Novel triarylamine‐based alternating conjugated polymer with high hole mobility: Synthesis,electro‐optical,and electronic properties

Novel bi‐triphenylamine‐containing aromatic dibromide M3 , N,N‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)‐N′,N′‐dipheny‐l,4‐phenylenediamine, was successfully synthesized. The novel conjugated polymer P1 having number‐average molecular weight of 1.31 × 10⁴ was prepared via Suzuki coupling from the dibromide M3 and 9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diboronic acid bis(1,3‐propanediol) ester. Polymer P1 had excellent thermal stability associated with a high glass‐transition temperature (T_g = 141 °C). The hole‐transporting and UV‐vis‐near‐infrared electrochromic properties were examined by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods. Cyclic voltammograms of the conjugated polymer films cast onto indium‐tin oxide‐coated glass substrates exhibited two reversible oxidation redox couples at E_1/2 values of 0.73 and 1.13 V versus Ag/Ag⁺ in acetonitrile solution. The hole mobility of the conjugated polymer P1 revealed ～10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1, which is much higher than that of other conjugated polymer systems. The observed UV‐vis‐near‐infrared absorption change in the conjugated polymer film P1 at applied potentials ranging from 0.00 to 1.23 V are fully reversible and associated with strong color changes from pale yellowish in its neutral form to green and blue in its oxidized form. Using a combination of experimental study and theoretical investigation, we proposed an oxidation mechanism based on molecular orbital theory, which explains the cyclic voltammetry experimental results well. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Two separate gene clusters encode the biosynthetic pathway for the meroterpenoids austinol and dehydroaustinol in Aspergillus nidulans

Meroterpenoids are a class of fungal natural products that are produced from polyketide and terpenoid precursors. An understanding of meroterpenoid biosynthesis at the genetic level should facilitate engineering of second-generation molecules and increasing production of first-generation compounds. The filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans has previously been found to produce two meroterpenoids, austinol and dehydroaustinol. Using targeted deletions that we created, we have determined that, surprisingly, two separate gene clusters are required for meroterpenoid biosynthesis. One is a cluster of four genes including a polyketide synthase gene, ausA. The second is a cluster of 10 additional genes including a prenyltransferase gene, ausN, located on a separate chromosome. Chemical analysis of mutant extracts enabled us to isolate 3,5-dimethylorsellinic acid and 10 additional meroterpenoids that are either intermediates or shunt products from the biosynthetic pathway. Six of them were identified as novel meroterpenoids in this study. Our data, in aggregate, allow us to propose a complete biosynthetic pathway for the A. nidulans meroterpenoids.     

Acyl and silyl group effects in reactivity-based one-pot glycosylation: synthesis of embryonic stem cell surface carbohydrates Lc4 and IV(2)Fuc-Lc4

Relative reactivity evaluations showed the graded arming of toluenyl thioglucosides by variously positioned silyl groups but not by their acyl counterparts. These findings were applied in reactivity-based one-pot assembly of linker-attached Lc(4) and IV(2)Fuc-Lc(4), which are components of human embryonic stem cell surface. The sugar-galectin-1 binding was also examined.     

Copper-catalyzed alkene arylation with diaryliodonium salts

Alkenes and arenes represent two classes of feedstock compounds whose union has fundamental importance to synthetic organic chemistry. We report a new approach to alkene arylation using diaryliodonium salts and Cu catalysis. Using a range of simple alkenes, we have shown that the product outcomes differ significantly from those commonly obtained by the Heck reaction. We have used these insights to develop a number of new tandem and cascade reactions that transform readily available alkenes into complex arylated products that may have broad applications in chemical synthesis.     

The Discovery of [Ni(NHC)RCN](2) Species and Their Role as Cycloaddition Catalysts for the Formation of Pyridines

The reaction of Ni(COD)(2), IPr, and nitrile affords dimeric [Ni(IPr)RCN](2) in high yields. X-ray analysis revealed these species display simultaneous η(1)- and η(2)-nitrile binding modes. These dimers are catalytically competent in the formation of pyridines from the cycloaddition of diynes and nitriles. Kinetic analysis showed the reaction to be first order in [Ni(IPr)RCN](2), zeroth order in added IPr, zeroth order in nitrile, and zeroth order in diyne. Extensive stoichiometric competition studies were performed, and selective incorporation of the exogenous, not dimer bound, nitrile was observed. Post cycloaddition, the dimeric state was found to be largely preserved. Nitrile and ligand exchange experiments were performed and found to be inoperative in the catalytic cycle. These observations suggest a mechanism whereby the catalyst is activated by partial dimer-opening followed by binding of exogenous nitrile and subsequent oxidative heterocoupling.     

Effects of tethering alkyl chains for amphiphilic ruthenium complex dyes on their adsorption to titanium oxide and photovoltaic properties

Ruthenium (II) complex dye, Ru(4,4'-dicarboxyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(4-nonyl-2,2'-bipyridine) (NCS)(2), (denoted as RuC9) tethering single alkyl chain was synthesized and well characterized. Its adsorption behavior onto the mesoporous TiO(2) and photovoltaic properties were compared with Z907 which has similar chemical structure but tethers two alkyl chains. RuC9 dyes tend to aggregate into vesicles in the acetonitrile/t-butanol co-solvent as a result of the amphiphilic structure, whereas Z907 dyes aggregate into lamellae. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with RuC9 dye showed higher short-circuit photocurrent than that with Z907, attributing to its higher molar optical extinction coefficient and more adsorption amount onto the mesoporous TiO(2). However, the DSSC with Z907 dye has higher open-circuit photovoltage and power conversion efficiency, presumably due to the fact that Z907 with more alkyl chains formed a molecular layer with higher hydrophobicity. It reduced the charge recombination in the interface between the dye-sensitized mesoporous TiO(2) and electrolyte as verified by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and intensity modulated photocurrent and photovoltage spectroscopies.     

