EXCITATION ENERGY TRANSFER IN THE CRYPTOPHYTES. FLUORESCENCE EXCITATION SPECTRA AND PICOSECOND TIME-RESOLVED EMISSION SPECTRA OF INTACT ALGAE AT 77 K

Excitation spectra of chlorophyll- a (Chl- a ) fluorescence in intact cells of Cryptomonas ovata, Chroomonas pauciplastida and Chroomonas salina were determined at 77 K. For all species the excitation spectra for emission from Chl- a associated with photosystem II (PSII) showed increased contributions by a carotenoid (493 nm) and phycobiliproteins, and decreased contributions by carotenoid (417 nm, 505 nm) and Chl- a (445 nm) as compared to excitation spectra for emission from Chl- a associated with photosystem I (PSI). Excitation spectra of C. salina and C. ovata showed an increased contribution by Chl- c ² to PSII Chl- a fluorescence emission. In all three species the absorbance band positions of Chl- a , as determined from the excitation spectra, were similar to those previously described in green plants. green algae and phycobilisome-containing organisms. Time-resolved 77 K fluorescence emission spectra of C. ovata and C. salina showed successive emission from both phycoerythrin and Chl- c ², PSII Chl- a , and PSI Chl- a. C. pauciplastida showed successive emission from phycocyanin, PSII Chl- a , and PSI Chl- a. Spectral red-shifts with time were observed for the phycobiliprotein peaks in all three species. The fluorescence decay of phycoerythrin in C. ovata and C. salina was faster than that of phycocyanin in C. pauciplastida. The results are discussed in relation to the organization of the antenna pigments of PSII and PSI in the cryptophyte algae.     

Excited-state characters and dynamics of [W(CO)(5)(4-cyanopyridine)] and [W(CO)(5)(piperidine)] studied by picosecond time-resolved IR and resonance Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations: roles of W --> L and W --> CO MLCT and LF excited states revised

The characters, dynamics, and relaxation pathways of low-lying excited states of the complexes [W(CO)(5)L] [L = 4-cyanopyridine (pyCN) and piperidine (pip)] were investigated using theoretical and spectroscopic methods. DFT calculations revealed the delocalized character of chemically and spectroscopicaly relevant molecular orbitals and the presence of a low-lying manifold of CO pi-based unoccupied molecular orbitals. Traditional ligand-field arguments are not applicable. The lowest excited states of [W(CO)(5)(pyCN)] are W --> pyCN MLCT in character. They are closely followed in energy by W --> CO MLCT states. Excitation at 400 or 500 nm populates the (3)MLCT(pyCN) excited state, which was characterized by picosecond time-resolved IR and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Excited-state vibrations were assigned using DFT calculations. The (3)MLCT(pyCN) excited state is initially formed highly excited in low-frequency vibrations which cool with time constants between 1 and 20 ps, depending on the excitation wavelength, solvent, and particular high-frequency nu(CO) or nu(CN) mode. The lowest excited states of [W(CO)(5)(pip)] are W --> CO MLCT, as revealed by TD-DFT interpretation of a nanosecond time-resolved IR spectrum that was measured earlier in a low-temperature glass (Johnson, F. P. A.; George, M. W.; Morrison, S. L.; Turner, J. J. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1995, 391-393). MLCT(CO) excitation involves transfer of electron density from the W atom and, to a lesser extent, the trans CO to the pi orbitals of the four cis CO ligands. Optical excitation into MLCT(CO) transition of either complex in fluid solution triggers femtosecond dissociation of a W-N bond, producing [W(CO)(5)(solvent)]. It is initially vibrationally excited both in nu(CO) and anharmonicaly coupled low-frequency modes. Vibrational cooling occurs with time constants of 16-22 ps while the intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution from the v = 1 nu(CO) modes is much slower, 160-220 ps. No LF excited states have been found for the complexes studied in a spectroscopically relevant range up to 6-7 eV. It follows that spectroscopy, photophysics, and photochemistry of [W(CO)(5)L] and related complexes are well described by an interplay of close-lying MLCT(L) and MLCT(CO) excited states. The high-lying LF states play only an indirect photochemical role by modifying potential energy curves of MLCT(CO) states, making them dissociative.     

Bromination of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles

The bromination of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles in 47% hydrobromic acid at elevated temperature has led to a general preparative method for the synthesis in high yield of otherwise difficulty accessible brominated 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles. The typical addition reaction is apparently eliminated under these reaction conditions and substitution takes place exclusively. Bromination of 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole occurs successively at positions 4 and 7. 4-Substituted 2,1,3-benzothia-diazoles are selectively brominated at position 7. 5-Bromo- and 5-methyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole are brominated consecutively at positions 4 and 7.     

