Development of homogeneous polyamine organocatalyst for the synthesis of 2-aryl-substituted benzimidazole and benzoxazole derivatives

A new polyamine was prepared by the ring opening polymerization of epichlorohydrin and properly characterized. The catalytic property of the prepared polymer was assessed by synthesizing 2-aryl-substituted benzimidazole and benzoxazole derivatives by the conjugation of o-phenylenediamine/o-aminophenol with various aromatic aldehydes in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. Significant attributes of the present synthesis include short reaction time, good to excellent yield, high purity, easy reusability, and room temperature reaction. The reaction was carried out in the absence of any metal catalyst and other cooxidants.     

Racemic atropisomeric N,N-chelate ligands for recognizing chiral carboxylates via Zn(II) coordination: structure, fluorescence, and circular dichroism

Two racemic atropisomeric N,N'-chelate ligands, bis{3,3'-[N-Ph-2-(2'-py)indolyl]} (1) and bis{3,3'-N-4-[N-2-(2'-py)indolyl]phenyl-2-(2'-py)indolyl} (2), have been found to be able to distinguish the enantiomers of Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2 and Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 where BrMeBu = O2CCH(Br)CHMe2, with a distinct and intense CD spectral response at approximately the 10 microM concentration range. Computational studies established that the (R)-1-Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2 or (S)-1-Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 diastereomer is more stable than (R)-1-Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 or (S)-1-Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2. In addition, computational studies showed that the CD spectra of (S)-1-Zn((S)-BrMeBu)2 and (S)-1-Zn((R)-BrMeBu)2 are similar. (1)H NMR spectra confirmed that these two diastereomers exist in solution in about a 2:1 ratio for both complexes of 1 and 2. The distinct CD response of the racemic ligands 1 and 2 toward the chiral zinc(II) carboxylate is therefore attributed to the preferential formation of one diastereomer. The binding modes of the zinc(II) salt with ligands 1 and 2 were established by the crystal structures of the model compounds 1-Zn(tfa)2 and 2-Zn(tfa)2 (tfa = CF3CO2(-)), where the Zn(II) ion is chelated by the two central pyridyl groups in the ligand. Fluorescent titration experiments with various zinc(II) salts showed that the fluorescent spectrum of the atropisomeric ligand displays an anion-dependent change. The zinc(II) binding strength to the N,N'-chelate site of the atropisomeric ligand has been found to play a key role in the selective recognition of different chiral zinc(II) carboxylate derivatives by the racemic atropisomeric ligands.     

Dual-wavelength laser emission from an organic microcavity with terahertz beating

We report on the dynamics of laser emission from an anisotropic organic microcavity filled with the guest-host composite of tris-(8-hydroxy quinoline) aluminium (Alq₃) and 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM). In a single microcavity, a linesplitting of 0.18 THz between two perpendicularly polarized laser modes is observed. We ascribe this effect to an optical anisotropy in the distributed Bragg reflectors surrounding the organic layer. The temporal behavior of the electromagnetic field is studied by an up-conversion technique and shows an optical beating of 0.18 THz. Two modeling approaches are used to gain insight in the temporal evolution and phase behavior of the two modes. Both point towards the presence of a phase-coupling mechanism in this system. PACS 42.55.Sa     

A water-mediated tautomerism mechanism in formamide and amidine. An ab initio study

Formamide, formamidic acid, and amidine water complexes were studied using 3-21G fully optimized structures and 6–31G energies. Hydrogen bonding and a water-mediated tautomerism mechanism were examined. The optimized complexes show that relaxation of the monomers has occurred. Hydrogen bond lengths and energies fall within the range of values found using other basis sets and other comparable systems.     

An optical receiver for eight-level data communication over step index plastic optical fiber

An optical receiver with automatic-gain-control transimpedance amplifier, linear post amplifier and linear line driver suitable for multilevel signals is presented. A large-diameter photodiode (400 μm) with an antireflection coating optimized for red light was integrated. These features enable the presented optical receiver to be a promising plastic optical fiber receiver. An error free (<10⁻⁸) 400 Mbit/s data rate over 50 m PMMA-step index plastic optical fiber (1 mm diameter) is achieved with eight-level pulse amplitude modulation (8-PAM).     

Efficacy of different targeting agents in the photolysis of interleukin-2 receptor bearing cells

The multichain interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) has been proposed as a target for immunotherapy in the treatment of certain cancers including adult T-cell leukemia and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma as well as certain autoimmune diseases. The IL-2R is abnormally expressed on cells associated with each of these diseases; while normal, non-activated T-cells do not express the receptor. This report describes the selective photolysis of activated and non-activated IL-2R expressing cells using several immunoconjugates synthesized with one of two photosensitizers, hematoporphyrin (HP) or chlorin-e(6) (Ce(6)), covalently linked to IL-2 or an anti-IL-2R antibody. Destruction of IL-2R bearing cells was achieved after photosensitizer internalization and irradiation using all tested photosensitizer conjugates. Chlorin containing conjugates were more effective, by a factor of 4 or more, than HP containing conjugates. Conjugates made with IL-2 were up to 30 times more effective than conjugates that used a monoclonal antibody against the IL-2R for targeting. Activation of the cells to increase IL-2R expression decreased the internalization time required for optimal therapeutic efficacy; however, stimulation of the cell to increase IL-2 secretion greatly reduced conjugate effectiveness. This work could lead to the development of more effective strategies to treat T-cell diseases.     

