Photoresponsive change of oxygen-binding affinity of a cobalt schiff-base complex with an axially coordinating stilbazole residue of a copolymer

The reversible binding reaction of oxygen to N,N'-ethylene bis(salicylideneiminato) cobalt(II) (CoS), to which a photoisomerizable stilbazole residue of copolymer 1 coordinated, was investigated. The E form of the stilbazole residues coordinating to CoS, (E)-1-CoS, showed photoisomerization into the Z form, (Z)-1-CoS, on direct ultraviolet irradiation and negligible reverse isomerization. The oxygen-binding equilibrium constant (K) values for (E)-1-CoS and (Z)-1-CoS in toluene were 3.3 x 10(-2) mmHg-1 and 4.8 x 10(-3) mmHg(-1), respectively, at 10 degrees C. Although the pK(a) values of the E and Z forms of the stilbazole residue were similar, the oxygen-binding affinity of (Z)-1-CoS was small in terms of the linear correlation of the logarithm of K (ln K) versus the pK(a). Steric hindrance of the polymer chain of 1 on the coordination of the stilbazole residue of (Z)-1 to CoS was thought to cause the small K. A photoresponsive change of apparent oxygen-binding affinity of 1-CoS along with the E/Z isomerization of the stilbazole residues was observed. The ratio of (Z)-1-CoS converted from (E)-1-CoS by the ultraviolet irradiation could be estimated from analysis of absorption spectra for the oxygen binding of a resulting mixture of (E)-1-CoS and (Z)-1-CoS.     

A facile non-oxidative method for synthesizing 1,3-disubstituted pyrroles from pyrrolidine and aldehydes

Reactions of pyrrolidine with 2 equiv of aldehydes without any catalyst in a pressurized vessel at 140–200 °C yielded 1,3-disubstituted pyrroles. -Branched aldehydes gave fairly good yields of the corresponding products by this method, which provides a facile non-oxidative procedure for synthesizing 1,3-dialkylpyrroles from inexpensive pyrrolidine and aldehydes.     

Biosynthesis of violacein: a genuine intermediate, protoviolaceinic acid, produced by VioABDE, and insight into VioC function

A biosynthetic intermediate of violacein produced by the mixed enzymes of VioABDE was elucidated to be 5-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, named protoviolaceinic acid, indicating that VioC, responsible for the final biosynthetic step, works to oxygenate at the 2-position of the right side indole ring, and that the oxygenation reaction to form the central pyrrolidone core proceeds in a non-enzymatic fashion.     

Pulse radiolysis study on free radical scavenger edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one)

The reactions between edaravone and various one-electron oxidants such as (*)OH, N(3)(*), Br(2)(-), and SO(4)(-), have been studied by pulse radiolysis techniques. The transient species produced by the reaction of edaravone with (*)OH radical shows an absorption band with lambda(max)=320 nm, while the oxidation by N(3)(*), Br(2)(-), SO(4)(-) and CCl(3)OO(*) results in an absorption band with lambda(max)=345 nm. Different from the previous reports, the main transient species by the reaction of edaravone with (*)OH radical in the absence of O(2) is attributed to OH-adducts. At neutral condition (pH 7), the rate constants of edaravone reacting with (*)OH, N(3)(*), SO(4)(-), CCl(3)OO(*), and e(aq)(-) are estimated to be 8.5x10(9), 5.8x10(9), 6x10(8), 5.0x10(8) and 2.4x10(9)dm(3)mol(-1)s(-1), respectively. From the pH dependence on the formation of electron adducts and on the rate constant of edaravone with hydrated electron, the pK(a) of edaravone is estimated to be 6.9+/-0.1.     

Intramolecular triplet energy transfer via higher triplet excited state during stepwise two-color two-laser irradiation

We studied the energy transfer processes in the molecular array consisting of pyrene (Py), biphenyl (Ph2), and bisphthalimidethiophene (ImT), (Py-Ph2)2-ImT, during two-color two-laser flash photolysis (2-LFP). The first laser irradiation predominantly generates ImT in the lowest triplet excited state (ImT(T1)) because of the efficient singlet energy transfer from Py in the lowest singlet excited state to ImT and, then, intersystem crossing of ImT. ImT(T1) was excited to the higher triplet excited state (Tn) with the second laser irradiation. Then, the triplet energy was rapidly transferred to Py via a two-step triplet energy transfer (TET) process through Ph2. The efficient generation of Py(T1) was suggested from the nanosecond-picosecond 2-LFP. The back-TET from Py(T1) to ImT was observed for several tens of microseconds after the second laser irradiation. The estimated intramolecular TET rate from Py(T1) to ImT was as slow as 3.1 x 104 s-1. Hence, long-lived Py(T1) was selectively and efficiently produced during the 2-LFP.     

