The origin of unidirectional charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centers: nonadiabatic quantum dynamics of exciton and charge in pigment–protein complexes

Exciton charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centers from purple bacteria (PbRC) and photosystem II (PSII) occurs exclusively along one of the two pseudo-symmetric branches (active branch) of pigment–protein complexes. The microscopic origin of unidirectional charge separation in photosynthesis remains controversial. Here we elucidate the essential factors leading to unidirectional charge separation in PbRC and PSII, using nonadiabatic quantum dynamics calculations in conjunction with time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) with the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics/polarizable continuum model (QM/MM/PCM) method. This approach accounts for energetics, electronic coupling, and vibronic coupling of the pigment excited states under electrostatic interactions and polarization of whole protein environments. The calculated time constants of charge separation along the active branches of PbRC and PSII are similar to those observed in time-resolved spectroscopic experiments. In PbRC, Tyr-M210 near the accessary bacteriochlorophyll reduces the energy of the intermediate state and drastically accelerates charge separation overcoming the electron–hole interaction. Remarkably, even though both the active and inactive branches in PSII can accept excitons from light-harvesting complexes, charge separation in the inactive branch is prevented by a weak electronic coupling due to symmetry-breaking of the chlorophyll configurations. The exciton in the inactive branch in PSII can be transferred to the active branch via direct and indirect pathways. Subsequently, the ultrafast electron transfer to pheophytin in the active branch prevents exciton back transfer to the inactive branch, thereby achieving unidirectional charge separation.

Essential factors leading to unidirectional charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centers are clarified via nonadiabatic quantum dynamics calculations.     

Alkyl chain branching in ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer

Ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymers contain two kinds of side chains: acetoxy branches originating from incorporated vinyl acetate and alkyl branches. The alkyl branching was determined by infrared analysis after converting the ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer to a hydrocarbon polymer by three steps: hydrolysis, iodation with hydriodic acid containing red phosphorus, and reductive hydrogenation with lithium aluminum hydride. It was found that physical properties such as stiffness were dependent both on the degree of alkyl chain branching and on vinyl acetate content.     

Addition reactions of cyclooctatetraene with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran the benzene ring as dienophile in a [4+2] cycloaddition reaction

Addition reactions of cyclooctatetraene with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran resulted in the formation of three 1:1 cycloadducts, 1, 2, and 3, and a 1:2 cycloadduct, 4. Single crystal x-ray analysis established 3 to be a cage compound formed by an unprecedented [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of 1 in which the double bond of the benzene moiety acted as the dienophile.     

Effect of explicit cationic size and valence constraints on the phase stability of 1:2 B-site-ordered perovskite ruthenates

The related parameters of cation size and valence that control the crystallization of Sr(3)CaRu(2)O(9) into a 1:2 B-site-ordered perovskite structure were explored by cationic substitution at the strontium and calcium sites and by the application of high pressure. At ambient pressures, Sr(3)MRu(2)O(9) stoichiometries yield multiphasic mixtures for M = Ni(2+), Mg(2+), and Y(3+), whereas pseudocubic perovskites result for M = Cu(2+) and Zn(2+). For A-site substitutions, an ordered perovskite structure results for Sr(3-x)Ca(x)CaRu(2)O(9), with 0 相似文献   

Adsorption characteristics of radionuclides on nickel hexacyanoferrate(ii)

The composition of nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) complexes depends on the ratios of sodium hexacyanoferrate(II) and nickel nitrate solutions mixed. The adsorption behavior of nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) is described; acid treatment of Ni₂Fe(CN)₆ accelerates the adsorption rate of cesium, but does not increase the adsorption capacity. The Ni—Cs exchange ratios of Ni₂Fe(CN)₆ are discussed. In concentrated salt solutions, the distribution coefficients of ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn. ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁵Zr and ¹⁴⁴Ce are determined together with those of ⁸⁵Sr and ¹⁰⁶Ru. A simple determination of ¹³⁷Cs in sea water containing ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁹⁵Zr, ¹⁴⁴Ce, ⁸⁵Sr and ¹⁰⁶Ru is described.     

Asymmetric skeletal rearrangement of symmetrically alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino aldehydes: a new entry to optically active alpha-hydroxy ketones

A unique asymmetric skeletal rearrangement of symmetrically alpha,alpha-disubstituted alpha-amino aldehydes has been accomplished for the first time using a chiral organoaluminum Lewis acid 1. For instance, treatment of (S)-2,2'-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonylamino)-1,1'-binaphthyl with Me3Al (1.0 equiv) in toluene at room temperature for 15 min and at 110 degrees C for an additional 15 min produced (S)-1, and a subsequent reaction with alpha -amino aldehyde 2a (R = CH2Ph) at -78 degrees C for 4 h and at -40 degrees C for 12 h resulted in the smooth rearrangement to the zwitterionic iminium intermediate A, which furnished the alpha-hydroxy ketone 3a (R = CH2Ph) in 93% isolated yield with 95% ee (S) after acidic hydrolysis. This result, together with other representative examples, clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the present method for the hitherto difficult asymmetric synthesis of acyloins. Furthermore, we found that the treatment of the in situ generated A with DIBAH afforded the corresponding anti amino alcohol exclusively without loss of enantiomeric excess. Our approach casts light on the previously unexplored yet potential utility of alpha-amino aldehydes as synthetic building blocks and also provides a new entry to optically active alpha-hydroxy ketones and 1,2-amino alcohols.     

