Order from Chaos: Self‐Assembly of Nanoprism from a Mixture of Tetratopic Terpyridine‐Porphyrin Conformers

Porphyrins have been widely used in the self‐assembly of metallo‐supramolecules. In this study, we introduced 2,2':6,2"‐terpyridine (tpy) into a porphyrin core to synthesize a tetratopic building block with multiple conformers. During the self‐assembly with Zn(II), such a mixture of conformers was able to form a discrete nanoprism with all building blocks in one conformation. Detailed characterizations, including NMR, ESI‐MS and traveling‐wave ion mobility‐mass spectrometry (TWIM‐MS), all supported the formation of the desired assemblies. AFM and TEM further confirmed the dimensions of assembled nanoprisms. Moreover, the photophysical properties of the ligands and complexes were noticeably different depending upon size and metal ion center.     

PHOTOSENSITIVITY IN THE SKIN OF THE LIZARD, Anolis carolinensis

Skin of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis, is remarkably sensitive to light. Illuminated in vitro with visible light from a tungsten source (110 W (m-2)), skin changes from brilliant green to dark brown (50% reduction in reflectance) within 2-4 min as a result of dispersion of melanin from a perinuclear position within dermal melanophores into superficial dendritic processes. Reversal of the process, reaggregation of pigment, will occur within 2.0 min upon return to darkness. This photic response can be initiated with light levels as low as 5.0 W m(-2) and is maximized by light levels only 5% that of midwinter sunshine. Pigment dispersion in response to both melanocyte simulating hormone and to light is inhibited by cytochalasin-B, indicating that microfilaments may be the motor element for pigment movement in that direction. Colchicine, but not cytochalasin-B, totally blocks pigment reaggregation following melanocyte stimulating hormone exposure and partially blocks it in the dark phase of the photic response. The results of this study are consistent with a model for pigment movement in A. carolinensis that provides microfilaments for pigment dispersion and microtubule involvement in both dispersion and aggregation. Finally, because it is readily visible, easily quantified, rapid and reversible, photic response in the skin of A. carolinensis is recommended as a valuable model system for the study of saltatory movement of organelles within cells.     

Kinetics of free radical polymerization—XXXI. Solvent effect on the polymerization rate of ethyl acrylate

The free radical polymerization of ethyl acrylate was investigated in benzene and dimethyl formamide solutions at 50°. The effects of initiator and monomer concentration were studied over a wide range. The overall rate of polymerization was proportional to (initiator concentration)^{$\text{1}\text{2}$} but not to the concentration of the monomer. We attempted to interpret this solvent effect on the basis of (i) the diffusion theory, (ii) the theory of charge transfer complexes and (iii) the theory of hot radicals. Our experimental results could only be explained quantitatively in terms of hot radicals.     

Synthesis of Phosphaformamidines and Phosphaformamidinates

A large‐scale synthetic route to a variety of phosphaformamidines and phosphaformamidinates, a type of derivative that was not accessible by the methods previously known for preparing phosphaamidines and phosphaamidinates, is reported. Thermally stable ethyl N‐arylformimidates 1 (ArN?CH(OEt), Ar=2,4,6‐(Me)₃Ph or 2,6‐(iPr)₂Ph) readily reacted with lithium dialkyl‐ and diarylphosphanides to afford the corresponding N‐aryl phosphaformamidines in 80 and 60 % yield, respectively, whereas with lithium (aryl)(silyl)phosphanide, the N‐aryl‐N‐silylphosphaformamidine (60 % yield) was obtained. Addition of primary lithium arylphosphanides to 1 followed by addition of a stoichiometric amount of nBuLi gave rise to the respective phosphaformamidinates (70–88 % yield). Methanolysis of the products afforded the N‐aryl‐N‐hydrogenophosphaformamidines (90–95 % yield). The solid‐state structure of one of the phosphaformamidinates is also presented.     

Chemical Constituents from Cynoglossum gansuense

Two new alkaloids, i.e., (2,3‐dihydro‐1‐oxo‐1H‐pyrrolo[1,2‐a]pyrrol‐7‐yl)methyl (2S*,3S*)‐3‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)oxy]‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐(1‐methylethyl)butanoate ( 1 ) and 1,2‐dihydro‐8‐methoxy‐2‐oxoquinoline‐4‐carboxylic acid ( 2 ), were isolated from the alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Cynoglossum gansuense, together with twelve known compounds Their structures were characterized by means of spectroscopic methods, especially by ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and 2D‐NMR, as well as by HR‐MS experiments and comparison with literature data.     

