Photoinduced Electron Transfer of Porphyrin Isomers: Impact of Molecular Structures on Electron‐Transfer Dynamics

Porphyrins have been investigated for a long time in various fields of chemistry owing to their excellent redox and optical properties. Structural isomers of porphyrins have been synthesized, namely, porphycene, hemiporphycene, and corrphycene. Although the number of studies on these structural isomers is limited, they exhibit interesting properties suitable for various applications such as photovoltaic devices, photocatalysts, and photodynamic therapy. In the present review, we summarized their photoinduced electron‐transfer processes, which are key steps of various photofunctions. Their electrochemical and photophysical properties are summarized as basic properties for the electron transfer. Furthermore, differences among these isomers in the electron‐transfer processes are clarified, and its origin has been discussed on the basis of their molecular structures.     

Chemical constituents in the leaves of Vateria indica

Comprehensive re-investigation of the chemical constituents in the leaves of Vateria indica (Dipterocarpaceae) resulted in the isolation of a novel resveratrol dimeric dimer having a C(2)-symmetric structure, vateriaphenol F (1), and two new O-glucosides of resveratrol oligomers, vateriosides A (2) (resveratrol dimer) and B (4) (resveratrol tetramer), along with a new natural compound (3) and 33 known compounds including 26 resveratrol derivatives. The absolute structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including two dimensional NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectra.     

Optimization of silica surface with nanosize holes for immobilization of biomolecules and analysis of their interactions

An evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode sensor of the Kretschmann configuration with a silica waveguide having nanoscale holes is an ideal tool for detection of bimolecular reactions. In the present research, an optimized surface of the sensor with cylindrical nanoscale holes was modified with sodium (1-{[6-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)hexanoyl]oxy}-2,5-dioxopyrrolidine-3-sulfonate) (Sulfo-EMCS) to facilitate the attachment of biomolecules; the resulting surface could be cleaned for reuse simply by changing the pH of the buffering solution. The modification is expected to be useful for wide range of molecular detection.     

Light as a construction tool of metal nanoparticles: Synthesis and mechanism

The photo-induced synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs) was reviewed with a closer look at those based on photochemistry. Recent developments in metal NPs research, photochemistry, and photoprocessing techniques have allowed researchers to devise various photo-induced synthetic strategies to obtain metal NPs under a variety of conditions. We begin by outlining the classical method. The photochemical synthesis of metal NPs including direct photoreduction and photosensitization has been developed to achieve decent yields. We focused on stabilization and functionalization method of NPs in photochemical synthesis, which has enabled us to fabricate a variety of metal nanostructures and composite materials. In addition, we mention an alternative approach, that is, laser ablation at the solid–liquid interface. Some of the most innovative studies dealing with the three-dimensional fabrication of metal NPs are highlighted, together with new directions such as potential applications for a light-driven actuator, bioimaging, and three-dimensional processing. This review is concluded with the future perspectives for the photo-induced synthesis of metal NPs.     

Pyrene-stacked nanostructures constructed in the recombinant tobacco mosaic virus rod scaffold

The effect of pyrenes introduced into a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coat protein monomer on the formation and stability of the TMV assembly was investigated. The possible arrangement of the pyrenes in the inner cavity of the TMV rod was also estimated. The pyrene derivative was introduced to four specific amino acids in the cavity of the TMV rod structure. Rod-structure formation was examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Two pyrene-attached mutants (positions 99 and 100) assembled to increase the length of the rod structures by 2.5 microm at pH 5.5. The interaction of the pyrene moieties in the TMV cavity was investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic analysis. Strong excimer emission with significantly short wavelength (465 nm) was observed from the two mutants mentioned above. Excitation and UV-visible spectra indicate that the pyrene moieties form pi-stacked structures in the TMV cavity. Details of the pyrene interaction were investigated by analyzing the fluorescence lifetime of the excimer. Results suggest that the pyrenes formed preassociated rigid structures with partially overlapped geometry in the restricted space of the TMV cavity. The pyrenes effectively stabilize the TMV rod through a pi-stacking interaction in a well-ordered way, and the single pyrene moiety introduced into the monomer affects the overall formation of the TMV rod structure.     

