Transition from hydrogen atom to hydride abstraction by Mn4O4(O2PPh2)6 versus [Mn4O4(O2PPh2)6]+: O-H bond dissociation energies and the formation of Mn4O3(OH)(O2PPh2)6

Synthesis, characterization, and reactions of the novel manganese-oxo cubane complex [Mn(4)O(4)(O(2)PPh(2))(6)](ClO(4)), 1+ (ClO(4)(-)), are described. Cation 1+ is composed of the [Mn(4)O(4)](7+) core surrounded by six bidentate phosphinate ligands. The proton-coupled electron transfer (pcet) reactions of phenothiazine (pzH), the cation radical (pzH(.+)(ClO(4)(-)), and the neutral pz* radical with 1+ are reported and compared to Mn(4)O(4)(O(2)PPh(2))(6) (1). Compound 1+ (ClO(4)(-)) reacts with excess pzH via four sequential reduction steps that transfer a total of five electrons and four protons to 1+. This reaction forms the doubly dehydrated manganese cluster Mn(4)O(2)(O(2)PPh(2))(6) (2) and two water molecules derived from the corner oxygen atoms. The first pcet step forms the novel complex Mn(4)O(3)(OH)(O(2)PPh(2))(6) (1H) and 1 equiv of the pz+ cation by net hydride transfer from pzH. Spectroscopic characterization of isolated 1H is reported. Reduction of 1 by pzH or a series of para-substituted phenols also produces 1H via net H atom transfer. A lower limit to the homolytic bond dissociation energy (BDE) (1H --> 1 + H) was estimated to be >94 kcal/mol using solution phase BDEs for pzH and para-substituted phenols. The heterolytic BDE was estimated for the hydride transfer reaction 1H --> 1+ + H(-) (BDE approximately 127 kcal/mol). These comparisons reveal the O-H bond in 1H to be among the strongest of any Mn-hydroxo complex measured thus far. In three successive H atom transfer steps, 1H abstracts three hydrogen atoms from three pzH molecules to form complex 2. Complex 2 is shown to be identical to the "pinned butterfly" cluster produced by the reaction of 1 with pzH (Ruettinger, W. F.; Dismukes, G. C. Inorg. Chem. 2000, 39, 1021-1027). The Mn oxidation states in 2 are formally Mn(4)(2II,2III), and no further reduction occurs in excess pzH. By contrast, outer-sphere electron-only reductants such as cobaltacene reduce both 1+ and 1 to the all Mn(II) oxidation level and cause cluster fragmentation. The reaction of pzH(.+) with 1+ produces 1H and the pz+ cation by net hydrogen atom transfer, and terminates at 1 equiv of pzH(.+) with no further reaction at excess. By contrast, pz* does not react with 1+ at all, indicating that reduction of 1+ by electron transfer to form pz+ does not occur without a proton (pcet to 1+ is thermodynamically required). Experimental free energy changes are shown to account for these pcet reactions and the absence of electron transfer for any of the phenothiazine series. Hydrogen atom abstraction from substrates by 1 versus hydride abstraction by 1(+ )()illustrates the transition to two-electron one-proton pcet chemistry in the [Mn(4)O(4)](7+) core that is understood on the basis of free energy consideration. This transition provides a concrete example of the predicted lowest-energy pathway for the oxidation of two water molecules to H(2)O(2) as an intermediate within the photosynthetic water-oxidizing enzyme (vs sequential one-electron/proton steps). The implications for the mechanism of photosynthetic water splitting are discussed.     

Aminomethylation of lithiated nicotinamide: access to new pyridolactams

New 2,3-dihydropyrrolopyridinones were conveniently prepared by trapping lithiated pyridine carboxamides with highly reactive formimines. In this Letter, we report that a wide range of N-functionalised compounds can be synthesised in one step by this process, allowing the presence of ethers, acetals or ester moieties.     

Controlled crystallization of CaCO(3) on hyperbranched polyglycerol adsorbed to self-assembled monolayers

The formation of biominerals by living organisms is governed by the cooperation of soluble and insoluble macromolecules with peculiar interfacial properties. To date, most of the studies on mineralization processes involve model systems that only account for the existence of one organic matrix and thus disregard the interaction between the soluble and insoluble organic components that is crucial for a better understanding of the processes taking place at the inorganic-organic interface. We have set up a model system composed of a matrix surface, namely, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), and a soluble component, hyperbranched polyglycerol. The model mineral calcium carbonate displays diverse polymorphism. It could be demonstrated that the phase selection of calcium carbonate is controlled by the cooperative interaction of the SAM and hyperbranched polyglycerol of different molecular weights (M(n) = 500-6000 g/mol) adsorbed to the SAM. Our studies showed that hyperbranched polyglycerol is adsorbed to polar as well as to nonpolar SAMs. This effect can be related to its highly flexible structure and its amphiphilic character. The adsorption of hyperbranched polyglycerol to the SAMs with different surface polarities resulted in the formation of aragonite for alkyl-terminated SAMs and no phase selection for carboxylate-terminated SAMs.     

