TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE FROM THE LIGHT HARVESTING COMPLEX II OF HIGHER PLANTS

Abstract— Chlorophyll fluorescence spectra of LCHII, the light harvesting complex of photosystem II, have been recorded in the aggregated and trimeric forms for a range of temperatures from 293 to 4 K. At least five long-wavelength emitters in the 682–702 nm region with different temperature dependencies were found in the spectra of the aggregates. At 293 K the yield of LCHII trimers was higher than aggregates by a factor of 4, but, upon lowering the temperature, a fluorescence rise was observed which was much stronger for LCHII aggregates than for LCHII trimers, so that at 4 K their yields were comparable. The implications of these data in terms of the function of LCHII are discussed.     

Accurate double many-body expansion potential energy surface for triplet H3+. II. The upper adiabatic sheet (2(3)A')

We report on a global potential energy hypersurface for the upper sheet of the lowest triplet state of H3+. The analytic representation is based on the double many-body expansion theory. The ab initio data points, calculated with a large cc-pV5Z basis, are represented with a root mean square deviation of only 5.54 cm(-1) in the energy region below the H(+)+2H(2S) dissociation threshold. The quasi-bound vibronic states supported by this surface have also been calculated.     

Dynamic contact angle and spreading rate measurements for the characterization of the effect of dentin surface treatments

A new methodology capable of providing reliable and reproducible contact angle (theta) data has been employed to study the effect of clinical treatments grinding, acid etching, and deproteinization on medial dentin tissue. It is based on the application of the ADSA-CD algorithm to the determination of low-rate dynamic contact angles, obtained from slowly growing drops, and on contact angle measurement, as well as spreading behavior analysis, during the relaxation of the system (water on treated dentin) after initial drop growth. The theta data obtained were substantially more reproducible than those obtained with classical methods. A net effect of the treatment on theta was found, increasing dentin wettability: theta (polished) >theta (etched) >theta (deproteinized). The spreading rates correlate with the angles and are adequate for the dentin surface characterization. ANOVA and SNK tests show that for advancing contact angles the means corresponding to all treatments are significantly different. In the relaxing phase, mean angle and spreading rates on polished dentin differ significantly from those on etched and deproteinized dentin, but the latter do not differ significantly from each other.     

Synthesis and properties of monodisperse oligofluorene-functionalized truxenes: highly fluorescent star-shaped architectures

This paper describes the strategy toward novel monodisperse, well-defined, star-shaped oligofluorenes with a central truxene core and from monofluorene to quaterfluorene arms. Introduction of solubilizing n-hexyl groups at both fluorene and truxene moieties results in highly soluble, intrinsically two-dimensional nanosized macromolecules T1-T4. The radius for the largest oligomer of ca. 3.9 nm represents one of the largest known star-shaped conjugated systems. Cyclic voltammetry experiments reveal reversible or quasi-reversible oxidation and reduction processes (Eox = +0.74 to 0.80 V, Ered = -2.66 to 2.80 eV vs Fc/Fc+), demonstrating excellent electrochemical stability toward both p- and n-doping, while the band gaps of the oligomers are quite high (EgCV = 3.20-3.40 eV). Close band gaps of 3.05-3.29 eV have been estimated from the electron absorption spectra. These star-shaped macromolecules demonstrate good thermal stability (up to 400-420 degrees C) and improved glass transition temperatures with an increase in length of the oligofluorene arms (from Tg = 63 degrees C for T1 to 116 degrees C for T4) and show very efficient blue photoluminescence (lambdaPL = 398-422 nm) in both solution (PhiPL = 70-86%) and solid state (PhiPL = 43-60%). Spectroelectrochemical experiments reveal that compounds T1-T4 are stable electrochromic systems which change their color reversibly from colorless in the neutral state (approximately 340-400 nm) to colored (from red to purple color; approximately 500-600 nm) in the oxidized state.     

