[5‐Bromo‐N‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)salicylideniminato]dimethyltin(IV)

The structure of the title di­methyl­tin(IV) complex, [2‐(5‐bromo‐2‐oxido­benzyl­idene­amino)­benzoato‐κ³O,N,O′]di­methyl­tin(IV), [Sn(CH₃)₂(C₁₄H₈BrNO₃)], features centrosymmetric dimers disposed about a central Sn₂O₂ core. Each Sn centre has seven‐coordinate pentagonal–bipyramidal geometry, taking into account two moderately long Sn—O contacts about an inversion centre [2.679 (4) and 2.981 (4) Å]. The methyl groups are in an axial orientation.     

New family of aminophenalenyl-based neutral radical molecular conductors: synthesis, structure, and solid state properties

We report the preparation, crystallization, and solid-state characterization of the first members of a new family of spiro-bis-(1,9-diamino-substituted-phenalenyl)boron neutral radicals. The crystal structures show that the three radicals are monomeric and without close contacts in the crystal lattice. In all cases magnetic susceptibility measurements confirm the presence of free radicals with one unpaired spin per molecule. Two of the new radical compounds are among the most highly conducting neutral organic solids, with room-temperature conductivities reaching sigma(RT) = 4 x 10(-2) S/cm. The measured conductivities correlate with the closest intermolecular contacts in the solid state and with the calculated band dispersions, even though the bandwidths are much smaller than those found in other organic conductors.     

Kinetics of acid-induced spectral changes in the GFPmut2 chromophore

We have used a nanosecond pH-jump technique, coupled with simultaneous transient absorption and fluorescence emission detection, to characterize the dynamics of the acid-induced spectral changes in the GFPmut2 chromophore. Disappearance of the absorbance at 488 nm and the green fluorescence emission occurs with a thermally activated, double exponential relaxation. To understand the source of the two transients we have introduced mutations in amino acid residues that interact with the chromophore (H148G, T203V, and E222Q). Results indicate that the faster transient is associated with proton binding from the solution, while the second process, smaller in amplitude, is attributed to structural rearrangement of the amino acids surrounding the chromophore. The protonation rate shows a 3-fold increase for the H148G mutant, demonstrating that His148 plays a key role in protecting the chromophore from the solvent. The deprotonation rate for T203V is an order of magnitude smaller, showing that the hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl of Thr203 is important in stabilizing the deprotonated form of the chromophore. A kinetic model suggests that, in addition to protecting the chromophore from the solvent, His148 may act as the primary acceptor for the protons on the way to the chromophore.     

C2-symmetric bisprolinamide as a highly efficient catalyst for direct aldol reaction

[reaction: see text] The catalytic activity of the prolinamide-type catalysts may be improved by introducing additional prolinamide moiety into the catalyst, while the enantioselectivity can still be maintained or further improved. A C2-symmetric bisprolinamide with two prolinamide moieties has been found to be an excellent catalyst for direct aldol reaction with more than doubled reactivity and better asymmetric induction than its monoprolinamide counterpart.     

Palladium catalyzed synthesis of Ca indicators with aryl bithiophene and terthiophene fluorophores

Five new fluorescent indicators for Ca²⁺ were synthesized using the Stille reaction. They all consist of the tricarboxylate chelator APTRA (o-aminophenol-N,N,O-triacetic acid) linked to a (substituted) bithiophene or terthiophene fluorophore. The dissociation constants K_d measured via fluorimetric titrations at 21 °C in 100 mM KCl buffered solution, pH 7.05, for the Ca²⁺ complexes with the new probes are in the range between 10 and 40 μM.     

Contribution to the study of the mechanism of directed remote-metalation. Evidence for the intermediacy of a geminal dimetallo dialkoxide C(OM)2 (M = Li, K), first doubly charged director of ortho metalation

The mechanism of the metalation of 2-biphenyl carboxylic acid (1) with the Lochmann-Schlosser superbase was determined by deuteriolysis. Both ortho (C(3)) and remote (C(2')) positions are metalated. The C(2')-metalated species 2 cyclizes instantaneously. Under suitable conditions, the doubly charged geminal dimetallo dialkoxide group C(OM)(2) 4 directs metalation in the adjacent position (C(1)), affording a stable 1-metallo-9H-fluorene-9,9-dimetallo dialkoxide 5 that can be trapped by diverse electrophiles to give 1-substituted 9H-fluoren-9-ones 7 and 9 after acidic workup. [structure: see text]     

Unusual Salt‐Induced Color Modulation through Aggregation‐Induced Emission Switching of a Bis‐cationic Phenylenedivinylene‐Based π Hydrogelator

The synthesis, hydrogelation, and aggregation‐induced emission switching of the phenylenedivinylene bis‐N‐octyl pyridinium salt is described. Hydrogelation occurs as a consequence of π‐stacking, van der Waals, and electrostatic interactions that lead to a high gel melting temperature and significant mechanical properties at a very low weight percentage of the gelator. A morphology transition from fiber‐to‐coil‐to‐tube was observed depending on the concentration of the gelator. Variation in the added salt type, salt concentrations, or temperature profoundly influenced the order of aggregation of the gelator molecules in aqueous solution. Formation of a novel chromophore assembly in this way leads to an aggregation‐induced switch of the emission colors. The emission color switches from sky blue to white to orange depending upon the extent of aggregation through mere addition of external inorganic salts. Remarkably, the salt effect on the assembly of such cationic phenylenedivinylenes in water follow the behavior predicted from the well‐known Hofmeister effects. Mechanistic insights for these aggregation processes were obtained through the counterion exchange studies. The aggregation‐induced emission switching that leads to a room‐temperature white‐light emission from a single chromophore in a single solvent (water) is highly promising for optoelectronic applications.