Synthesis and characterization of oligoproline-based molecular assemblies for light harvesting

Helical oligoproline arrays provide a structurally well-defined environment for building photochemical energy conversion assemblies. The use of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to prepare four such arrays, consisting of 16, 17, 18, and 19 amino acid residues, is described here. Each array contains the chromophore [Rub'(2)m](PF(6))(2) (b' = 4,4'-diethylamidocarbonyl-2,2'-bipyridine; m = 4-methyl-2,2'-dipyridine-4'-carboxylic acid) and the electron transfer donor PTZ (phenothiazine). The arrays differ systematically in the distance between the redox-active metal complex and PTZ sites. They have been used in photophysical studies to provide insight into the distance dependence of electron transfer. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 14506-14514). This work describes the synthesis, purification, and characterization of the oligoproline arrays, including a general procedure for the synthesis of related arrays.     

Electronic structure of mononuclear bis(1,2-diaryl-1,2-ethylenedithiolato)iron complexes containing a fifth cyanide or phosphite ligand: a combined experimental and computational study

A series of mononuclear square-based pyramidal complexes of iron containing two 1,2-diaryl-ethylene-1,2-dithiolate ligands in various oxidation levels has been synthesized. The reaction of the dinuclear species [Fe(III)2(1L*)2(1L)2]0, where (1L)2- is the closed shell di-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,2-ethylenedithiolate dianion and (1L*)1- is its one-electron-oxidized pi-radical monoanion, with [N(n-Bu)4]CN in toluene yields dark green crystals of mononuclear [N(n-Bu)4][Fe(II)(1L*)2(CN)] (1). The oxidation of 1 with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate yields blue [Fe(III)(1L*)2(CN)] (1ox), and analogously, a reduction with [Cp2Co] yields [Cp2Co][N(n-Bu)4][Fe(II)(1L*)(1L)(CN)] (1red); oxidation of the neutral dimer with iodine gives [Fe(III)(1L*)2I] (2). The dimer reacts with the phosphite P(OCH3)3 to yield [Fe(II)(1L*)2{P(OCH3)3}] (3), and [Fe(III)2(3L*)2(3L)2] reacts with P(OC6H5)3 to give [Fe(II)(3L*)2{P(OC6H5)3}] (4), where (3L)2- represents 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenedithiolate(2-). Both 3 and 4 were electrochemically one-electron oxidized to the monocations 3ox and 4ox and reduced to the monoanions 3red and 4red. The structures of 1 and 4 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. All compounds have been studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements, X-band EPR, UV-vis, IR, and M?ssbauer spectroscopies. The following five-coordinate chromophores have been identified: (a) [Fe(III)(L*)2X]n, X = CN-, I- (n = 0) (1ox, 2); X = P(OR)3 (n = 1+) )3ox, 4ox) with St = 1/2, SFe = 3/2; (b) [Fe(II)(L*)2X]n, X = CN-, (n = 1-) (1); X = P(OR)3 (n = 0) (3, 4) with St = SFe = 0; (c) [Fe(II)(L*)(L)X]n <--> [Fe(II)(L)(L*)X]n, X = CN- (n = 2-) (1red); X = P(OR)3 (n = 1-) (3red, 4red) with St = 1/2, SFe = 0 (or 1). Complex 1ox displays spin crossover behavior: St = 1/2 <--> St = 3/2 with intrinsic spin-state change SFe = 3/2 <--> SFe = 5/2. The electronic structures of 1 and 1(ox) have been established by density functional theoretical calculations: [Fe(II)(1L*)2(CN)]1- (SFe = 0, St = 0) and [Fe(III)(1L*)2(CN)]0 (SFe = 3/2, St = 1/2).     

Probing two-photon properties of molecules: large non-Condon effects dominate the resonance hyper-Raman scattering of rhodamine 6G

Experimentally measured resonance hyper-Raman (RHR) spectra spanning the S(1) ← S(0), S(2) ← S(0), and S(3) ← S(0) transitions in rhodamine 6G (R6G) have been recorded. These spectra are compared to the results of first-principles calculations of the RHR intensity that include both Franck-Condon (A-term) and non-Condon (B-term) scattering effects. Good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results is observed, demonstrating that first-principles calculations of hyper-Raman intensities are now possible for large molecules such as R6G. Such agreement indicates that RHR spectroscopy will now be a routine aid for probing multiphoton processes. This work further shows that optimization of molecular properties to enhance either A- or B-term scattering might yield molecules with significantly enhanced two-photon properties.     

