Protein adsorption on nanoporous TiO2 films: a novel approach to studying photoinduced protein/electrode transfer reactions

We have investigated the use of nanoporous TiO2 films as substrates for protein immobilisation. Such films are of interest due to their high surface area, optical transparency, electrochemical activity and ease of fabrication. These films moreover allow detailed spectroscopic study of protein/electrode electron transfer processes. We find that protein immobilisation on such films may be readily achieved from aqueous solutions at 4 degrees C with a high binding stability and no detectable protein denaturation. The nanoporous structure of the film greatly enhances the active surface area available for protein binding (by a factor of up to 850 for an 8 microns thick film). We demonstrate that the redox state of proteins such as immobilised cytochrome-c (Cyt-c) and haemoglobin (Hb) may be modulated by the application of an electrical bias potential to the TiO2 film, without the addition of electron transfer mediators. The binding of Cyt-c on the TiO2 films is investigated as a function of film thickness, protein concentration, protein surface charge and ionic strength. We demonstrate the potential use of immobilised Hb on such TiO2 films for the detection of dissolved CO in aqueous solutions. We further show that protein/electrode electron transfer may be initiated by UV bandgap excitation of the TiO2 electrode. Both photooxidation and photoreduction of the immobilised proteins can be achieved. By employing pulsed UV laser excitation, the interfacial electron transfer kinetics can be monitored by transient optical spectroscopy, providing a novel probe of protein/electrode electron transfer kinetics. We conclude that nanoporous TiO2 films may be useful both for basic studies of protein/electrode interactions and for the development of novel bioanalytical devices such as biosensors.     

Phosphine-stabilized arsenium salts: water-stable,labile, coordination complexes

A series of air- and water-stable tertiary phosphine-stabilized arsenium salts of the type R(3)P-->AsR(2)(+)PF(6)(-) has been isolated. In the crystal structures of two chiral triarylphosphine complexes of prochiral methylphenylarsenium hexafluorophosphate, the stereochemistry around arsenic is trigonal pyramidal with the phosphorus atom occupying the apical position, the As-P bond being orthogonal to the plane of the trigonal (lone-pair included) arsenium ion: Ph(3)P-->AsMePh(+) PF(6)(-), P2(1)/c, a = 10.7775(2) A, b = 17.7987(3) A, c = 13.3797(2) A, beta = 109.066(1) degrees, V = 2425.78(7) A(3), T = 200 K, Z = 4; Ph(2)(2-MeOC(6)H(4))P-->AsMePh(+) PF(6)(-), P1, a = 10.8077(2) A, b = 10.9741(2) A, c = 13.5648(2) A, alpha = 99.0162(9) degrees, beta = 105.2121(9) degrees, gamma = 116.4717(9) degrees, V = 1318.11(5) A(3), T = 200 K, Z = 2. The arsenium ion in each case appears to be further stabilized by conjugation of the lone pair with the phenyl group, with which the arsenic and methyl-carbon atoms are almost coplanar. In the crystal structure of the 2-(methoxymethylphenyl)diphenylphosphine adduct of methylphenylarsenium hexafluorophosphate, there operates a counteractive chelate effect in which anchimeric oxygen coordination to arsenic destabilizes the arsenic-phosphorus bond in the six-membered chelate ring. Although they are stable, phosphine-stabilized arsenium salts undergo rapid phosphine exchange and attack at arsenic by anionic carbon and oxygen nucleophiles to give tertiary arsines and arsinous acid esters, respectively, with liberation of the phosphine.     

Polymeric Structure and Solid ~(31)P, ~(113)Cd NMR Spectra of Cadmium(II) Dialkyldithiophosphate (Alkyl = n-butyl and i-butyl)

Owing to the particular affinity toward metal ion and changeable dentation, dialkyldithiophosphates are commonly used ligands in preparation of the transition metal complexes with variable structures1. For instances relevant to this work, the IIB metal complexes defined crystallographically so far have provided the examples as follows2-12 (Scheme 1). Scheme 1 The frameworks of IIB metal complexes of dialkyldithiophosphate MMMMMMMMMM a b c d …     

