Effects of (multi)branching of dipolar chromophores on photophysical properties and two-photon absorption

To investigate the effect of branching on linear and nonlinear optical properties, a specific series of chromophores, epitome of (multi)branched dipoles, has been thoroughly explored by a combined theoretical and experimental approach. Excited-state structure calculations based on quantum-chemical techniques (time-dependent density functional theory) as well as a Frenkel exciton model nicely complement experimental photoluminescence and one- and two-photon absorption findings and contribute to their interpretation. This allowed us to get a deep insight into the nature of fundamental excited-state dynamics and the nonlinear optical (NLO) response involved. Both experiment and theory reveal that a multidimensional intramolecular charge transfer takes place from the donating moiety to the periphery of the branched molecules upon excitation, while fluorescence stems from an excited state localized on one of the dipolar branches. Branching is also observed to lead to cooperative enhancement of two-photon absorption (TPA) while maintaining high fluorescence quantum yield, thanks to localization of the emitting state. The comparison between results obtained in the Frenkel exciton scheme and ab initio results suggests the coherent coupling between branches as one of the possible mechanisms for the observed enhancement. New strategies for the rational design of NLO molecular assemblies are thus inferred on the basis of the acquired insights.     

The role of neutral donor ligands in the isoselective ring-opening polymerization of rac-β-butyrolactone

Isoenriched poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) is a biodegradable material with properties similar to isotactic polypropylene, yet efficient routes to this material are lacking after 50+ years of extensive efforts in catalyst design. In this contribution, a novel lanthanum aminobisphenolate catalyst (1-La) can access isoenriched P3HB through the stereospecific ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-β-butyrolactone (rac-BBL). Replacing the tethered donor group of a privileged supporting ligand with a non-coordinating benzyl substituent generates a catalyst whose reactivity and selectivity can be tuned with inexpensive achiral neutral donor ligands (e.g. phosphine oxides, OPR₃). The 1-La/OPR₃ (R = n-octyl, Ph) systems display high activity and are the most isoselective homogeneous catalysts for the ROP of rac-BBL to date (0 °C: P_m = 0.8, TOF ∼190 h⁻¹). Combined reactivity and spectroscopic studies provide insight into the active catalyst structure and ROP mechanism. Both 1-La(TPPO)2 and a structurally related catalyst with a tethered donor group (2-Y) operate under chain-end stereocontrol; however, 2-RE favors formation of P3HB with opposite tacticity (syndioenriched) and its ROP activity and selectivity are totally unaffected by added neutral donor ligands. Our studies uncover new roles for neutral donor ligands in stereospecific ROP, including suppression of chain-scission events, and point to new opportunities for catalyst design.

Simple achiral neutral donor ligands modify catalyst structure and function to enable access to isoenriched poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable material with properties similar to isotactic polypropylene.     

Molluscicidal Saponins from Talinum tenuissimum DINTER

Two new saponins, β-D -glucopyranosyl 3-O[O-βD -xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-(β-D -glucopyranosyluronic acid)]oleanolate ( 1 ) and 3-O-[O-β-D -xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)]oleanolic acid ( 2 ), have been isolated from the tubers of Talinum tenuissimum. The structures have been established mainly by ¹³C-NMR and FAB-MS. The monodesmosidic saponin 2 exhibits very strong molluscicidal activity against the schistosomiasis-transmitting snail Biomphalaria glabrata.     

Molecular dynamics calculations of shear viscosity time-correlation functions for hard spheres

The time-correlation function for shear viscosity is evaluated for hard spheres at volumes of 1.6 and 3 times the close-packed volume by a Monte Carlomolecular dynamics technique. At both densities, the kinetic part of the timecorrelation function is consistent, within its rather large statistical uncertainty, with the long-timet ^–3/2 tail predicted by the mode-coupling theory. However, at the higher density, the time-correlation function is dominated by the cross and potential terms out to 25 mean free times, whereas the mode-coupling theory predicts that these are asymptotically negligible compared to the kinetic part. The total time-correlation function decays roughly ast ^–3/2, with much larger than the mode-coupling value, similar to the recent observations by Evans in his nonequilibrium simulations of argon and methane. The exact value of the exponent is, however, not very precisely determined. By analogy with the case of the velocity autocorrelation function, for which results are also presented at these densities, it is argued that it is quite possible that at high density the asymptotic behavior is not established until times substantially longer than those attainable in the present work. At the lower density, the cross and potential terms are of the same magnitude as the kinetic part, and all are consistent with the mode-coupling predictions within the relatively large statistical uncertainties.Work performed under the auspices of U.S. Department of Energy.     

Studies on the mechanism of intermolecular enyne metathesis: kinetic method and alkyne substituent effects

The kinetics of enyne metathesis were studied by IR spectroscopy for a variety of alkyne-alkene combinations. The rate law was determined for alkyne-ethylene and alkyne-1-hexene cross metathesis. In the cases examined, greater substitution on the alkyne accelerates the rate of metathesis, and chelation by propargylic esters was ruled out through rate comparison with hydrocarbon alkynes. The findings are discussed in terms of an alkylidene-first reaction mechanism, phosphine-bound ruthenium carbene resting states, and the rate-determining turnover of vinyl carbene intermediates (for alkyne-1-hexene metatheses).     

Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium carbonyl complexes with redox-active dioxolene ligands: electrochemical and spectroscopic studies and the properties of the mixed-valence complexes

The mononuclear complex [Ru(PPh(3))(2)(CO)(2)(L(1))] (1; H(2)L(1) = 7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin) and the dinuclear complexes [[Ru(PPh(3))(2)(CO)(2)](2)(L(2))][PF(6)] [[2][PF(6)]; H(3)L(2) = 9-phenyl-2,3,7-trihydroxy-6-fluorone] and [[Ru(PBu(3))(2)(CO)(2)](2)(L(3))] (3; H(4)L(3) = 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione) have been prepared; all complexes contain one or two trans,cis-[Ru(PR(3))(2)(CO)(2)] units, each connected to a chelating dioxolene-type ligand. In all cases the dioxolene ligands exhibit reversible redox activity, and accordingly the complexes were studied by electrochemistry and UV/vis/NIR, IR, and EPR spectroscopy in their accessible oxidation states. Oxidation of 1 to [1](+) generates a ligand-centered semiquinone radical with some metal character as shown by the IR and EPR spectra. Dinuclear complexes [2](+) and 3 show two reversible ligand-centered couples (one associated with each dioxolene terminus) which are separated by 690 and 440 mV, respectively. This indicates that the mixed-valence species [2](2+) has greater degree of electronic delocalization between the ligand termini than does [3](+), an observation which was supported by IR, EPR, and UV/vis/NIR spectroelectrochemistry. Both [2](2+) and [3](+) have a solution EPR spectrum consistent with full delocalization of the unpaired electron between the ligand termini on the EPR time scale (a quintet arising from equal coupling to all four (31)P nuclei); [3](+) is localized on the faster IR time scale (four CO vibrations rather than two, indicative of inequivalent [Ru(CO)(2)] units) whereas [2](2+) is fully delocalized (two CO vibrations). UV/vis/NIR spectroelectrochemistry revealed the presence of a narrow, low-energy (2695 nm) transition for [3](+) associated with the catecholate --> semiquinone intervalence transition. The narrowness and solvent-independence of this transition (characteristic of class III mixed-valence character) coupled with evidence for inequivalent [Ru(CO)(2)] termini in the mixed-valence state (characteristic of class II character) place this complex at the class II-III borderline, in contrast to [2](2+) which is clearly class III.     

FLUORESCENCE OF THE COENZYME ANALOG NICOTINAMIDE FORMYCIN DINUCLEOTIDE

Abstract— Emission spectra of unbound reduced nicotinamide formycin dinucleotide (NFDH) revealed the presence of two major conformations of the coenzyme in solution: when examined at excitation wavelengths at or below 307 nm, emission spectra contained peaks at 343 and 447 nm; when excited above 307 nm, an additional maximum appeared at 355 nm and the peak of the dihydronicotinamide emission band shifted from 447 to 440 nm. Both conformers are probably detected at the longer wavelengths since the emission peak at 343 nm was retained. Identical changes occurred in the emission spectra of NFD⁺, however, the dihydronicotinamide emission between 440 and 447 nm was absent. Several mechanisms which may account for the presence of these conformers have been considered. The choice has been narrowed to conformations with ring-ring interactions of the formycin and nicotinamide moieties resulting from (a) formycin tautomerization or (b) heterogeneity of glycosidic bond angles in the structures. The efficiency of intramolecular energy transfer from the formycin to the dihydronicotinamide moiety for free NFDH in aqueous solution was 84% and declined slightly (to 77%) when measured in 1,2-propanediol. NFD⁺ has coenzyme activity for NAD-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (Plaut et al. , 1979). The emission spectrum of enzyme bound NFDH was altered markedly in the presence of manganese isocitrate; emission intensity at 343 and 355 nm decreased while the emission from the dihydronicotinamide ring at 433 nm increased, when NFDH was excited at 310 nm. This shift in emission intensity was indicative of an increase in energy transfer within the NFDH molecule, caused by a change in coenzyme conformation upon binding to the enzyme-substrate complex.     

Towards a microchip-based chromatographic platform. Part 2: sol-gel phases modified with polyelectrolyte multilayers for capillary electrochromatography.

The potential for using polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) to provide chromatographic functionality on continuous silica networks created from sol-gel chemistry has been evaluated by capillary electrochromatography (CEC). Construction of the PEM was achieved by flushing the column with polyelectrolytes of alternative charge, with variation of the properties of the exposed polyelectrolyte providing a unique means to vary the chromatographic surface. Variation of the exposed polyelectrolyte from poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC) to dextran sulfate (DS) allowed the direction of the electroosmotic flow (EOF) to be changed and also provided a means to vary the chromatographic capacity. Variation of negative polymer from DS to poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) significantly altered the EOF and the migration of peptides, with both the reversed-phase and ion-exchange capacities increasing. An alternative method for changing the column capacity was to change the thickness of the PEM, which was evaluated by anion-exchange CEC. A 70-80% increase in retention was observed for all anions without any increase in EOF suggesting significant penetration of the analytes through the PEM and interaction with buried charges within the PEM.     

Strongly cluster size dependent reaction behavior of CO with O2 on free silver cluster anions

Reactions of free silver anions Agn- (n = 1 - 13) with O2, CO, and their mixtures are investigated in a temperature controlled radio frequency ion trap setup. Cluster anions Agn- (n = 1 - 11) readily react with molecular oxygen to yield AgnOm- (m = 2, 4, or 6) oxide products. In contrast, no reaction of the silver cluster anions with carbon monoxide is detected. However, if silver cluster anions are exposed to the mixture of O2 and CO, new reaction products and a pronounced, discontinuous size dependence in the reaction behavior is observed. In particular, coadsorption complexes Agn(CO)O2- are detected for cluster sizes with n = 4 and 6 and, the most striking observation, in the case of the larger odd atom number clusters Ag7-, Ag9-, and Ag11-, the oxide product concentration decreases while a reappearance of the bare metal cluster signal is observed. This leads to the conclusion that carbon monoxide reacts with the activated oxygen on these silver clusters and indicates the prevalence of a catalytic reaction cycle.