Recombinant reflectin-based optical materials

Reflectins are a unique group of structural proteins involved in dynamic optical systems in cephalopods that modulate incident light or bioluminescence. We describe cloning, structural characterization, and optical properties of a reflectin-based domain, refCBA, from reflectin 1a of Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes. Thin films created from the recombinant protein refCBA display interesting optical features when the recombinant protein is appropriately organized. RefCBA was cloned and expressed as a soluble protein enabling purification, with little structural organization found using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Single-layer and multi-layer thin films of refCBA were then produced by flow coating and spin coating, and displayed colors due to thin film interference. Diffraction experiments showed the assemblies were ordered enough to work as diffraction gratings to generate diffraction patterns. Nano-spheres and lamellar microstructures of refCBA samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Despite the reduced complexity of the refCBA protein compared to natural reflectins, unique biomaterials with similar properties to reflectins were generated by self-assembled reflectin-based refCBA molecules. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

The relationship between the electrospray ionization behaviour and biological activity of some phosphino Cu(I) complexes

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was usefully employed for the characterization of three phosphino copper(I) complexes of medicinal interest. This technique revealed that the original [CuL₄]⁺ pro‐drugs (L = hydrophilic tertiary phosphine) underwent dissociation with production of coordinative unsaturated [CuL₃]⁺ and [CuL₂]⁺ species, which represented key intermediates for the activation of potential biological properties. The more favoured was the displacement of the ligands from the [CuL₄]⁺ parent complex, the more favoured was in turn the possibility for the metal ion to directly interact with biological substrates, including pharmacological targets related to cancer proliferation. An inverse correlation between the stability and the cytotoxic activity of the three copper(I) complexes investigated has been clearly established. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoswitching of bis-spiropyran using near-infrared excited upconverting nanoparticles

Bis-spiropryran molecules were grafted onto the surface of upconverting nanoparticles. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer from the upconverting nanoparticles to the surface bis-spiropyran molecules triggered the transformation of the ring-closed bis-spiropyran to the ring-open bis-merocyanine forms.     

Monooxorhenium(V) complexes with the tridentate Schiff baseN-(2-hydroxyphenyl)salicylideneimine

Summary The reactions of the tridentate Schiff base ligandN-(2-hydroxyphenyl) salicylideneimine (HOPhsalH) with oxotetrachlororhenate (IV) have been investigated. The complexes (Bu₄N)[ReOCl₃(HOPhsal)], (Bu₄N)[ReOCl₂(OPhsal)],cis- [ReOCl(MeOH)(OPhsal)],trans-[ReOCl(MeOH)(OPhsal)] (1), trans-[ReOCl(OH₂)(OPhsal)] · Et₂O (2), trans-[ReOCl(OH₂)(OPhsal)] · Me₂CO,cis-[ReOCl(PPh₃)(OPhsal)],cis-[ReOCl(PMe₂Ph)(OPhsal)](3) have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of(1), (2) and(3) have been solved from three-dimensional x-ray data by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by least-squares methods to R 0.10 for(1), 0.042 for(2) and 0.059 for(3). In all the three complexes, the ligands surrounding the rhenium atom are at the apices of a distorted octahedron, with the equatorial ONO donor atoms of the tridentate Schiff base bent away from the O_oxo and toward the loosely bound MeOH in(1), H₂O in(2) and Cl in(t3). The fourth equatorial substituent is Cl (1 and2) and PMe₂Ph(3) and the rhenium atoms lie 0.30–0.37 Å above the best plane through the four equatorial atoms, in the direction of the O_oxo. All interatomic distances and angles are normal.     

Supramolecular chemistry of halogens: complementary features of inorganic (M-X) and organic (C-X') halogens applied to M-X...X'-C halogen bond formation

Electronic differences between inorganic (M-X) and organic (C-X) halogens in conjunction with the anisotropic charge distribution associated with terminal halogens have been exploited in supramolecular synthesis based upon intermolecular M-X...X'-C halogen bonds. The synthesis and crystal structures of a family of compounds trans-[MCl(2)(NC(5)H(4)X-3)(2)] (M = Pd(II), Pt(II); X = F, Cl, Br, I; NC(5)H(4)X-3 = 3-halopyridine) are reported. With the exception of the fluoropyridine compounds, network structures propagated by M-Cl...X-C halogen bonds are adopted and involve all M-Cl and all C-X groups. M-Cl...X-C interactions show Cl...X separations shorter than van der Waals values, shorter distances being observed for heavier halogens (X). Geometries with near linear Cl...X-C angles (155-172 degrees ) and markedly bent M-Cl...X angles (92-137 degrees ) are consistently observed. DFT calculations on the model dimers {trans-[MCl(2)(NH(3))(NC(5)H(4)X-3)]}(2) show association through M-Cl...X-C (X not equal F) interactions with geometries similar to experimental values. DFT calculations of the electrostatic potential distributions for the compounds trans-[PdCl(2)(NC(5)H(4)X-3)(2)] (X = F, Cl, Br, I) demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy to activate C-X groups toward halogen bond formation by enhancing their electrophilicity, and explain the absence of M-Cl...F-C interactions. The M-Cl...X-C halogen bonds described here can be viewed unambiguously as nucleophile-electrophile interactions that involve an attractive electrostatic contribution. This contrasts with some types of halogen-halogen interactions previously described and suggests that M-Cl...X-C halogen bonds could provide a valuable new synthon for supramolecular chemists.     

Adaptive control of femtosecond soliton self-frequency shift in fibers

The Raman shift of a subpicosecond soliton in 100 m of fiber is controlled adaptively by pulse shaping before launching into the fiber. We use a deformable-mirror-based shaper to control the spectral phase of the input pulse.     

A spectroscopic analysis of blue and ultraviolet upconverted emissions from Gd3Ga5O12:Tm3+, Yb3+ nanocrystals

The spectroscopic behavior of gadolinium gallium garnet (Gd3Ga5O12, GGG) nanocrystals codoped with 1% each of Tm3+ and Yb3+ prepared via a solution combustion synthesis procedure was investigated. Initial excitation of the codoped nanocrystals with 465.8 nm (into the 1G4 state) showed a dominant blue-green emission ascribed to the 1G4-3H6 transition as well as red and NIR emissions from the 1G4-3F4 and 1G4-3H5/3H4-3H6 transitions, respectively. Excitation at this wavelength (465.8 nm) showed the existence of a Tm3+ --> Yb3+ energy transfer process evidenced by the presence of the 2F5/2-2F7/2 Yb3+ emission in the NIR emission spectrum. The decay time constants proved that the transfer of energy occurred via the 3H4 state. Following excitation of the Yb3+ ion with 980 nm, intense upconverted emission was observed. Emissions in the UV (1D2-3H6), blue (1D2-3F4), blue-green (1G4-3H6), red (1G4-3F4), and NIR (1G4-3H5/3H4-3H6) were observed and were the direct result of subsequent transfers of energy from the Yb3+ ion to the Tm3+ ion. Power dependence studies showed a deviation from expected values for the number of photons involved in the upconversion thus indicating a saturation of the upconversion process. An energy transfer efficiency of 0.576 was determined experimentally.