Calculation of stacking geometries by a modified MM2 method

The MM2 method has been modified using a three‐center charge model aimed at determining stacking geometries. The stacking interactions for the benzene dimer, porphine dimer, and bis(4,5‐diazafluoren‐9‐one thiosemicarbazonato)palladium(II) have been assessed with both the three‐center charge model and the conventional single‐center charge model using the MM2 method. The modified MM2 method always gave better results than the conventional method, and the obtained structures by the former method are in good agreement with the proposed structures from those theoretical and experimental results. The possible advantages of using the three‐center charge model for complex systems are also discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 835–845, 2001     

A linear relationship between electronegativity of 2′-substituents and conformation of adenine nucleosides

From the ¹H NMR studies of various 2′-substituted 2′-deoxyadenosines, a relationship between electronegativity of substituents and conformation of the sugar moiety was elucidated.     

Facile hydrogenation of aromatic nuclei with sodium borohydriderhodium chloride in hydroxylic solvents

Sodium borohydride-rhodium chloride in hydroxylic solvent was proved to be very useful for the reduction of aromatic nuclei to the corresponding saturated cycles under mild conditions.     

Trifluoromethylation of Tocopherols

γ- and δ-Tocopherol were converted to iodo compounds, which were trifluoromethylated with trifluoromethyl iodide and copper powder in HMPA.     

Geometric phase effects in the coherent control of the branching ratio of photodissociation products of phenol

Optimal control simulation is used to examine the control mechanisms in the photodissociation of phenol within a two-dimensional, three-electronic-state model with two conical intersections. This model has two channels for H-atom elimination, which correspond to the (2)pi and (2)sigma states of the phenoxyl radical. The optimal pulse that enhances (2)sigma dissociation initially generates a wave packet on the S(1) potential-energy surface of phenol. This wave packet is bifurcated at the S(2)-S(1) conical intersection into two components with opposite phases because of the geometric phase effect. The destructive interference caused by the geometric phase effect reduces the population around the S(1)-S(0) conical intersection, which in turn suppresses nonadiabatic transitions and thus enhances dissociation to the (2)sigma limit. The optimal pulse that enhances S(0) dissociation, on the other hand, creates a wave packet on the S(2) potential-energy surface of phenol via an intensity borrowing mechanism, thus avoiding geometric phase effects at the S(2)-S(1) conical intersection. This wave packet hits the S(1)-S(0) conical intersection directly, resulting in preferred dissociation to the (2)pi limit. The optimal pulse that initially prepares the wave packet on the S(1) potential-energy surface (PES) has a higher carrier frequency than the pulse that prepares the wave packet on the S(2) PES. This counterintuitive effect is explained by the energy-level structure and the S(2)-S(1) vibronic coupling mechanism.     

Thioridazine induces immediate and delayed erythema in photopatch test

Thioridazine is a phenothiazine derivative that has been used as an antipsychotic; it rarely causes photosensitization. However, we noticed that this drug induced an erythematous reaction in a photopatch test. Six volunteers were patch tested with various concentrations of thioridazine and irradiated with a range of UVA doses, and the time courses of the color of and blood flow to the test sites were monitored. The free-radical metabolites of thioridazine generated under UVA irradiation and its effects on ascorbate radical formation were examined with an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer in vitro. As a result, immediate erythema developed during UVA irradiation in most subjects when 1% thioridazine was applied for 48 h and irradiation doses were higher than 4 J cm(-2). Another peak of erythematous reaction was observed 8-12 h after irradiation. The in vitro examination detected an apparent EPR signal, which appeared when 2 mM thioridazine in air-saturated phosphate buffer was irradiated with UVA, whereas this reaction was attenuated under anaerobic conditions. The EPR signal of the ascorbate radical was augmented under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Thioridazine-derived oxidants and/or thioridazine radicals generated during UVA irradiation seem to play an important role in this unique phototoxic reaction.     

Construction of Helical J‐Aggregates Self‐Assembled from a Thymidylic Acid Appended Anthracene Dye and DNA as a Template

Driven round the twist by DNA : One‐dimensional helical J‐aggregates are formed by the self‐assembly of thymidylic acid appended anthracene dye (shown in red and yellow) in the presence of complementary single‐stranded oligoadenylic acid (shown in green and blue) in an aqueous solution.