Alkyl Chain Length- and Polymorph-Dependent Photomechanochromic Fluorescence of Anthracene Photodimerization in Molecular Crystals: Role of the Lattice Stiffness

Anthracene–pentiptycene hybrid systems 1-Cn , where n refers to the number of carbon atoms in the linear alkyl chain, crystallize in three different polymorphs, denoted Y (yellow), G (green), and B (blue) forms in terms of the fluorescence color. While all Y-form crystals show the same yellow-to-blue fluorescence color response to the photomechanical stress generated by the anthracene [4+4] photodimerization reaction, the four G forms exhibit distinct photomechanofluorochromism (PMFC): from green to blue for G-1-C4 , to orange for G-1-C7 , to red for G-1-C8 , and to red then blue for G-1-C9 , and the B forms show no photochromic activity. The intriguing RGB three-color PMFC and abnormal topochemical reactivity of G-1-C9 are attributed to inherent softness of the crystal lattice.     

Total Syntheses of (−)-Secologanin, (−)-5-Carboxystrictosidine,and (−)-Rubenine

The first enantioselective total syntheses of (−)-secologanin ( 1 ), (−)-5-carboxystrictosidine ( 2 ), and (−)-rubenine ( 3 ) were accomplished in 10, 9, and 14 steps, respectively. The key transformation in the synthesis of 1 was a sequential anti-selective organocatalytic Michael reaction/Fukuyama reduction/spontaneous cyclization to form an optically active dihydropyran ring. In addition, the secologanin tetraacetate ( 16 ), which is a potential key intermediate for the bioinspired divergent syntheses of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, was prepared in gram-scale in seven steps. The total syntheses of 2 and 3 , which are classified as glycosylated monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, were achieved through bioinspired transformations such as a diastereoselective Pictet–Spengler reaction, a site- and stereoselective epoxidation, and a site-selective epoxide ring-opening followed by a lactonization reaction.     

Validation of an MPC Polymer Coating to Attenuate Surface‐Induced Crosstalk between the Complement and Coagulation Systems in Whole Blood in In Vitro and In Vivo Models

Artificial surfaces that come into contact with blood induce an immediate activation of the cascade systems of the blood, leading to a thrombotic and/or inflammatory response that can eventually cause damage to the biomaterial or the patient, or to both. Heparin coating has been used to improve hemocompatibility, and another approach is 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)‐based polymer coatings. Here, the aim is to evaluate the hemocompatibility of MPC polymer coating by studying the interactions with coagulation and complement systems using human blood in vitro model and pig in vivo model. The stability of the coatings is investigated in vitro and MPC polymer‐coated catheters are tested in vivo by insertion into the external jugular vein of pigs to monitor the catheters' antithrombotic properties. There is no significant activation of platelets or of the coagulation and complement systems in the MPC polymer‐coated one, which was superior in hemocompatibility to non‐coated matrix surfaces. The protective effect of the MPC polymer coat does not decline after incubation in human plasma for up to 2 weeks. With MPC polymer‐coated catheters, it is possible to easily draw blood from pig for 4 days in contrast to the case for non‐coated catheters, in which substantial clotting is seen.     

On relative length of longest paths and cycles

For a graph G, p(G) and c(G) denote the order of a longest path and a longest cycle of G, respectively. In this paper, we prove that if G is a 3 ‐connected graph of order n such that the minimum degree sum of four independent vertices is at least n+ 6, then p(G)?c(G)?2. By considering our result and the results in [J Graph Theory 20 (1995), 213–225; Amer Math Monthly 67 (1950), 55], we propose a conjecture which is a generalization of Bondy's conjecture. Furthermore, using our result, for a graph satisfying the above conditions, we obtain a new lower bound of the circumference and establish Thomassen's conjecture. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 62, 279–291, 2009     

Site-selective formation of optically active inclusion complexes of alkoxo-subphthalocyanines with beta-cyclodextrin at the toluene/water interface

