Synthesis,Properties and Crystal Structures of Mononuclear Copper(II) Complexes with Bis(2-Pyridylmethyl)Amino Acids

Tetradentate Schiff-base carboxylate-containing ligands, bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino-3-propionic acid (Hpmpa) and bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino-4-butyric acid (Hpmba), react with CuCl₂ to give rise to the mononuclear complexes [Cu(Hpmpa)Cl]Cl · 2H₂O (1) and [Cu(Hpmba)Cl₂]· H₂O (2). These complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetry. Crystal structure of (1) shows that the copper(II) ion has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with the three nitrogen atoms of the Hpmpa ligand and one chloride anion occupying the basal plane and an oxygen atom from the carboxylate group coordinating the axial position. In (2), the coordination environment around the copper(II) ion reveals a distorted square-pyramids with three nitrogen atoms of the Hpmba ligand and one chloride anion that comprise the basal plane, whereas the apical position is filled by the chloride anion. Cyclic voltammetry of the complexes gives two one-electron waves corresponding to Cu^II/Cu^III and Cu^III/Cu^I processes. The electronic spectra and redox potentials of the complexes are influenced significantly by the N-pendant carboxylate groups.     

AMPA, not NMDA, activates RhoA GTPases and subsequently phosphorylates moesin

Glutamate induced rapid phosphorylation of moesin, one of ERM family proteins involved in the ligation of membrane to actin cytoskeleton, in rat hippocampal cells (JBC, 277:16576-16584, 2002). However, the identity of glutamate receptor has not been explored. Here we show that a-amino- 3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor is responsible for glutamate-induced RhoA activation and phosphorylation of moesin. Glutamate induced phosphorylation at Thr-558 of moesin was still detectible upon chelation of Ca(2+), suggesting involvement of AMPA receptor instead of N-methyl D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor in this phosphorylation of moesin. AMPA but not NMDA- induced moesin phosphorylation was independent of Ca(2+). Both AMPA and NMDA but not Kainate induced moesin phosphorylation at similar levels. However, the kinetics of phosphorylation varied greatly between AMPA and NMDA where AMPA treatment rapidly increased phosphomoesin, which reached a maximum at 10 min after treatment and returned to a basal level at 30 min. In contrast, NMDA-induced phosphorylation of moesin reached a maximum at 30 min after treatment and was remained at higher levels at 60 min. A possible involvement of RhoA and its downstream effector, Rho kinase in the AMPA receptor-triggered phosphorylation of moesin was also explored. The kinetics for the glutamate- induced membrane translocation of RhoA was similar to that of moesin phosphorylation induced by AMPA. Moreover, Y-27632, a specific Rho kinase inhibitor, completely blocked AMPA-induced moesin phosphorylation but had no effect on NMDA-induced moesin phosphorylation. These results suggest that glutamate-induced phosphorylation of moesin may be mediated through the AMPA receptor/RhoA/Rho kinase pathway.     

Two-photon dyes containing heterocyclic rings with enhanced photostability

A series of donor-pi-donor derivatives containing phenyl, naphthyl, and anthryl groups as the pi-center and heterocyclic rings as the conjugation bridge have been synthesized and their one- and two-photon spectroscopic properties and photostability were determined. These compounds show bathochromic shifts in the absorption and emission spectra, larger two-photon cross-section, and enhanced photostability in comparison to their open-chain analogues. In addition, a convenient method for the qualitative photostability measurement is proposed.     

In situ reversible tuning of chemical interface damping in single gold nanorod-based recyclable platforms through manipulation of supramolecular host–guest interactions

Recently, chemical interface damping (CID) has been proposed as a new plasmon damping pathway based on interfacial hot-electron transfer from metal to adsorbate molecules. It has been considered essential, owing to its potential implications in efficient photochemical processes and sensing experiments. However, thus far, studies focusing on controlling CID in single gold nanoparticles have been very limited, and in situ reversible tuning has remained a considerable challenge. In these scanning electron microscopy-correlated dark-field spectroscopic measurements and density functional theory calculations, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-based host–guest supramolecular interactions were employed to examine and control the CID process using monoamine-functionalized CB[7] (CB[7]-NH₂) attached to single gold nanorods (AuNRs). In situ tuning of CID through the CB[7]–oxaliplatin complexation, which can result in the variation of the chemical nature and electronic properties of adsorbates, was presented. In addition, in situ tuning of CID was demonstrated through the competitive release of the oxaliplatin guest from the oxaliplatin@CB[7] complex, which was then replaced by a competitor guest of spermine in sufficient amounts. Furthermore, nuclear magnetic resonance experiments confirmed that the release of the guest is the consequence of adding salt (NaCl). Thus, in situ reversible tuning of CID in single AuNRs was achieved through successive steps of encapsulation and release of the guest on the same AuNR in a flow cell. Finally, single CB[7]-NH₂@AuNRs were presented as a recyclable platform for CID investigations after the complete release of guest molecules from their host–guest inclusion complexes. Therefore, this study has paved a new route to achieve in situ reversible tuning of CID in the same AuNR and to investigate the CID process using CB-based host–guest chemistry with various guest molecules in single AuNRs for efficient hot-electron photochemistry and biosensing applications.