Comparison of the Temperature Effect on the π∗←n and π∗←π Electronic Transition Bands of NO<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript>(aq)

The effect of temperature on the π∗←π transition band in the UV absorption spectrum of NO₃⁻(aq) centered at ≈200 nm was studied in the temperature range 10–70 ^∘C. The observed temperature independence of this band was in contrast to the significant influence of temperature on the nitrate π∗←n transition reported recently by us. However, taking into account the electronic states involved in both the transitions, it was concluded that this finding was in accordance with our previous assumption that interconversion between spectrally distinct (with respect to π∗←n band) nitrate species included the rupture/formation of hydrogen bond(s) in the hydration shell of the nitrate ion.     

Monodisperse chloromethyl-functionalized macroporous polymer particles by seeded polymerization in aqueous media

This study presents a method to produce monodisperse chloromethyl-functionalized macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) polymer particles by seeded polymerization in aqueous media. We observed that the molecular structure of polystyrene seed particles, the composition of the secondary monomer mixtures, and the type of solvents were very important factors that determine the morphology and porosity of the final particles. This study proposes that the molecular chemistry of polystyrene seed polymers, increasing molecular weight or crosslinking, is another factor that can control the porosity of the final particles. Also, the selection of a poor solvent was effective in forming the larger surface area. In this study, it was confirmed that the chloromethyl groups introduced on the surface of porous particles were quantified chemically and their effective incorporation had a close relationship with the surface area.     

Structural Changes of Cellulose Crystallites Induced by Mercerisation in Different Solvent Systems; Determined by Powder X-ray Diffraction Method

The completeness of mercerisation can be evaluated by investigating the changes in the crystalline regions of cellulose from cellulose I (C-I) to cellulose II (C-II) by the X-ray powder diffraction method. Mercerisation experiments in four different solution systems: ethanol/water, acetone, DMSO and xylene, are reported. Also the effect of some additives, external pressure, treatment time and alkalisation temperature were studied. In two-phase solvent systems, structural changes of cellulose crystallites depended primarily on the distribution and solubility of sodium hydroxide in the solvent phases. The sodium hydroxide concentration in the hydrophilic phase must exceed 7–8 w/w-% before complete crystal change from C-I to C-II can occur. The precipitation of sodium hydroxide due to high concentration prevents the successful use of one-phase ethanol/water system in slurry process. On the contrary, the 2-propanol/water/sodium hydroxide system separates into two layers; to the water-rich lower layer and the 2-propanol-rich upper layer, where the sodium hydroxide remains mainly in the water-rich lower layer. This prevents the precipitation of sodium hydroxide and promotes the alkalisation of cellulose. Ammonium chloride and ammonium hydroxide clearly had a positive effect by promoting the crystal changes, however, the urea concentration used in this study was obviously too small. In the advantageous two-phase 2-propanol/water systems, the alkalisation time was only 15 min when the treatment temperature was kept between 0 and 10 °C. Reduced external pressure was found to have a small but still detectable positive effect on cellulose alkalisation while over-pressure prevented crystal changes.     

Facile generation of platinum(IV) compounds with mixed labile moieties. Hydrogen peroxide oxidation of platinum(II) to platinum(IV) compounds

Hydrogen peroxide oxidation of platinum(II) compounds containing labile groups such as Cl, OH, and alkene moieties has been carried out and the products characterized. The reactions of [Pt^II (X)₂ (N–N)] (X = Cl, OH, X₂ = isopropylidenemalorate (ipm); N–N 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine [(dmpda), N-isopropyl-1,3-propanediamine (ippda)] with hydrogen peroxide in an appropriate solvent at room temperature affords [Pt^IV (OH)(Y)(X)₂(N–N)] (Y = OH, OCH₃). The crystal structures of [Pt^IV(OH)(OCH₃)(Cl)₂(dmpda)]·2H₂O (P-1 bar, a = 6.339(2) Å , b = 9.861(1) Å, c = 11.561(1) Å, a = 92.078(9)°, β = 104.78(1)°, γ=100.54(1)°, V = 684.3(2) ų, Z = 2R = 0.0503) and [Pt^IV(OH)₂(ipm)(ippda)]·3H₂O (C 2/c, a = 27.275(6) Å, b=6.954(2) Å, c = 22.331(4) Å, β = 118.30(2)°, V = 3729(2) ų, Z = 8, R = 0.0345) have been solved and refined. The local geometry around the platinum(IV) atom approximates to a typical octahedral arrangement with two added groups (OH and OCH₃; OH and OH) in a transposition. The platinum(IV) compounds with potential labile moieties may be important intermediate species for further reactions.