Photonic Modulation Enabled by Controlling the Edge Structures of Boron-Doped Molecular Carbons

Control over topological edges of molecular carbons (MCs) is of importance for achieving diverse molecular topologies and desirable physical properties. However, it remains very challenging for heteroatom-doped MCs due to the synthetic difficulty. Herein, we report control over the edge structures of boron-doped MCs (BMCs) via the sequential cyclization strategy. Three BMC molecules that feature the C₅₆B₂ or C₈₄B₂ polycyclic π-skeletons with selective cove/fjord or cove/bay edges, respectively, were synthesized through the rational combination of Mallory photoreaction and Scholl reaction. We not only obtain the largest boron-doped π-system reported so far, but also disclose that fine control of their edges and length greatly affects electronic structures and thereby photonic properties of BMCs, such as tunable aromaticity, decreased band gaps, as well as redshifted absorptions and fluorescence. Remarkably, the C₅₆B₂ molecule exhibits stimulated emission behavior and amplified spontaneous emission property, both of which have never been reported for pristine boron-doped π-systems, thus demonstrating the potential of BMCs as optical gain materials for laser cavities.     

Dithienylethene-Based Single Molecular Photothermal Linear Actuator

By employing a mechanically controllable break junction technique, we have realized an ideal single molecular linear actuator based on dithienylethene (DTE) based molecular architecture, which undergoes reversible photothermal isomerization when subjected to UV irradiation under ambient conditions. As a result, open form (compressed, UV OFF) and closed form (elongated, UV ON) of dithienylethene-based molecular junctions are achieved. Interestingly, the mechanical actuation is achieved without changing the conductance of the molecular junction around the Fermi level over several cycles, which is an essential property required for an ideal single molecular actuator. Our study demonstrates a unique example of achieving a perfect balance between tunneling width and barrier height change upon photothermal isomerization, resulting in no change in conductance but a change in the molecular length, which results in mechanical actuation at the single molecular level.     

Photothermal Conversion by Carbon Black Facilitates Aryl Migration by Photon-Promoted Temperature Gradients

The Newman Kwart Rearrangement (NKR) offers an efficient and high-yielding method for producing substituted thiophenols from phenols. While an industrially important protocol, it suffers from high activation energy barriers (35–43 kcal/mol), requiring the use of extreme temperatures (>200 °C) and specialty equipment. This report details a highly efficient and straightforward method for facilitating the NKR using photothermal conversion. This underused, unique reactivity pathway arises from the irradiation of nanomaterials that relax via a non-radiative decay pathway to generate intense thermal gradients. We show carbon black (CB) can be an inexpensive and abundant photothermal agent under visible light irradiation to achieve a facile NKR under mild conditions. The scope includes a wide array of stereo- and electronically diverse substrates with increasing difficulty of rearrangement, including BHT and BINOL as effective substrates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the unique application for temporal control in a thermal reaction and tunability of thermal gradients by modulating light intensity. Ultimately, photothermal conversion enables high-temperature reactions with simple, visible light irradiation.     

Advancement of Electrochemical Thermoelectric Conversion with Molecular Technology

Thermocells are a thermoelectric conversion technology that utilizes the shift in an electrochemical equilibrium arising from a temperature difference. This technology has a long history; however, its low conversion efficiency impedes its practical usage. Recently, an increasing number of reports have shown drastic improvements in thermoelectric conversion efficiency, and thermocells could arguably represent an alternative to solid thermoelectric devices. In this Minireview, we regard thermocells as molecular systems consisting of successive molecular processes responding to a temperature change to achieve energy generation. Various molecular technologies have been applied to thermocells in recent years, and could stimulate diverse research fields, including supramolecular chemistry, physical chemistry, electrochemistry, and solid-state ionics. These research approaches will also provide novel methods for achieving a sustainable society in the future.     

Determination of Tellurium by Gas Phase Molecular Absorption Spectrometry After Hydrogen Telluride Generation

Abstract

A method for determination of tellurium(IV) or tellurium(VI) is described that involves hydrogen telluride generation by reduction with sodium tetrahydro-borate(III), evolution of hydride with HCl solution, transport into a flow-cell placed in a UV-visible molecular absorption spectrophotometer and measurement of gas at 190 nm. Hydride generation and determination procedures are optimized, based on height and area of absorbance versus time profile of hydrogen telluride generated. Using the best experimental conditions found the calibration curve is linear from 5 to 100 μg/ml of tellurium, 1.1 μg/ml of tellurium(IV) or 3.1 μg/ml of tellurium(VI) can be detected, and relative standard deviation ranges from 4 to 7%. The method is applied to the analysis of additives for synthetic rubber making.     