Biologically active compounds through catalysis: efficient synthesis of N-(heteroarylcarbonyl)-N'-(arylalkyl)piperazines

A practical route for the synthesis of new biologically active 5-HT(2 A) receptor antagonists has been developed. In only three catalytic steps, this class of central nervous system (CNS) active compounds can be synthesized efficiently with high diversity. As the initial step, an anti-Markovnikov addition of amines to styrenes provides an easy route to N-(arylalkyl)piperazines, which constitute the core structure of the active molecules. Here, base-catalyzed hydroamination reactions of styrenes with benzylated piperazine proceeded in high yield even at room temperature. After catalytic debenzylation, the free amines were successfully carbonylated with different aromatic and heteroaromatic halides and carbon monoxide to yield the desired compounds in good to excellent yields. The two key reactions, base-catalyzed hydroamination of styrenes and palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of haloarenes/heterocycles, showed tolerance towards various functional groups, thereby demonstrating the potential to synthesize a wide variety of new derivatives of this promising class of pharmaceuticals.     

Full multinuclear resonance analysis of 4-amino-1,1,2,2,9,9,10,10-octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane

The complete assignment of 19F, 1H and 13C NMR spectra for a monosubstituted octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophane derivative is described for the first time. The unambiguous assignments were achieved through the combination of 19F--1H HOESY, 1H COSY and 19F COSY techniques and then further confirmed employing a complementary approach using a Karplus-dependent 3JCF interaction. Interesting aspects of the coupling patterns for various JHH, JHF, JCF and JFF interactions are also discussed.     

Thioacetylacetone: structural and vibrational assignments.

Thioacetylacetone and its variously deuterated isotopomers have been investigated using electronic and vibrational spectroscopy combined with quantum chemical calculations. Thioacetylacetone is known for its photochromic properties, but the structures of the initial and final forms have been the subject of a long debate. Analysis of the IR spectra recorded in low-temperature argon and xenon matrices, room-temperature solutions, and in the gas phase has allowed us to establish the nature of the photochromic species and of its precursor. Similar to the case of another beta-thioxoketone, monothiodibenzoylmethane, the photo-product has been assigned to the nonchelated SH exo-rotamer of the (Z)-enethiol tautomeric form, whereas the dominant ground-state species corresponds to the chelated (Z)-enol tautomeric form. Detailed vibrational assignments have been proposed for both forms based on quantum chemical calculations and polarization experiments. In the case of the chelated (Z)-enol species prevailing in the ground state, a second-order perturbative anharmonic analysis at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level indicated strong anharmonic effects associated with the intramolecular hydrogen bond, leading to a shift of more than 600 cm-1 of the wavenumber of the OH-stretching vibration. A small fraction of the SH endo-rotameric chelated (Z)-enethiol form was also detected under unperturbed conditions. The (Z)-enethiol form can be converted into the (Z)-enol form by irradiation at 290 nm.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products via lithium amide conjugate addition

A three-step protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of a range of β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products has been developed. This procedure involves the diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium (R)-N-methyl-N-(α-methylbenzyl)amide to an α,β-unsaturated ester to generate an N-protected β-amino ester in high de. Subsequent asymmetric aldol reaction via deprotonation with LDA, transmetallation with B(OMe)₃ and addition of an aldehyde gives a range of syn-aldol products in moderate to high de. Purification of the syn-aldol products to homogeneity followed by tandem N-oxidation and Cope elimination gives the desired β-substituted Baylis-Hillman products in good yield and high de and ee.     

Electrochromic and structural characteristics of mesoporous WO<Subscript>3</Subscript> films prepared by a sol-gel method

The preparation of electrochromic films of mesoporous tungsten trioxide from tungstic acid and tungstic hexaethoxide precursors with the addition of an organic stabiliser via a sol-gel method is reported. These films have been structurally characterised and both the film morphology and crystalline composition of the films were found to be significantly dependent on the temperature at which the films were annealed and upon the choice of precursor. Films annealed at lower temperatures consisted of amorphous and hexagonal tungsten trioxide, whereas films annealed above 500 °C comprised solely of monoclinic WO₃. The electrochromic activity of the films was found to be equally dependent on method of preparation, and both the composition and the structure of the WO₃ films were shown to clearly influence the colouration efficiency of the films.Dedicated to Zbigniew Galus on the occasion of his 70^th birthday.