Control of the coordination structure of organometallic palladium complexes in an apo-ferritin cage

We report the preparation of organometallic Pd(allyl) dinuclear complexes in protein cages of apo-Fr by reactions with [Pd(allyl)Cl]2 (allyl = eta3-C3H5). One of the dinuclear complexes is converted to a trinuclear complex by replacing a Pd-coordinated His residue to an Ala residue. These results suggest that multinuclear metal complexes with various coordination structures could be prepared by the deletion or introduction of His, Cys, and Glu at appropriate positions on protein surface.     

Practical synthesis of pinacolborane for one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical biaryls via aromatic C-H borylation-cross-coupling sequence

A method for practical preparation of pinacolborane from borane-diethylaniline and pinacol was newly developed. Aromatic C-H borylation of arenes with pinacolborane or bis(pinacolato)diboron catalyzed by 1/2[Ir(OMe)(COD)]₂-(4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine) at 25 °C in hexane to give arylboronic esters was directly followed by cross-coupling with aromatic bromides at 60 °C in the presence of PdCl₂(dppf) (3.0 mol %) and K₃PO₄ in DMF. This one-pot, two-step procedure provided a variety of unsymmetrical biaryls in high yields.     

Vinylic C?H Borylation of Cyclic Vinyl Ethers with Bis(pinacolato)diboron Catalyzed by an Iridium(I)‐dtbpy Complex

Borylation of the vinylic C? H bond of 1,4‐dioxene, 2,3‐dihydrofuran, 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran and their γ‐substituted analogs was carried out in the presence of bis(pinacolato)diboron (B₂pin₂) and a catalytic amount of Ir^I‐dtbpy (dtbpy=4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) complex. The two boron atoms in B₂pin₂ participated in the coupling, thus giving two equivalents of the coupling product from one equivalent of B₂pin₂. The borylation of 1,4‐dioxene in hexane resulted in 81 % yield at room temperature. The borylation of 2,3‐dihydrofurans at 80 °C in octane suffered from low regioselectivity, and gave a mixture of α‐ and β‐coupling products even for hindered γ‐disubstituted analogs, but γ‐substituted analogs of 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran achieved high α‐selectivity, giving single coupling products. This protocol was applied to the syntheses of a key precursor of vineomycinone B2 methyl ester and other C‐substituted D ‐glucals by borylation of protected D ‐glucals with B₂pin₂ to give α‐boryl glucal followed by cross‐coupling with haloarenes, benzyl bromide, and allyl bromide. A catalytic cycle that involves the oxidative addition of sp² C? H bond to iridium(III)‐trisboryl intermediate as the rate‐determining step has been proposed.     

Alternating Layers of Iron(III) Tetra(N‐methyl‐4‐pyridyl)‐porphyrin and Copper Tetrasulfonated Phthalocyanine for Amperometric Detection of 4‐Nitrophenol in Nanomolar Levels

The present work describes the development of a highly sensitive amperometric sensor for 4‐NP in nanomolar levels using a glassy carbon electrode modified with alternating layers of CuTSPc and FeT4MPyP. After optimizing the operational conditions, the sensor provided a linear response range for 4‐NP from 5 up to 100 nmol L^?1 with sensitivity, detection, and quantification limits of 14 nA L nmol^?1, 1.9 nmol L^?1, and 5.4 nmol L^?1, respectively. The proposed sensor showed a stable response for at least 200 successive determinations. This modified electrode can be used to the determination of 4‐NP in water samples.     

Properties of nitride‐based photovoltaic cells under concentrated light illumination

We investigated the properties of nitride‐based solar cells under concentrated light illumination from 1 to 200 suns. The conversion efficiency of our solar cells increased with increasing concentration up to 200 suns. The short‐circuit cur‐ rent density, open‐circuit voltage, fill factor, and conversion efficiency were 510 mA/cm², 1.9 V, 70%, and 3.4%, respectively, under an air mass filter of 1.5G at 200 suns and room temperature. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Immobilization of Hexacyanoferrate on a Gold Self-Assembled Monolayer, and its Application as a Sensor for Ascorbic Acid

Hexacyanoferrate (II/III) (HCF) was immobilized on a gold electrode modified with cysteamine (CSTE). The Au/CSTE/HCF/PLL electrode was prepared with layer-by-layer (LBL) technique with HCF and poly-d-lysine (PLL). The Au/CSTE/HCF/PLL electrode presented the electrocatalytic activity for ascorbic acid oxidation. The maximum electrocatalytic current was reached at 0.28 V vs SCE in 0.01 mol L⁻¹ TRIS buffer, at pH 7.0. The Au/CSTE/HCF/PLL electrode response was stable under various oxidation–reduction cycles in TRIS medium, showing that the system is very stable. The solution pH has no effect on the anodic peak potential and anodic peak current in the range from 4 up to 10. The intensity of the anodic peak current varied with the concentration of ascorbic acid from 1 up to 910 μmol L⁻¹, with a sensitivity of 62.9 nA cm⁻² L μmol⁻¹, a detection limit of 0.65 μmol L⁻¹ and a quantification limit of 2.2 μmol L⁻¹. The developed sensor was successfully applied for ascorbic acid determination in pharmaceutical samples. The results compared to those obtained with a reference method were statistically the same with 95% of confidence level.     