分子聚集体的光谱模拟

采用Frenkel激子理论研究了一维线性和二维人字形分子聚集体的吸收和发射光谱.通过引入激子离域长度的概念,将聚集体与单分子的光谱线形函数联系起来.计算的光谱结果表明,聚集体的光谱与分子在聚集体中的排列紧密相关.分析了一维J聚集光谱发生红移以及二维人字形分子聚集体吸收光谱形成J和H激子谱带的内在原因.模拟得到的聚集体的...     

Molecular structure and force field of boron tribromide as determined from combined analysis of gas electron diffraction and spectroscopic data and supported by quantum-chemical density-functional calculations

The thermal-average parameters of BBr₃ at 21(1) °C were obtained from a conventional analysis of gas electron diffraction (GED) data (r_g(B---Br) = 190.0(4) pm). The equilibrium structure and the force constants were refined from a joint analysis of the GED intensities and vibrational frequencies using different approximations. The simplest approximation (quadratic potential function in rectilinear coordinates) is suitable for the refinements of the equilibrium bond length (r^h_e(B---Br) = 189.6(4) pm) and the force constants of BBr₃. The molecule is planar within the error limits. Quantum-chemical density-functional calculations supported planarity of the molecule.     

用SymApps与Weblab-ViewerPro研究分子的对称性

介绍了使用化学软件SymApps与Weblab-ViewerPro研究分子对称性的方法。给出了研究分子点群和分子手性，并快速制作对称操作三维动画的实例。     

Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds, Benzylic Carbons to their Ketones, and Arenes to their Quinones with Molecular Oxygen in Subcritical Water

Summary. Molecular oxygen is used as an efficient oxidant for the conversion of alcohols into carbonyl compounds, benzylic carbons to their ketones, and arenes to their quinones in subcritical water in the absence of catalysts. The procedure utilizes water and does not require support materials and metal salts.     

金丝桃素分子结构及其与HIV病毒蛋白酶作用的分子动力学研究

采用用计算化学方法研究金丝桃素分子结构特征, 并用分子动力学方法研究其与HIV蛋白酶的相互作用, 探讨其可能的抗HIV病毒作用机理. 结果表明, 金丝桃素分子结构具有刚性特征, 与HIV蛋白酶在酶的催化活性位点与ASP-A25 and ASP-B25以氢键作用相结合.     

分子伞辅助药物输送

随着新药的不断开发,药物在生物体内的吸收、分布、代谢、排泄和毒性（ADME／T）等性质已经引起了人们的高度重视。寻找合适的药物载体提高药物分子的水溶解度、稳定性和膜渗透能力从而进一步提高药物在生物体内的吸收,已经成为药物设计开发的一个新领域。近年来,分子伞作为一种新的药物载体被报道,本文介绍了其研究概况。     

亮氨酸脑啡肽构象的分子动力学方法研究

采用淬火和模拟退火两种分子动力学的方法对亮氨酸脑啡肽进行了构象搜索，发现了多个Gly－Pheβ－Ⅱ’转角的低能构象．计算结果表明，高温淬火和模拟退火两者结合起来可以有效地寻找低能构象．     

Molecular machines operated by light

The bottom-up construction and operation of machines and motors of molecular size is a topic of great interest in nanoscience, and a fascinating challenge of nanotechnology. Researchers in this field are stimulated and inspired by the outstanding progress of molecular biology that has begun to reveal the secrets of the natural nanomachines which constitute the material base of life. Like their macroscopic counterparts, nanoscale machines need energy to operate. Most molecular motors of the biological world are fueled by chemical reactions, but research in the last fifteen years has demonstrated that light energy can be used to power nanomachines by exploiting photochemical processes in appropriately designed artificial systems. As a matter of fact, light excitation exhibits several advantages with regard to the operation of the machine, and can also be used to monitor its state through spectroscopic methods. In this review we will illustrate the design principles at the basis of photochemically driven molecular machines, and we will describe a few examples based on rotaxane-type structures investigated in our laboratories.      

Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry: Parameter influence on boron isotope measurements

Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry (LAMIS) was recently reported for optical isotopic analysis of condensed samples in ambient air and at ambient pressure. LAMIS utilizes molecular emissions which exhibit larger isotopic spectral shits than in atomic transitions. For boron monoxide ¹⁰BO and ¹¹BO, the isotopic shifts extend from 114 cm⁻¹ (0.74 nm) to 145–238 cm⁻¹ (5–8 nm) at the B²Σ⁺ (v = 0) → X²Σ⁺ (v = 2) and A²Π_i (v = 0) → X²Σ⁺ (v = 3) transitions, respectively. These molecular isotopic shifts are over two orders of magnitude larger than the maximum isotopic shift of approximately 0.6 cm⁻¹ in atomic boron. This paper describes how boron isotope abundance can be quantitatively determined using LAMIS and how atomic, ionic, and molecular optical emission develops in a plasma emanating from laser ablation of solid samples with various boron isotopic composition. We demonstrate that requirements for spectral resolution of the measurement system can be significantly relaxed when the isotopic abundance ratio is determined using chemometric analysis of spectra. Sensitivity can be improved by using a second slightly delayed laser pulse arriving into an expanding plume created by the first ablation pulse.     