Linear‐Hyperbranched Amphiphilic AB Diblock Copolymers Based on Polystyrene and Hyperbranched Polyglycerol

Summary: A convenient three‐step strategy has been developed for the preparation of well‐defined amphiphilic, linear‐hyperbranched block copolymers by hypergrafting. The synthetic procedure is based on a combination of carbanionic polymerization with the alkoxide‐based, controlled ring‐opening multibranching polymerization of glycidol. A linear AB diblock copolymer polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene (PS‐b‐PB) with narrow polydispersity was obtained by anionic copolymerization. Subsequent hydroxylation by hydroboration led to PS₅₀₈‐b‐(PB‐OH)₅₆, used as macroinitiator for the polymerization of glycidol under slow monomer addition conditions.

Structure of the linear‐hyperbranched amphiphilic AB diblock copolymer PS₅₀₈‐b‐(PB₅₆‐hg‐PG_x) and an AFM micrograph of its micellar core–shell structure observed after solution casting.     

pH‐Sensitive methacrylic acid–methyl methacrylate copolymer Eudragit L100 and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate,butyl methacrylate,and methyl methacrylate tri‐copolymer Eudragit E100

Poly (methyl methacrylate) derivatives such as Eudragit are largely used for drug encapsulation and in controlled oral drug delivery. With special focusing on those applications, solubilization and precipitation conditions of two pH‐sensitive Eudragit polymers, namely, L100 and E100, were investigated via systematic studies. Effects of various physicochemical parameters such as pH, polymer concentration, salinity, buffer concentration, and incubation time on the solubilization and precipitation of these polymers were investigated. In addition, pH titration of both polymers was reported. Considering both macroscopic and quantitative aspects such as the final mean particle size, size distribution, morphology, and the zeta potential, it was established that the different precited parameters could not be dissociated and exert a synergic action on the solubilization and precipitation of both polymers. Titration curves revealed two equivalences that helped estimating carboxylic content of Eudragit L100 (6 mmol/g) and ammonium content of Eudragit E100 (4 mmol/g). In this study, the solubilization and the precipitation domains were for the first time clearly established by considering the above‐mentioned parameters. Moreover, it was found that Eudragit L100 and E100 cannot be considered as classic polyelectrolytes; in fact, solubilization and precipitation domains were not affected by ionic strength.     

Thermal Behavior of d‐Ribose Adsorbed on Silica: Effect of Inorganic Salt Coadsorption and Significance for Prebiotic Chemistry

Understanding ribose reactivity is a crucial step in the “RNA world” scenario because this molecule is a component of all extant nucleotides that make up RNA. In solution, ribose is unstable and susceptible to thermal destruction. We examined how ribose behaves upon thermal activation when adsorbed on silica, either alone or with the coadsorption of inorganic salts (MgCl₂, CaCl₂, SrCl₂, CuCl₂, FeCl₂, FeCl₃, ZnCl₂). A combination of ¹³C NMR, in situ IR, and TGA analyses revealed a variety of phenomena. When adsorbed alone, ribose remains stable up to 150 °C, at which point ring opening is observed, together with minor oxidation to a lactone. All the metal salts studied showed specific interactions with ribose after dehydration, resulting in the formation of polydentate metal ion complexes. Anomeric equilibria were affected, generally favoring ribofuranoses. Zn²⁺ stabilized ribose up to higher temperatures than bare silica (180 to 200 °C). Most other cations had an adverse effect on ribose stability, with ring opening already upon drying at 70 °C. In addition, alkaline earth cations catalyzed the dehydration of ribose to furfural and, to variable degrees, its further decarbonylation to furan. Transition‐metal ions with open d‐shells took part in redox reactions with ribose, either as reagents or as catalysts. These results allow the likelihood of prebiotic chemistry scenarios to be evaluated, and may also be of interest for the valorization of biomass‐derived carbohydrates by heterogeneous catalysis.     

Surface modification of poly(butylene terephthalate) nonwoven by photochemistry and biofunctionalization with peptides for blood filtration

The surface of meltblown poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) nonwoven was modified by photochemistry using the photolinker O‐succinimidyl 4‐azido‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorobenzoate for the introduction of activated ester functions and then coupling of molecular probes or biomolecules. Approximately 4000 pmol of (L )‐4,5‐[³H]‐lysine was fixed per PBT sample (1.13 cm²) and measured by liquid scintillation counting. The method consisted in a two‐step process: (a) coating of the clip (0.05 mg/sample) on the fibrous surface of the PBT followed by UV irradiation (30 min, 254 nm) and (b) coupling of amine‐terminated molecules (10^?3 M in phosphate buffer–CH₃CN [1/1, v/v], 20 h). Moreover, about 2000 pmol of ³H‐lysine can be immobilized on the PBT surface after UV irradiation (without clip) by aminolysis reactions with the created oxygenated functions. The derivatizations (via the clip and UV irradiation only) were stable after long‐term heating at 100 °C in water or under steam‐sterilization conditions. They induce neither modifications of the nonwoven morphology nor cytotoxicity. This method was applied for the grafting of peptides Gly‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐Ser and Gly‐Gly‐Gly‐Gly‐Gly to perform blood filtration experiments and to retain the leukocytes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011