Tuning lipase enantioselectivity in organic media using solid-state buffers.

The enantioselectivity exhibited by Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) in predominantly organic media has been studied for different enzyme protonation states. Alcoholysis of (+/-)-2-phenyl-4-benzyloxazol-5(4H)-one (1) using butan-1-ol as the nucleophile in low-water organic solvents was used as a model reaction. Using either organo-soluble bases or the newly introduced solid-state buffers of known pK(a), the protonation state of the lipase was altered. By choice of the appropriate solid-state buffer or organic base, the enantioselectivity could be selectively tuned. Both Et(3)N and the solid-state buffer pair CAPSO/CAPSO.Na were found to increase the enantioselectivity of the reaction catalyzed by CALB and that of another lipase (Mucor miehei). Significant differences to both the enantioselectivity and catalytic rate were observed, especially under hydrated conditions where byproduct acid was formed.     

Acid-base indicator for media with a low dielectric constant in the case of methylene chloride

Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, p. 493, February, 1989.     

A new terpyrrolic analogue of dipyrrolylquinoxalines: an efficient optical-based sensor for anions in organic media

The synthesis and X-ray structural characterization of a new terpyrrolic analog of dipyrrolylquinoxaline (DPQ) is described that contains two pyrrole anion recognition groups bridged by a central 1,2-linked pyrrole. Relative to the ‘parent’ DPQ system, this new terpyrrolic scaffold acts as an improved colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for halide and dihydrogen phosphate anions in organic media. This enhancement is particularly dramatic in the case of H₂PO₄⁻ (studied as its tetrabutylammonium salt); in CH₂Cl₂ it is bound with an affinity constant, K, of 17,500 M⁻¹ by the terpyrrole of this report vs. 80 M⁻¹ in the case of DPQ. The present findings thus support the emerging notion that a range of pyrrole-based anion recognition and sensing systems may be produced by replacing the central quinoxaline spacer in DPQs by other bridging subunits and that these new receptors may have properties that differ dramatically from their DPQ ‘parents’.     

Ionic liquid buffers: a new class of chemicals with potential for controlling pH in non-aqueous media

Ionic liquids with buffering characteristics, synthesized by the reaction of [RMIM]OH base moieties with phthalic and tartaric acid, respectively, are potential reagents for controlling pH in non-aqueous media; remarkable [Base]/[Acid] molar ratio dependence of the catalytic activities has been observed in the hydrogenation of olefins with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] complex in DMF and [BMIM][BF4].     

Glycerol and derived solvents: new sustainable reaction media for organic synthesis

The rapid growth of the biodiesel industry has led to a large surplus of its major byproduct, i.e. glycerol, for which new applications need to be found. Research efforts in this area have focused mainly on the development of processes for converting glycerol into value-added chemicals and its reforming for hydrogen production, but recently, in line with the increasing interest in the use of alternative greener solvents, an innovative way to revalorize glycerol and some of its derivatives has seen the light, i.e. their use as environmentally friendly reaction media for synthetic organic chemistry. The aim of the present Feature Article is to provide a comprehensive overview on the developments reached in this field.     

Crosslinked plastic scintillators: A new detection system for radioactivity measurement in organic and aggressive media

The measurement of radioactive solutions containing organic or aggressive media may cause stability problems in liquid and plastic scintillation (PS) techniques. In the case of PS, this can be overcome by adding a crosslinker to the polymer structure. The objectives of this study are to synthesise a suitable crosslinked plastic scintillator (C-PS) for radioactivity determination in organic and aggressive media. The results indicated that an increase in the crosslinker content reduces the detection efficiency and a more flexible crosslinker yields higher detection efficiency. For the polymer composition studied, 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) is the most adequate fluorescent solute and an increase in its concentration causes little change in the detection efficiency. The inclusion of a secondary fluorescent solute 1,4-bis-2-(5-phenyloxazolyl) benzene (POPOP) improves the C-PS radiometrical characteristics. For the final composition chosen, the synthesis of the C-PS exhibits good reproducibility with elevated yield. The obtained C-PS also displays high stability in different organic (toluene, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and methanol) and aggressive media (hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide). Finally, the C-PS exhibits high detection efficiency both in water and in aggressive media and can also be applied in organic media showing similar or even higher detection efficiency values.     

