Photoinduced axial ligation and deligation dynamics of nonplanar nickel dodecaarylporphyrins

The ground- and excited-state metal-ligand dynamics of nonplanar nickel(II) 2,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,15,17,18,20-dodecaphenylporphyrin (NiDPP) and two fluorinated analogues (NiF(20)DPP and NiF(28)DPP) have been investigated using static and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy in toluene and in ligating media that differ in basicity, aromaticity, and steric encumbrance. Because of the electronic and steric consequences of nonplanarity, NiDPP does not bind axial ligands in the ground state, but metal coordination does occur after photoexcitation with multistep dynamics that depend on the properties of the ligand. Following the structural relaxations that occur in all nickel porphyrins within approximately 10 ps, ligand binding to photoexcited NiDPP is progressively longer in pyridine, piperidine, and 3,5-lutidine (25-100 ps) but does not occur at all in 2,6-lutidine in which the ligating nitrogen is sterically encumbered. The transient intermediate that is formed, which nominally could be either a five- or six-coordinate species, also has a ligand-dependent lifetime (200-550 ps). Decay of this intermediate occurs partially via ligand release to re-form the uncoordinated species, in competition with binding of the second axial ligand and/or conformational/electronic relaxations (of a six-coordinate intermediate) to give the ground state of the bis-ligated photoproduct. The finding that the photoproduct channel principally depends on ligand characteristics along with the time-evolving spectra suggests that the transient intermediate may involve a five-coordinate species. In contrast to NiDPP, the fluorinated analogues NiF(20)DPP and NiF(28)DPP do coordinate axial ligands in the ground state but eject them after photoexcitation. Collectively, these results demonstrate the sensitivity with which the electronic and structural characteristics of the macrocycle, substituents, and solvent (ligands) can govern the photophysical and photochemical properties of nonplanar porphyrins and open new avenues for exploring photoinduced ligand association and dissociation behavior.     

Entropic barriers in nanoscale adhesion studied by variable temperature chemical force microscopy

Intermolecular interactions drive the vast majority of condensed phase phenomena from molecular recognition to protein folding to particle adhesion. Complex energy barriers encountered in these interactions include contributions from van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and solvent medium. With the spectacular exception of hydrophobic interactions, contributions from the medium are usually considered secondary. We report a variable temperature force microscopy study of the interactions between several hydrogen bonds in different solvents that challenges this point of view. Surprisingly, we observed an increase in the strength of the interaction between carboxylic acid groups in ethanol as the temperature increased. Moreover, when we switched to a nonpolar solvent we observed the opposite behavior: The binding force decreased as the temperature increased. Kinetic model of bond dissociation provided quantitative interpretation of our measurements. We attributed the observed phenomena to a large entropic contribution from the ordered solvent layers that are forming on the probe and sample surfaces upon detachment. The observed reversal in the force vs temperature trend is a manifestation of a transition between thermodynamic and kinetic regimes of unbinding predicted by the model. Our results indicate that entropic barriers dominated by the interactions of solvent molecules with the surface exist in a much wider variety of systems than previously thought.     

Determination of phenolic compounds by MALDI–TOF and essential oil composition by GC–MS during three development stages of Origanum majorana L.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the maturation process of sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) on essential oil composition, the phenolic profile of ethanolic extract and their antioxidant capacities. The essential oil composition was studied at three stages of maturity by GC–MS. Thirty compounds were detected representing 100% of the total essential oil. p‐Menth‐1‐en‐4‐ol was the major compound (37.15–76.94%) followed by cyclohexanol‐3,3,5 trimethyl (5.41–15.99%) and α‐terpineol (0.94–11.34%). During the maturation process, an accumulation of oxygenated monoterpenes was observed. The phenolic composition was studied using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight. The analysis showed the presence of short flavonoid monomers at all stages of maturation. The antioxidant capacity of ethanolic extracts and essential oils was evaluated using the DPPH assay, iron chelating power and reducing power assay. The highest phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were found at flowering stage. These findings on essential oil composition, phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of O. majorana at three different stages of development provide more information on how these secondary metabolites are accumulated.     

Stereoselective Cascade Cyclizations with Samarium Diiodide to Tetracyclic Indolines: Precursors of Fluorostrychnines and Brucine

A series of γ-indolylketones with fluorine, cyano or alkoxy substituents at the benzene moiety was prepared and subjected to samarium diiodide-promoted cyclization reactions. The desired dearomatizing ketyl cascade reaction forming two new rings proceeded in all cases with high diastereoselectivity, but with differing product distribution. In most cases, the desired annulated tetracyclic compounds were obtained in moderate to good yields, but as second product tetracyclic spirolactones were isolated in up to 29 % yield. The reaction rate was influenced by the substituents at the benzene moiety of the substrate as expected, with electron-accepting groups accelerating and electron-donating groups decelerating the cyclization process. In case of a difluoro-substituted γ-indolylketone a partial defluorination was observed. The intermediate samarium enolate of the tetracyclic products could be trapped by adding reactive alkylating agents as electrophiles delivering products with quarternary carbons. In the case of a dimethoxy-substituted tetracyclic cyclization product a subsequent reductive amination stereoselectively provided a pentacyclic compound that was subsequently N-protected and subjected to a regioselective elimination. The obtained functionalized pentacyclic product should be convertible into the alkaloid brucine by four well-established steps. Overall, the presented report shows that functionalized tetracyclic compounds with different substituents are rapidly available with the samarium diiodide cascade cyclization as crucial step. Hence, analogues of the landmark alkaloid strychnine, for example, with specific fluorine substitutions, should be easily accessible.     

