Lewis acid adducts of narrow band gap conjugated polymers

We report on the interaction of Lewis acids with narrow band gap conjugated copolymers containing donor and acceptor units. Examination of the widely used poly[(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclopenta-[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene)-2,6-(diyl-alt-benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazole)-4,7-diyl] (1) shows weaker binding with B(C(6)F(5))(3) when compared with a small molecule that contains a cyclopenta-[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene (CDT) unit flanked by two benzo[2,1,3]thiadiazole (BT) fragments. Studies on model compounds representative of 1, together with a comparison between B(C(6)F(5))(3) and BBr(3), indicate that the propensity for Lewis acid coordination is decreased because of steric encumbrance surrounding the BT nitrogen sites. These observations led to the design of chromophores that incorporate an acceptor unit with a more basic nitrogen site, namely pyridal[2,1,3]thiadiazole (PT). That this strategy leads to a stronger B-N interaction was demonstrated through the examination of the reaction of B(C(6)F(5))(3) with two small molecules bis(4,4-bis(hexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)-4,7-pyridal[2,1,3]thiadiazole (8) and bis{2-thienyl-(4,4-bis(hexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene)}-4,7-pyridal[2,1,3]thiadiazole (9) and two polymer systems (poly[(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclopenta-[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene)-2,6-diyl-alt-([1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine)-4,7-diyl] (10) and poly[(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclopenta-[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene)-2,6-diyl-alt-(4',7'-bis(2-thienyl)-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine)-5,5-diyl] (11). From a materials perspective, it is worth pointing out that through the binding of B(C(6)F(5))(3), new NIR-absorbing polymers can be generated with band gaps from 1.31 to 0.89 eV. A combination of studies involving ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory shows that the narrowing of the band gap upon borane coordination to the pyridal nitrogen on PT is a result of lowering the energies of both the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the optically relevant fragments; however, the LUMO is decreased to a greater extent, thereby giving rise to the narrowing of the gap.     

Laterally nanostructured adsorbed layers of surfactant/surfmer mixtures before and after polymerisation

The adsorbed layer structure of mixed films of the polymerisable cationic surfactant dodecyldimethyl(ethylmethacrylate)ammonium bromide (MEDDAB) with the cationic and non-ionic surfactants dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and polyoxyethylene-23-lauryl ether (C12E23) has been investigated by AFM soft-contact imaging before and after solution polymerisation of MEDDAB. MEDDAB alone adsorbs on mica as a planar bilayer, but the adsorbed layer structure can be modified by mixing with DTAB or C12E23 to yield an adsorbed mesh or cylinders. The equilibrium adsorbed film structure after solution polymerisation of the methacrylate group on MEDDAB was found to depend on the solubilising ability of the non-polymerisable surfactant. C12E23 effectively prevented precipitation of polymerised MEDDAB, retaining the unpolymerised adsorbed layer structure, whereas DTAB mixtures became cloudy above 23 mol% MEDDAB. The resultant structure remained similar to the adsorbed rods formed prior to polymerisation, but had a diameter several times larger.     

Catalase-peroxidase activity of iron(III)-TAML activators of hydrogen peroxide

Exceptionally high peroxidase-like and catalase-like activities of iron(III)-TAML activators of H 2O 2 ( 1: Tetra-Amidato-Macrocyclic-Ligand Fe (III) complexes [ F e{1,2-X 2C 6H 2-4,5-( NCOCMe 2 NCO) 2CR 2}(OH 2)] (-)) are reported from pH 6-12.4 and 25-45 degrees C. Oxidation of the cyclometalated 2-phenylpyridine organometallic complex, [Ru (II)( o-C 6H 4py)(phen) 2]PF 6 ( 2) or "ruthenium dye", occurs via the equation [ Ru II ] + 1/2 H 2 O 2 + H +-->(Fe III - TAML) [ Ru III ] + H 2 O, following a simple rate law rate = k obs (per)[ 1][H 2O 2], that is, the rate is independent of the concentration of 2 at all pHs and temperatures studied. The kinetics of the catalase-like activity (H 2 O 2 -->(Fe III - TAML) H 2 O + 1/2 O 2) obeys a similar rate law: rate = k obs (cat)[ 1][H 2O 2]). The rate constants, k obs (per) and k obs (cat), are strongly and similarly pH dependent, with a maximum around pH 10. Both bell-shaped pH profiles are quantitatively accounted for in terms of a common mechanism based on the known speciation of 1 and H 2O 2 in this pH range. Complexes 1 exist as axial diaqua species [FeL(H 2O) 2] (-) ( 1 aqua) which are deprotonated to afford [FeL(OH)(H 2O)] (2-) ( 1 OH) at pH 9-10. The pathways 1 aqua + H 2O 2 ( k 1), 1 OH + H 2O 2 ( k 2), and 1 OH + HO 2 (-) ( k 4) afford one or more oxidized Fe-TAML species that further rapidly oxidize the dye (peroxidase-like activity) or a second H 2O 2 molecule (catalase-like activity). This mechanism is supported by the observations that (i) the catalase-like activity of 1 is controllably retarded by addition of reducing agents into solution and (ii) second order kinetics in H 2O 2 has been observed when the rate of O 2 evolution was monitored in the presence of added reducing agents. The performances of the 1 complexes in catalyzing H 2O 2 oxidations are shown to compare favorably with the peroxidases further establishing Fe (III)-TAML activators as miniaturized enzyme replicas with the potential to greatly expand the technological utility of hydrogen peroxide.     

