Photochromism of 3-butyl-1-methyl-2-phenylazoimidazolium in room temperature ionic liquids

We studied the photochromism of a newly synthesized ionic liquid, [2PA-Bmim]Tf₂N ([2PA-Bmim]⁺: 3-butyl-1-methyl-2-phenylazoimidazolium, Tf₂N^?: bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-amide) which is characterized by a phenylazo group substituted on the imidazolium ring. The melting point of [2PA-Bmim]Tf₂N is 329 K. The absorption spectrum of [2PA-Bmim]⁺ dissolved in conventional organic solvents or in ionic liquids changes drastically upon UV-light irradiation, which is attributed to the photoisomerization of the phenylazo group from E- to Z-forms during irradiation and the backward thermal isomerization from Z- to E-forms in the dark. The E–Z photoisomerization quantum yield, Φ_iso, was determined by 355 nm laser photolysis. The Φ_iso value slightly depends on solvent viscosity, from 0.12 in 3-butyl-1-methylimidazolium PF₆^? (η = 241 cP) to 0.19 in toluene (η < 1 cP). On the other hand, no solvent dependence was observed for Arrhenius parameters of the backward Z–E thermal isomerization. We discuss the isomerization mechanism and the reason why the E–Z photoisomerization yield depends on solvent viscosity.     

Development of an AND Logic‐Gate‐Type Fluorescent Probe for Ratiometric Imaging of Autolysosome in Cell Autophagy

The concomitant detection of two biological events facilitates the highly selective and sensitive analysis of specific biological functions. In this article, we report an AND logic‐gate‐type fluorescent probe that can concurrently sense two biological events in living cells: H₂O₂ accumulation and acidification. The probe exhibits a unique fluorescence sensing mechanism, in which a xanthene fluorophore is oxidatively transformed to a xanthone derivative by H₂O₂, thereby resulting in a clear dual‐emission change. This transformation is significantly accelerated under weak acidic conditions, which enables the selective and sensitive detection of H₂O₂ production in an acidic cellular compartment. This unique sensing property was successfully applied to the ratiometric fluorescence imaging of autolysosome formation in selective mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy), which highlights the utility of this novel probe in autophagy research.     

Mixed-ligand complexes of paddlewheel dinuclear molybdenum as hydrodehalogenation catalysts for polyhaloalkanes

We developed a hydrodehalogenation reaction of polyhaloalkanes catalyzed by paddlewheel dimolybdenum complexes in combination with 1-methyl-3,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-cyclohexadiene (MBTCD) as a non-toxic H-atom source as well as a salt-free reductant. A mixed-ligated dimolybdenum complex Mo₂(OAc)₂[CH(NAr)₂]₂ (3a, Ar = 4-MeOC₆H₄) having two acetates and two amidinates exhibited high catalytic activity in the presence of ⁿBu₄NCl, in which [ⁿBu₄N]₂[Mo₂{CH(NAr)₂}₂Cl₄] (9a), derived by treating 3a with ClSiMe₃ and ⁿBu₄NCl, was generated as a catalytically-active species in the hydrodehalogenation. All reaction processes, oxidation and reduction of the dimolybdenum complex, were clarified by control experiments, and the oxidized product, [ⁿBu₄N][Mo₂{CH(NAr)₂}₂Cl₄] (10a), was characterized by EPR and X-ray diffraction studies. Kinetic analysis of the hydrodehalogenation reaction as well as a deuterium-labelling experiment using MBTCD-d₈ suggested that the H-abstraction was the rate-determining step for the catalytic reaction.     

Living cationic polymerization of cis- and trans-ethyl propenyl ethers and synthesis of block copolymers with isobutyl vinyl ether

The cationic polymerization of cis- and trans-ethyl propenyl ethers (EPE, CH₃? CH?CH? O? C₂H₅), initiated by a mixture of hydrogen iodide and iodine (HI/I₂ initiator) at ?40°C in nonpolar media (toluene and n-hexane), led to living polymers of controlled molecular weights and a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) (M?_w/M?_n = 1.2–1.3). The geometrical isomerism of the monomer did not affect the living character of the polymerization. ¹³C NMR stereochemical analysis of the polymers showed that the living propagating end is sterically less crowded than nonliving counterparts generated by conventional Lewis acids (e.g., BF₃OEt₂). New block copolymers between EPE (cis or trans) and isobutyl vinyl ether were also prepared by sequential living polymerization of the two monomers.     

Graft copolymers having hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic branches. XI. Preparation and thermosensitive properties of polystyrene microspheres having poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) branches on their surfaces

Thermosensitive microspheres with 0.4–1.2 μm diameter consisting of a polystyrene core and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (polyNIPAAm) branches on their surfaces were prepared by the free radical polymerization of a polyNIPAAm macromonomer and styrene in ethanol. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) of the microsphere surface suggested that polyNIPAAm chains were favorably located on the surface of the microspheres. The morphology of the microspheres was observed by transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and the particle size of was estimated by submicron particle analyzer. The molecular weight of the polyNIPAAm macromonomer, the ratio of the macromonomer and styrene, and the polymerization temperature affected the particle size. Thermosensitive properties of polyNIPAAm-coated polystyrene microspheres were evaluated by the turbidity of their dispersion solutions and the hydrodynamic size of the miocrospheres. The transmittance in dispersion solutions changed clearly, similar to oligoNIPAAm and polyNIPAAm macromonomers. In addition, the particle size of microspheres decreased with rising temperature. These results were explained by the thermosensitivity of polyNIPAAm branches on the microsphere surface. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A complete series of copper(II) halide complexes (X = F, Cl, Br, I) with a novel Cu(II)-C(sp3) bond

