Aquachlorobis(4,4′,4′′‐tri‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′;6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ3N)terbium(III) diperchlorate ethanol disolvate

In the title compound, [TbCl(C₂₇H₃₅N₃)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·2C₂H₆O, the Tb^III ion has a coordination number of eight, composed of two tridentate substituted‐ter­pyridine ligands, a water mol­ecule and a bound Cl^? anion. The first coordination shell can be described as a distorted bicapped trigonal prism. The dihedral angles between pyridine rings belonging to the same tpy ligand range from 5.2 (5) to 16.8 (5)°.     

The complex of a bivalent derivative of galanthamine with torpedo acetylcholinesterase displays drastic deformation of the active-site gorge: implications for structure-based drug design

Bifunctional derivatives of the alkaloid galanthamine, designed to interact with both the active site of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its peripheral cation binding site, have been assayed with Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE), and the three-dimensional structures of their complexes with the enzyme have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Differences were noted between the IC(50) values obtained for TcAChE and those for Electrophorus electricus AChE. These differences are ascribed to sequence differences in one or two residues lining the active-site gorge of the enzyme. The binding of one of the inhibitors disrupts the native conformation of one wall of the gorge, formed by the loop Trp279-Phe290. It is proposed that flexibility of this loop may permit the binding of inhibitors such as galanthamine, which are too bulky to penetrate the narrow neck of the gorge formed by Tyr121 and Phe330 as seen in the crystal structure.     

Nanocomposite materials from latex and cellulose whiskers

Composite materials were processed by casting a mixture of aqueous suspensions of latex and microfibrils. These microfibrils, or whiskers, are extracted from a sea animal and are monocrystals of cellulose, with an aspect ratio around 100 and an average diameter of 20 nm. It has been found that the mechanical properties (shear modulus) are increased by more than two orders of magnitude in the rubbery state of the polymeric matrix, when the whisker content was 6% (w/w). This very large effect is discussed on the basis of different types of mechanical models and it is concluded that these whiskers form a rigid network, probably linked by hydrogen bonds. The formation of this network is assumed to be governed by a percolation mechanism.     

Borane-catalyzed hydroboration of substituted alkenes by lithium borohydride or sodium borohydride

In the presence of a catalytic amount of BH₃·Me₂S, TiCl₄ or Me₃SiCl, LiBH₄ or NaBH₄ are capable of hydroborating alkenes by following the unusual order of decreasing reactivity: tetramethylethylene > 1-methylcyclohexene > cyclohexene; the key step of the catalytic cycle is the exchange reaction between LiBH₄ and the mono- or dialkylboranes resulting from hydroboration of the more substituted alkenes with BH₃.     

A rapid access to chiral alkylidene cyclopentenone prostaglandins involving ring-closing metathesis reaction

A synthesis of the alkylidene cyclopentenone prostaglandin TEI 9826 has been realized. The synthesis involved the preparation of the chiral 1,5-diene 8 using a stereoselective Claisen rearrangement from the allylic alcohol 6 giving the ester 7 after vinylation. Then a key RCM reaction allowed the preparation of the cyclopentenol 9 which, after oxidation, gave the cyclopentenone 10, precursor of the prostaglandin.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of two polyphilic mesogenic compounds

Three homologous series of semi-perfluorinated liquid crystals: 4-(2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-butyloxycarbonyl)phenyl, 4-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl and 4-(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4-[(n-perfluoroalkyl)alkyloxy]benzoates have been synthesized. Their mesomorphic properties were studied by DSC, microscopic observation and X-ray diffraction. Their layer spacings are smaller than the molecular length (L). The ratio d_SA/L is about 0.7. The crystal structure of two derivatives of the first family have also been investigated. In both structures the molecules pack in smectic C-like sheets where neighbouring molecules are antiparallel, interacting through dipolar and van der Waals forces. The interactions between contiguous sheets, through the ends of perfluorinated chains are very weak. The X-ray diffraction results on the mesophases and on the crystalline structures of two compounds of the first family are compared. From this, we propose a model of the smectic phases with a zig-zag structure.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE AND ENERGY TRANSFER FROM SINGLET OXYGEN PAIRS

Abstract— Chemiluminescence and photochemiluminescence of systems generating excited (singlet) molecular oxygen has been studied at low temperature in fluid media. A possible interpretation is proposed: that dimers of singlet oxygen are directly or indirectly responsible for the observed emission, the species [¹δg +¹σg⁺] predominating. Energy transfer to a fluorescent molecule is possible only when conditions of spectral overlap, required for transfer by inductive resonance, are fulfilled. Evidence is also presented for the formation of a transient complex between oxygen and a sensitiser or acceptor molecule [S…O₂], which is the precursor of singlet oxygen in these systems. However, other possible mechanisms cannot be excluded.     

Taking advantage of luminescent lanthanide ions

Lanthanide ions possess fascinating optical properties and their discovery, first industrial uses and present high technological applications are largely governed by their interaction with light. Lighting devices (economical luminescent lamps, light emitting diodes), television and computer displays, optical fibres, optical amplifiers, lasers, as well as responsive luminescent stains for biomedical analysis, medical diagnosis, and cell imaging rely heavily on lanthanide ions. This critical review has been tailored for a broad audience of chemists, biochemists and materials scientists; the basics of lanthanide photophysics are highlighted together with the synthetic strategies used to insert these ions into mono- and polymetallic molecular edifices. Recent advances in NIR-emitting materials, including liquid crystals, and in the control of luminescent properties in polymetallic assemblies are also presented. (210 references.).     

On the ionization potential of a solute molecule in hydrocarbon solutions: Effect of temperature and phase

It is shown that the ionization potential I of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylparaphenylenediamine (TMPD) dissolved in several hydrocarbons is constant in the solid phase from 77 K up to the melting point T_M and suffers an abrupt decrease at this temperature ranging from 0.65 eV for tetramethylsilane to 0.42 eV for n-hexane. The meaning of the I jump at T_M is discussed. From the invariance of I, it is concluded that the energy of the excess electron, V₀, is constant in the solid phase.     

Action d'organolithiens sur la méthyl-2 quinoxaline. Etude de la réactivité des adduits

The action of organolithium reagents such as phenyllithium or n-bulyllithium on 2-methylquinoxaline gave lithiation of the methyl group which upon reaction with electtropholesphiles produce side chain alkenyl derivatives. On the other hand organolithium reagents react with the quinoxaline azomethine bond to give I-lithio-2-alkyl)or ary-1)-3 methylquinoxalines which can be further loithiated on the methyl group to give 2-alkyl(or aryl)-3-alkenylquinoxaline derivatives. The adducts can be condensed with clectrophiles such as benzonitrile or methlyl benzoate but only methyl benzoate leads to N condensed derivatives. Furthermore substituted 1,2,3,4-terahydroqinoxalines are available via the above lithio intermediates.