Photoinduced processes in dipyrrolyl-perfluoro-cyclopentenes

The photobehavior of five photochromic dipyrrolyl-perfluoro-cyclopentenes was studied by steady state and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The quantum yields of the UV-photoinduced ring-closing reaction (coloration) and the visible-stimulated cycloreversion reaction (bleaching) were measured. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of thermal bleaching were also determined. Nanosecond time-resolved experiments showed formation of a transient, which was not a precursor of the reaction photoproduct. This transient was tentatively assigned to a radical cation formed by direct photoionization through a short-lived triplet state. The nature of the transient species was supported by photoinduced electron transfer to electron acceptors.     

Cobalt-mediated cyclic and linear 2:1 cooligomerization of alkynes with alkenes: a DFT study

The mechanism of the cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of two alkynes to one alkene to give CpCo-complexed 1,3-cyclohexadienes (cyclic oligomerization) has been studied by means of DFT computations. In contrast to the mechanism of alkyne cyclotrimerization, in which final alkyne inclusion into the common cobaltacyclopentadiene features a direct "collapse" pathway to the complexed arene, alkene incorporation proceeds via insertion into a Co-C sigma-bond rather than inter- or intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition. The resulting seven-membered metallacycle 7 is a key intermediate which leads to either CpCo-complexed cyclohexadiene 5 or hexatriene 13. The latter transformation, particularly favorable for ethene, accounts, in part, for the linear oligomerization observed occasionally in these reactions. With aromatic double bonds, a C-H activation mechanism by the cobaltacyclopentadiene seems more advantageous in hexatriene product formation. Detailed investigations of high- and low-spin potential energy surfaces are presented. The reactivity of triplet cobalt species was found kinetically disfavored over that of their singlet counterparts. Moreover, it could not account for the formation of CpCo-complexed hexatrienes. However, triplet cobalt complexes cannot be ruled out since all unsaturated species appearing in this study were found to exhibit triplet ground states. Consequently, a reaction pathway that involves a mixing of both spin-state energy surfaces is also described (two-state reactivity). Support for such a pathway comes from the location of several low-lying minimum-energy crossing points (MECPs) of the two surfaces.     

Electrochemically triggered open and closed Pacman bis-metalloporphyrins

A new type of very compact Pacman bis-porphyrin scaffold has been obtained in which a calix[4]arene spacer provides both cofacial preorganization and flexibility. Changes in the distance between the two tetrapyrrolic macrocycles can be triggered by electrochemistry, where closed and open conformers can be interconverted in a handclapping motion.     

Influence of homocysteine on the physical structure and molecular mobility of elastin network in cultured arteries

The thermal and dielectric properties of the elastin network were investigated in arteries cultured with physiological and pathological concentrations of homocysteine, an aminoacid responsible of histological impairments in human arteries. The glass transition of this amorphous protein was investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). To explore the molecular dynamics of the elastin network in the nanometer range, we used Thermally Stimulated Currents (TSC), a dielectric technique running at low frequency and measuring the dipolar reorientations in proteins subjected to a static electrical field. Combining TSC and DSC experiments with determination of the activation parameters of relaxation times reveals the molecular mobility of the proteins. The major differences in the relaxation behavior of elastin between arteries cultured with physiological and pathological concentrations of homocysteine are discussed.     

Cascade Carbopalladation Reaction between Alkynes and gem-Dibromoolefins: Facile Access to Monoannelated Pentalenes

A carbopalladation cascade reaction of easily accessible gem-dibromoolefins and alkynes furnishes monobenzo- and mononaphthopentalenes. The new chromophores accessed by this short route exhibit small HOMO-LUMO gaps and redox amphoteric behavior with tunable redox potentials.     

N,N'-Dicyanoquinone diimide-derived donor-acceptor chromophores: conformational analysis and optoelectronic properties

A formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition-cycloreversion (CA-CR) between N,N'-dicyanoquinone diimides (DCNQIs) and electron-rich alkynes was explored, providing a new class of π-conjugated donor-acceptor chromophores. These DCNQI adducts exist in the solid state as single diastereoisomers, but as two interconverting diastereoisomers in solution. Solid- and solution-state evidence for intramolecular charge transfer (CT) was obtained; additionally, the DCNQI adducts exhibit positive solvatochromism and significant solution-state third-order polarizabilities.     

High toxicity and specificity of the saponin 3-GlcA-28-AraRhaxyl-medicagenate, from Medicago truncatula seeds, for Sitophilus oryzae

Background

Because of the increasingly concern of consumers and public policy about problems for environment and for public health due to chemical pesticides, the search for molecules more safe is currently of great importance. Particularly, plants are able to fight the pathogens as insects, bacteria or fungi; so that plants could represent a valuable source of new molecules.

Results

It was observed that Medicago truncatula seed flour displayed a strong toxic activity towards the adults of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera), a major pest of stored cereals. The molecule responsible for toxicity was purified, by solvent extraction and HPLC, and identified as a saponin, namely 3-GlcA-28-AraRhaxyl-medicagenate. Saponins are detergents, and the CMC of this molecule was found to be 0.65?mg per mL. Neither the worm Caenorhabditis elegans nor the bacteria E. coli were found to be sensitive to this saponin, but growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was inhibited at concentrations higher than 100???g per mL. The purified molecule is toxic for the adults of the rice weevils at concentrations down to 100???g per g of food, but this does not apply to the others insects tested, including the coleopteran Tribolium castaneum and the Sf9 insect cultured cells.

Conclusions

This specificity for the weevil led us to investigate this saponin potential for pest control and to propose the hypothesis that this saponin has a specific mode of action, rather than acting via its non-specific detergent properties.     

Functional tolerance in an isoreticular series of highly porous metal-organic frameworks

A series of highly porous University of Michigan Crystalline Material (UMCM-1) type Zn-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized from mono- and bi-functionalized benzenedicarboxylate (BDC) ligands. In total, 16 new functionalized UMCM-1 derivatives were obtained by a combination of pre- and postsynthetic functionalization. Through postsynthetic modification (PSM), amino-halo bifunctional MOFs were converted into amide-halo materials via solid-state acylation reactions. A series of bifunctional MOFs containing Cl, Br, and I groups revealed that PSM conversion is not affected by the size of the halide, only by the steric bulk of the reagent used in these solid-state organic transformations.