (8), (+)-N-demethylphyllocaryptine (9). Their structures were established from spectroscopic techniques, most notably 1D- and 2D-NMR, UV, IR, OR, circular dichroism (CD) spectra and LCMS-IT-TOF. (-)-Kunstleramide (1) exhibited very poor dose-dependent inhibition of DPPH activity, with an IC?? value of 179.5 ± 4.4 μg/mL, but showed a moderate cytotoxic effect on MTT assays of A375, A549, HT-29, PC-3 and WRL-68 with EC?? values of 64.65, 44.74, 55.94, 73.87 and 70.95 μg/mL, respectively.     

New calamenene sesquiterpenes from Tarenna madagascariensis

Four calamenene sequiterpenes, (+)-(7R,10S)-15-hydroxycalamenene (3), (+)-(7R,10S)-2,15-dihydroxycalamenene (4), (+)-(7R,10S)-2-hydroxy-15-calamenal (5), (+)-(7R,10S)-15-calamenal (6), along with the amorphane sesquiterpene (+)-(1S,6R,7R,10S)-1-hydroxy-3-oxo-amorph-4-ene (16), have been isolated from the Madagascan shrub Tarenna madagascariensis (Rubiaceae) and their structures determined by spectroscopic methods and chemical correlations. Furthermore, five known related sesquiterpenes [(+)-(7R,10S)-2-hydroxycalamenene (1), (+)-(7R,10S)-3-hydroxycalamenene (2), (-)-alpha-cadinol (13), cadinenal (14), 6-epicadinenal (15)], and three known lignans [(-)-hinokinin, (-)-dihydrocubebin, (-)-cubebin] were also isolated from the same plant. This is the first report of compounds 3, 4, 5, 6, and 16 from a natural source.     

Ab initio study of ternary complexes X:(HCNH)(+):Z with X, Z = NCH, CNH, FH, ClH, and FCl: diminutive cooperative effects on structures, binding energies, and spin-spin coupling constants across hydrogen bonds

Ab initio calculations have been performed on a series of complexes in which (HCNH)(+) is the proton donor and CNH, NCH, FH, ClH, and FCl (molecules X and Z) are the proton acceptors in binary complexes X:HCNH(+) and HCNH(+):Z, and ternary complexes X:HCNH(+):Z. These complexes are stabilized by C-H(+)···A and N-H(+)···A hydrogen bonds, where A is the electron-pair donor atom of molecules X and Z. Binding energies of the ternary complexes are less than the sum of the binding energies of the corresponding binary complexes. In general, as the binding energy of the binary complex increases, the diminutive cooperative effect increases. The structures of these complexes, data from the AIM analyses, and coupling constants (1)J(N-H), (1h)J(H-A), and (2h)J(N-A) for the N-H(+)···A hydrogen bonds, and (1)J(C-H), (1h)J(H-A), and (2h)J(C-A) for the C-H(+)···A hydrogen bonds provide convincing evidence of diminutive cooperative effects in these ternary complexes. In particular, the symmetric N···H(+)···N hydrogen bond in HCNH(+):NCH looses proton-shared character in the ternary complexes X:HCNH(+):NCH, while the proton-shared character of the C···H(+)···C hydrogen bond in HNC:HCNH(+) decreases in the ternary complexes HNC:HCNH(+):Z and eventually becomes a traditional hydrogen bond as the strength of the HCNH(+)···Z interaction increases.     

Electronic spectra of gas-phase polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycle cations: isoquinoline+ and quinoline+

Electronic spectra of the gas-phase isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar complexes are recorded using photodissociation spectroscopy by monitoring the Ar loss channel. The D(3)←D(0) and D(4)←D(0) band origins for isoquinoline(+)-Ar are observed at 15245 ± 15 cm(-1) and 21960 ± 15 cm(-1), respectively, whereas for quinoline(+)-Ar they appear at 16050 ± 15 cm(-1) and 21955 ± 15 cm(-1), respectively. Strong vibronic progressions for the D(3)←D(0) band systems of both isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar are modeled and assigned in terms of ring deformation and carbon-carbon stretch vibrational modes using time-dependent density functional theory calculations in conjunction with Franck-Condon simulations. The properties of the isoquinoline(+) and quinoline(+) molecules are compared with those of the isoelectronic naphthalene(+) molecule. The existence of strong progressions in the visible spectra of isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar suggests that the corresponding isoquinoline(+) and quinoline(+) molecular cations are unlikely to be responsible for diffuse interstellar bands.     