Antioxidant effects of hydroxybenzalacetones on peroxynitrite-induced lipid peroxidation in red blood cell membrane ghost and SOS response in Salmonella typhimurium TA4107/pSK1002

Antioxidant activity of a series of hydroxybenzalacetones was determined against peroxynitrite-induced lipid peroxidation in red blood cell membrane and SOS response through DNA damage in bacterial cells. Hydroxybenzalacetone derivatives with hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy or methyl substitution were analyzed and found to be more effective than the water-soluble vitamin E analogue Trolox. The inhibitory effect against lipid peroxidation correlated well to that against the SOS response, which is dependent on decomposition of peroxynitrite by hydroxybenzalacetones outside of the cell membrane. The antioxidant activity was shown to correlate well with the electric parameter sigma+. Electron-donating substituents with more negative sigma+ values increased the potencies. The result suggests that hydroxybenzalacetones with more electron-donating substituents will protect tissue more effectively against oxidative stress.     

Efficient synthesis of 2-modified 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D3 with Julia olefination: high potency in induction of differentiation on HL-60 cells

Six novel 2-substituted analogues of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3), 6a,b-8a,b, were efficiently synthesized utilizing (-)-quinic acid as the A-ring precursor. The C2-modified A-rings were prepared as 4-alkylated (3R,5R)-3,5-dihydroxycyclohexanones 12-15 from (-)-quinic acid based on radical allylation at the C4 position of methyl (-)-quinicate. The new type of the CD-ring coupling partner 23 was synthesized from 25-hydroxy Grundmann's ketone 19 to apply to the modified Julia olefination to construct a diene unit between the A-ring and the CD-ring. The coupling yields, including a deprotection step, were 47-62%. After the separation of the diastereomers based on C2 stereochemistry, the structure (2alpha or 2beta) was determined by (1)H NMR experiments and compared to DeLuca's 2-methyl- and 2-ethyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3). Thus, the synthesized 2alpha-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3) (8a) showed almost the same potency in binding to the bovine thymus vitamin D receptor (VDR) as the natural hormone 1, while its beta-isomer 8b had only a 3% affinity. Both 2alpha-allyl- and 2alpha-propyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3) (6a and 7a) and their 2beta-analogues (6b and 7b) possessed a weak affinity for the VDR. The strong VDR ligand 8a was ca. 36-fold more potent in induction of HL-60 cell differentiation than 1, and interestingly, even the weaker ligand 8b showed a 6.7-fold higher potency in the cell differentiation activity than that of 1.     

Medicinal flowers. VI. Absolute stereostructures of two new flavanone glycosides and a phenylbutanoid glycoside from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L.: their inhibitory activities for rat lens aldose reductase

Two new flavanone glycosides, (2S)- and (2R)-eriodictyol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acids, and a new phenylbutanoid glycoside, (2S, 3S)-1-phenyl-2,3-butanediol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L. cultivated in China together with eight flavonoids. The absolute stereostructures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Both of the new flavanone glycosides were found to show inhibitory activity for rat lens aldose reductase.     

Conformationally controlled (entropy effects), stereoselective vibrational quenching of singlet oxygen in the oxidative cleavage of oxazolidinone-functionalized enecarbamates through solvent and temperature variations

On photooxygenation (methylene blue as sensitizer) of E/Z enecarbamates, equipped with the oxazolidinone chiral auxiliary, the oxidative cleavage of the alkenyl functionality releases the enantiomerically enriched methyldesoxybenzoin (MDB) product. The extent (% ee) as well as the sense (R vs S) of the stereoselectivity in the MDB formation depends on the choice of the alkene configuration; the efficacy of stereocontrol may be tuned by appropriate solvent and temperature conditions. Highlighted is the finding that the formation of the preferred MDB enantiomer (R or S) depends for the E isomer on the chosen solvent and temperature, but not for the corresponding Z isomer. The activation parameters for the various solvents disclose that differential entropy effects (ΔΔS^‡) dominate the conformationally more flexible E diastereomers. As mechanistic rationale for this unprecedented conformationally imposed stereochemical behavior, we propose the competitive action of stereoselective vibrational quenching of the attacking singlet oxygen by the enecarbamate versus sterically controlled stereoselective oxidative cleavage of its double bond.