A complete series of copper(ii) halide complexes [CuX(tptm)](X = F (), Cl (), Br (), I (); tptm = tris(2-pyridylthio)methyl) with a novel Cu(II)-C(sp(3)) bond has been prepared by the reactions of [Cu(tptm)(CH(3)CN)]PF(6)(.PF(6)) with corresponding halide sources of KF or n-Bu(4)NX (X = Cl, Br, I), and the trigonal bipyramidal structures have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography and/or EPR spectroscopy. The iodide complex easily liberates the iodide anion in acetonitrile forming the acetonitrile complex as a result. The EPR spectra of the complexes showed several superhyperfine structures that strongly indicated the presence of spin density on the halide ligands through the Cu-X bond. The results of DFT calculations essentially matched with the X-ray crystallographic and the EPR spectroscopic results. Cyclic voltammetry revealed a quasi-reversible reduction wave for Cu(II)/Cu(I) indicating a trigonal pyramidal coordination for Cu(I) states. A coincidence of the redox potential for all [CuX(tptm)](0/+) processes indicates that the main oxidation site in each complex is the tptm ligand.     

Counter-current chromatographic estimation of hydrophobicity of Z-(cis) and E-(trans) enalapril and kinetics of cis/trans isomerization

The kinetics of Z-(cis)/E-(trans) isomerization of enalapril was investigated by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using a monolith ODS column under a series of different temperature and pH conditions. At a neutral pH 7, the rate (k(obs)) of Z-(cis)/E-(trans) isomerization of enalapril at 4 degrees C (9.4 x 10(-3)min(-1)) is much lower than at 23 degrees C (1.8 x 10(-1)min(-1)), while the fractional concentration of Z-(cis) isomer is always higher than that of E-(trans) isomer in the pH range 2-7. The fractional concentration of the E-(trans) isomer becomes a maximum (about 40%) in the pH range 3-6, where enalapril exists as a zwitterion. The hydrophobicity (logP(O/W)) of both isomers was estimated by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). Normal phase HSCCC separation using a tert-butyl methyl ether-acetonitrile-20mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 5) two-phase solvent system (2:2:3, v/v/v) at 4 degrees C was effective in partially separating the isomers, and the partition coefficient (K) of each isomer was directly calculated from the retention volume (V(R)). The logP(O/W) values of Z-(cis) and E-(trans) isomers were -0.46 and -0.65, respectively.     

Design of a hybrid biosensor for enhanced phosphopeptide recognition based on a phosphoprotein binding domain coupled with a fluorescent chemosensor

Protein-based fluorescent biosensors with sufficient sensing specificity are useful analytical tools for detection of biologically important substances in complicated biological systems. Here, we present the design of a hybrid biosensor, specific for a bis-phosphorylated peptide, based on a natural phosphoprotein binding domain coupled with an artificial fluorescent chemosensor. The hybrid biosensor consists of a phosphoprotein binding domain, the WW domain, into which has been introduced a fluorescent stilbazole having Zn(II)-dipicolylamine (Dpa) as a phosphate binding motif. It showed strong binding affinity and high sensing selectivity toward a specific bis-phosphorylated peptide in the presence of various phosphate species such as the monophosphorylated peptide, ATP, and others. Detailed fluorescence titration experiments clearly indicate that the binding-induced fluorescence enhancement and the sensing selectivity were achieved by the cooperative action of both binding sites of the hybrid biosensor, i.e., the WW domain and the Zn(II)-Dpa chemosensor unit. Thus, it is clear that the tethered Zn(II)-Dpa-stilbazole unit operated not only as a fluorescence signal transducer, but also as a sub-binding site in the hybrid biosensor. Taking advantage of its selective sensing property, the hybrid biosensor was successfully applied to real-time and label-free fluorescence monitoring of a protein kinase-catalyzed phosphorylation.     

Two new steroid glycosides and a new sesquiterpenoid glycoside from the underground parts of Trillium kamtschaticum

Two new steroid glycosides, named trikamsterosides A and B, and a new sesquiterpenoid glycoside named trikamsesuquiside A were isolated from the underground parts of Trillium kamtschaticum PALL. along with 18 known compounds comprising 12 steroids, one sesquiterpenoid glycoside, one phenylpropanoid, one flavonoid glycoside, and three phenylpropanoid sucrose esters. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. Among them, one phenylpropanoid sucrose ester showed almost the same radical-scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl as that of alpha-tocopherol.     

Metal powder addition effect on the photocatalytic reactions and the photo-generated electric charge collected at an inert electrode in aqueous TiO2 suspensions

The photocatalytic reaction in an aqueous TiO₂ suspension has been found to be enhanced by the additiona of some metal powders such as copper, silver, nickel and cobalt into the suspension. Just mixing a metal powder into the suspension gave nearly the same efficiency as metal-loading on the semiconductor particles. The effect is attributed to the rapid transfer of the photogenerated electrons from the TiO₂ to the metal particles, resulting in the effective separation of the electrons and holes.

The photo-current measurements were performed using inert collecting electrodes in the suspensions of TiO₂, where formate was added as a hole scavenger, with and without a metal powder. Higher anodic photocurrent was obtained in the presence of a metal than in its absence, indicating that the metal-mediated electron transfer reaction occurs more effectively from the electron-rich TiO₂ particles to the collecting electrode than the direct discharge of the electron-rich TiO₂ on the collecting electrode.