A kinetic study of the reactions FeO+ + O, Fe+.N2 + O, Fe+.O2 + O and FeO+ + CO: implications for sporadic E layers in the upper atmosphere

These gas-phase reactions were studied by pulsed laser ablation of an iron target to produce Fe(+) in a fast flow tube, with detection of the ions by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Fe(+).N(2) and Fe(+).O(2) were produced by injecting N(2) and O(2), respectively, into the flow tube. FeO(+) was produced from Fe(+) by addition of N(2)O, or by ligand-switching from Fe(+).N(2) following the addition of atomic O. The following rate coefficients were measured: k(FeO(+) + O --> Fe(+) + O(2), 186-294 K) = (3.2 +/- 1.5) x 10(-11); k(Fe(+).N(2) + O --> FeO(+)+ N(2), 294 K) = (4.6 +/- 2.5) x 10(-10); k(Fe(+).O(2) + O --> FeO(+) + O(2), 294 K) = (6.3 +/- 2.7) x 10(-11); and k(FeO(+) + CO --> Fe(+) + CO(2), 294 K) = (1.59 +/- 0.34) x 10(-10) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), where the quoted uncertainties are a combination of the 1sigma standard errors in the kinetic data and the systematic experimental errors. The surprisingly slow reaction between FeO(+) and O is examined using ab initio quantum calculations of the relevant potential energy surfaces. The importance of this reaction for controlling the lifetime of sporadic E layers is then demonstrated using a model of the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere.     

Cl-loss and H-loss dissociations in low-lying electronic states of the CH3Cl+ ion studied using multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory

To examine the experimentally suggested scheme of the pathways for Cl- and H-loss dissociations of the CH(3)Cl(+) ion in the X(2)E (1(2)A', 1(2)A' '), A(2)A(1) (2(2)A'), and B(2)E (3(2)A', 2(2)A") states, the complete active space-self-consistent field (CASSCF) and multiconfiguration second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2) calculations with an atomic natural orbital (ANO) basis were performed for the 1(2)A' (X(2)A'), 1(2)A", 2(2)A', and 2(2)A'" states. The potential energy curves describing dissociation from the four C(s) states were obtained on the basis of the CASSCF partial geometry optimization calculations at fixed C-Cl or C-H distance values, followed by the CASPT2 energy calculations. The electronic states of the CH3(+) and CH(2)Cl(+) ions produced by Cl-loss and H-loss dissociation, respectively, were carefully determined. Our calculations confirm the following experimental facts: Cl-loss dissociation occurs from the 1(2)A' (X(2)A'), 1(2)A", and 2(2)A' states (all leading to CH3(+) (X(1)A(1)') + Cl), and H-loss dissociation does not occur from 2(2)A'. The calculations indicate that H-loss dissociation occurs from the 1(2)A' and 1(2)A' ' states (leading to CH(2)Cl(+) (X(1)A(1)) + H and CH(2)Cl(+) (1(3)A") + H, respectively). The calculations also indicate that H-loss dissociation occurs (with a barrier) from the 2(2)A" state (leading to CH(2)Cl(+) (1(1)A") + H), supporting the observation of direct dissociation from the B state to CH(2)Cl(+) and that Cl-loss dissociation occurs from the 2(2)A" state (leading to CH3(+) (1(3)A") + Cl), not supporting the previously proposed Cl-loss dissociation of the B state via internal conversion of B to A. The predicted appearance potential values for CH3(+) (X(1)A(1)') and CH(2)Cl(+) (X(1)A(1)) are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Medicinal foodstuffs. XXXIV. Structures of new prenylchalcones and prenylflavanones with TNF-alpha and aminopeptidase N inhibitory activities from Boesenbergia rotunda

The methanolic extract from the rhizomes of Boesenbergia rotunda (Zingiberaceae) was found to show inhibitory effect on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells (IC(50)=6.1 microg/ml). By bioassay-guided separation, four new prenylcalcones, (+)-krachaizin A (1a), (-)-krachaizin A (1b), (+)-krachaizin B (2a), and (-)-krachaizin B (2b), and four new prenylflavanones, rotundaflavones Ia (3a), Ib (3b), IIa (4a), and IIb (4b), were isolated together with 18 known constituents (5a-7b and 8-19). The structures of eight new compounds were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence. Among them, (+)-krachaizin B (2a), (-)-krachaizin B (2b), (+)-4-hydroxypanduratin A (6a), (-)-4-hydroxypanduratin A (6b), (+)-isopanduratin A (7a), (-)-isopanduratin A (7b), alpinetin (10), cardamonin (14), and 2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone (15) significantly inhibited TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity in L929 cells at 10 microM. In addition, 2a, 2b, (+)-panduratins A (5a), (-)-panduratin A (5b), 6a, 7b, and geranyl-2,4-dihydroxy-6-phenylbenzoate (17) were found to show strong inhibitory effects on aminopeptidase N activity.     