Recent discovery of plant-derived anti-diabetic natural products

Covering: 2005 to 2010. This review covers recent discoveries of anti-diabetic compounds. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex disease affecting patients' daily life and elevating patients' risk of developing other diseases. There are several forms of diabetes, including type-1 diabetes (insulin-dependent), type-2 diabetes (noninsulin-dependent), and gestational diabetes. Type-2 diabetes is the most common form and the patient population with type-2 DM rises every year. Current treatments meet some but not all patients' needs. Therefore, new anti-diabetic drugs are in great demand. Traditional herbal medicine provides a rich source for new drug discovery. In this review, recent discoveries of anti-diabetic compounds have been summarized according to their chemical structures and mechanisms of action. Anti-diabetic plant extracts, many of which have been used and marketed as dietary supplements, were also included and discussed, and are classified according to the positive control used in the anti-diabetic animal studies. New anti-diabetic natural products found in the recent patent literature are also summarized.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of self-assembled metallogels of platinum(II) acetylide complexes with elaborate long-chain pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamides

A series of platinum(II) acetylide complexes with elaborate long-chain pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamides was synthesized. These metal complexes are capable of immobilizing organic solvents to form luminescent metallogels through a combination of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, aromatic π-π, and van der Waals interactions. Fibrillar morphologies were identified by TEM for these metallogels. Unique photophysical properties associated with the sol-to-gel transition have been disclosed with luminescence enhancement at elevated temperatures, which is in sharp contrast to typical thermotropic organogels or metallogels reported in the literature. Such unusual luminescence enhancement is attributed to the increased degree of freedom at higher temperatures that results in the formation of favorable molecular aggregates in the excited state through enhanced aromatic π-π and metallophilic Pt(II)···Pt(II) interactions. Structurally similar Pt-bp3 is not able to gel any common organic solvents. The inability of Pt-bp3 to form gels illustrates the importance of gelation to the macroscopic photophysical properties; Pt-bp3 does not show emission enhancement at elevated temperatures due to its low tendency to form strong aggregates in the ground state.     

Dioxygen Activation of a Trinuclear CuICuICuI Cluster Capable of Mediating Facile Oxidation of Organic Substrates: Competition between O‐Atom Transfer and Abortive Intercomplex Reduction

The dioxygen activation of a series of Cu^ICu^ICu^I complexes based on the ligands ( L ) 3,3′‐(1,4‐diazepane‐ 1,4‐diyl)bis(1‐{[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl](methyl)amino}propan‐2‐ol) ( 7‐Me ) or 3,3′‐(1,4‐diazepane‐1,4‐diyl)bis(1‐{[2‐(diethylamino)ethyl](ethyl)amino}propan‐2‐ol) ( 7‐Et ) forms an intermediate capable of mediating facile O‐atom transfer to simple organic substrates at room temperature. To elucidate the dioxygen chemistry, we have examined the reactions of 7‐Me , 7‐Et , and 3,3′‐(1,4‐diazepane‐1,4‐diyl)bis[1‐(4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol] ( 7‐N‐Meppz ) with dioxygen at ?80, ?55, and ?35 °C in propionitrile (EtCN) by UV‐visible, 77 K EPR, and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and 7‐N‐Meppz and 7‐Me with dioxygen at room temperature in acetonitrile (MeCN) by diode array spectrophotometry. At both ?80 and ?55 °C, the mixing of the starting [Cu^ICu^ICu^I( L )]¹⁺ complex ( 1 ) with O₂‐saturated propionitrile (EtCN) led to a bright green solution consisting of two paramagnetic species: the green dioxygen adduct [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐η²:η²‐peroxo)Cu^II( L )]²⁺ ( 2 ) and the blue [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐O)Cu^II( L )]²⁺ species ( 3 ). These observations are consistent with the initial formation of [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐O)₂Cu^III( L )]¹⁺ ( 4 ), followed by rapid abortion of this highly reactive species by intercluster electron transfer from a second molecule of complex 1 to give the blue species 3 and subsequent oxygenation of the partially oxidized [Cu^IICu^ICu^I( L )]²⁺ ( 5 ) to form the green dioxygen adduct 2 . Assignment of 2 to [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐η²:η²‐peroxo)Cu^II( L )]²⁺ is consistent with its reactivity with water to give H₂O₂ and the blue species 3 , as well as its propensity to be photoreduced in the X‐ray beam during X‐ray absorption experiments at room temperature. In light of these observations, the development of an oxidation catalyst based on the tricopper system requires consideration of the following design criteria: 1) rapid dioxygen chemistry; 2) facile O‐atom transfer from the activated cluster to substrate; and 3) a suitable reductant to rapidly regenerate complex 1 to accomplish efficient catalytic turnover.     

Spectroscopic study of antileishmanial drug incubated in the promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana

In this work we present spectroscopic study of Boldine (aporphine alkaloid) that possesses important biological activities, in particular, in interaction with the promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana. The results show the applicability of autofluorescence of this drug to determinate the possible mechanism of its biological action. The blue shift and hyperchromic effect in the emission spectrum of the drug in interaction with the parasite cells indicate an energy transference process between them. The morphological change of cell shape of the promastigotes treated with the drug is observed using confocal microscopy. This morphological cell-shape transformation evidences an important interaction between the drug studied and some protein of the parasite cell. Here we describe for the first time the fluorescence properties of the Boldine in the promastigotes of L. mexicana.