Molecular Engineering of Corrole Radicals by Polycyclic Aromatic Fusion: Towards Open-Shell Near-Infrared Materials for Efficient Photothermal Therapy

Open-shell radicals are promising near-infrared (NIR) photothermal agents (PTAs) owing to their easily accessible narrow band gaps, but their stabilization and functionalization remain challenging. Herein, highly stable π-extended nickel corrole radicals with [4n+1] π systems are synthesized and used to prepare NIR-absorbing PTAs for efficient phototheranostics. The light-harvesting ability of corrole radicals gradually improves as the number of fused benzene rings on β-pyrrolic locations increases radially, with naphthalene- and anthracene-fused radicals and their one-electron oxidized [4n] π cations exhibiting panchromatic visible-to-NIR absorption. The extremely low doublet excited states of corrole radicals promote heat generation via nonradiative decay. By encapsulating naphthocorrole radicals with amphiphilic polymer, water-soluble nanoparticles Na-NPs are produced, which exhibit outstanding photostability and high photothermal conversion efficiency of 71.8 %. In vivo anti-tumor therapy results indicate that Na-NPs enable photoacoustic imaging of tumors and act as biocompatible PTAs for tumor ablation when triggered by 808 nm laser light. The “aromatic-ring fusion” strategy for energy-gap tuning of corrole radicals opens a new platform for developing robust NIR-absorbing photothermal materials.     

混合超临界流体的密度及分子间相互作用

在３０８．１５Ｋ、６－１２ＭＰａ范围内,测定了ＣＯ２及ＣＯ２－正戊烷、ＣＯ２－正庚烷二元混合流体的密度,并计算了溶质的偏摩尔体积．在此基础上,将偏摩尔体积与ＭｏｎｔｅＣａｒｌｏ分子模拟研究相结合,研究了ＣＯ２－正戊烷、ＣＯ２－正庚烷二元系中的分子间相互作用和溶液的结构随压力和密度的变化．     

A Molecular Chameleon: Chromophoric Sensing by a Self-Complexing Molecular Assembly

A color change from purple to green takes place on addition of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) to the macrobicyclic receptor 1 ⁴⁺, which is composed of a cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) tetracation that shares one of its paraphenylene rings with a 1,5-naphthoparaphenylene-[36]crown-10 macrocycle. The TTF molecule forces the macrobicycle to turn inside out (see schematic drawing below) and displaces the self-complexed 1,5-dioxynaphthalene ring system from the center of the tetracationic cyclophane.     

Tunable Smart Surface of Gold Nanoparticles Achieved by Light‐Controlled Molecular Recognition Effection

Thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)‐coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared by self‐assembly of the azobenzene‐terminated PNIPAm on the surface of the α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD)‐capped AuNPs via the host–guest molecular recognition between α‐CD and azobenzene. Reversible attachment–detachment of azobenzene‐terminated PNIPAm on the surface of α‐CD‐capped AuNPs was achieved when subjected to visible and UV light irradiation alternately, which endowed thermosensitive AuNPs with tunable smart properties.

     

Molecular structure matching by simulated annealing. I. A comparison between different cooling schedules

Summary This paper outlines an application of the theory of simulated annealing to molecular matching problems. Three cooling schedules are examined: linear, exponential and dynamic cooling. The objective function is the sum of the elements of the difference distance matrix between the two molecules generated by continual reordering of one molecule. Extensive tests of the algorithms have been performed on random coordinate data together with two related protein structures. Combinatorial problems, inherent in the assignment of atom correspondences, are effectively overcome by simulated annealing. The algorithms outlined here can readily optimize molecular matching problems with 150 atoms.     

预富集分子吸收光谱法测定硫化物

研究了用分子吸收光谱法测定硫化物。以镁空心阴极灯（ＨＣＬ）为辐射光源，测定了２０２．６ｎｍ处Ｈ２Ｓ的分子吸收。采用蠕动泵预富集和气动雾化预富集两种富集方法，考察了两种不同进样方式时实验参数的影响，这两种富集方法测定了Ｓ＾２－的检出限均为０．０２μｇ／ｍＬ。并测定了钢样中硫的含量。