Structure‐Dependent Demetalation Kinetics of Chlorophyll a Analogs under Acidic Conditions

Demetalation of chlorophyll (Chl) a and its analogs is an important reaction in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, which produces the primary electron acceptors in photosystem II reaction centers and is crucial in the Chl degradation. From these viewpoints, demetalation reactions of four Chl a analogs, 3,8‐divinyl‐Chl a (DV‐Chl a), 3‐devinyl‐3‐ethyl‐Chl a (mesoChl a), 13²‐demethoxycarbonyl‐Chl a (pyroChl a) and protochlorophyll a (PChl a), were kinetically analyzed under weakly acidic conditions, and were compared with that of Chl a. DV‐Chl a exhibited slower demetalation kinetics than did Chl a, whereas demetalation of mesoChl a was faster than that of Chl a. The difference in demetalation kinetics of the three chlorophyllous pigments originates from the electron‐withdrawing ability of the vinyl group as the peripheral substituent compared with the ethyl group. Removal of the electron‐withdrawing and homoconjugating 13²‐methoxycarbonyl group in Chl a (Chl a → pyroChl a) accelerated demetalation kinetics by two‐fold. PChl a possessing the porphyrin‐type skeleton exhibited slower demetalation kinetics than Chl a. The structure‐dependent demetalation properties of Chl a analogs will be useful for understanding in vivo Chl demetalation reactions in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms.     

Comparison of Crystal Structures of New Racemic Chiral Compounds Showing and Not Showing the Phenomenon of Preferential Enrichment

Abstract

The crystal structures of (±)-[2-[4-(3-ethoxy-2-hydroxypropoxy)phenylcarbamoyl]ethyl] trimethylammonium p-chlorobenzenesulfonate [(±)-NCMe₃] and its terminal methoxy derivative, (±)-NCMe₃-OMe, are compared. The former racemate exhibited the phenomenon of Preferential Enrichment, whereas the latter failed to do so. Crystal data, (±)-NCMe₃: CuKα radiation, space group P 1, Z = 2, a = 9.848(5), b = 14.823(3), c = 9.147(1) Å, α = 97.81(1), β = 92.68(3), γ = 105.92(2)°, D _calc = 1.355 g/cm³, R = 0.056 for 3213 observed reflections; (±)-NCMe₃-OMe: CuKα radiation, space group P 1, Z = 2, a = 11.350(1), b = 14.568(2), c = 8.2981(4) Å, α = 94.346(7), β = 112.376(5), γ = 78.622(9)°, D _calc = 1.343 g/cm³, R = 0.069 for 1519 observed reflections.     

Formation of PtRu alloy nanoparticle catalyst by radiolytic process assisted by addition of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">dl</Emphasis>-tartaric acid and its enhanced methanol oxidation activity

PtRu nanoparticle catalysts with 2-nm size supported on carbon were synthesized by a radiolytic process, assisted with the addition of dl-tartaric acid. Gradual alloying with the addition was confirmed by structural analyses with techniques of the X-ray diffraction and the X-ray absorption fine structure. Their methanol oxidation activities evaluated by the linear sweep voltammetry were higher than that of the commercial one, and found to be enhanced in accordance with the gradual change in the bimetallic structure from the Pt-core/Ru-shell to the random alloy. A good correlation was found between the catalytic activity and the indicators, which stands for the occurring frequency of the Pt–Ru bonds, calculated from the coordination numbers determined by the extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. It was confirmed that the addition of dl-tartaric acid in the radiolytic process certainly promoted the random alloy formation of PtRu bimetallic nanoparticles and enhanced their methanol oxidation activity.     

Evolutionary Algorithm Directed Synthesis of Mixed Anion Compounds LaF2X (X=Br,I) and LaFI2

Mixed-anion compounds have attracted growing attentions, but their synthesis is challenging, making a rational search desirable. Here, we explored LaF₃-LaX₃ (X=Cl, Br, I) system using ab initio structure searches based on evolutionary algorithms, and predicted LaF₂X and LaFX₂ (X=Br, I), which are respectively isostructural with LaHBr₂ and YH₂I, consisting of layered La-F blocks with single and double ordered honeycomb lattices, separated by van der Waals gaps. We successfully synthesized these compounds: LaF₂Br and LaFI₂ crystallize in the predicted structure, while LaF₂I is similar to the predicted one but with different layer stacking. LaF₂I exhibits fluoride ion conductivity comparable to that of non-doped LaF₃, and has the potential to show better ionic conductivity upon appropriate doping, given the theoretically lower diffusion energy barrier and the presence of soft iodine anions. This study shows the structure prediction using evolutionary algorithms will accelerate the discovery of mixed-anion compounds in future, in particular those with an ordered anion arrangement.     

Novel photocrosslinking of polymers bearing pendant acyloxyimino groups in the presence of p-benzoquinone

Films of polymers bearing pendant acyloxyimino (AOI) groups become insoluble when irradiated by ultraviolet light in the presence of p-benzoquinone. Post-heating of these films after irradiation also induces further the insolubilization. In the photocrosslinking, it is deduced that p-benzoquinone serves not only as sensitizer for the decomposition of AOI groups but also as crosslinker during the photo-irradiation and heating after irradiation.     

Intramolecular ring opening of a 2,3-epoxy alcohol by a xanthate anionic center; stereospecific preparation of 2-mercapto-1,3-diol units

Stereospecific ring openings of optically active 2,3-epoxy alcohols were performed by the reaction of 1 , 3 , 5 , and 7 with carbon disulfide and sodium hydride to give the five-membered xanthates 2 , 4 , 6 , and 8 . Both enantiomers of 2-mercapto-1,3-diol triacetates, 11 and 14 , were derived from 4 and 6 , respectively. The ring opening reaction proceeded at −78°C to −30°C, and the yields were around 80%. However, at a higher temperature between 0°C to room temperature, a complicated reaction took place and led to the formation of two isomers of the cyclic thiol carbonates 15 and 16 from 1 or 5 . These processes were also stereospecific, and mechanisms have been proposed. In the case of the 3,4-epoxy alcohol 20 , the epoxide ring opening gave the six-membered xanthate 21 stereospecifically.