Modified windmill porphyrin arrays: coupled light-harvesting and charge separattion, conformational relaxation in the S1 state, and S2-S2 energy transfer

The architecture of windmill hexameric zinc(II) -porphyrin array 1 is attractive as a light-harvesting functional unit in view of its three-dimensionally extended geometry that is favorable for a large cross-section of incident light as well as for a suitable energy gradient from the peripheral porphyrins to the meso-meso-linked diporphyrin core. Three core-modified windmill porphyrin arrays 2-4 were prepared for the purpose of enhancing the intramolecular energy-transfer rate and coupling these arrays with a charge-separation functional unit. Bisphenylethynylation at the meso and meso' positions of the diporphyrin core indeed resulted in a remarkable enhancement in the intramolecular S1-S1 energy transfer in 2 with tau=2 approximately 3 ps, as revealed by femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The fluorescence lifetime of the S2 state of the peripheral porphyrin energy donor determined by the fluorescence up-conversion method was 68 fs, and thus considerably shorter than that of the reference monomer (150 fs), suggesting the presence of the intramolecular energy-transfer channel in the S2 state manifold. Such a rapid energy transfer can be understood in terms of large Coulombic interactions associated with the strong Soret transitions of the donor and acceptor. Picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectra and transient absorption spectra revealed conformational relaxation of the S1 state of the diporphyrin core with tau = 25 ps. Upon photoexcitation of models 3 and 4, which bear a naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide or a meso-nitrated free-base porphyrin attached to the modified diporphyrin core as an electron acceptor, a series of photochemical processes proceeded, such as the collection of the excitation energy at the diporphyrin core, the electron transfer from the S1 state of the diporphyrin to the electron acceptor, and the electron transfer from the peripheral porphyrins to the diporphyrin cation radical, which are coupled to provide a fully charge-separated state such as that in the natural photosynthetic reaction center. The overall quantum yield for the full charge separation is better in 4 than in 3 owing to the slower charge recombination associated with smaller reorganization energy of the porphyrin acceptor.     

Synthesis of 3-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazolo[3,2-i]-purine derivatives and their cytotoxic activities

9-Amino-3-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazolo[3,2-i|purine ( 6 ) has been prepared from a fully protected 3-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazolo[3,2-i]purine ( 2 ) and the 9-bromo substituted derivative 3 by nitration, followed by reduction. Reaction of 9-bromo-3-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazolo[3,2-i)purine ( 1b ) with alkali gave the (pyrazol-3-yl)imidazole derivative, followed by diazocyclization with sodium nitrate to give 9-bromo-3-(β-D-ribofuran-osyl)imidazolo[4,5-d]pyrazolo[2,3-c][1,2,3]triazine ( 10 ) after deacetylation. Compounds 6 and 10 exhibited cytotoxic activity against leukemia cells.     

Systematic synthesis, isolation, and photophysical properties of linear-shaped Re(I) oligomers and polymers with 2-20 units

Systematic synthesis routes have been developed for the linear-shaped rhenium(I) oligomers and polymers bridged with bidentate phosphorus ligands, [Re(N--N)(CO)3-PP-{Re(N--N)(CO)2-PP-}(n)Re(N--N)(CO)3](PF6)(n+2) (N--N = diimine, PP = bidentate phosphine, n = 0-18). These were isolated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and identified by (1)H NMR, IR, electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry, analytical SEC, and elemental analysis. Crystal structures of [Re(bpy)(CO)3-Ph2PC[triple bond]CPPh2-Re(bpy)(CO)3](PF6)2, [Re(bpy)(CO)3-Ph2PC[triple bond]CPPh2-Re(bpy)(CO)2-Ph2PC[triple bond]CPPh2-Re(bpy)(CO)3](PF6)3 and [Re(bpy)(CO)3-Ph2PC2H4PPh2-{Re(bpy)(CO)2Ph2PC2H4PPh2-}(n)Re(bpy)(CO)3](PF6)(n+2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, n = 1, 2) were obtained, showing that they have interligand pi-pi interaction between the bpy ligand and the phenyl groups on the phosphorus ligand. All of the oligomers and polymers synthesized were emissive at room temperature in solution. For the dimers, broad emission was observed with a maximum at 523-545 nm, from the (3)MLCT excited-state of the tricarbonyl complex unit, [Re(N--N)(CO)3-PP-]. Emission from the longer oligomers and polymers with > or = 3 Re(I) units was observed at wavelengths 50-60 nm longer than those of the corresponding dimers. This fact and the emission decay results clearly show that energy transfer from the edge unit to the interior unit occurs with a rate constant of (0.9 x 10(8))-(2.5 x 10(8)) s(-1). The efficient energy transfer and the smaller exclusive volume of the longer Re(I) polymers indicated intermolecular aggregation for these polymers in an MeCN solution.     

