Spectroscopic Mimicry for the Protonated Retinal Schiff Base in vivo with Modified Amphiphilic Clay Interlayers as a Possible Model of Opsin Environment

Abstract— We have found that clay acts as a novel model matrix for the amphiphilic protein-opsin to mimic the visible absorption spectrum of a protonated retinal Schiff base (RSB) in vivo. Without strong acids at ambient temperature, a visible broad absorption spectrum with a LDmax at 530 nm covering the range from 400 to 680 nm was achieved for the protonated RSB with cationic surfactant-modified montmorillonite clay. The interlayers of the dimethyloctadecylamine (DOA) modified clay were found to provide amphiphilic space allowing the amphiphilic RSB to be intercalated easily and sequentially and protonated by the DOA. It is proposed that the visible absorption spectrum at LD, 530 nm was attributable to electrostatic effects, permitting the appropriate distance between the nitrogen of the protonated RSB and the negatively charged clay interlayers and also to the anisotropic orientation of the RSB molecules in the interlayers.     

Enhanced ternary 1:2 host–guest complexation of amino-γ-cyclodextrins with 2-anthracenecarboxylic acid

The complexation behavior of 6-amino-6-deoxy-γ-cyclodextrin (CD), 6^A,6^X-diamino-6^A,6^X-deoxy-γ-CDs and 3^A-amino-3^A-deoxy-altro-γ-CD with 2-anthracenecarboxylic acid (AC) was studied by NMR, UV–vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. These modified γ-CD derivatives were found to form stable 1:2 host-guest ternary complexes with AC in aqueous solution. Compared with native γ-CD, the primary-face-aminated γ-CDs exhibited remarkably enhanced overall association constants as a result of the additional electrostatic interactions between the oppositely charged host and guest. In contrast, the ternary complex formation of the secondary-face-aminated γ-CD with AC was hindered.     

Do Anionic π Molecules Aggregate in Solution? A Case Study with Multi-interactive Ligands and Network Formation

An anionic π molecule can form an aggregate when a multi-interactivity is introduced, in sharp contrast to common anionic molecules that are generally difficult to stack on each other. We found that a multi-interactive ligand, 2,5,8-tri(4′-pyridyl)-1,3,4,6,7,9-hexaazaphenalenate (TPHAP⁻) exhibited a large Stokes shift and an intramolecular charge transfer, both of which were sensitive to hydrogen-bonding media. An anionic potassium salt of TPHAP⁻ in methanol formed various aggregation states depending on the concentration examined; this was revealed by steady-state spectroscopic and fluorescence lifetime measurements. Self-assembling cadmium ions and the ligands can create several morphological crystals that are controlled by the ligand concentration, among which three new structures were determined by single-crystal analysis. The X-ray structures obtained suggest that the aggregation states of the ligand in solution can be transferred to the solid system of the porous coordination networks.     

Molecular Packing and Solid-State Photophysical Properties of 1,3,6,8-Tetraalkylpyrenes

The relationship between the photophysical properties and molecular orientation of 1,3,6,8-tetraalkylpyrenes in the solid state is described herein. The introduction of alkyl groups with different chain structures (in terms of length and branching) did not affect the photophysical properties in solution, but significantly shifted the emission wavelengths and fluorescence quantum yields in the solid state for some samples. Pyrenes bearing ethyl, isobutyl, or neopentyl groups at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 8-positions showed similar emission profiles in both the solution and solid states. In contrast, pyrenes bearing other alkyl groups exhibited an excimer emission in the solid state, similar to that of the parent pyrene. On studying the photophysical properties in the solid state with respect to the obtained crystal structures, the observed solid-state photophysical properties were found to depend on the relative position of the pyrene chromophores. The solid-state photophysical properties can be controlled by the alkyl groups, which provide changing crystal packing. Among the pyrenes tested, 1,3,6,8-tetraethylpyrene showed the highest fluorescence quantum yield of 0.88 in the solid state.     

Generalized Dedekind symbols associated with the Eisenstein series

We have shown recently that the space of modular forms, the space of generalized Dedekind sums, and the space of period polynomials are all isomorphic. In this paper, we will prove, under these isomorphisms, that the Eisenstein series correspond to the Apostol generalized Dedekind sums, and that the period polynomials are expressed in terms of Bernoulli numbers. This gives us a new more natural proof of the reciprocity law for the Apostol generalized Dedekind sums. Our proof yields as a by-product new polylogarithm identities.

     

Porous metal-organic framework with coordinatively unsaturated Mn(II) sites:sorption properties for various gases

A 3D porous metal-organic framework generating 1D channels, [Mn(NDC)(DEF)]n (1), has been prepared from the solvothermal reaction of Mn(II) and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (H2NDC) in diethylformamide (DEF). When DEF molecules coordinating Mn(II), which occupy the channels, are removed from 1 by heating the crystal of 1 at 250 degrees C under vacuum for 18 h, structural change occurs as evidenced by X-ray powder diffraction patterns. Desolvated solid [Mn(NDC)]n (2), which contains coordinatively unsaturated Mn(II) sites, reveals remarkable sorption capabilities for N2, H2, CO2, and CH4 gases and exhibits type I sorption behavior indicative of permanent microporosity.     

Hg cathode-free electrochemical detosylation of N,N-disubstituted p-toluenesulfonamides: mild, efficient, and selective removal of N-tosyl group

Hg cathode-free electrochemical detosylation of N,N-disubstituted p-toluenesulfonamides was successfully carried out by a constant current electrolysis using an undivided cell equipped with a platinum cathode and a magnesium anode in the presence of an arene mediator. The deprotection proceeded efficiently and selectively under neutral and mild conditions with a stoichiometric amount of electricity without the use of an Hg cathode to obtain the corresponding secondary amines in good to excellent yields.     

The development of a knowledge base for basic active structures: an example case of dopamine agonists

Background  

Chemical compounds affecting a bioactivity can usually be classified into several groups, each of which shares a characteristic substructure. We call these substructures "basic active structures" or BASs. The extraction of BASs is challenging when the database of compounds contains a variety of skeletons. Data mining technology, associated with the work of chemists, has enabled the systematic elaboration of BASs.