Thermal analysis characterization of isosorbide-containing thermosets

Sugar-based new monomers, polymers, and low molar mass additives have emerged as an exciting topic on green chemistry research, due to the worldwide focus on sustainable material. Isosorbide and its isomers, as ??Generally Recognized as Safe?? GRAS materials, possess unique stereochemistry and molecular geometry suitable for making cost-effective chemicals and polymers. With growing awareness of bisphenol A (BPA) as a xenoestrogen, isosorbide and its isomers holding the remarkable chemical properties and attractive price can be attached to glycidyl ether to make crosslinkable epoxy resin monomers with similar properties to BPA diglycidyl ether. By adding the hydrophobic functional group into the backbone of isosorbide epoxy or adjusting the amount and type of crosslinker, the mechanical properties and the water uptake ratios (from <1 to >50?wt%) of the isosorbide-derived epoxies could be optimized for different applications. The high water uptake epoxy with controllable biodegradation rate could be used as a drug delivery system or extracellular matrix for biomedical applications while the low water uptake epoxy with strong mechanical properties could be used for can coatings, bone cements, and other industrial additives and adhesives. The chemical structures and properties of the synthesized epoxy monomers and polymers were characterized by DSC, TG, and ¹H NMR.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Desymmetrisation as a Tool for the Synthesis of Hodgkinsine and Hodgkinsine B

Two palladium‐catalysed amination protocols are deployed in the desymmetrisation of the complex dimeric alkaloid meso‐chimonanthine. The power of these transformations is showcased in an efficient formal and total synthesis of the natural products hodgkinsine and hodgkinsine B, respectively.     

Bis(fluoroalkyl)acrylic and methacrylic phosphate monomers, their polymers and some of their properties

Ten fluoromonomers of structure (R_FO)₂P(O)OCH₂CH₂OC(O)CRCH₂ were made in 30-64% yield by treating the chloridates (R_FO)₂P(O)Cl with HOCH₂CH₂OC(O)CRCH₂ in chloroform in the presence of triethylamine [R_F=CF₃CH₂, C₂F₅CH₂, C₃F₇CH₂, C₄F₉CH₂, C₄F₉CH₂CH₂ or C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂; R  H or Me]. The chloromonomer (CCl₃CH₂O)₂P(O)OCH₂CH₂OC(O)CHCH₂ was obtained analogously in 29% yield. Polymerisation of the acrylate monomers, but not the methacrylate monomers, could be effected using α-azoisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. Acrylic polymers having CF₃CH₂O, CCl₃CH₂O and C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂O side-chains were obtained as translucent rubbers. Specimens of cotton fabric were treated with solutions of the polymers, and average water and oil repellency ratings measured. Fabric coated with the polymer with the C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂O side-chain afforded protection from penetration of the test liquids. Treated fabrics were subjected to the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test according to BS EN ISO 4589-2 (1999): this test determines the point at which a material just burns in a volumetric flow of oxygen and nitrogen. The treated fabrics were more fire-resistant (LOI 22-29%) than the untreated fabric (LOI 18%). Fabric coated with the CCl₃CH₂O-based polymer can be considered fire-retardant (LOI 29%). The fluoromonomers were tested for anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and were found to be poor enzyme inhibitors; they are predicted to possess low acute toxicity.     

Neomycin binding to Watson-Hoogsteen (W-H) DNA triplex groove: a model

Neomycin is the most effective aminoglycoside (groove binder) in stabilizing a DNA triple helix. It stabilizes TAT, as well as mixed base DNA triplexes, better than known DNA minor groove binders (which usually destabilize the triplex) and polyamines. Neomycin selectively stabilizes the triplex (in the presence of salt), without any effect on the DNA duplex. (1) Triplex stabilization by neomycin is salt dependent (increased KCl and MgCl(2) concentrations decrease neomycin's effectiveness, at a fixed drug concentration). (2) Triplex stabilization by neomycin is pH dependent (increased pH decreases neomycin's effectiveness, at a fixed drug concentration). (3) CD binding studies indicate approximately 5-7 base triplets/drug apparent binding site, depending upon the structure/sequence of the triplex. (4) Neomycin shows nonintercalative groove binding to the DNA triplex, as evident from viscometric studies. (5) Neomycin shows a preference for stabilization of TAT triplets but can also accommodate CGC(+) triplets. (6) Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies reveal an association constant of approximately 2 x 10(5) M(-)(1) between neomycin and an intramolecular triplex and a higher K(a) for polydA.2polydT. (7) Binding/modeling studies show a marked preference for neomycin binding to the larger W-H groove. Ring I/II amino groups and ring IV amines are proposed to be involved in the recognition process. (8) The novel selectivity of neomycin is suggested to be a function of its charge and shape complementarity to the triplex W-H groove, making neomycin the first molecule that selectively recognizes a triplex groove over a duplex groove.     

