Detection of Liposome Lysis Utilizing an Enzyme–Substrate System

A novel optical reporter system was developed to verify encapsulation and subsequent release of a foreign molecule in liposomes. The protocol utilizes a single enzyme and substrate. We encapsulate o-nitrophenyl-β,d-galactopyranoside (ONPG) and measure its release by detecting the levels of o-nitrophenol created when the encapsulated ONPG is released and hydrolyzed by β-galactosidase. Using this method, liposome formation and subsequent lysis with Triton X-100 were verified. This new protocol eliminates the complications of multiple reaction enzyme detection methods, along with the chance for false negatives and unreliable data seen when using fluorescent particles as reporters.     

Intermolecular atom transfer radical addition to olefins mediated by oxidative quenching of photoredox catalysts

Atom transfer radical addition of haloalkanes and α-halocarbonyls to olefins is efficiently performed with the photocatalyst Ir[(dF(CF(3))ppy)(2)(dtbbpy)]PF(6). This protocol is characterized by excellent yields, mild conditions, low catalyst loading, and broad scope. In addition, the atom transfer protocol can be used to quickly and efficiently introduce vinyl trifluoromethyl groups to olefins and access 1,1-cyclopropane diesters.     

Structures and dynamic behavior of large polyhedral coordination cages: an unusual cage-to-cage interconversion

The bis-bidentate bridging ligand L {α,α'-bis[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-yl]-1,4-dimethylbenzene}, which contains two chelating pyrazolyl-pyridine units connected to a 1,4-phenylene spacer via flexible methylene units, reacts with transition metal dications to form a range of polyhedral coordination cages based on a 2M:3 L ratio in which a metal ion occupies each vertex of a polyhedron, a bridging ligand lies along every edge, and all metal ions are octahedrally coordinated. Whereas the Ni(II) complex [Ni(8)L(12)](BF(4))(12)(SiF(6))(2) is an octanuclear cubic cage of a type we have seen before, the Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) complexes form new structural types. [Cu(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12) is an unusual example of a trigonal prismatic cage, and both Zn(II) and Cd(II) form unprecedented hexadecanuclear cages [M(16)L(24)]X(32)(X = ClO(4) or BF(4)) whose core is a skewed tetracapped truncated tetrahedron. Both Cu(6)L(9) and M(16)L(24) cages are based on a cyclic helical M(3)L(3) subunit that can be considered as a triangular "panel", with the cages being constructed by interconnection of these (homochiral) panels with additional bridging ligands in different ways. Whereas [Cu(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12) is stable in solution (by electrospray mass spectrometry, ES-MS) and is rapidly formed by combination of Cu(BF(4))(2) and L in the correct proportions in solution, the hexadecanuclear cage [Cd(16)L(24)](BF(4))(32) formed on crystallization slowly rearranges in solution over a period of several weeks to the trigonal prism [Cd(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12), which was unequivocally identified on the basis of its (1)H NMR spectrum. Similarly, combination of Cd(BF(4))(2) and L in a 2:3 ratio generates a mixture whose main component is the trigonal prism [Cd(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12). Thus the hexanuclear trigonal prism is the thermodynamic product arising from combination of Cd(II) and L in a 2:3 ratio in solution, and arises from both assembly of metal and ligand (minutes) and rearrangement of the Cd(16) cage (weeks); the large cage [Cd(16)L(24)](BF(4))(32) is present as a minor component of a mixture of species in solution but crystallizes preferentially.     

Effects of methanol on the thermodynamics of iron(III) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)]porphyrin chloride dissociation and the creation of catalytically active species for the epoxidation of cyclooctene

In a previous study, the authors showed that iron(III) [tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)]porphyrin chloride [(F20TPP)FeCl] is catalytically inactive for cyclooctene epoxidation by hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile but is catalytically active if the solvent contains methanol. It was suggested that the precursor to the active species is (F20TPP)Fe(OCH3) in methanol-containing solvents. The present study was aimed at evaluating this hypothesis. (F20TPP)Fe(OCH3) was synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR but was found to be inactive in both acetonitrile and methanol. Further investigation of the interactions of (F20TPP)FeCl with methanol in acetonitrile/methanol mixtures was then carried out using NMR. Two species, characterized by 1H NMR resonances at 82 and 65 ppm, were observed. The first resonance is attributed to the beta-pyrrole protons on molecularly dissolved (F20TPP)FeCl, whereas the second is attributed to beta-pyrrole protons of [(F20TPP)Fe]+ cations that are stabilized by coordination with a molecule of methanol, viz., [(F20TPP)Fe(CH3OH)]+. The relative concentration of [(F20TPP)Fe(CH3OH)]+ increases as the fraction of methanol in the solvent increases, suggesting that methanol facilitates the dissociation of (F20TPP)FeCl into cations and anions. A thermodynamic model of the dissociation is proposed and found to describe successfully the experimental observation over a range of solvent compositions, porphyrin concentrations, and temperatures. UV-visible spectroscopy was also used to validate the developed model. In addition, the observed rate constant for cyclooctene epoxidation was found to be proportional to the concentration of [(F20TPP)Fe(CH3OH)]+ calculated using the thermodynamic model, suggesting that this intermediate is a precursor to the species that catalyzes olefin epoxidation. The catalytic activity of [(F20TPP)Fe(CH3OH)]+ was further confirmed through experiments in which (F20TPP)Fe(OCH3) dissolved in methanol was reacted with HCl(aq). This reaction produced a product with an NMR peak at 65 ppm attributable to [(F20TPP)Fe(CH3OH)]+, and this mixture was found to have activity for cyclooctene epoxidation similar to that of (F20TPP)FeCl dissolved in methanol.     

Rovibrational resonance effects in collision-induced electronic energy transfer: I2(E,v=0-2)+CF4

Collisions of I2 in the E(0(g)+) electronic state with CF4 molecules induce electronic energy transfer to the nearby D, beta, and D' ion-pair states. Simulations of dispersed fluorescence spectra reveal collision-induced electronic energy transfer rate constants and final vibrational state distributions within each final electronic state. In comparison with earlier reports on I2(upsilon(E)=0-2) collisions with He or Ar atoms, we find markedly different dynamics when I2, excited to the same rovibronic states, collides with CF4. Final vibrational state distributions agree with the associated Franck-Condon factors with the initially prepared state to a greater degree than those found with He or Ar collision partners and suggest that internal degrees of freedom in the CF4 molecule represent a substantial means for accepting the accompanying loss of I2 vibronic energy. Comparison of the E-->D transfer of I2 excited to the J=23 and J=55 levels of the upsilon(E)=0 state reveals the onset of specific, nonstatistical dynamics as the available energy is increased above the threshold for excitation of the low frequency nu2 bending mode of CF4.     

Leveraging the Persistent Radical Effect in the Synthesis of trans-2,3-Diaryl Dihydrobenzofurans**

A simple method for accessing trans-2,3-diaryl dihydrobenzofurans is reported. This approach leverages the equilibrium between quinone methide dimers and their persistent radicals. This equilibrium is disrupted by phenols that yield comparatively transient phenoxyl radicals, leading to cross-coupling between the persistent and transient radicals. The resultant quinone methides with pendant phenols rapidly cyclize to form dihydrobenzofurans (DHBs). This putative biomimetic access to dihydrobenzofurans provides superb functional group tolerance and a unified approach for the synthesis of resveratrol-based natural products.