Ultrafast ring-closure reaction of photochromic indolylfulgimides studied with UV-pump-IR-probe spectroscopy

The ring-opening and ring-closure reactions of a photochromic indolylfulgimide are investigated with femtosecond vibrational spectroscopy. Spectral signatures due to excited-state decay and vibrational cooling are seen in the mid-IR region. For the ring-opening reaction triggered with visible pulses, a lifetime of the excited electronic state of 4 ps was obtained in polar solution. In a nonpolar solvent, this time constant is reduced to 2 ps. The ring-closure reaction induced with UV pulses displays an excited-state lifetime and thus a building of the photoproduct of roughly 0.5 ps. For all processes, the subsequent cooling occurs on a 15-ps time scale lasting up to approximately 50 ps. The time-resolved IR measurements do not support the existence of any long-living intermediate states.     

Influence of Process Parameters on the Reaction Kinetics of the Chromium‐Catalyzed Trimerization of Ethylene

In this paper we report the results of an extensive experimental kinetic study carried out on the novel ethylene trimerization catalyst system, comprising the chromium source [CrCl₃(thf)₃] (thf=tetrahydrofuran), a Ph₂P‐N(iPr)‐P(Ph)‐N(iPr)H (PNPNH) ligand (Ph=phenyl, iPr=isopropyl), and triethylaluminum (AlEt₃) as activator. It could be shown that the initial activity shows a first‐order dependency on the ethylene concentration. Also, a first‐order dependency was found for the catalyst concentration. The initial activity follows a typical Arrhenius behavior with an experimentally determined activation energy of 52.6 kJ mol^?1. At elevated temperatures (ca. 80 °C), a significant deactivation was observed, which can be tentatively traced back to a ligand rearrangement in the presence of AlEt₃. After a fast initial phase, a pronounced ‘kink’ in the ethylene‐uptake curve is observed, followed by a slow, almost linear, further increase of the total ethylene consumption. The catalyst composition, in particular the ligand/chromium and the cocatalyst/chromium molar ratio, has a strong impact on the catalytic performance of the trimerization of ethylene.     

Hydrosilylation of alkynes by Ni(CO)3-stabilized silicon(II) hydride

Not copy and paste: Although β-diketiminato ligands have been employed for the stabilization of Ge(II) and Sn(II) hydrides, the corresponding Si(II) hydride is not accessible. However, coordination of silicon(II) to a {Ni(CO)(3)} fragment allowed the isolation of the first Si(II) hydride metal complex 1. This complex was used for the first silicon(II)-based and Ni(0)-mediated, stereoselective hydrosilylation of alkynes. R = phenyl, tolyl.     

Characterization of protein-ligand interactions by high-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy

A novel approach for detection of ligand binding to a protein in solid samples is described. Hydrated precipitates of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL show well-resolved (13)C-(13)C 2D solid-state NMR spectra that allow site-specific assignment of resonances for many residues in uniformly (13)C-enriched samples. Binding of a small peptide or drug-like organic molecule leads to changes in the chemical shift of resonances from multiple residues in the protein that can be monitored to characterize binding. Differential chemical shifts can be used to distinguish between direct protein-ligand contacts and small conformational changes of the protein induced by ligand binding. The agreement with prior solution-state NMR results indicates that the binding pocket in solid and liquid samples is similar for this protein. Advantages of different labeling schemes involving selective (13)C enrichment of methyl groups of Ala, Val, Leu, and Ile (Cdelta1) for characterizing protein-ligand interactions are also discussed. It is demonstrated that high-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy on uniformly or extensively (13)C-enriched samples has the potential to screen proteins of moderate size ( approximately 20 kDa) for ligand binding as hydrated solids. The results presented here suggest the possibility of using solid-state NMR to study ligand binding in proteins not amenable to solution NMR.     

Investigation of gaseous metabolites from moulds by Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

The metabolism of moulds results in the formation of various microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). These substances can be used as an indicator for the presence of moulds in the indoor environment. Three different mould strains were cultivated on culture media and IMS spectra of gaseous mould metabolites were recorded using a portable mini system with a tritium source and a 5 cm drift cell. The headspace spectra are characteristic for mould species and their age. Typical gaseous components of the metabolites were identified and compared with results obtained from gas chromatography using a mass spectrometer detector. It was observed that the MVOCs formation depends on mould species and their growing stage with a maximum of MVOCs emission occurring during the first 10 days. These preliminary results show that IMS can be applied to detect MVOCs in indoor environment and indicate hidden mould growth.     

A Chemical Proteomic Analysis of Illudin-Interacting Proteins

The illudin natural product family are fungal secondary metabolites with a characteristic spirocyclopropyl-substituted fused 6,5-bicyclic ring system. They have been extensively studied for their cytotoxicity in various tumor cell types, and semisynthetic derivatives with improved therapeutic characteristics have progressed to clinical trials. Although it is believed that this potent alkylating compound class acts mainly through DNA modification, little is known about its binding to protein sites in a cellular context. To reveal putative protein targets of the illudin family in live cancer cells, we employed a semisynthetic strategy to access a series of illudin-based probes for activity-based protein profiling (ABPP). While the probes largely retained potent cytotoxicity, proteomic profiling studies unraveled multiple protein hits, suggesting that illudins exert their mode of action not from addressing a specific protein target but rather from DNA modification and unselective protein binding.     

Symmetric,Unsymmetrical, and Asymmetric [7]‐, [10]‐, and [13]Helicenes

Fully aromatic helicenes with more than one pitch‐length are illustrious synthetic targets with potential applications in advanced optical devices and nano‐electronics. The task of extending the length of fully conjugated helicenes past one pitch length is challenging. Now, the synthesis of a series of azaoxa[7]‐, [10]‐, and [13]helicenes is described. The synthesis is based on iterative oxidative furan formation between 3,6‐dihydroxycarbazoles and/or 2‐naphthols. The flexibility of the presented method allows the convenient and scalable synthesis of symmetric, unsymmetrical, and asymmetric homo‐chiral structures. The [13]helicenes can be synthetically functionalized both at the termini and the periphery. The full range of helicenes were characterized using NMR and optical spectroscopy (UV/Vis, fluorescence, and CD) along with single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The enantiomers of the [13]helicenes are the longest optically pure helicenes isolated to date.     

Acyl‐Phosphide Anions via an Intermediate with Carbene Character: Reactions of K[PtBu2] and CO

The analogy of the reactivity of group 1 phosphides to that of FLPs is further demonstrated by reactions with CO, affording a new synthetic route to acyl‐phosphide anions. The reaction of [K(18‐crown‐6)][PtBu₂] ( 1 ) with CO affords [(18‐crown‐6)K?THF₂][Z‐tBuP=C(tBu)O] ( 2?THF₂ ) as the major product, and the minor product [K₆(18‐crown‐6)][(tBu₂PCO)₂]₃ ( 3 ). Species 2 reacts with either BPh₃ or additional CO to give [K(18‐crown‐6)][(Ph₃B)tBuPC(tBu)O] ( 4 ) and [K(18‐crown‐6)][(OCtBu)₂P] ( 5 ), respectively. The acyl‐phosphide anion 2 is thought to be formed by a photochemically induced radical process involving a transient species with triplet carbene character, prompting 1,2‐tert‐butyl group migration. A similar process is proposed for the subsequent reaction of 2 with CO to give 5 .