Inversion of enantioselectivity of asymmetric biocatalytic decarboxylation by site-directed mutagenesis based on the reaction mechanism

The introduction of two mutations (G74C/C188S) based on the estimated reaction mechanism resulted in the inversion of enantioselectivity of arylmalonate decarboxylase, which catalyses the asymmetric decarboxylation of arylmethylmalonate to give optically active arylpropionate.     

Cobaltporphyrin‐adsorbed carbon black: highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction

meso‐Substituted cobalt porphyrins adsorbed on carbon black were prepared as catalysts for the electroreduction of O₂. The catalyst, which was prepared by using a homogenizer in mixing cobalt tetraethylporphyrin and carbon black, gave rise to electroreduction of O₂ at a remarkably positive potential (E_p = 0.45 V versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE)) and showed a high selectively for the four‐electron reduction (n = 3.8). Electrochemical study and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis revealed that the adsorbed face‐to‐face dimeric aggregates of cobalt porphyrin molecules were highly efficient catalysts for electroreduction of O₂. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pulse radiolysis of 4,4'-bipyridyl aqueous solutions at elevated temperatures: spectral changes and reaction kinetics up to 400 degrees C

The spectral changes as well as the reaction kinetics of the transient species of 4,4'-bipyridyl (4,4'-bpy) have been experimentally investigated by pulse radiolysis techniques up to 400 degrees C. The results show that the transient species such as OH adduct 4,4'-bpyOH*, monoprotonated electron adduct 4,4'-bpyH*, and doubly protonated electron adduct 4,4'-bpyH2+* have 15-20 nm blue shifts from room temperature to 400 degrees C. For a deaerated neutral solution of 4,4'-bpy in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol, ethanol, or NaCOOH, the doubly protonated electron adduct is the main transient species at room temperature. But at temperatures > 350 degrees C, a monoprotonated form, the N-hydro radical 4,4'-bpyH*, becomes predominant. Interestingly, at room temperature, CO2-* could not efficiently react with 4,4'-bpy, but the reaction was accelerated with increasing temperature; at 350 degrees C, this reaction completed within 2 mus. Using an alkaline solution (pH = 11.5) of 4,4'-bpy in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol, we studied the N-hydro radical 4,4'-bpyH* from room temperature to 400 degrees C at 25 MPa. An estimation of the temperature-dependent G(e(aq)-) at 25 MPa agrees with our previous result with methyl viologen as a scavenger.     

Dependence of molecular recognition of fullerene derivative on the adlayer structure of zinc octaethylporphyrin formed on Au(100) surface

Adlayers of ZnOEP were prepared on reconstructed Au(100)-(hex) and unreconstructed Au(100)-(1 x 1) surfaces by immersing into a benzene solution containing ZnOEP molecules, and the adlayer structures were characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A hexagonally arranged ZnOEP array was formed on an Au(100)-(hex) surface, whereas a rectangularly arranged ZnOEP array was found on an Au(100)-(1 x 1) surface. The adlayer structure of ZnOEP was dependent upon the underlying Au atomic arrangements. Furthermore, an investigation of the spuramolecular assembly for these modified surfaces was carried out by using an open-cage C(60) derivative (opened C(60)). A supramolecular assembled adlayer with a 1:1 composition of opened C(60)/ZnOEP was formed on Au(100)-(hex), whereas aggregates of opened C(60) were found on the ZnOEP-modified Au(100)-(1 x 1) surface. Electrochemical responses of opened C(60) were significantly influenced by underlying ZnOEP arrays. This finding suggests that precise control of underlying ZnOEP adlayers with the Au atomic structure is important to recognize the opened C(60) on them.     

Photophysical properties of oligo(2,3-thienyleneethynylene)s

Photophysical properties of oligo(2,3-thienyleneethynylene)s (nTE, n denotes the number of thiophene rings, n = 2, 3) in benzene were investigated using steady-state, time-resolved fluorescence, and transient absorption spectroscopies. For 2TE, generation of the radiative S2 and nonradiative S1 states was confirmed. Upon excitation, the S2 state was initially generated and deactivated to the S1 state within 10 ps. The S1 state exhibited the transient absorption band at 470 nm, of which the lifetime was estimated to be 5.3 ns. In the case of 3TE, on the other hand, it was revealed that the radiative S1 state with a transient absorption peak at 650 nm was generated upon excitation. The T1 states of nTE were generated from the S1 states. The quantum yields were estimated to be 0.52 and 0.54 for 2TE and 3TE, respectively. Extremely fast reactions in the higher triplet excited state were indicated for both 2TE and 3TE.