Photoreactions of a polyamic acid containing 2,2-dinitrodiphenylmethane segments at symmetrical positions in the main chain

A polyamic acid containing 2,2^′-dinitrodiphenylmethane segments in the main chain was synthesized from 4,4^′-diamino-2,2^′-dinitrodiphenylmethane and pyrromellitic dianhydride. Irradiation of the polyamic acid was done in solution (in a protic solvent, isopropanol, in isopropanol in the presence of a triplet exciter, benzophenone and in acidified isopropanol) and as thin film. The irradiations were done in an immersion type photoreactor using a 125 W high-pressure mercury vapour lamp. The average molecular weights of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The polydispersity index of the polyamic acid and the photoproduct showed the absence of photodegradation. The photoproducts were identified by comparing the spectra of polymer photoproducts with that of low molecular weight 2,2^′-dinitrodiphenylmethane derivatives under identical conditions. A possible mechanism for the phototransformations is suggested. Evaluation of photoresist behaviour of the polyamic acid was also done.     

Second‐harmonic response of a series of chiral polyesters: A joint experimental and theoretical study

A series of polyesters with π‐conjugated donor–acceptor segments was synthesized by the condensation of azobenzene‐4,4′‐dicarbonylchloride with 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D‐sorbitol ([α] = + 42.5°) and biphenolic chromophores, bis(4‐hydroxyphenylazo)‐2,2′‐dinitrodiphenylmethane and bis(4‐hydroxyphenylazo)‐2,2′‐dinitrodiphenylsulfone. The polymers were characterized by spectral methods (IR, ultraviolet–visible, and NMR), thermal methods (thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, and polarimetry. The polymers containing isosorbide units were optically active and crystalline. They exhibited glass‐transition temperature values between 100 and 160 °C and were stable up to 400 °C. The second‐harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of the polymers was experimentally verified by a powder‐reflection technique with 2‐methyl‐4‐nitroaniline as a reference. The SHG efficiencies of the polymers were compared to those of the chromophores and explained as a function of the percentage of chiral composition. The hyperpolarizability β values were also determined by a two‐level model solvatochromic method and computational methods. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2868–2877, 2002     

Photosensitized breakage and damage of DNA by CdSe-ZnS quantum dots

Strand breakages and nucleobase damages in plasmid DNA (pDNA) by CdSe-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are investigated under different conditions of photoactivation. Here, streptavidin functionalized CdSe-ZnS QDs are conjugated to biotinylated pDNA, and photosensitized strand breakages and nucleobase damages in the conjugates are investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, gel electrophoreses analyses, and assay of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI). Also, reactions of photoactivated pDNA-QD conjugates with base excision repair enzymes such as formamidopyrimidine glycosylase (Fpg) and endonuclease III (Endo III) show damages of purine and pyrimidine bases. The base excision repair enzymes recognize and remove the damaged bases. The base excision reactions of photoactivated pDNA-QD conjugates resulted in pDNA strand breakages, which appeared as sheared bands in agarose gel images. On the basis of AFM imaging, reactions of Fpg and Endo III with damaged pDNA, ROI assay, and literature reports, we attribute the breakage and damage of pDNA to its reactions with ROI. The production of ROI by photoactivated QDs is confirmed by nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay. The current work shows that photoactivation of QD-conjugated nucleic acids for an extended period of time is not favorable for their stability. On the other hand, photoinduced production of ROI by QDs is an emerging research area with potential applications in the photodynamic therapy of cancer. In this regard, photosensitized damage of pDNA observed in the current work shows possibilities of QDs in nucleus-targeted photodynamic therapy.     

Photoinduced Betaine Generation for Efficient Photothermal Energy Conversion

The conversion of solar energy to thermal, chemical, or electrical energy attracts great attention in chemistry and physics. There has been a considerable effort for the efficient extraction of photons throughout the entire solar spectrum. In this work light energy was efficiently harvested by using a long-lived betaine photogenerated from an acridinium-based electron donor–acceptor dyad. The photothermal energy-conversion efficiency of the dyad is significantly enhanced by simultaneous illumination with blue (420–440 nm) and yellow (>480 nm) light in comparison with the sum of the conversion efficiencies for individual illumination with blue or yellow light. The enhanced photothermal effect is due to the photogenerated betaine, which absorbs longer-wavelength light than the dyad, and thus the dyad–betaine combination is promising for efficient photothermal energy conversion. The mechanisms of betaine generation and energy conversion are discussed on the basis of steady-state and transient spectral measurements.     

Synthesis and Deprotonation of Aminophosphane Complexes: First K/N(H)R Phosphinidenoid Complexes and Access to a Complex with a P2N‐Ring Ligand

Synthesis of 1,1′‐bifunctional aminophosphane complexes 3 a–e was achieved by the reaction of Li/Cl phosphinidenoid complex 2 with various primary amines (R=Me, iPr, tBu, Cy, Ph). Deprotonation of complex 3 a (R=Me) with potassium hexamethyldisilazide yielded a mixture of K/NHMe phosphinidenoid complex 4 a and potassium phosphanylamido complex 4 a′ . Treatment of complex 3 c (R=tBu) and e (R=Ph) with KHMDS afforded the first examples of K/NHR phosphinidenoid complexes 4 c and e . The reaction of complex 3 c with 2 molar equivalents of KHMDS followed by PhPCl₂ afforded complexes 5 c,c′ , which possess a P₂N‐ring ligand. All complexes were characterized by NMR, IR, MS, and microanalysis, and additionally, complexes 3 b – e and 5 c′ were scrutinized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography.     