Characterization of a core fragment of the rhesus monkey TRIM5α protein

Background  

Like all tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins, the retroviral restriction factor TRIM5α consists of RING, B-box 2 and coiled-coil domains, with a C-terminal B30.2(SPRY) domain. Although structures have been determined for some individual TRIM domains, the structure of an intact TRIM protein is unknown.     

A sensitive assay for the quantification of morphine and its active metabolites in human plasma and dried blood spots using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Opioids such as morphine are the cornerstone of pain treatment. The challenge of measuring the concentrations of morphine and its active metabolites in order to assess human pharmacokinetics and monitor therapeutic drugs in children requires assays with high sensitivity in small blood volumes. We developed and validated a semi-automated LC-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous quantification of morphine and its active metabolites morphine 3β-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine 6β-glucuronide (M6G) in human plasma and in dried blood spots (DBS). Reconstitution in water (DBS only) and addition of a protein precipitation solution containing the internal standards were the only manual steps. Morphine and its metabolites were separated on a Kinetex 2.6-μm PFP analytical column using an acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid gradient. The analytes were detected in the positive multiple reaction mode. In plasma, the assay had the following performance characteristics: range of reliable response of 0.25–1000 ng/mL (r ² > 0.99) for morphine, 1–1,000 ng/mL (r ² > 0.99) for M3G, and 2.5–1,000 ng/mL for M6G. In DBS, the assay had a range of reliable response of 1–1,000 ng/mL (r ² > 0.99) for morphine and M3G, and of 2.5–1,000 ng/mL for M6G. For inter-day accuracy and precision for morphine, M3G and M6G were within 15% of the nominal values in both plasma and DBS. There was no carryover, ion suppression, or matrix interferences. The assay fulfilled all predefined acceptance criteria, and its sensitivity using DBS samples was adequate for the measurement of pediatric pharmacokinetic samples using a small blood of only 20–50 μL.     

Light-activated ionic gelation of common biopolymers

Biopolymers such as alginate and pectin are well known for their ability to undergo gelation upon addition of multivalent cations such as calcium (Ca(2+)). Here, we report a simple way to activate such ionic gelation by UV irradiation. Our approach involves combining an insoluble salt of the cation (e.g., calcium carbonate, CaCO(3)) with an aqueous solution of the polymer (e.g., alginate) along with a third component, a photoacid generator (PAG). Upon UV irradiation, the PAG dissociates to release H(+) ions, which react with the CaCO(3) to generate free Ca(2+). In turn, the Ca(2+) ions cross-link the alginate chains into a physical network, thereby resulting in a hydrogel. Dynamic rheological experiments confirm the elastic character of the alginate gel, and the gel modulus is shown to be tunable via the irradiation time as well as the PAG and alginate concentrations. The above approach is easily extended to other biopolymers such as pectin. Using this approach, a photoresponse can be imparted to conventional biopolymers without the need for any chemical modification of the molecules. Photoresponsive alginate gels may be useful in creating biomaterials or tissue mimics. As a step toward potential applications, we demonstrate the ability to photopattern a thin film of alginate gel onto a glass substrate under mild conditions.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the energetic room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-hydroxyethyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazolium nitrate (HEATN)

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed to investigate the structure and dynamics of an energetic ionic liquid, 1-hydroxyethyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazolium nitrate (HEATN). The generalized amber force field (GAFF) was used, and an electronically polarizable model was further developed in the spirit of our previous work (Yan, T.; Burnham, C. J.; Del Popolo, M. G.; Voth, G. A. J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 11877). In the process of simulated annealing from a liquid state at 475 K down to a glassy state at 175 K, the MD simulations identify a glass-transition temperature region at around 250-275 K, in agreement with experiment. The self-intermediate scattering functions show vanishing boson peaks in the supercooled region, indicating that HEATN may be a fragile glass former. The coupling/decoupling of translational and reorientational ion motion is also discussed, and various other physical properties of the liquid state are intensively studied at 400 K. A complex hydrogen bond network was revealed with the calculation of partial radial distribution functions. When compared to the similarly sized 1-ethyl-4-methyl-1,4-imidazolium nitrate ionic liquid, EMIM+/NO3-, a hydrogen bond network directly resulting in the poorer packing efficiency of ions is observed, which is responsible for the lower melting/glass-transition point. The structural properties of the liquid/vacuum interface shows that there is vanishing layering at the interface, in accordance with the poor ion packing. The effects of electronic polarization on the self-diffusion, viscosity, and surface tension of HEATN are found to be significant, in agreement with an earlier study on EMIM+/NO3- (Yan, T.; Burnham, C. J.; Del Popolo, M. G.; Voth, G. A. J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 11877).     

