Triplet-state and singlet oxygen formation in fluorene-based alternating copolymers

Data are reported on the triplet states of a series of fluorene-based A-alt-B type alternating copolymers based on pulse radiolysis-energy transfer and flash photolysis experiments. From the pulse radiolysis experiments, spectra are given for eight copolymers involving phenylene, thiophene, benzothiadiazole, and oligothienylenevinylene groups. Quantum yields for triplet-state formation (PhiT) have been obtained by flash photolysis following laser excitation and in one case by photoacoustic calorimetry. In addition, yields of sensitized formation of singlet oxygen have been determined by time-resolved phosphorescence and are, in general, in excellent agreement with the PhiT values. In all cases, the presence of thiophene units is seen to increase intersystem-crossing quantum yields, probably because of the presence of the heavy sulfur atom. However, with the poly[2,7-(9,9-bis(2'-ethylhexyl)fluorene)-alt-1,4-phenylene] (PFP), thiophene S,S-dioxide (PFTSO2) and benzothiadiazole (F8BT) copolymers, low yields of triplet formation are observed. With three of the copolymers, the energies of the triplet states have been determined. With PFP, the triplet energy is virtually identical to that of poly[2,7-(9,9-bis(2'-ethylhexyl)fluorene)]. In contrast, with fluorene-thiophene copolymers PFaT and PF3T, the triplet energies are closer to those of thiophene oligomers, indicating that there is significant conjugation between fluorene and thiophene units but also that there is a more localized triplet state than with the homopolymers.     

Differentiation of neurons from neural precursors generated in floating spheres from embryonic stem cells

Background  

Neural differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells is usually achieved by induction of ectoderm in embryoid bodies followed by the enrichment of neuronal progenitors using a variety of factors. Obtaining reproducible percentages of neural cells is difficult and the methods are time consuming.     

A computational study of the chromatographic separation of racemic mixtures

Summary A model is devised using molecular mechanics to simulate chromatographic separations of enantiomers. Theoretical results derived from this model are compared with experimental findings obtained using supercritical fluid chromatography. The model is then developed to incorporate the effects of binding the stationary phase to a matrix. Computed results show that addition of the matrix into the model has significant effects on the ability of the stationary phase to separate racemic mixtures.     

Synthesis and conformational behaviour of tri-3-methyltrianthranilides. A new example of spontaneous resolution and inclusion compound formation on crystallisation

The tri-3-methyltrianthranilide derivatives ($\text{7}$)–($\text{9}$) have been synthesised. Dynamic ¹H n.m.r. spectroscopy indicates that the $\text{N}$,$\text{N}$′,$\text{N}$″-trimethyl derivative ($\text{8}$) exists in solution as slowly ring inverting ($\text{16}$ ? $\text{16}$*) enantiomeric helical conformations. X-Ray crystallography shows that the $\text{N}$,$\text{N}$′-dimethyl-$\text{N}$″-benzyl derivative ($\text{9}$) undergoes spontaneous resolution when it crystallises as a 1:1 adduct from toluene. The host molecules adopt a helical conformation (Figure 1) within a lattice structure that contains chiral channels (Figure 2) occupied by guest solvent molecules.     

Direct observation of NH2* reactions with oxygen, amino acids, and melanins

We report the direct observation of the quenching of the weakly absorbing transient due to the amino radical by oxygen and, hence determine, by a totally direct method, the corresponding rate constant (k = (1.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(9) dm3 mol(-1) s(-1)). We also report the rate constants for the reactions of the amino radical with several amino acids and models of black eumelanin and blond/red phaeomelanin. These reactions lead to a mechanism, based on free radicals, that can explain why ammonia is useful in commercial hair (melanin) bleaching, avoiding excessive amino acid (hair protein) damage.     