Visual functional effects of constant blue light in a retinal degenerate rat model

Retinal degenerative conditions increase susceptibility to light damage, but rapid retinal degeneration (RD) models show less susceptibility to cyclic dim light. We investigated whether constant blue light (BL) exposure can eliminate the residual visual responses in a comparatively rapid RD rat model. Pigmented rhodopsin mutant S334ter line-3 rat pups (21 days old) were exposed for 5-6 consecutive days to constant BL. Visual behavior was evaluated with an optokinetic head tracking apparatus. Electrophysiological recordings were made from the superior colliculus (SC). S-antigen, red-green opsin and rhodopsin immunoreactive residual photoreceptors were counted. Following BL exposure, head tracking was significantly reduced at 0.25 cycles degree(-1) in 38-day-old line 3 rats. With a 0.125 cycles degree(-1) stimulus, the head tracking performance of 80-day-old BL rats were similar to that of 220-day-old no-BL-treated line-3 rats. SC recordings also revealed a significant decrease in the residual photoreceptor activity. Histological evaluation showed reduction of the rod population in the central area of the light-damaged retina. Exposure to constant BL considerably reduces the residual visual responses in a rapid degenerating RD rat model.     

Quantum dot-insect neuropeptide conjugates for fluorescence imaging, transfection, and nucleus targeting of living cells

We identified an insect neuropeptide, namely, allatostatin 1 from Drosophila melanogaster, that transfects living NIH 3T3 and A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells and transports quantum dots (QDs) inside the cytoplasm and even the nucleus of the cells. QD-conjugated biomolecules are valuable resources for visualizing the structures and functions of biological systems both in vivo and in vitro. Here, we selected allatostatin 1, Ala-Pro-Ser-Gly-Ala-Gln-Arg-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH2, conjugated to streptavidin-coated CdSe-ZnS QDs. This was followed by investigating the transfection of live mammalian cells with QD-allatostatin conjugates, the transport of QDs by allatostatin inside the nucleus, and the proliferation of cells in the presence of allatostatin. Also, on the basis of dose-dependent proliferation of cells in the presence of allatostatin we identified that allatostatin is not cytotoxic when applied at nanomolar levels. Considering the sequence similarity between the receptors of allatostatin in D. melanogaster and somatostatin/galanin in mammalian cells, we expected interactions and localization of allatostatin to somatostatin/galanin receptors on the membranes of 3T3 and A431 cells. However, with QD conjugation we identified that the peptide was delivered inside the cells and localized mainly to the cytoplasm, microtubules, and nucleus. These results indicate that allatostatin is a promising candidate for high-efficiency cell transfection and nucleus-specific cell labeling. Also, the transport property of allatostatin is promising with respect to label/drug/gene delivery and high contrast imaging of live cells and cell organelles. Another promising application of allatostatin is that the transport of QDs inside the nucleus would lift the limit of general photodynamic therapy to nucleus-specific photodynamic therapy, which is expected to be more efficient than photosensitization at the cell membrane or in the cytoplasm as a result of the short lifetime of singlet oxygen.     

3-Phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolonate complex of Eu3+ with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide as a promising light-conversion molecular device

Three new europium complexes, [Eu(PBI)3.3H2O] (1), [Eu(PBI)3.2TOPO] (2), and [Eu(PBI)3.2TPPO.H2O] (3) (where HPBI, TOPO, and TPPO stand for 3-phenyl-4-benzoyl-5-isoxazolone, tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, and triphenylphosphine oxide, respectively), with different neutral ligands were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, (1)H NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The coordination geometries of the complexes were calculated using the Sparkle/AM1 (Sparkle Model for the Calculation of Lanthanide Complexes within the Austin Model 1) model. The ligand-Eu3+ energy-transfer rates were calculated in terms of a model of the intramolecular energy-transfer process in lanthanide coordination compounds reported in the literature. The room-temperature PL spectra of the europium(III) complexes are composed of the typical Eu3+ red emission, assigned to transitions between the first excited state (5D0) and the multiplet (7F(0-4)). On the basis of emission spectra and lifetimes of the 5D0-emitting level, the emission quantum efficiency (eta) was determined. The results clearly show that the substitution of water molecules by TOPO leads to greatly enhanced quantum efficiency (i.e., 26% vs 92%) and longer 5D0 lifetimes (250 vs 1160 micros). This can be ascribed to a more efficient ligand-to-metal energy transfer and a less nonradiative 5D0 relaxation process. Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Omega2 and Omega4) were determined from the emission spectra for the Eu3+ ion based on the 5D0 --> 7F2 and 5D0 --> 7F4 electronic transitions, respectively, and the 5D0 --> 7F1 magnetic-dipole-allowed transition was taken as the reference. A point to be noted in these results is the relatively high value of the Omega2 intensity parameter for all of the complexes. This may be interpreted as being a consequence of the hypersensitive behavior of the 5D0 --> 7F2 transition. The dynamic coupling mechanism is, therefore, dominant, indicating that the Eu3+ ion is in a highly polarizable chemical environment.