A solid-state dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell with a poly(N-vinyl-carbazole) hole transporter mediated by an alkali iodide

A polymer-based dye-sensitized solar cell in dry solid state was constructed using poly(N-vinyl-carbazole)(PVK) as a hole-transporting layer; the cell attained the highest power efficiencies of 2.4% and 2.0% at 1/4 sun and 1 sun (AM1.5), respectively, by incorporation of a solid intermediate layer (LiI, KI) at the dye-PVK interface.     

Quantum nucleation in a single-chain magnet

The field sweep rate (upsilon = dH/dt) and temperature (T) dependence of the magnetization reversal of a single-chain magnet is studied at low temperatures. As expected for a thermally activated process, the nucleation field (H(n)) increases with decreasing T and increasing upsilon. The set of H(n)(T,upsilon) data is analyzed with a model of thermally activated nucleation of magnetization reversal. Below 1 K, H(n) becomes temperature independent but remains strongly sweep rate dependent. In this temperature range, the reversal of the magnetization is induced by a quantum nucleation of a domain wall that then propagates due to the applied field.     

Drawing of single-crystal mats of linear polyethylene

Drawing of single-crystal mats of linear polyethylene has been investigated. Drawing is possible at temperatures higher than about 90°C. The drawing is accompanied by distinct necking, with a large decrease in the thickness of the mat and a very high maximum draw ratio, sometimes over 30. The maximum draw ratio is approximately proportional to the thickness of the lamellae. This behavior strongly suggests the unfolding of chains during drawing. A change of orientation of crystal axes occurs before necking without change of lamellar orientation. The a axis orients in the drawing direction; the b axis orients perpendicular to the direction of drawing; and the chain axis tilts away from the thickness direction of the mat. The structure of films drawn from mats is characterized by a distinct double orientation of crystals. This biaxial orientation in the drawn films has a high degree of correlation with the orientation of crystal axes observed before necking, and suggests that necking takes place in such a way that the chain tilts gradually about the b axis and ultimately unfolds. The postulate of formation of transitory two-dimensional crystals in necking seems useful in explaining the double orientation in the drawn film. The orientation behavior of crystal axes observed before necking is not always similar to that observed in the deformation of a single crystal. The difference is thought to be due to the effect of forces induced by drawing that act in the direction normal to the lamellae within a mat.     

Photoelectrochemical Verification of Proton-Releasing Groups in Bacteriorhodopsin

Light-induced transient currents of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and its mutants (D96N, D85N, E204Q and E194Q) were measured at the interface of an electrode and the aqueous solution in an electrochemical cell. The transient positive (cathodic) and negative (anodic) photocurrents generated upon the onsets of continuous illumination and of turning off light, respectively, were investigated at different electrolyte pH. The wild type exhibits both positive and negative responses, with the sign of the response inverted at pH lt 5. In D85N the response is entirely suppressed, while D96N lacks the negative response. Laser pulse excitation (532 nm) of bR and the mutants showed the response rise time of the positive transient to be uniformly about 100 μs, indicating that the response is linked to the L to M transition in the photocycle. According to these results the positive and negative signals originate from the proton release and uptake reactions, respectively. Photoexcitation of the mutants E204Q and E194Q that lack protonatable residues at position 204 and 194, respectively, produced a negative response at neutral pH, which indicates that in these proteins proton uptake precedes proton release. This result is consistent with our observations made earlier with pH indicator dyes and demonstrates that Glu-204 and Glu-194 constitute the terminal proton release complex in the extracellular region of bR.     

Two-photon actuation of crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymers utilizing energy transfer system

ABSTRACT

We prepared crosslinked azotolane liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP) films doped with a stilbene derivative (two-photon chromophore) utilizing an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structure. The IPN films bend toward the light source upon irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses at 600 nm, which can excite the stilbene derivative by two-photon absorption. The bending speed of the IPN films increases with the square of the laser pulse intensity, which is compelling evidence for the two-photon processes.