Three-coordinate organoboron compounds BAr2R (Ar = mesityl, R = 7-azaindolyl- or 2,2'-dipyridylamino-functionalized aryl or thienyl) for electroluminescent devices and supramolecular assembly

Eight novel three-coordinate boron compounds with the general formula BAr(2)L, in which Ar is mesityl and L is a 7-azaindolyl- or a 2,2'-dipyridylamino-functionalized aryl or thienyl ligand, have been synthesized by Suzuki coupling, Ullmann condensation methods, or simple substitution reactions (L = p-(2,2'-dipyridylamino)phenyl, 1; p-(2,2'-dipyridylamino)biphenyl, 2; p-(7-azaindolyl)phenyl, 3; p-(7-azaindolyl)biphenyl, 4; 3,5-bis(2,2'-dipyridylamino)phenyl, 5; 3,5-bis(7-azaindolyl)phenyl, 6; p-[3,5-bis(2,2'-dipyridylamino)phenyl]phenyl, 7; 5-[p-(2,2'-dipyridylamino)phenyl]-2-thienyl, 8). The structures of 1, 3, and 5-7 have been determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. These new boron compounds are bright blue emitters. Electroluminescent devices using compound 2 or 8 as the emitter and the electron-transport layer have been successfully fabricated. Molecular orbital calculations (Gaussian 98) have established that the blue emission of compounds 1-8 originates from charge transfer between the pi orbital of the ligand L and the p(pi) orbital of the boron center. The ability of these boron compounds to bind to metal centers to form supramolecular assemblies was demonstrated by treatment of compound 2 with Zn(O(2)CCF(3))(2), which generated a 1:1 chelate complex [2.Zn(O(2)CCF(3))(2)] (10), and also by treatment of compound 4 with AgNO(3), yielding a 2:1 coordination compound [(4)(2).Ag(NO(3))] (11). In the solid state, compounds 10 and 11 form interesting head-to-head and tail-to-tail extended structures that host solvent molecules such as benzene.     

Effect of the Ar-Ni(s) potential on the cross section for Ar+CH4/Ni{111} collision-induced desorption and the need for a more accurate CH4/Ni{111} potential

In a previous paper [L. Sun, P. de Sainte Claire, O. Meroueh, and W. L Hase, J. Chem. Phys. 114, 535 (2001)], a classical trajectory simulation was reported of CH(4) desorption from Ni{111} by Ar-atom collisions. At an incident angle theta(i) of 60 degrees (with respect to the surface normal), the calculated collision-induced desorption (CID) cross sections are in excellent agreement with experiment. However, for smaller incident angles the calculated cross sections are larger than the experimental values and for normal collisions, theta(i)=0 degrees , the calculated cross sections are approximately a factor of 2 larger. This trajectory study used an analytic function for the Ar+Ni(s) intermolecular potential which gives an Ar-Ni{111} potential energy minimum which is an order of magnitude too deep. In the work reported here, the previous trajectory study is repeated with an Ar+Ni(s) analytic intermolecular potential which gives an accurate Ar-Ni{111} potential energy minimum and also has a different surface corrugation than the previous potential. Though there are significant differences between the two Ar+Ni(s) analytic potentials, they have no important effects on the CID dynamics and the cross sections reported here are nearly identical to the previous values. Zero-point energy motions of the surface and the CH(4)-Ni(s) intermolecular modes are considered in the simulation and they are found to have a negligible effect on the CID cross sections. Calculations of the intermolecular potential between CH(4) and a Ni atom, at various levels of theory, suggest that there are substantial approximations in the ab initio calculation used to develop the CH(4)+Ni{111} potential. The implication is that the differences between the trajectory and experimental CID cross sections may arise from an inaccurate CH(4)+Ni{111} potential used in the trajectory simulation.     

K2NdP2S7: A Mixed‐Valent Neodymium(III) Thiophosphate According to K4Nd2[PS4]2[P2S6] with Discrete [PS4]3– and [S3P–PS3]4– Anions

Pale blue, lath‐shaped single crystals of K₂NdP₂S₇ (≡ K₄Nd₂[PS₄]₂[P₂S₆]; monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 904.76(8), b = 677.38(6), c = 1988.7(2) pm, β = 97.295(5)°, Z = 2) are obtained by the reaction of Nd, S and P₂S₅ with an excess of KCl as a flux in evacuated silica tubes at 750 °C (7 d) which should produce Nd[PS₄] instead. Beside isolated [PS₄]^3– tetrahedra, the crystal structure contains discrete ethane‐analogous [P₂S₆]^4– (≡ [S₃P–PS₃]^4–) units in staggered conformation with tetravalent phosphorus cations and a P–P distance of 219 pm. The two crystallographically different potassium cations show coordination numbers of nine and ten in the shape of distorted mono‐ and bicapped square antiprisms. Finally, the Nd³⁺ cations are surrounded by eight sulfur atoms arranged as (uncapped) square antiprisms. The entire structure is dominated by (K1)⁺ containing {(Nd₂[PS₄]₂[P₂S₆])^4–} layers parallel (101) which are three‐dimensionally interconnected by (K2)⁺ cations.