Universal quenching of common fluorescent probes by water and alcohols

Although biological imaging is mostly performed in aqueous media, it is hardly ever considered that water acts as a classic fluorescence quencher for organic fluorophores. By investigating the fluorescence properties of 42 common organic fluorophores recommended for biological labelling, we demonstrate that H₂O reduces their fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime by up to threefold and uncover the underlying fluorescence quenching mechanism. We show that the quenching efficiency is significantly larger for red-emitting probes and follows an energy gap law. The fluorescence quenching finds its origin in high-energy vibrations of the solvent (OH groups), as methanol and other linear alcohols are also found to quench the emission, whereas it is restored in deuterated solvents. Our observations are consistent with a mechanism by which the electronic excitation of the fluorophore is resonantly transferred to overtones and combination transitions of high-frequency vibrational stretching modes of the solvent through space and not through hydrogen bonds. Insight into this solvent-assisted quenching mechanism opens the door to the rational design of brighter fluorescent probes by offering a justification for protecting organic fluorophores from the solvent via encapsulation.

Overtones and combinations of O–H vibrations in the solvent efficiently quench red-emitting fluorophores by resonant energy transfer.     

Evaluation of molecule-microbe interactions with capillary electrophoresis: procedures, utility and restrictions

Understanding the interactions between molecules and living organisms is of paramount importance for the evaluation of pharmaceutical activity, chemical toxicity and all manner of microbiological studies. The capability of capillary electrophoresis (CE) in the evaluation of molecule-microbe interactions is examined in the present paper. The fundamental chemical concept of the binding or association constant for molecular systems measured in free solution is discussed for biological systems where microorganisms uptake or associate with molecules from their environment. The heterogeneity of the living organisms must be understood and accounted for including differences related to semantics such as concentration units and the nature of the associations between two entities and large differences in the size and number of microorganisms as compared to molecules. Finally, the added complexity and even inhomogeneity of a cell compared to most molecular systems must be considered and possibly controlled. The binding of specific molecules to viruses is discussed. CE can be utilized to quickly determine if a molecule binds very strongly or not at all to a cell (i.e., a binary yes/no answer). This could be useful for initial high-throughput screening purposes when using capillary arrays, for example. CE can be useful for determining unusual (large) molecule/microbe stoichiometries. Finally, CE can sometimes be used to determine the size of binding constants (K(RL)) within certain limits provided experimental conditions can be formulated that minimize problems of biological heterogeneity.     

A novel general route for the preparation of enantiopure imidazolines

A novel procedure for the preparation of enantiopure 1,4-disubstituted 2-imidazolines is reported. Enantiopure beta-amino alcohols are converted into N-hydroxyethylamides, which are reacted with excess thionyl chloride, or with thionyl chloride followed by phosphorus pentachloride to yield N-chloroethylimidoyl chlorides. These intermediates are treated with amines and anilines to produce N-chloroethylamidines, which are converted into imidazolines upon workup with aqueous hydroxide. The method is simple and efficient and has been used to prepare a wide variety of enantiopure imidazolines, in a modular fashion, from readily available amino alcohols.     

The reaction of aldrin,photoaldrin and isodrin with phthaloyl peroxide

The reactions of aldrin and photoaldrin with phthaloyl peroxide in carbon tetrachloride provided the respective carbon tetrachloride adducts, epoxides and cyclic phthalates of the corresponding cis-diols.Under the same conditions isodrin yielded the half-cage ketone (14), the cyclic phthalate (17) and the novel half-cage adduct (15).     

Bis(fluoroalkyl)acrylic and methacrylic phosphate monomers, their polymers and some of their properties

Ten fluoromonomers of structure (R_FO)₂P(O)OCH₂CH₂OC(O)CRCH₂ were made in 30-64% yield by treating the chloridates (R_FO)₂P(O)Cl with HOCH₂CH₂OC(O)CRCH₂ in chloroform in the presence of triethylamine [R_F=CF₃CH₂, C₂F₅CH₂, C₃F₇CH₂, C₄F₉CH₂, C₄F₉CH₂CH₂ or C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂; R  H or Me]. The chloromonomer (CCl₃CH₂O)₂P(O)OCH₂CH₂OC(O)CHCH₂ was obtained analogously in 29% yield. Polymerisation of the acrylate monomers, but not the methacrylate monomers, could be effected using α-azoisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. Acrylic polymers having CF₃CH₂O, CCl₃CH₂O and C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂O side-chains were obtained as translucent rubbers. Specimens of cotton fabric were treated with solutions of the polymers, and average water and oil repellency ratings measured. Fabric coated with the polymer with the C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂O side-chain afforded protection from penetration of the test liquids. Treated fabrics were subjected to the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test according to BS EN ISO 4589-2 (1999): this test determines the point at which a material just burns in a volumetric flow of oxygen and nitrogen. The treated fabrics were more fire-resistant (LOI 22-29%) than the untreated fabric (LOI 18%). Fabric coated with the CCl₃CH₂O-based polymer can be considered fire-retardant (LOI 29%). The fluoromonomers were tested for anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and were found to be poor enzyme inhibitors; they are predicted to possess low acute toxicity.