Facile one pot synthesis of a range of reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents

The application of a universal synthetic strategy for the high yielding and facile synthesis of a wide range of functional RAFT agents including trithiocarbonates, xanthates and dithiocarbamates is described.     

Segmental order parameters in a nonionic surfactant lamellar phase studied with 1H-13C solid-state NMR

A lyotropic nonionic lamellar system composed of pentaethyleneglycol mono n-dodecyl ether and D(2)O was studied using natural abundance (13)C NMR under magic-angle spinning. Applying a two-dimensional recoupling method proposed by Dvinskikh (R-PDLF), (1)H-(13)C dipolar couplings were estimated over a range of temperatures (300-335 K), thus enabling analysis of structural changes in the liquid crystalline system. The results obtained are used to correlate the conformation and mobility of local sites in the surfactant molecule with overall changes in the lamellar structure.     

Comparable Photoreactivity of Hair Melanosomes,Eu‐ and Pheomelanins at Low Concentrations: Low Melanin a Risk Factor for UVA Damage and Melanoma?†

Melanin is known to be photoreactive and photoprotective, but its function in skin in vivo is still debated. Data is lacking of the effects of UVA irradiation on human skin melanosomes of different pigmentation, which have not been extensively degraded by isolation procedures. We have shown previously that melanosomes isolated from human oriental and black cat hair, and synthetic eumelanins, are photoreactive producing superoxide at low concentrations when exposed to UVA irradiation comparable to UK levels of sunlight. Here we investigated the UVA-irradiation of melanosomes, isolated from different colored human hair samples, using electron spin resonance spectroscopy and spin trapping. Comparable irradiation of synthetic pheomelanins synthesized from L-dopa and L-cysteine was also studied. An alkali method (5 min NaOH at 90 degrees C) could be used to isolate oriental hair melanosomes but was not suitable for auburn and blonde hair. Dithiothreitol and proteinase K resulted in melanin release from possible over-digestion of melanosomes; however, dithiothreitol and papain resulted in no melanin release and good melanosome yields with separation from residual keratin for brown, auburn and blonde hair. Melanosomes isolated by the latter method and synthetic pheomelanins were similar in UVA-photoreactivity at low concentrations, independent of hair color, and broadly comparable to synthetic melanins. Melanosome concentration at constant fluence may be more significant with respect to photodamage and UVA photocarcinogenesis (melanoma) via superoxide radical production than pigment type.     

Rearrangement of 3-membered 1,1,2-trifluorobromonium and iodonium ions and comparison of trifluorochloronium to fluorocarbenium ions

Reactions of chlorine (Cl(2)) with 4-halo-1,1,2-trifluorobut-1-enes (1, 2, or 3) give open-ion intermediates A and E that are in equilibrium. The open-chloronium ions (E) rearrange to a five-membered-ring halonium ion during ionic chlorination of 3 when the number-4 halo-substituent is iodine. Three-membered-ring bromonium and iodonium ions from alkenes 1, 2, or 3 are rather symmetrical and similar in structure. Quantum chemical calculations show that five-membered-ring halonium ion intermediates are 11 to 27 kcal/mol more stable than the three-membered-ring halonium ions or the open-ions A and E. The five-membered-ring intermediates lead to rearranged products. Rearranged products increase as the number-4 halogen (Z) becomes more nucleophilic (Z: Cl < Br < I). Open chloronium ions from ionic chlorination of terminal fluorovinyl alkenes are compared to the open ions generated by protons to similar alkenes.     

Uniform antibacterial cylindrical nanoparticles for enhancing the strength of nanocomposite hydrogels

Crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) was employed for the preparation of monodisperse cationic cylindrical nanoparticles with controllable sizes, which were subsequently explored for their effect on antibacterial activity and the mechanical properties of nanocomposite hydrogels. Poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-poly[2-(tert-butylamino) ethyl methacrylate] (PCL-b-PMMA-b-PTA) triblock copolymers were synthesized using combined ring-opening and RAFT polymerizations, and then self-assembled into polycationic cylindrical micelles with controllable lengths by epitaxial growth. The polycationic cylinders exhibited intrinsic cell-type-dependent antibacterial capabilities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria under physiological conditions, without quaternization or loading of any additional antibiotics. Furthermore, when the cylinders were combined into anionic alginate hydrogel networks, the mechanical response of the hydrogel composite was tunable and enhanced up to 51%, suggesting that cationic polymer fibers with controlled lengths are promising mimics of the fibrous structures in natural extracellular matrix to support scaffolds. Overall, this polymer fiber/hydrogel nanocomposite shows potential as an injectable antibacterial biomaterial, with possible application in implant materials as bacteriostatic agents or bactericides against various infections.     