Highly sensitive fluorescence "turn-on" indicator for fluoride anion with remarkable selectivity in organic and aqueous media

A simple, convenient, and inexpensive method has been developed to quantitatively determine fluoride anion concentration in acetonitrile as well as in water. The method exhibited a high selectivity and a great sensitivity toward fluoride anions through "turn-on" chromogenic and fluorogenic dual modes. The fluoride driven silyl deprotection and the subsequent spectral changes of hydroxyl coumarin were the operating foundations for the observed selectivity and sensitivity. (1)H NMR spectral titration with F(-) revealed that complete deprotection of a triisopropylsilyl (TIPS) group needed exactly 1 equiv of TBAF. UV-vis and fluorescence titration studies exhibited the appearance of a new intense absorption band centered at 434 nm and green emission peak at 500 nm, accompanied by bright yellow color development to the naked eye. An easy-to-prepare test paper, obtained by dipping the paper into the solution of TIPS-protected coumarin derivative, was able to detect F(-) in aqueous media. The method has also shown highly promising results in detecting all kinds of fluoride salts, regardless of being organic or inorganic, and thus could be potentially useful in real applications.     

The reaction force constant: an indicator of the synchronicity in double proton transfer reactions

Earlier work, both experimental and computational, has drawn attention to the transition region in a chemical reaction, which includes the traditional transition state but extends along the intrinsic reaction coordinate ξ from perturbed forms of the reactants to perturbed forms of the products. The boundaries of this region are defined by the reaction force F(ξ), which is the negative gradient of the potential energy V(ξ) of the system along ξ. The reaction force constant κ(ξ), the second derivative of V(ξ), is negative throughout the transition region. We have now demonstrated, for a series of twelve double proton transfer processes, that the profile of κ(ξ) in the transition region is an indicator of the synchronicity of the two proton migrations in each case. When they are fully or nearly fully synchronous, κ(ξ) has a single minimum in the transition region. When the migrations are considerably nonsynchronous, κ(ξ) has two minima separated by a local maximum. Such an assessment of the degree of synchronicity cannot readily be made from an examination of the transition state alone, nor it is easily detected in the profiles of V(ξ) and F(ξ).     

Interface engineering for solid-state dye-sensitised nanocrystalline solar cells: the use of an organic redox cascade

We demonstrate the formation of a charge transfer cascade at a nanostructured TiO2/dye/polymer/molecular hole transport multilayer interface. Charge recombination dynamics at this interface are shown to be retarded when the ionisation potential of the polymer layer exceeds that of the molecular hole transport layer.     

Solubilization of cytochrome c in organic media with fluoroalkyl end-capped N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer: a new approach to fluorinated biocatalyst in organic media

Self-assembled molecular aggregates of fluoroalkyl end-capped N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomer can solubilize cytochrome c in organic media such as methanol, although the corresponding non-fluorinated polymer cannot solubilize cytochrome c in organic media. Interestingly, the resulting fluorinated oligomer-cytochrome c aggregate was found to act effectively as a new fluorinated biocatalyst for the oxidation of pinacyanol chloride with hydrogen peroxide in the non-aqueous methanol.     

Catalytic promiscuity in biocatalysis: using old enzymes to form new bonds and follow new pathways

Biocatalysis has expanded rapidly in the last decades with the discoveries of highly stereoselective enzymes with broad substrate specificity. A new frontier for biocatalysis is broad reaction specificity, where enzymes catalyze alternate reactions. Although often under-appreciated, catalytic promiscuity has a natural role in evolution and occasionally in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Examples of catalytic promiscuity with current or potential applications in synthesis are reviewed here. Combined with protein engineering, the catalytic promiscuity of enzymes may broadly extend their usefulness in organic synthesis.     