Analysis of tetramethylene disulfotetramine in foods using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An automated solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) method for the determination of tetramethylene disulfotetramine in foods was developed. A comparison of direct immersion (DI) and headspace (HS) extraction techniques using a 70microm carbowax/divinylbenzene (CW/DVB) fiber is presented. The optimized DI-SPME method provided an aqueous extraction limit of detection (LOD) of 9.0ng/g while the HS-SPME LOD was 2.7ng/g. In both SPME modes, recovery was highly matrix dependent and quantification requires standard addition calibrations. Analysis of foods using DI-SPME encountered many obstacles including fiber fouling, low recovery and poor reproducibility. HS-SPME was successfully applied to food analysis with minimal interferences. Standard addition calibration curves for foods gave high linearity (R2>0.98), reproducibility (RSD<12%) and sensitivity with LODs ranging from 0.9 to 4.3ng/g.     

Calibration of DFT Functionals for the Prediction of Fe Mössbauer Spectral Parameters in Iron-Nitrosyl and Iron-Sulfur Complexes: Accurate Geometries Prove Essential

Six popular density functionals in conjunction with the conductor-like screening (COSMO) solvation model have been used to obtain linear M?ssbauer isomer shift (IS) and quadrupole splitting (QS) parameters for a test set of 20 complexes (with 24 sites) comprised of nonheme nitrosyls (Fe-NO) and non-nitrosyl (Fe-S) complexes. For the first time in an IS analysis, the Fe electron density was calculated both directly at the nucleus, ρ(0)(N), which is the typical procedure, and on a small sphere surrounding the nucleus, ρ(0)(S), which is the new standard algorithm implemented in the ADF software package. We find that both methods yield (near) identical slopes from each linear regression analysis but are shifted with respect to ρ(0) along the x-axis. Therefore, the calculation of the Fe electron density with either method gives calibration fits with equal predictive value. Calibration parameters obtained from the complete test set for OLYP, OPBE, PW91, and BP86 yield correlation coefficients (r(2)) of approximately 0.90, indicating that the calibration fit is of good quality. However, fits obtained from B3LYP and B3LYP* with both Slater-type and Gaussian-type orbitals are generally found to be of poorer quality. For several of the complexes examined in this study, we find that B3LYP and B3LYP* give geometries that possess significantly larger deviations from the experimental structures than OLYP, OPBE, PW91 or BP86. This phenomenon is particularly true for the di- and tetranuclear Fe complexes examined in this study. Previous M?ssbauer calibration fit studies using these functionals have usually included mononuclear Fe complexes alone, where these discrepancies are less pronounced. An examination of spin expectation values reveals B3LYP and B3LYP* approach the weak-coupling limit more closely than the GGA exchange-correlation functionals. The high degree of variability in our calculated S(2) values for the Fe-NO complexes highlights their challenging electronic structure. Significant improvements to the isomer shift calibrations are obtained for B3LYP and B3LYP* when geometries obtained with the OLYP functional are used. In addition, greatly improved performance of these functionals is found if the complete test set is grouped separately into Fe-NO and Fe-S complexes. Calibration fits including only Fe-NO complexes are found to be excellent, while those containing the non-nitrosyl Fe-S complexes alone are found to demonstrate less accurate correlations. Similar trends are also found with OLYP, OPBE, PW91, and BP86. Correlations between experimental and calculated QSs were also investigated. Generally, universal and separate Fe-NO and Fe-S fit parameters obtained to determine QSs are found to be of good to excellent quality for every density functional examined, especially if [Fe(4)(NO)(4)(μ(3)-S)(4)](-) is removed from the test set.     

Molecular self-assembly inhibition leads to basket-shaped cyclophane formation with chiral dynamics

Planar perylene derivatives form macrocyclic dimers and concatenated dimer-dimer rings under the action of molecular self-assembly. If this underpinning principle is true, highly twisted perylene derivatives should be more frustrated toward formation of multimeric cyclic compounds such as macrocyclic dimers and concatenated dimer-dimers because of perturbation resulting from intermolecular pi-pi stacking. Indeed, 1,6,7,12- tetraphenoxy-substituted perylene is highly twisted and undergoes unimolecular cyclization rather than bimolecular or multimolecular cyclization. The resulting monocyclic monomer exhibits interesting conformation switching from one chiral structure (left-handedness) to another chiral structure (right-handedness) at room temperature. NMR studies of conformational dynamics reveal that such configuration change between the two enantiomers can be frozen at low temperature (-45 degrees C). An activation enthalpy barrier of 13.4 +/- 0.5 kcal.mol-1 for twisting the perylene plane in order to convert from one enantiomer to the other has been found.