Synthetic models of the reduced active site of superoxide reductase

We report the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and magnetic and electrochemical studies of a series of iron(II) complexes of the pyridyl-appended diazacyclooctane ligand L(8)py(2), including several that model the square-pyramidal [Fe(II)(N(his))(4)(S(cys))] structure of the reduced active site of the non-heme iron enzyme superoxide reductase. Combination of L(8)py(2) with FeCl(2) provides [L(8)py(2)FeCl(2)] (1), which contains a trigonal-prismatic hexacoordinate iron(II) center, whereas a parallel reaction using [Fe(H(2)O)(6)](BF(4))(2) provides [L(8)py(2)Fe(FBF(3))]BF(4) (2), a novel BF(4)(-)-ligated square-pyramidal iron(II) complex. Substitution of the BF(4)(-) ligand in 2 with formate or acetate ions affords distorted pentacoordinate [L(8)py(2)Fe(O(2)CH)]BF(4) (3) and [L(8)py(2)Fe(O(2)CCH(3))]BF(4) (4), respectively. Models of the superoxide reductase active site are prepared upon reaction of 2 with sodium salts of aromatic and aliphatic thiolates. These model complexes include [L(8)py(2)Fe(SC(6)H(4)-p-CH(3))]BF(4) (5), [L(8)py(2)Fe(SC(6)H(4)-m-CH(3))]BF(4) (6), and [L(8)py(2)Fe(SC(6)H(11))]BF(4) (7). X-ray crystallographic studies confirm that the iron(II)-thiolate complexes model the square-pyramidal geometry and N(4)S donor set of the reduced active site of superoxide reductase. The iron(II)-thiolate complexes are high spin (S = 2), and their solutions are yellow in color because of multiple charge-transfer transitions that occur between 300 and 425 nm. The ambient temperature cyclic voltammograms of the iron(II)-thiolate complexes contain irreversible oxidation waves with anodic peak potentials that correlate with the relative electron donating abilities of the thiolate ligands. This electrochemical irreversibility is attributed to the bimolecular generation of disulfides from the electrochemically generated iron(III)-thiolate species.     

New phosphate fluorosurfactants for carbon dioxide

Anionic phosphate fluorosurfactants were shown to self-assemble into water-in-carbon dioxide microemulsions. The surfactants, having either two fluorinated chains or one fluorinated chain and one hydrocarbon chain, facilitated significant water uptake in CO2. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements of surfactant/water/CO2 solutions confirmed the presence of nanometer-scale aggregates, indicative of microemulsion formation.     

Polymer-assisted dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes in alcohols and applicability toward carbon nanotube/sol-gel composite formation

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were directly dispersed into various alcohols by sonicating the nanotubes in the presence of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP). Depending upon the alcohol, it was possible to disperse up to 0.3 g of SWCNTs per liter of alcohol using only 0.6 g of P4VP, and with solution stability greater than 6 weeks. Scanning electron microscopy of "bucky" paper prepared from the polymer-treated nanotubes revealed reduced bundle size compared to the corresponding untreated nanotube paper. Additionally, the applicability of the dispersion system in the formation of SWCNT/silica composites is demonstrated.     

Photophysics and redox behavior of chiral transition metal polymers

The absorption and emission spectra, excited-state lifetimes, quantum yields, and electrochemical measurements have been obtained for a new series of chiral complexes based on three different chiral 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine ligands, (-)-ctpy, (-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy], and (-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy], with one, two, or multiple Ru metal centers. The room-temperature absorption and emission maxima of [[((-)-ctpy)Ru]-(-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy]-[Ru((-)-ctpy)]](PF(6))(4) and ((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n) were shifted to lower energies and also exhibited significantly longer luminescence lifetimes when compared to [Ru((-)-ctpy)(2)](PF(6))(2), [[((-)-ctpy)Ru]-(-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy]-[Ru((-)-ctpy)]](PF(6))(4), and ((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n). In terms of their electrochemical behavior, all of the complexes studied exhibited one Ru-centered and two ligand-centered redox waves and the [[((-)-ctpy)Ru]-(-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy]-[Ru((-)-ctpy)]](PF(6))(4), ((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n), and ((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n)() complexes were found to electrodeposit upon ligand-based reduction. The difference between the formal potentials of the Ru-centered and the first ligand-centered (least negative) waves corresponded linearly with the changes in the observed emission energies. The shifts in energy are discussed using a particle-in-a-box model, and the luminescence lifetimes are discussed in terms of the structure of the excited-state manifold.     