Gram-scale synthesis of (+)-spongistatin 1: development of an improved, scalable synthesis of the F-ring subunit, fragment union, and final elaboration

In a quest to develop an effective, scalable synthesis of (+)-spongistatin 1 ( 1), we devised a concise, third-generation scalable synthesis of (+)- 7, the requisite F-ring tetrahydropyran aldehyde, employing a proline-catalyzed cross-aldol reaction. Subsequent elaboration to (+)-EF Wittig salt (+)- 3, followed by union with advanced ABCD aldehyde (-)- 4, macrolactonization and global deprotection permitted access to >1.0 g of totally synthetic (+)-spongistatin 1 ( 1).     

A Facile Approach to Synthesis of the Di-O-methyl Ethers of （-）-Agatharesinol, （-）-Sugiresinol, （＋）-Nyasol and （＋）-Tetrahydronyasol

The facile enantioselective synthesis of the di-O-methyl ethers of （-）-agatharesinol （1b）, （-）-sugiresionl （2b）, （＋）-nyasol （3b） and （＋）-tetrahydronyasol （4） were achieved in high yield. The absolute configuration of （＋）-3a was confirmed via first total synthesis of （＋）-3b and （＋）-4.     

First synthesis of (+)-alpha- and (+)-gamma-polypodatetraenes

First synthesis of (+)-alpha-polypodatetraene (1) and (+)-gamma-polypodatetraene (2) was achieved from (+)-albicanol (6) and (-)-drimenol (8), respectively. The absolute structure of natural (+)-2 was established to be (5S,9S,10S)-polypoda-7,13(E),17(E),21-tetraene.     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydrofuran lignans via BF(3) x OEt(2)-promoted reductive deoxygenation/epimerization of cyclic hemiketal: synthesis of (-)-odoratisol C, (-)-futokadsurin A, (-)-veraguensin, (+)-fragransin A(2), (+)-galbelgin, and (+)-talaumidin

A versatile route to the synthesis of 2,5-diaryl-3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran lignans, (-)-odoratisol C (1), (-)-futokadsurin A (2), (-)-veraguensin (3), (+)-fragransin A2 (4), (+)-galbelgin (5), and (+)-talaumidin (6), is described. Central to the synthesis of the lignans is BF(3) x OEt(2)-promoted deoxygenation/epimerization of the hemiketal 9a followed by stereoselective reduction of the oxocarbenium ion intermediates 8a,b.     

Peripheral metal-ion binding to tris(thia-oxo crown) porphyrazines

We report the preparation and solution properties of metal-free [1b(H(2))] and cobalt [1c(Co)] porphyrazines (pz's), where three pyrroles are functionalized with a S(2)O(3) crown ether for metal-ion binding and the fourth pyrrole is appended with two long-chain alcohols (bis((11-hydroxyundecyl)thio)) for potential use as surface anchors. Compounds 1b(H(2) and 1c(Co) exhibit ion-specific optical changes in the presence of Ag(+) and Hg(2+). Binding of Ag(+) to 1b(H(2)) is described by a 1:1 binding isotherm, with K(D) approximately 147 microM, whereas binding of Hg(2+) to 1b(H(2)) appears more complex. For 1c(Co), binding of Ag(+) and Hg(2+) also can be fit to a 1:1 isotherm, with K(D) approximately 109 and 83 microM, respectively. All four titrations show nonisosbesticity, including those apparently describable by the 1:1 isotherm, which indicates that there are intermediate stages as multiple ions bind. Neither 1b(H(2)) or 1c(Co) gives optical responses to Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Pb(2+), or Cu(2+) or to alkali (Li(+), Na(+), K(+), and Cs(+)) and alkaline earth (Mg(2+), Ca(2+), and Ba(2+)) metal ions. Nonetheless, "hard" ions are sensed electrochemically: Na(+) and Li(+) strongly shift the pz/pz(-) couple of 1b(H(2)()) and Co(III)/Co(II) couple of 1c(Co). For the addition of 4 equiv of Li(+) to 1c(Co), the Co(III)/Co(II) shifts +40 mV, and for the addition of 4 equiv of Na(+) to 1c(Co), the shift is +155 mV. The shifted redox waves of 1c(Co) all retain their reversibility. In contrast, for the addition of either 4 equiv of Li(+) or Na(+) to 1b(H(2)), the shifts of the pz/pz(-) couple are essentially the same, approximately 170 mV, and the shifted redox waves become broadened and less reversible, due to ion-induced aggregation. For 1c(Co) the shape of the titration curves [M]/[1b(H(2))] versus E(1/2) is concave to the x-axis, implying cooperative binding of multiple M(+) ions as part of the redox/binding system of equilibria.