Complexation of lead(II) by chlorogenic acid: experimental and theoretical study

Density functional theory (DFT) structure calculations and time-dependent DFT electronic excitation calculations have been performed on chlorogenic acid (H(3)CGA), a polyphenolic compound, used as a model molecule of humic substances. The different deprotonated forms of H(3)CGA have also been investigated. H(3)CGA is a multisite ligand that presents several metal complexing sites in competition, notably the carboxylic and catechol moieties. In low acidic aqueous medium, the complexation of Pb(II) has been followed by electronic absorption spectrometry. The formation of two complexes of stoichiometry metal:ligand 1:1 (log beta(1:1) = 3.39) and 2:1 (log beta(2:1) = 7.12) has been highlighted with use of chemometric methods. The theoretical spectrum of the 1:1 complex obtained by TD-DFT methodology shows the formation of a chelate [Pb(H(2)CGA)(H(2)O)(3)](+) with the metal fixation at the level of the carboxylate function. The second complexing site, the catechol moiety, is rapidly involved in the formation of the 2:1 complex from molar ratios [metal]/[ligand] higher than 0.1. The electronic transitions calculated for both free ligand and complexes involved the same molecular orbitals, and no ligand-metal or metal-ligand charge transfer is observed.     

Strong intra- and intermolecular aurophilic interactions in a new series of brilliantly luminescent dinuclear cationic and neutral au(I) benzimidazolethiolate complexes

The structural and photophysical properties of a new series of cationic and neutral Au(I) dinuclear compounds (1 and 2, respectively) bridged by bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) and substituted benzimidazolethiolate (X-BIT) ligands, where X = H (a), Me (b), OMe (c), and Cl (d), have been studied. Monocationic complexes, [A(u2)(micro-X-BIT)(micro-dppm)](CF(3)CO(2)), were prepared by the reaction of [A(u2)(micro-dppm)](CF(3)CO(2))(2) with 1 equiv of X-BIT in excellent yields. The cations 1a-1d possess similar molecular structures, each with a linear coordination geometry around the Au(I) nuclei, as well as relatively short intramolecular Au(I)...Au(I) separations ranging between 2.88907(6) A for 1d and 2.90607(16) A for 1a indicative of strong aurophilic interactions. The cations are violet luminescent in CH(2)Cl(2) solution with a lambda(em)(max) of ca. 365 nm, assigned as ligand-based or metal-centered (MC) transitions. Three of the cationic complexes, 1a, 1b, and 1d, exhibit unusual luminescence tribochromism in the solid-state, in which the photoemission is shifted significantly to higher energy upon gentle grinding of microcrystalline samples with DeltaE = 1130 cm(-1) for 1a, 670 cm(-1) (1b), and 870 cm(-1) (1d). The neutral dinuclear complexes, [A(u2)(micro-X-BIT)(micro-dppm)] (2a-2d) were formed in good yields by the treatment of a CH(2)Cl(2) solution of cationic compounds (1) with NEt(3). 2a-2d aggregate to form dimers having substantial intra- and intermolecular aurophilic interactions with unsupported Au(I)...Au(I) intermolecular distances in the range of 2.8793(4)-2.9822(8) A, compared with intramolecular bridge-supported separations of 2.8597(3)-2.9162(3) A. 2a-2d exhibit brilliant luminescence in the solid-state and in DMSO solution with red-shifted lambda(em)(max) energies in the range of 485-545 nm that are dependent on X-BIT and assigned as ligand-to-metal-metal charge transfer (LMMCT) states based in part on the extended Au...Au...Au...Au interactions.     

Limited stability of the pH reference material sodium tetraborate decahydrate (“borax”)

Thermogravimetric and X-ray powder diffraction analyses revealed that the pH reference material sodium tetraborate decahydrate (“borax”) is not a stable substance but, loosing some of its water of crystallization, transforms slowly into the pentahydrate. The connected pH changes of the solutions are opposite to and larger than, those expected according to the dilution value of the decahydrate as shown by differential potentiometric measurements. The transformation rate depends on the storing time in the closed original container, the time of and after the first exposure of the material to the atmosphere, the frequency of and the relative humidity during subsequent exposures, and the temperature. The transformation reaction is not understood in detail. However, the experiments showed that sodium tetraborate decahydrate is a reliable pH reference material, whose pH is constant within ΔpH=±0.005 within at least two years after preparation, even if occasionally exposed to the atmosphere. Further work will show whether this time limit can be somewhat extended.     

Characterization of a synthetic peroxodiiron(III) protein model complex by nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy

The vibrational spectrum of an η(1),η(1)-1,2-peroxodiiron(III) complex was measured by nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy and fit using an empirical force field analysis. Isotopic (18)O(2) labelling studies revealed a feature involving motion of the {Fe(2)(O(2))}(4+) core that was not previously observed by resonance Raman spectroscopy.     

Controlled ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide and 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one forming a triblock copolymer

Novel elastomeric A‐B‐A triblock copolymers were successfully synthesized in a new two‐step process: controlled ring‐opening polymerization of the cyclic ether–ester 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one as the amorphous middle block (B‐block) followed by addition and polymerization of the two semicrystalline L ‐lactide blocks (A‐block). A 1,1,6,6‐tetra‐n‐butyl‐1,6‐distanna‐2,5,7,10‐tetraoxacyclodecane initiator system was utilized and the reaction was performed in chloroform at 60 °C. A good control of the synthesis was obtained, resulting in well defined triblock copolymers. The molecular weight and chemical composition were easily adjusted by the monomer‐to‐initiator ratio. The triblock copolymers formed exhibited semicrystallinity up to a content of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one as high as 89% as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. WAXS investigation of the triblock copolymers showed a crystal structure similar to that of the pure poly(L ‐lactide). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1774–1784, 2000