Fluorometric sensing of the salt-induced B-Z DNA transition by combination of two pyrene-labeled nucleobases

We have developed a new fluorescent DNA sensor containing two pyrene-labeled nucleobases, (Pet)G and (Py)C, and the fluorescence color was altered by the salt-induced B-Z DNA transition.     

A screw-shaped alignment of pyrene using m-calix[3]amide

m-Calix[3]amide bearing three pyrenes (1a) was prepared by the condensation reaction of 3-nonylaminobenzoic acid derivative using Ph₃PCl₂. Pyrenyl groups were found to be aligned in the screw-like fashion by m-calix[3]amide as confirmed by the X-ray crystallography. Aromatic proton signals observed at the up-field region in the ¹H NMR spectrum at low temperature indicated that pyrenyl groups in 1a are aligned in close proximity in THF solution. UV–vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra did not show marked peak shift nor concentration fluorescence quenching compared with reference compounds implying no significant electronic interaction between pyrenyl groups. These results can be explained by the steric effect of the m-calix[3]amide platform. On the other hand, an excimer emission was observed for m-calix[3]amide having a flexible spacer between pyrene and m-calix[3]amide (1b).     

Synthesis and Properties of Phosphorus-Containing Aromatic Polyethers

The phosphorus-containing aromatic polyethers were prepared from bis(p-chlorophenyl)phenylphosphine oxide (BCPO) with the sodium salt of several bisphenols by high temperature solution polycondensation. The best result (yield 84%, n _sp /c = 0.15) was obtained from BCPO with bisphenol A (BPA) in dimethyl sulfoxide. However, the polymerization in the solvents such as N, N′-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidone, hexamethylphosphoramide, and N,N′-dimethylformamide, and the polymerization with the other bisphenols HO-C₆H₄-X-C₆H₄?OH, where X = CO, S0₂, CH₃P(O), C₆H₅P(O) in place of BPA gave gumlike polymers. The polymer prepared from BCPO and BPA did not decompose up to ca. 300°C under air or nitrogen atmosphere, but it decomposed slowly at 300–520°C, and decomposed rapidly at 520–540°C. The activation energy (δE) for the maximum rate of weight loss was 47.8 kcal/mole.     

Conformation and Atropisomeric Properties of Indometacin Derivatives

The stereochemistry around the N‐benzoylated indole moiety of indometacin was studied by restricting the rotation about the N? C7′ and/or C7′? C1′ bond. In the 2′,6′‐disubstituted ones, an atropisomeric property was found and the atropoisomers were separated and isolated as stable forms. Their biological abilities to inhibit cyclooxygenase‐1 (COX‐1) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) were examined. Only the aR‐isomer showed specific inhibition of COX‐1, and COX‐2 was not inhibited by either atropisomer. Conformational analysis in NMR studies and X‐ray crystallography, and CD spectra in combination with calculations were utilized to elucidate the bioactive conformations.     

Halogen derivatives of m-phenylene(carbeno)nitrene: a switch in ground-state multiplicity

m-Phenylene-coupled carbenonitrenes [(3-nitrenophenyl)methylene (2-H), (3-nitrenophenyl)fluoromethylene (2-F), (3-nitrenophenyl)chloromethylene (2-Cl), (3-nitrenophenyl)bromomethylene (2-Br)] have been investigated computationally (with B3LYP, MCSCF, CASPT2, ROMP2, and QCISD(T) methods) and experimentally (with IR, UV, and ESR spectroscopy). For each species, five electronic states were considered. At the highest level of theory explored, the parent compound (2-H) has a quintet ground state, but its halogen derivatives (2-X, X = F, Cl, and Br) have triplet ground states. A linear relationship between the Q[bond]T energy gap of 2-X and the T-S gap of the corresponding phenylcarbenes 8-X is found, which can be helpful in rationalizing and predicting ground-state multiplicities in m-phenylene-linked carbenonitrenes and similar species. Precursors for the photochemical generation of 2-X (X = H, F, Cl, and Br) were synthesized and photolyzed in matrixes (Ar, triacetin) at low temperatures. IR (Ar, 13 K) and ESR (triacetin, 77 K) data are compatible with the generation of triplet halocarbenonitrenes 2-X, (X = F, Cl, and Br). All four compounds upon further irradiation undergo isomerization to substituted cyclopropenes 5-X (X = H, F, Cl, and Br), as suggested by their IR spectra.     

