Ligand-induced interconversion of a coordination-organized porphyrin dimer: a potential fluorescence-based molecular memory monitor

A novel interconversion system between less-fluorescent stacked (S) dimer and fluorescent extended (E) dimer of the monoimidazolylbisporphyrinatozinc complex was investigated. The addition of pyridine induces transformation from the S to the E dimer, whereas the addition of acetic acid and subsequent heating reverses the transformation. The interconversion rate is controlled by ligand concentration and thermal treatment. The system can be applied to repeatedly readable molecular memory by highly sensitive fluorescence detection.     

Supramolecular organization of light-harvesting porphyrin macrorings

Porphyrin‐based supramolecular nanostructures have been produced by the self‐assembly of porphyrin macrorings with three benzoic acid groups (Acid‐R) on each side of the rings through cooperative carboxyl–carboxyl hydrogen bonds. Structures of the organized Acid‐R were analyzed by AFM, and two clear distribution peaks were observed at 3 and 27 nm in the height‐distribution histogram. From the overall assessment, the higher objects are considered to be one‐dimensional structures standing vertically on the mica substrate. The height corresponds to an 11‐mer of a unit Acid‐R. Light‐harvesting functions were examined by using fluorescence titration, whereby an energy‐acceptor molecule (Tripod 2 ) was employed that strongly interacted with Acid‐R units (association constant: 2.0×10⁸ M ^?1), specifically from the inner pore. The titration results showed that the apparent stoichiometry [Tripod 2 ]/[Acid‐R] was <0.5, and that the value was concentration dependent. Titration results reasonably account for the scheme in which Tripod 2 only interacts with each terminal in the organized Acid‐R. The number of organization was fitted to a 10‐mer of Acid‐R in a 6.8×10^?7 M solution, and was consistent with that estimated from the AFM results. In the composites of organized Acid‐R/Tripod 2 , a singlet excitation energy transfer occurred among the Acid‐R units, and to Tripod 2 . The energy‐transfer rate constants were estimated by using the decamer model, which employed kinetic parameters obtained from steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence experiments.     

Discovery of New Cytotoxic Aplaminone Derivatives from the Sea Hare Aplysia kurodai and Elucidation of Their Accumulation from Local Sea Algae through the Food Chain

The shell-less herbivorous marine mollusk (sea hare) Aplysia kurodai is known to contain a variety of bioactive substances. While these compounds have been thought to originate from sea algae or their associated microbes, most of their origin and acquisition pathways are still unclear. Six new cytotoxic aplaminone derivatives, bromodopamine-terpenoid hybrid molecules, were isolated from A. kurodai. Among them, isoaplaminone had a reverse prenyl group at the C15 aliphatic chain, which is a rare structural feature from the viewpoint of terpenoid biosynthesis. Investigation for chemical components in A. kurodai and the sea algae collected at several different locations revealed that two major aplaminones were contained in the Laurencia complex species at specific sites. Our chemical and ecological studies provide new insights into the origin of marine alkaloid toxins and their dynamism through the food chain.     

Scalable Electrochemical Decarboxylative Olefination Driven by Alternating Polarity**

A mild, scalable (kg) metal-free electrochemical decarboxylation of alkyl carboxylic acids to olefins is disclosed. Numerous applications are presented wherein this transformation can simplify alkene synthesis and provide alternative synthetic access to valuable olefins from simple carboxylic acid feedstocks. This robust method relies on alternating polarity to maintain the quality of the electrode surface and local pH, providing a deeper understanding of the Hofer-Moest process with unprecedented chemoselectivity.