One-electron oxidation pathways during beta-cyclodextrin-modified TiO2 photocatalytic reactions

The photocatalytic one-electron oxidation reactions of aromatic sulfides using the carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CM-beta-CD)-modified TiO(2) nanoparticles (TiO(2)/CM-beta-CD) were investigated by using nano- and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopies. The one-electron oxidation processes of the substrate (S) by the valence band hole (h(VB) (+)) at the TiO(2) surface and the trapped hole at the adsorption site of the CM-beta-CD (h(CD) (+)) were examined. The transient absorption spectra and time traces observed for the charge carriers and the radical cation of S (S(.+)) revealed that the one-electron oxidation reaction of S during the nano- and femtosecond laser flash photolyses of TiO(2)/CM-beta-CD is significantly enhanced relative to bare TiO(2). The kinetics of the decay and the dimerization processes between S(.+)s are discussed on the basis of the results obtained by the pulse radiolysis technique.     

A major urinary protein of the domestic cat regulates the production of felinine, a putative pheromone precursor

Domestic cats spray urine with species-specific odor for territorial marking. Felinine (2-amino-7-hydroxy-5,5-dimethyl-4-thiaheptanoic acid), a putative pheromone precursor, is excreted in cat urine. Here, we report that cauxin, a carboxylesterase excreted as a major urinary component, regulates felinine production. In vitro enzyme assays indicated that cauxin hydrolyzed the felinine precursor 3-methylbutanol-cysteinylglycine to felinine and glycine. Cauxin and felinine were excreted age dependently after 3 months of age. The age-dependent increases in cauxin and felinine excretion were significantly correlated. In mature cats, cauxin and felinine levels were sex-dependently correlated and were higher in males than in females. In headspace gas of cat urine, 3-mercapto-3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-mercapto-3-methylbutyl formate, 3-methyl-3-methylthio-1-butanol, and 3-methyl-3-(2-methyldisulfanyl)-1-butanol were identified as candidates for felinine derivatives. These findings demonstrate that cauxin-dependent felinine production is a cat-specific metabolic pathway, and they provide information for the biosynthetic mechanisms of species-specific molecules in mammals.     

Transannular distance dependence of stabilization energy of the intramolecular dimer radical cation of cyclophanes

The intramolecular dimer radical cation and charge-transfer complex of various cyclophanes were investigated by using pulse radiolysis measurements. The charge resonance band due to the dimer radical cation of cyclophanes appeared in the near-IR region, which showed a blue-shift as the distance between the two benzene rings of cyclophane decreased. The stabilization energy of the dimer radical cation, which was estimated from the peak position of the charge resonance band, was explained by the exchange interaction, while the substituent effect was small. The absorption peak of the charge-transfer complex with chlorine atom also showed the shift in accordance with the oxidation potential of cyclophanes.     

S-S bond mesolysis in alpha,alpha'-dinaphthyl disulfide radical anion generated during gamma-radiolysis and pulse radiolysis in organic solution

A dissociation mechanism of the S-S bond in the alpha,alpha'-dinaphthyl disulfide radical anion (NpSSNp*-) in organic solution was investigated on the basis of transient absorption measurements and DFT calculations. NpSSNp*- generated during gamma-radiolysis of NpSSNp in MTHF at 77 K showed the absorption band at 430 nm, which shifted to 560 nm with an increase of the ambient temperature up to room temperature. With the aid of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, the shift of the absorption band was interpreted in terms of molecular conformational changes of NpSSNp*- due to the elongation of the S-S bond. It was observed that NpSSNp*- dissociates into naphthylthiyl radical and thionaphtholate anion in organic solution with a first-order rate constant in the magnitude of 10(6) s-1. From Arrhenius plots of the decay rate constants of NpSSNp*- in a temperature range of 160-293 K, an activation energy for the S-S bond cleavage in NpSSNp*- in solution was determined along with a frequency factor. Based on the state energies of NpSSNp*- calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level, a Morse-like energy potential for the S-S bond cleavage of NpSSNp*- is depicted as a function of the S-S bond distance.