One-step advanced preparation of surface-functional peptide nanospheres by the polymerization of L-phenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride with dual initiators

Surface-grafted peptide nanospheres consisting of hydrophobic poly(L-phenylalanine) with hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) grafts were successfully prepared by the one-step polymerization of L-phenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride with the dual initiators of hydrophobic n-butylamine and hydrophilic NH2-monoterminated PEG (NH2-PEG). The monodispersed peptide nanospheres were stably self-assembled during polymerization in a mixture of water/dimethyl sulfoxide to create a colloidal solution, but only aggregated in water or organic solvents. When n-butylamine or NH2-PEG was used as a solitary initiator, the peptide nanospheres were not formed. The peptide nanospheres showed high dispersion-stability in water, and their diameter was approximately 300 nm. Furthermore, the peptide nanospheres were well-redispersed in water, retaining the same diameter and monodispersity even after lyophilization. Peptide nanospheres with the functional carboxylic acid on their graft layer were also successfully prepared by the one-step preparation method. This one-step preparation method of surface-grafted peptide nanospheres will be useful as an advanced technology to develop biodegradable functional nanospheres.     

Specific inclusion mode of guest compounds in the amylose complex analyzed by solid state NMR spectroscopy

The inclusion compound formation between linear amylose of molecular weight 102500 (AS100) and p-aminobenzoic acid (PA) during the sealed-heating process was investigated by powder X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and solid state NMR spectroscopy. Sealed-heating of AS100 and PA at 100 degrees C for 6 h provided an inclusion compound with 6(1)-helix structure, while a 7(1)-helix structure was found when sealed-heating was carried out at 150 degrees C for 1 h. The formation of an inclusion compound was not observed when sealed-heating was performed at 50 degrees C for 6 h. The 7(1)-helix inclusion compound maintained its structure even during storage at high temperature while the 6(1)-helix inclusion compound decomposed and returned to the original V(a)-amylose upon heating to 180 degrees C. Quantitative determination revealed that one PA molecule could be included per one helical turn of AS100 for both 6(1)-helix and 7(1)-helix inclusion compounds. Solid state NMR spectroscopy suggested that PA molecules were included in the amylose helix core in the 7(1)-helix inclusion compound, while in the case of 6(1)-helix inclusion compound, PA molecules were accommodated in the interstices between amylose helices. Moreover, the inclusion compound formation by sealed-heating of AS100 was also observed when using PA analogues as guest compounds. The binding ratio of AS100 and PA analogues varied depending on the size of guest molecules.     

A formal total synthesis of (+/-)-cephalotaxine using sequential N-acyliminium ion reactions

[reaction: see text] Novel synthesis of cephalotaxine 1 based on tertiary N-acyliminium ion chemistry starting from alkynylamide 2 was achieved. The key steps include the preparation of pyrroloisoquinoline 4 from alkynylamide 2, the ring expansion of pyrroloisoquinoline 4 to pyrrolobenzazepine 12, and the construction of cyclopentapyrrolobenzazepine ring system 6, all of which are derived from N-acyliminium ion intermediates.     

Dynamics of intramolecular electron transfer reaction of FAD studied by magnetic field effects on transient absorption spectra

The kinetics of intermediates generated from intramolecular electron-transfer reaction by photo irradiation of the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) molecule was studied by a magnetic field effect (MFE) on transient absorption (TA) spectra. Existence time of MFE and MFE action spectra have a strong dependence on the pH of solutions. The MFE action spectra have indicated the existence of interconversion between the radical pair and the cation form of the triplet excited state of flavin part. All rate constants of the triplet and the radical pair were determined by analysis of the MFE action spectra and decay kinetics of TA. The obtained values for the interconversion indicate that the formation of cation radical promotes the back electron-transfer reaction to the triplet excited state. Further, rate constants of spin relaxation and recombination have been studied by the time profiles of MFE at various pH. The drastic change of those two factors has been obtained and can be explained by SOC (spin-orbit coupling) induced back electron-transfer promoted by the formation of a stacking conformation at pH > 2.5.