Conformations and resulting hydrogen‐bonded networks of hydrogen {phosphono[(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino]methyl}phosphonate and related 2‐chloro and 6‐chloro derivatives

In the crystal structures of the conformational isomers hydrogen {phosphono[(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino]methyl}phosphonate monohydrate (pro‐E), C₆H₁₀N₂O₆P₂·H₂O, (Ia), and hydrogen {phosphono[(pyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino]methyl}phosphonate (pro‐Z), C₆H₁₀N₂O₆P₂, (Ib), the related hydrogen {[(2‐chloropyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl)amino](phosphono)methyl}phosphonate (pro‐E), C₆H₉ClN₂O₆P₂, (II), and the salt bis(6‐chloropyridin‐3‐aminium) [hydrogen bis({[2‐chloropyridin‐1‐ium‐3‐yl(0.5+)]amino}methylenediphosphonate)] (pro‐Z), 2C₅H₆ClN₂⁺·C₁₂H₁₆Cl₂N₄O₁₂P₄²⁻, (III), chain–chain interactions involving phosphono (–PO₃H₂) and phosphonate (–PO₃H⁻) groups are dominant in determining the crystal packing. The crystals of (Ia) and (III) comprise similar ribbons, which are held together by N—H...O interactions, by water‐ or cation‐mediated contacts, and by π–π interactions between the aromatic rings of adjacent zwitterions in (Ia), and those of the cations and anions in (III). The crystals of (Ib) and (II) have a layered architecture: the former exhibits highly corrugated monolayers perpendicular to the [100] direction, while in the latter, flat bilayers parallel to the (001) plane are formed. In both (Ib) and (II), the interlayer contacts are realised through N—H...O hydrogen bonds and weak C—H...O interactions involving aromatic C atoms.     

Catalytic asymmetric aza-Darzens reaction with a vaulted biphenanthrol magnesium phosphate salt

Conditions for a catalytic asymmetric aza-Darzens aziridine synthesis mediated by a vaulted biphenanthrol (VAPOL) magnesium phosphate salt is described. Using simple substrates, this methodology explores the scope and reactivity of a new magnesium catalyst for an aziridination reaction capable of building chirality and complexity simultaneously.     

Surface swabbing technique for the rapid screening for pesticides using ambient pressure desorption ionization with high-resolution mass spectrometry

A rapid screening method for pesticides has been developed to promote more efficient processing of produce entering the United States. Foam swabs were used to recover a multiclass mixture of 132 pesticides from the surfaces of grapes, apples, and oranges. The swabs were analyzed using direct analysis in real time (DART) ionization coupled with a high‐resolution Exactive Orbitrap? mass spectrometer. By using a DART helium temperature gradient from 100–350°C over 3 min, a minimal separation of analytes based on volatility differences was achieved. This, combined with the Exactive's mass resolution of 100 000, allowed the chromatographic step, along with the typical compositing and extraction steps associated with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) approaches, to be eliminated. Detection of 86% of the analytes present was consistently achieved at levels of 2 ng/g (per each apple or orange) and 10 ng/g (per grape). A resolution study was conducted with four pairs of isobaric compounds analyzed at a mass resolution of 100 000. Baseline separation was achieved with analyte ions differing in mass by 25 ppm and analyte ions with a mass difference of 10 ppm were partially resolved. In addition, field samples that had undergone traditional sample preparation using QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, rugged, and safe) were analyzed using both LC/MS and DART‐MS and the results from the two techniques were found to be comparable in terms of identification of the pesticides present. The use of swabs greatly increased sample throughput by reducing sample preparation and analysis time. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stereospecific ring expansion of chiral vinyl aziridines

In this report, it is demonstrated that chiral vinyl aziridines can be stereospecifically ring expanded. This synthetic approach allows controlled access to chiral 2,5-cis- or 2,5-trans-3-pyrroline products from starting materials with the appropriate aziridine geometry. Twenty three ring expansion examples, most of which feature a stereospecific cyclization, are presented.