Several subphthalocyanine derivatives that contain an alkoxo substituent as an axial ligand (RO-Subpc, R = 9-anthracenemethyl, benzyl, phenyl, 3,5-dimethylbenzyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 4-methylbenzyl, and 4-methylphenyl) were synthesized. The formation of inclusion complexes of RO-Subpc with beta-CD in DMSO and at the toluene/water interface was investigated by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, induced circular dichroism (ICD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. Interfacial tension measurements suggested that beta-CD adsorbed as a monolayer at the toluene/water interface and probably orientated towards the toluene phase with its primary face. The 1:1 composition of beta-CD.RO-Subpc inclusion complexes was confirmed in DMSO and at the toluene/water interface for BzO-Subpc, PhO-Subpc, MeBzO-Subpc, and MePhO-Subpc. A 2:1 inclusion complex of AnO-Subpc formed in DMSO. The observed ICD spectra of beta-CDRO-Subpc inclusion complexes are discussed with respect to molecular modeling and the simulation based on Tinoco-Kirkwood theory. Interestingly, the ICD spectra of beta-CD.BzO-Subpc and beta-CD.MeBzO-Subpc inclusion complexes exhibited a negative sign in DMSO and a positive sign at the toluene/water interface. This reversal of the ICD sign strongly suggests a difference in the structure of the inclusion complexes: beta-CD at the interface formed the inclusion complex with its primary face, whereas the secondary face of beta-CD bound favorably to RO-Subpc in DMSO.     

Infrared and electronic spectroscopy of a model system for the nucleophilic substitution intermediate in the gas phase: the C-N valence bond formation in the benzene-ammonia cluster cation

Infrared and electronic spectroscopy was applied to the benzene-ammonia cluster cation in the gas phase, and the observed spectra revealed the formation of a new C-N valence bond between the benzene and ammonia moieties, which has been predicted by the quantum chemical calculations (Tachikawa, H. Phys. Chem. Chem.Phys. 2002, 4, 6018). This cluster cation is regarded as a model for the cyclohexadienyl type intermediate in nucleophilic substitution reactions.     

Liquid structure and preferential solvation of metal ions in solvent mixtures of N,N-dimethylformamide and N-methylformamide

Raman spectra of aprotic N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and protic N-methylformamide (NMF) mixtures containing manganese(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II) perchlorate were obtained, and the individual solvation numbers around the metal ions were determined over the whole range of solvent compositions. Variation profiles of the individual solvation numbers with solvent composition showed no significant difference among the metal systems examined. In all of these metal systems, no preferential solvation occurs in mixtures with DMF mole fraction of x(DMF) < 0.5, whereas DMF preferentially solvates the metal ions at x(DMF) > 0.5. The liquid structure of the mixtures was also studied by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. SANS experiments demonstrate that DMF molecules do not appreciably self-aggregate in the mixtures over the whole range of solvent composition. Low-frequency Raman spectroscopy suggests that DMF molecules are extensively hydrogen-bonded with NMF in NMF-rich mixtures, whereas NMF molecules extensively self-aggregate in DMF-rich mixtures, although the liquid structure in neat NMF is partly ruptured. The bulk solvent structure in the mixtures thus varies with solvent composition, which plays a decisive role in developing the varying profiles of the individual solvation numbers of metal ions in the solvent mixtures.     

Supramolecular assemblies and redox modulation of pyromellitic diimide-based cyclophane via noncovalent interactions with naphthol

This paper reports the electroscopic and electrochemical properties of [2 + 2] pyromellitic diimide-based cyclophane 1 as well as acyclic N,N'-bis(2-methoxybenzyl)pyromellitic diimide 2 and the clathrate compounds formed by 1. Compound 1 was synthesized by direct cyclocondensation. Its structure was determined by an X-ray crystallographic analysis of a single crystal obtained by recrystallization from DMF. The intramolecular charge-transfer interactions of 1 and 2 were characterized by UV/vis spectroscopy and MO calculations. The UV/vis spectra showed that the tail of a longer wavelength absorption of both 1 and 2 reached the visible region. MO calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*) showed that the HOMO and LUMO orbitals of 1 and 2 substantially localize in the xylyl and pyromellitic diimide moieties across the methylene linker, respectively. The X-ray crystallographic analyses demonstrated that single crystals grown from a mixture of 1 and alpha-naphthol and a mixture of 1 and beta-naphthol were the clathrate compounds with 1D and 2D supramolecular assemblies, respectively, which are formed by a combination of hydrogen-bonding and charge-transfer interactions. From the cyclic voltammetry measurements, both 1 and 2 showed reversible reduction processes, and the reduction potential observed at -1.09 V vs Ag/Ag+ for 2 split into two potentials at -1.01 and -1.14 V for 1. The addition of alpha- and beta-naphthol induced a decrease in the potentials due to the diradical anion of 1 and radical anion of 2 by about 80 mV, and their reduction processes were reversible.