Photochemistry and photophysics of Cr(III) macrocyclic complexes

The phosphorescence and photochemical behavior of the macrocyclic complexes (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane)chromium(III) (Cr([18]-aneN(6))(3+); 1) and (4,4',4'-ethylidynetris(3-azabutan-1-amine)) chromium(III) (Cr(sen)(3+); 2) have been compared to each other and to the complex Cr(en)(3)(3+). For both macrocyclic complexes, phosphorescence from room temperature aqueous solutions is too weak to be observed, contrasting with Cr(en)(3)(3+), though both had somewhat longer 77 K lifetimes than Cr(en)(3)(3+). Phosphorescence lifetimes for these macrocyclics decreased with increasing temperature much faster than for Cr(en)(3)(3+) and a conventional extrapolation based on a fit of reciprocal lifetimes (corrected for the low-temperature contribution) to the Arrhenius equation gave estimated room temperature phosphorescence lifetimes of a few nanoseconds, consistent with the failure to observe room temperature emission. Fitting of the nonlinearity of the data seen in these plots suggested that two high-temperature processes were occurring with estimated activation parameters (E in kJ mol(-1) and A in s(-1)) for Cr([18]-aneN(6))(3+): E(1) = 40, A(1) = 1 x 10(16); E(2) = 24, A(2) = 1 x 10(14): Cr(sen)(3+); E(1) = 45, A(1) = 2 x 10(15); E(2) = 29, A(2) = 7 x 10(11). Cr([18]-aneN(6))(3+) was photochemically inert on irradiation. On irradiation into the lowest quartet ligand field absorption band, Cr(sen)(3+) photolyzes with a quantum yield of 0.098 +/- 0.001 at room temperature. Laser flash photolysis with conductivity detection showed that this photoreaction occurred faster than protonation of the liberated amine ligand at all practical proton concentrations. The quantum yield for irradiation directly into the doublet absorption band of Cr(sen)(3+) was 0.077 +/- 0.003. Photoaquation of Delta-Cr(sen)(3+) led to loss of optical activity and product analysis by capillary electrophoresis showed that both racemic and Delta-Cr(sen)(3+) photoaquate to a single main product, trans-Cr(sen-NH)(H(2)O)(4+). The product stereochemistry is shown to be consistent with predictions based on the angular overlap model for Cr(III) photochemistry, recognizing the additional constraints imposed by the ligand. The abnormally short room temperature solution lifetime of the doublet state is a result of a radiation-less process that competes with other processes depleting the doublet state. However, this doublet-state deactivation process does not lead to photoaquation but competes with BISC and photoaquation via the quartet state, resulting in an unprecedented reduction in photoaquation quantum yield on direct irradiation into the doublet state.     

The identification of tricyclic neuroleptics and sulphonamides by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Circular high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) has been used to differentiate a series of twelve tricyclic neuroleptics, using both normal phase and reverse phase procedures. The use of normal phase systems also allows the resolution of geometric isomers of chlorprothixene, clopenthixol and flupenthixol. Thirteen sulphonamides and Trirnethoprim may also be distinguished using HPTLC.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL INACTIVATION OF SINGLE-STRANDED VIRAL DNA IN THE PRESENCE OF UROCANIC ACID*

Abstract— Urocanic acid (UA) has previously been shown to react photochemically in vitro with N,N-dimethylthymine. In this study, mixtures of UA and phage G4 single-stranded DNA have been irradiated with UV light (λ≥ 254 nm) and the DNA assayed for infectivity. At the concentrations of UA employed (typically 5.4 × 10^-3 M ) there is extensive absorption of the incident light by the UA. The DNA is inactivated at rates greater than that predicted from the calculated shielding by UA, indicating that photosensitization is occurring. Photosensitization is also indicated by the fact that at high UA concentrations the inactivation rate does not decrease to zero but approaches a residual value. Furthermore, the ability to photoreactivate DNA that has been photolyzed in the presence of UA is much reduced relative to that observed upon photolysis of the DNA alone. UA is therefore responsible for the production of UV-induced DNA lesions, which are resistant to photoreactivation.
A general analysis of the effects of photosensitization on the kinetics of UV inactivation is presented in an appendix.     

Characterization of the Reaction of Chloroacetaldehyde with Single and Double Stranded DNA

Chloroacetaldehyde reacts with viral M13mp18 single and double stranded DNA to form the highly fluorescent adducts, etheno-AMP and etheno-CMP.

Absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to monitor and characterize these reactions. Both single and double stranded DNA showed increases in the absorbance following reaction with the aldehyde. The fluorescence also increased in these two groups and continued to rise with increasing time of incubation until a point of saturation was reached. The fluorescence of the double stranded moiety was considerably enhanced following reaction with the aldehyde while that of the single stranded population was not, making this method appropriate for the separation of small quantities of the two populations of DNA.