Conformational stability of chlorocyclohexane from temperature-dependent FT-IR spectra of xenon solutions, r 0 structural parameters, and vibrational assignment

Variable temperature (?55 to ?105 °C) studies of the infrared spectra (4000–400 cm^?1) of chlorocyclohexane (c-C₆H₁₁Cl) dissolved in liquefied xenon have been carried out. The infrared spectra of the gas and solid have also been recorded from 4000–100 cm^?1. By analyzing six conformer pairs in the xenon solution, a standard enthalpy difference of 132 ± 13 cm^?1 (1.58 ± 0.16 kJ/mol) was obtained with the equatorial conformer the more stable form. At ambient temperature, the abundance of the axial conformer is 34 ± 1%. The potential surface describing the conformational interchange has been determined and the Fourier coefficients were obtained. From MP2 ab initio calculations utilizing various basis sets with and without diffuse functions, the equatorial conformer is predicted to be more stable by 161 ± 18 cm^?1 from the four largest basis set calculations, which is consistent with the experimental results. However, the average from the corresponding B3LYP density functional theory calculations is 274 ± 15 cm^?1 which is certainly too large. By utilizing the previously reported microwave rotational constants for two isotopomers (³⁵Cl, ³⁷Cl) combined with the structural parameters predicted from the MP2(full)/6-311+G(d,p) calculations, adjusted r ₀ structural parameters have been obtained. The determined heavy atom distances for the most stable chair-equatorial conformer in Å are: r ₀(C₁–C₇,₈) = 1.532(3); r ₀(C₇,₈–C₁₃,₁₄) = 1.536(3); r ₀(C₄–C₁₃,₁₄) = 1.524(3); and r ₀(C₄–Cl₆) = 1.802(5) and the angles in degrees: ∠C₁C₇,₈C₁₃,₁₄ = 111.3(5)º; ∠Cl₆C₄C₁₃,₁₄ = 109.7(5)º with the two dihedral angles ∠C₈C₁C₇C₁₃ = 56.3(10)º and ∠C₁₄C₄C₁₃C₇ = 56.7(10)º. These parameters are in good agreement with those reported earlier from microwave and electron diffraction studies where the CC and CH distances were all assumed to be equal. A few of the previously reported vibrational assignments have been corrected. The results of these spectroscopic and theoretical studies are discussed and compared to the corresponding results for some similar molecules.     

Vibrational spectra of anhydrous and monohydrated caffeine and theophylline molecules and crystals

Density functional theory and classical molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the vibrational spectra of caffeine and theophylline anhydrous and monohydrate molecules and those of their crystalline anhydrous and monohydrated states, with emphasis in the terahertz region of the spectra. To better understand the influence of water in the monohydrate crystal spectra, we analyze the vibrational spectra of water monomer, dimer, tetramer, and pentamer, and also those of liquid water at two different temperatures. In small water clusters, we observe the progressive addition of translational and librational modes to the terahertz region of the spectra. The water spectra predicted by rigid and flexible water models is examined with classical molecular dynamics, and the respective peaks, especially in the terahertz region, are compared with those found in the small clusters. Similar analysis done for caffeine and theophylline monohydrate molecules using density functional theory clearly shows the presence of water modes in the librational states and in the water stretching region. Molecular dynamics of caffeine and theophylline anhydrous and monohydrate crystals reveal the influence of vibrations from the molecule-molecule (caffeine or theophylline) crystal stacks and those from the water-molecule interactions found in the monohydrate molecules and new modes from molecule-molecule, water-molecule, and water-water hydrogen bonding interactions arising from collective effects in the crystal structure. Findings illustrate challenges of terahertz technology for the detection of specific substances in condensed phases.     