This study has paved a new route to achieve in situ reversible tuning of chemical interface damping (CID) in the same gold nanorod (AuNR) and to investigate the CID process using cucurbituril (CB)-based host–guest chemistry with various guest molecules in single AuNRs.     

Characterization of poly(carboxylic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) blends formed through hydrogen bonding by spectroscopic and calorimetric analyses

The solid state of the complex between poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and that between poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and PEO formed via hydrogen-bonding was studied by differential-scanning calorimetric (DSC) and by Fourier-transform infrared (FT–IR) spectroscopic measurements. Melting temperature T_m and the degree of the crystallinity X_c of PEO in the systems PAA (or PMAA)/PEO blends obtained from aqueous or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) medium were measured in various unit mol % of PEO ([PEO]100/{[PAA(or PMAA)] + [PEO]}) where [ ] is the unit mole concentration. It was found that 50 unit mol % of PEO is a critical composition, which gives new evidence for the 1 : 1 complex formation between PAA (or PMAA) and PEO. From the FT–IR spectroscopic analysis in conjunction with DSC measurements we also found that the effects of solvent and of hydrophobic interaction (due to the α-methyl group of PMAA) are the important factors controlling the complexation in the solution and solid systems. These factors also affect the crystallization behavior and the microstructure of the PAA (or PMAA)/PEO blend in solid state.     

Solid-phase synthesis of 2-imidazolidinethiones via Mitsunobu reaction of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)thioureas

This letter reports the solid-phase synthesis of 2-imidazolidinethiones via the N-cyclization of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)thioureas using the Mitsunobu reaction in good yield and purity. This process employed the reductive amination of an ArgoGel-MB-CHO resin to anchor the aminoalcohols, followed by a reaction with isothiocyanates to give the resin-attached N-(2-hydroxyethyl)thioureas. Cleavage of the 2-imidazolidinethiones was performed with trifluoroacetic acid.     

New approaches to β-trifluoromethylated enone derivatives

β-Trifluoromethylated enaminones 1 were prepared stereospecifically or high stercoselectively in 31-92% yields from the reaction of Weinreb amides with trifluoropropynyl lithium, followed by quenching with H₂O in the presence of amine derivatives. β-Trifluoromethylated enaminone 1a was reacted with aryl or alkynyl Grignard reagents to give Michael addition products 5 at 0 °C, whereas addition-elimination adducts, β-aryl (or alkynyl)-β-trifluoromethylated enones 6, were obtained stereospecifically in 50-92% yields after stirring at room temperature for several hours.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of hydroxy enol ethers: approach to a two-carbon homologation of aldehydes

[reaction: see text] Hydroboration of ethoxy acetylene, transmetalation to zinc, and addition to aldehydes in the presence of a chiral amino alcohol ligand (MIB) affords hydroxy enol ethers with high ee. The resultant enantiomerically enriched hydroxy enol ethers were converted to protected hydroxy aldehydes, a useful synthetic building block for the construction of a variety of polyoxygenated natural products. In addition, diastereoselective formation of syn- and anti-1,3-diols was studied.     

Solid-phase synthesis of 2-cyanoquinazolin-4(3H)-one and 2,3-dihydrooxazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-5-one derivatives utilizing resin-bound anthranilic acid derivatives

We were able to obtain 2-cyanoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones 11 in 35-60% four-step overall isolated yields and 2,3-dihydrooxazolo[2,3-b]quinazolin-5-ones 12 in 20-71% four-step overall isolated yields utilizing polymer-bound anthranilic acid derivatives 1, and 6-amino-2-cyanoquinazolin-4(3H)-ones 19 in 30-44% six-step overall isolated yields making use of anthranilic acid derivative resin 2 via dithiazole resins 10 and 17. The reactions on solid phase were monitored by single bead ATR-FTIR spectroscopic method.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of polyelectrolyte multilayering on a charged particle

Molecular dynamics simulations of polyelectrolyte multilayering on a charged spherical particle revealed that the sequential adsorption of oppositely charged flexible polyelectrolytes proceeds with surface charge reversal and highlighted electrostatic interactions as the major driving force of layer deposition. Far from being completely immobilized, multilayers feature a constant surge of chain intermixing during the deposition process, consistent with experimental observations of extensive interlayer mixing in these films. The formation of multilayers as well as the extent of layer intermixing depends on the degree of polymerization of the polyelectrolyte chains and the fraction of charge on its backbone. The presence of ionic pairs between oppositely charged macromolecules forming layers seems to play an important role in stabilizing the multilayer film.