Measuring the electron affinity of organic solids: an indispensable new tool for organic electronics

Electron affinity is a fundamental energy parameter of materials. In organic semiconductors, the electron affinity is closely related to electron conduction. It is not only important to understand fundamental electronic processes in organic solids, but it is also indispensable for research and development of organic semiconductor devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells. However, there has been no experimental technique for examining the electron affinity of organic materials that meets the requirements of such research. Recently, a new method, called low-energy inverse-photoemission spectroscopy, has been developed. A beam of low-energy electrons is focused onto the sample surface, and photons emitted owing to the radiative transition to unoccupied states are then detected. From the onset of the spectral intensity, the electron affinity is determined within an uncertainty of 0.1 eV. Unlike in conventional inverse-photoemission spectroscopy, sample damage is negligible and the resolution is improved by a factor of 2. The principle of the method and several applications are reported.

1,2-Naphthoquinone-2-thiosemicarbazone as a new acid-base indicator in isopropyl and tert-butyl alcohol media

1,2-Naphthoquinone-2-thiosemicarbazone is proposed as an acid-base indicator for use in isopropyl and tert-butyl alcohol media. The dissociation constants have been determined in both media and the colour transition, sensitivity and sharpness of the indicator are described by means of chromatic parameters. The indicator has been used for determination of some organic acids, with errors of less than 1%.     

Desmotropy, polymorphism, and solid-state proton transfer: four solid forms of an aromatic o-hydroxy Schiff base

The Schiff base derived from salicylaldehyde and 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine affords a diversity of solid forms, two polymorphic pairs of the enol-imino (D1?a and D1?b) and keto-amino (D2?a and D2?b) desmotropes. The isolated phases, identified by IR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and (13)C cross-polarization/magnetic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy, display essentially planar molecular conformations characterized by strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the O-H???N (D1) or N-H???O (D2) type. A change in the position of the proton within this O???H???N system is accompanied by substantially different molecular conformations and, subsequently, by divergent supramolecular architectures. The appearance and interconversion conditions for each of the four phases have been established on the basis of a number of solution and solvent-free experiments, and evaluated against the results of computational studies. Solid phases readily convert into the most stable form (D1?a) upon exposure to methanol vapor, heating, or by mechanical treatment, and these transformations are accompanied by a change in the color of the sample. The course of thermally induced transformations has been monitored in detail by means of temperature-resolved powder X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Upon dissolution, all forms equilibrate immediately, as confirmed by NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy in several solvents, with the equilibrium shifted far towards the enol tautomer. This study reveals the significance of peripheral groups in the stabilization of metastable tautomers in the solid state.     

Nano-assembly of manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase from P. chrysosporium for biocatalysis in aqueous and non-aqueous media

Development, characterization, and activity studies of nano-assemblies of lignin peroxidase (LiP), and manganese peroxidase (MnP) from Phanerochaete chrysosporium on flat surfaces as well as colloidal particles have been investigated. These assemblies of LiP and MnP were fabricated with polyelectrolytes-poly(ethylenimine) (PEI), poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA), and poly(allylamine) (PAH)-using a layer-by-layer self-assembly technique (LbL). Characterization of these assemblies on flat surfaces was monitored using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), while assemblies on microparticles such as melamine formaldehyde (MF) were carried out with zeta potential analyzer (ZPA). A unique dynamic adsorption-desorption of the enzyme layers is observed during the assembly. All the nano-assemblies of LiP and MnP can effectively oxidize veratryl alcohol (VA) to its aldehyde for an extended period of time. The effect of different polyions and the number of polyion layers on the activities of LiP and MnP nano-assembly was also examined. It is observed that drying of enzyme layer during the assembly and the use of non-aqueous media, such as acetone can significantly reduce the activity of the enzymes. Enzyme activity reaches a minimum when the concentration of acetone is increased to 30%; however, the activity can be restored to its original value by increasing the concentration of aqueous media. Preliminary studies using assemblies of LiP and MnP on MF microparticles further demonstrate the feasibility of developing potential systems for degradation of environmental pollutants.     

A study on the proton transfer in the benzoic acid dimer by C high-resolution solid-state NMR and proton T1 measurements

By a solid-state ¹³C and proton NMR study of the hydrogen bonded dimer of benzoic acid, the rate of proton transfer, the height of the potential barrier for the transfer and the relative population of two different configurations were determined.     