Bis[(2-diphenylphosphino)phenyl]mercury: a P-donor ligand and precursor to mixed metal-mercury (d(8)-d(10)) cyclometalated complexes containing 2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2)

Treatment of HgCl(2) with 2-LiC(6)H(4)PPh(2) gives [Hg(2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(2)] (1), whose phosphorus atoms take up oxygen, sulfur, and borane to give the compounds [Hg[2-C(6)H(4)P(X)Ph(2)](2)] [ X = O (3), S (4), and BH(3) (5)], respectively. Compound 1 functions as a bidentate ligand of wide, variable bite angle that can span either cis or trans coordination sites in a planar complex. Representative complexes include [HgX(2) x 1] [X = Cl (6a), Br (6b)], cis-[PtX(2) x 1] [X = Cl (cis-7), Me (9), Ph (10)], and trans-[MX(2) x 1] [X = Cl, M = Pt (trans-7), Pd (8), Ni (11); X = NCS, M = Ni (13)] in which the central metal ions are in either tetrahedral (6a,b) or planar (7-11, 13) coordination. The trans disposition of 1 in complexes trans-7, 8, and 11 imposes close metal-mercury contacts [2.8339(7), 2.8797(8), and 2.756(8) A, respectively] that are suggestive of a donor-acceptor interaction, M --> Hg. Prolonged heating of 1 with [PtCl(2)(cod)] gives the binuclear cyclometalated complex [(eta(2)-2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))Pt(mu-2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(2)HgCl] (14) from which the salt [(eta(2)-2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))Pt(mu-2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(2)Hg]PF(6) (15) is derived by treatment with AgPF(6). In 14 and 15, the mu-C(6)H(4)PPh(2) groups adopt a head-to-tail arrangement, and the Pt-Hg separation in 14, 3.1335(5) A, is in the range expected for a weak metallophilic interaction. A similar arrangement of bridging groups is found in [Cl((n)Bu(3)P)Pd(mu-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(2)HgCl] (16), which is formed by heating 1 with [PdCl(2)(P(n)()Bu(3))(2)]. Reaction of 1 with [Pd(dba)(2)] [dba = dibenzylideneacetone] at room temperature gives [Pd(1)(2)] (19) which, in air, forms a trigonal planar palladium(0) complex 20 containing bidentate 1 and the monodentate phosphine-phosphine oxide ligand [Hg(2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))[2-C(6)H(4)P(O)Ph(2)]]. On heating, 19 eliminates Pd and Hg, and the C-C coupled product 2-Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)C(6)H(4)PPh(2)-2 (18) is formed by reductive elimination. In contrast, 1 reacts with platinum(0) complexes to give a bis(aryl)platinum(II) species formulated as [Pt(eta(1)-C-2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(eta(2)-2-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(eta(1)-P-1)]. Crystal data are as follows. Compound 3: monoclinic, P2(1)/n, with a = 11.331(3) A, b = 9.381(2) A, c = 14.516 A, beta = 98.30(2) degrees, and Z = 2. Compound 6b x 2CH(2)Cl(2): triclinic, P macro 1, with a = 12.720(3) A, b = 13.154(3) A, c = 12.724(2) A, alpha = 92.01(2) degrees, beta = 109.19(2) degrees, gamma = 90.82(2) degrees, and Z = 2. Compound trans-7 x 2CH(2)Cl(2): orthorhombic, Pbca, with a = 19.805(3) A, b = 8.532(4) A, c = 23.076(2) A, and Z = 4. Compound 11 x 2CH(2)Cl(2): orthorhombic, Pbca, with a = 19.455(3) A, b = 8.496(5) A, c = 22.858(3) A, and Z = 4. Compound 14: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, with a = 13.150(3) A, b = 12.912(6) A, c = 26.724(2) A, beta = 94.09(1) degrees, and Z = 4. Compound 20 x C(6)H(5)CH(3).0.5CH(2)Cl(2): triclinic, P macro 1, with a = 13.199(1) A, b = 15.273(2) A, c = 17.850(1) A, alpha = 93.830(7), beta = 93.664(6), gamma = 104.378(7) degrees, and Z = 2.