Novel Copolymers of Styrene and Alkyl and Alkoxy Ring‐Trisubstituted Methyl 2‐Cyano‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propenoates

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, akyl and alkoxy ring‐trisubstituted methyl 2‐cyano‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propenoates, RC₆H₂CH[dbnd]C(CN)CO₂CH_3, (where R is 2,3‐dimethyl‐4‐methoxy, 2,5‐dimethyl‐4‐methoxy‐, 2,3,4‐trimethoxy‐, 2,4,5‐trimethoxy, 2,4,6‐trimethoxy, and 2,4‐dimethoxy‐3‐methyl), were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring‐substituted benzaldehydes and methyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR. Novel copolymers of the ethylenes and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (AIBN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. High T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. The gravimetric analysis indicated that the copolymers decompose in the 283–306°C range.     

Virtual isotropic‐nematic transitions in alkyl cyanobiphenyls

Pretransitional fluctuations in the isotropic phase of liquid crystalline and non‐liquid crystalline alkyl cyanobiphenyls have been investigated using light scattering and magnetic birefringence measurements. We find evidence for a virtual isotropic‐nematic phase transition in short‐chain alkyl cyanobiphenyls with no observable nematic phase. The measured temperature dependence of fluctuations is well‐described by mean‐field theory. Virtual phase transition temperatures extrapolated from separate light scattering and magnetic birefringence experiments are in good agreement. Landau–de Gennes model parameters for the compounds investigated are calculated from the experimental results.     

Supramolecular main-chain liquid crystalline polymers and networks with competitive hydrogen bonding

A series of supramolecular polymers and networks with variable liquid crystalline characteristics have been created. These species are formed though the benzoic acid/pyridine associations of a flexible bisacid and a mixture of a rigid bispyridyl and a non-mesogenic tetrapyridyl. The networked systems displayed liquid crystalline characteristics up to and including 22.5% netpoint inclusion. Above this concentration, only crystalline and melting behaviours were observed. This observed phenomenon would seem to be linked to the statistical correlation of hydrogen bond acceptors and donors. There was also no observed phase segregation of the species after multiple heat/cool cycles and extended periods of time in the isotropic state. This would indicate that the thermodynamically more stable mesogenic phase cannot out-compete the non-liquid crystalline network. Computational analysis indicates no significant difference in hydrogen bond strength between the two different hydrogen bond acceptors.     

Thermotropic liquid crystal behaviour of gemini imidazolium-based ionic amphiphiles

Thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (LCs) are useful for a number of applications such as anisotropic ion transport and as organised reaction media/solvents because of their ordered fluid properties and intrinsic charge units. A large number of different ionic LC architectures are known, but only a handful of examples of gemini (i.e. paired or dimeric) ionic LCs have been prepared and studied. In this work, a series of 20 new symmetric, imidazolium-based, gemini cationic LCs containing two bridged imidazolium cations and two pendant alkyl chains was synthesised, and the thermotropic LC behaviours were characterised. The imidazolium unit provides a highly tunable and modular platform for the design and synthesis of gemini cationic LCs which offers excellent structure control. As expected, the thermotropic LC properties of these new amphilphilic, gemini ionic LCs were found to be strongly influenced by the length of the spacer between the imidazolium units, the length of the pendant alkyl tails, and the nature of the anion. Smectic A (SmA) thermotropic LC phases were observed in more than half of the gemini imidazolium LC systems studied.