Absorption and fluorescence of 2,5-diarylidenecyclopentanones in acidic media: evidence for excited-state proton transfer

Spectroscopic properties for a series of 2,5-diarylidenecyclopentanones in weak and strong acid environments are reported. Electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra have been measured for the all-E configurations of 2,5-dibenzylidenecyclopentanone (1), 2,5-bis(3-phenylallylidene)cyclopentanone (2), and 2,5-bis(5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienylidene)cyclopentanone (3) in acetic acid and sulfuric acid solutions. The spectroscopic evidence indicates that in 96% sulfuric acid 1, 2, and 3 are protonated both in the ground state and on the S1 potential energy surface. This assignment is supported by Zerner's intermediate neglect of differential overlap (ZINDO) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. In glacial acetic acid, 1, 2, and 3 are unprotonated in the ground state. The absence of observable fluorescence from 1 in glacial acetic acid indicates that S1 is npi, whereas the observation of fluorescence from 2 and 3 in acetic acid is consistent with S1 being pipi. A combination of spectroscopic data, molecular orbital calculations, and fluorescence lifetime measurements indicate that 2 and 3 undergo intermolecular excited-state proton transfer in glacial acetic acid and diluted sulfuric acid solutions. Photochemical studies reveal that, unlike its behavior in organic solvents, 1 does not undergo efficient E,E --> E,Z photoisomerization in 96% sulfuric acid.     

Laser control of double proton transfer in porphycenes: towards an ultrafast switch for photonic molecular wires

Electronic excitation energy transfer along a molecular wire depends on the relative orientation of the electronic transition dipole moments of neighboring chromophores. In porphycenes, this orientation is changed upon double proton transfer in the electronic ground state. We explore the possibility to trigger such a double proton transfer reaction by means of an infrared pump-dump laser control scheme. To this end, a quantum chemical characterization of an asymmetrically substituted porphycene is performed using density functional theory. Ground state geometries, the topology of the potential energy surface for double proton transfer, and \(\hbox{S}_0\rightarrow\hbox{S}_1\) transition energies are compared with the parent compound porphycene and a symmetric derivative. Employing a simple two-dimensional model for the double proton transfer, which incorporates sequential and concerted motions, quantum dynamics simulations of the laser-driven dynamics are performed which demonstrate tautomerization control. Based on the orientation of the transition dipole moments, this tautomerization may lead to an estimated change in the Förster transfer coupling of about 60%.     

Harnessing supramolecular interactions in organic solid-state devices: Current status and future potential

The performance attained by electronic devices incorporating more than a single molecule is in part limited by weak electronic coupling between molecules. By implementing designed supramolecular interactions, chemists have begun taking control of the nanoscale ordering of the active layer in an effort to move beyond the trial and error tuning of the device morphology. This review describes current progress in solid-state devices in which the molecular components possess designed supramolecular interactions – as opposed to non-specific cohesive forces – used to instill or modify functionality. Supramolecular organic devices for applications in solar energy conversion, light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, storage and logic functions are covered.     

Thixotropic hydrogel derived from a product of an organic solid-state synthesis: properties and densities of metal-organic nanoparticles

Metallogels form from Cu(II) ions and tetratopic ligand rctt-1,2-bis(3-pyridyl)-3,4-bis(4-pyridyl)cyclobutane. The tetrapyridyl cyclobutane has been synthesized in the organic solid state. The gel forms with a variety of counteranions and gels water. The hydrogel is thixotropic and is composed of nanoscale metal-organic particles (NMOPs), a high surface area of which likely accounts for the gelation of the polar aqueous medium. A shear stress profile of the thixotropic hydrogel gave a yield value of 8.33 Pa. A novel combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) is used to assess the densities of individual NMOPs. A density of 1.37 g/cm(3) has been determined. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study demonstrates the ability of the unsymmetrical cyclobutane 3,4'-tpcb to self-assemble with Cu(II) ions in [Cu(2)(hfac)(4)(3,4'-tpcb)](∞) (where hfac is hexafluoroacetylacetonate) to form a solvated 1D coordination polymer.