Protein-ligand binding affinity by nonequilibrium free energy methods

Nonequilibrium (NE) free energy methods are embarrassingly parallel and may be very conveniently run on desktop computers using distributed computing software. In recent years there has been a proliferation of NE methods, but these approaches have barely, if at all, been used in the context of calculating protein-ligand binding free energies. In a recent study by these authors, different combinations of NE methods with various test systems were compared and protocols identified which yielded results as accurate as replica exchange thermodynamic integration (RETI). The NE approaches, however, lend themselves to extensive parallelization through the use of distributed computing. Here the best performing of those NE protocols, a replica exchange method using Bennett's acceptance ratio as the free energy estimator (RENE), is applied to two sets of congeneric inhibitors bound to neuraminidase and cyclooxygenase-2. These protein-ligand systems were originally studied with RETI, giving results to which NE and RENE simulations are compared. These NE calculations were carried out on a large, highly distributed group of low-performance desktop computers which are part of a Condor pool. RENE was found to produce results of a predictive quality at least as good as RETI in less than half the wall clock time. However, non-RE NE results were found to be far less predictive. In addition, the RENE method successfully identified a localized region of rapidly changing free energy gradients without the need for prior investigation. These results suggest that the RENE protocol is appropriate for use in the context of predicting protein-ligand binding free energies and that it can offer advantages over conventional, equilibrium approaches.     

Triplet quenching and antioxidant effect of several carbon black grades in the photodegradation of LDPE doped with benzophenone as a photosensitiser

In a previous paper it was demonstrated for the first time, that carbon black pigments have the ability to operate as effective singlet and triplet quenchers. This work was undertaken directly in the polymer using the inherent long-lived luminescent species as triplet donor species. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of the quenching mechanism and its inter-relationship with carbon black parameters, a total of eight different carbon black pigments have been incorporated into low density polyethylene at different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.4% w/w) and their effects determined on the quenching the triplet state of a known triplet photosensitiser, benzophenone (0.05% w/w). Using phosphorescence analysis at 77 K a large variability was observed in the benzophenone triplet lifetime quenching, the effect varying with the pigment type and the concentration of pigment. Photodegradation rates on the films were also performed in order to relate the quenching effect of the carbon black with films exposed to UVA light at 70°C. An unusual synergistic effect between the carbon black and the benzophenone sensitiser was observed compared with films containing only carbon black. The implications of carbon black pigments to operate as “super quenchers”, as well as antioxidants in this study and under practical concentration conditions is discussed. Although not consistent throughout, there is some indication that low surface area carbon black pigments can be the most effective quenchers of active excited states. However, the presence of surface containing oxygen groups can be related to the synergistic effect reported, using experimental design statistical analysis.     

Primary Photoprocesses in a Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Sarafloxacin†

The photophysical properties of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic sarafloxacin (SFX) were investigated in aqueous media. SFX in water, at pH 7.4, shows intense absorption with peaks at 272, 322 and 335 nm, (? = 36800 and 17000 dm³ mol^?1 cm^?1, respectively). Both the absorption and emission properties of SFX are pH‐dependent; pK_a values for the protonation equilibria of both the ground (5.8 and 9.1) and excited singlet states (5.7 and 9.0) of SFX were determined spectroscopically. SFX fluoresces weakly, the quantum yield for fluorescence emission being maximum (0.07) at pH 8. Laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis studies have been carried out in order to characterize the transient species of SFX in aqueous solution. Triplet–triplet absorption has a maximum at 610 nm with a molar absorption coefficient of 17,000 ± 1000 dm³ mol^?1 cm^?1. The quantum yield of triplet formation has been determined to be 0.35 ± 0.05. In the presence of oxygen, the triplet reacts to form excited singlet oxygen with quantum yield of 0.10. The initial triplet (³A*) was found to react with phosphate buffer to form triplet ³B* with lower energy and longer lifetime and having an absorption band centered at 700 nm. SFX triplet was also found to oxidize tryptophan to its radical with concomitant formation of the anion radical of SFX. Hence the photosensitivity of SFX could be initiated by the oxygen radicals and/or by SFX radicals acting as haptens.