Sulfonium Salts as Acceptors in Electron Donor-Acceptor Complexes

The photoactivation of electron donor-acceptor complexes has emerged as a sustainable, selective and versatile strategy for the generation of radical species. Electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexation, however, imposes electronic constraints on the donor and acceptor components and this can limit the range of radicals that can be generated using the approach. New EDA complexation strategies exploiting sulfonium salts allow radicals to be generated from native functionality. For example, aryl sulfonium salts, formed by the activation of arenes, can serve as the acceptor components in EDA complexes due to their electron-deficient nature. This “sulfonium tag” approach relaxes the electronic constraints on the parent substrate and dramatically expands the range of radicals that can be generated using EDA complexation. In this review, these new applications of sulfonium salts will be introduced and the areas of chemical space rendered accessible through this innovation will be highlighted.     

Studies of finite molecular chains: synthesis, structural, magnetic and inelastic neutron scattering studies of hexa- and heptanuclear chromium horseshoes

We report the synthesis and structural characterisation of a family of finite molecular chains, specifically [{[R(2)NH(2)](3)[Cr(6)F(11)(O(2)CCMe(3))(10)]}(2)] (in which R=nPr 1, Et 2, nBu 3), [{Et(2)NH}(2){[Et(2)NH(2)](3)[Cr(7)F(12)(O(2)CCMe(3))(12)][HO(2)CCMe(3)](2)}(2)] (4), [{[Me(2)NH(2)](3)[Cr(6)F(11)(O(2)CCMe(3))(10)]2.5 H(2)O}(4)] (5) and [{[iPr(2)NH(2)](3)[Cr(7)F(12)(O(2)CCMe(3))(12)]}(2)] (6). The structures all contain horseshoes of chromium centres, with each Cr...Cr contact within the horseshoe bridged by a fluoride and two pivalates. The horseshoes are linked through hydrogen bonds to the secondary ammonium cations in the structure, leading to di- and tetra-horseshoe structures. Through magnetic measurements and inelastic neutron scattering studies we have determined the exchange coupling constants in 1 and 6. In 1 it is possible to distinguish two exchange interactions, J(A)=-1.1 meV and J(B)=-1.4 meV; J(A) is the exchange interactions at the tips of the horseshoe and J(B) is the exchange within the body of the horseshoe (1 meV=8.066 cm(-1)). For 6 only one interaction was needed to model the data: J=-1.18 meV. The single-ion anisotropy parameters for Cr(III) were also derived for the two compounds as: for 1, D(Cr)=-0.028 meV and |E(Cr)|=0.005 meV; for 6, D(Cr)=-0.031 meV. Magnetic-field-dependent inelastic neutron scattering experiments on 1 allowed the Zeeman splitting of the first two excited states and level crossings to be observed. For the tetramer of horseshoes (5), quantum Monte Carlo calculations were used to fit the magnetic susceptibility behaviour, giving two exchange interactions within the horseshoe (-1.32 and -1.65 meV) and a weak inter-horseshoe coupling of +0.12 meV. Multi-frequency variable-temperature EPR studies on 1, 2 and 6 have also been performed, allowing further characterisation of the spin Hamiltonian parameters of these chains.     

In search of efficient 5-endo-dig cyclization of a carbon-centered radical: 40 years from a prediction to another success for the Baldwin rules

Despite being predicted to be stereoelectronically favorable by the Baldwin rules, efficient formation of a C-C bond through a 5-endo-dig radical cyclization remained unknown for more than 40 years. This work reports a remarkable increase in the efficiency of this process upon beta-Ts substitution, which led to the development of an expedient approach to densely functionalized cyclic 1,3-dienes. Good qualitative agreement between the increased efficiency and stereoselectivity for the 5-endo-dig cyclization of Ts-substituted vinyl radicals and the results of density functional theory analysis further confirms the utility of computational methods in the design of new radical processes. Although reactions of Br atoms generated through photochemical Ts-Br bond homolysis lead to the formation of cyclic dibromide side products, the yields of target bromosulfones in the photochemically induced reactions can be increased by recycling the dibromide byproduct into the target bromosulfones through a sequence of addition/elimination reactions at the exocyclic double bond. Discovery of a relatively efficient radical 5-endo-dig closure, accompanied by a C-C bond formation, provides further support to stereoelectronic considerations at the heart of the Baldwin rules and fills one of the last remaining gaps in the arsenal of radical cyclizations.