Mesoscopic structure and properties of liquid crystalline mesophase pitch and its transformation into carbon fiber

The history and present state of the art in the chemistry of mesophase pitch, which is an important precursor for carbon fiber and other high-performance industrial carbons, are reviewed relative to their structural properties. The structural concepts in both microscopic and macroscopic views are summarized in terms of the sp(2) carbon hexagonal plane as a basic unit common to graphitic materials, its planar stacking in clusters, and cluster assembly into microdomains and domains, the latter of which reflect the isochromatic unit of optical anisotropy. Such a series of structural units is described in a semiquantitative manner corresponding to the same units of graphitic materials, although the size and stacking height of the hexagonal planes (graphitic sheets) are very different. Mesophase pitch is a liquid crystal material whose basic structural concepts are maintained in the temperature range of 250 to 350 degrees C. The melt flow and thermal properties are related to its micro- and mesoscopic structure. The structure of mesophase-pitch-based carbon fiber of high tensile strength, modulus, and thermal conductivity has been formed through spinning, and has inherited the same structural concepts of mesophase pitch. Stabilization settles the structure in successive heat treatments up to 3000 degrees C. Carbonization and graphitization enable growth of the hexagonal planes and their stacking into units of graphite. Such growth is governed and controlled by the alignment of micro- and mesoscopic structures in the mesophase pitch, which define the derived carbon materials as nanostructural materials. Their properties are controlled by the nanoscopic units that are expected to behave as nanomaterials when appropriately isolated or handled.     

Di(triptycyl)carbene: a fairly persistent triplet dialkylcarbene

The title carbene was generated and characterized by matrix spectroscopy (ESR and UV/vis) and laser flash photolysis along with theoretical calculations, which revealed interesting effects of triptycyl groups on structure and reactivities of carbenes.     

Direct and stepwise intercalation of alkylalcohols intoα-zirconium phosphate

Intercalation of alkylalcohols into -zirconium phosphate was investigated at 25°C and/or under reflux.n-Alcohols having two to five carbons and 2-propanol were taken up at 25°C. These alcohols, andn-hexanol and heptanol, also intercalated under reflux.n-Alcohols having eight to eighteen carbon atoms intercalated when a stepwise method was employed. 2-Butanol and tertiary amylalcohols intercalated under reflux using a butanol intercalate as a starting material. Ethanol-to-butanol intercalates were unstable at room temperature, losing alcohols and changing to -zirconium phosphate. The particle size of the -zirconium phosphate did not affect the intercalation of alcohols.     

Synthesis and structural,electrochemical, and optical properties of Ru(II) complexes with azobis(2,2'-bipyridine)s

Two new ditopic ligands, 5,5"-azobis(2,2'-bipyridine) (5,5"-azo) and 5,5"-azoxybis(2,2'-bipyridine) (5,5"-azoxy), were prepared by the reduction of nitro precursors. Mononuclear and dinuclear Ru(II) complexes having one of these bridging ligands and 2,2'-bipyridine terminal ligands were also prepared, and their properties were compared with previously reported Ru(II) complexes having 4,4"-azobis(2,2'-bipyridine) (4,4"-azo). The X-ray crystal structure showed that 5,5"-azo adopts the trans conformation and a planar rodlike shape. The X-ray crystal structure of [(bpy)(2)Ru(5,5"-azo)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(4) (Ru(5,5"-azo)Ru) showed that the bridging ligand is in the trans conformation and nearly planar also in the complex and the metal-to-metal distance is 10.0 A. The azo or azoxy ligand in these complexes exhibits reduction processes at less negative potentials than the terminal bpy's due to the low-lying pi level. The electronic absorption spectra for the complexes having 5,5"-azo or 5,5"-azoxy exhibit an extended low-energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer absorption. The ligands, 5,5"-azo and 5,5"-azoxy, and the mononuclear complex, [(bpy)(2)Ru(5,5"-azo)](2+), isomerize reversibly upon light irradiation. The low-energy MLCT state sensitizes the isomerization of the azo moiety in this complex. While [(bpy)(2)Ru(4,4"-azo)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(4) exhibits light switch properties, namely, significant electrochromism and a large luminescence enhancement, upon reduction, Ru(5,5"-azo)Ru does not show these properties. The radical anion formation upon reduction of these complexes has been confirmed by ESR spectroscopy.     

Amide conformational switching induced by protonation of aromatic substituent

[reaction: see text] Introduction of an electron-withdrawing group on the aromatic ring of N-methylacetanilide decreased the ratio of the cis conformer, and the ratio correlates well with the Hammett sigma values of the substituents. These steric properties can be applied to achieve amide conformational switching by protonation at the aromatic substituent of 4-[bis(dimethylamino)]-N-methylacetanilide or N-[p-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-N-phenylacetamide.