Reversible photoredox switching of porphyrin-bridged bis-2,6-di-tert-butylphenols

Porphyrin derivatives bearing 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol substituents at their 5,15-positions undergo reversible photoredox switching between porphyrin and porphodimethene states as revealed by UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal analyses. Photoredox interconversion is accompanied by substantial variations in electronic absorption and fluorescence emission spectra and a change of conformation of the tetrapyrrole macrocycle from planar to roof-shaped. Oxidation proceeds only under photoillumination of a dianionic state prepared through deprotonation using fluoride anions. Conversely, photoreduction occurs in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor. Transient absorption spectroscopy and electron spin resonance spectroscopy were applied to investigate the processes in photochemical reaction, and radical intermediates were characterized. That is, photooxidation initially results in a phenol-substituent-centered radical, while the reduction process occurs via a delocalized radical state involving both the macrocycle and 5,15-substituents. Forward and reverse photochemical processes are governed by different chemical mechanisms, giving the important benefit that conversion reactions are completely isolated, leading to better separation of the end states. Furthermore, energy diagrams based on electrochemical analyses (cyclic voltammetry) were used to account for the processes occurring during the photochemical reactions. Our molecular design indicates a simple and versatile method for producing photoredox macrocyclic compounds, which should lead to a new class of advanced functional materials suitable for application in molecular devices and machines.     

Formation of dinuclear titanium and zirconium complexes by olefin metathesis--catalytic preparation of organometallic catalyst systems

The titanium complex [(C(5)H(4)bond;allyl)TiCl(3)] (2) undergoes olefin metathesis coupling when treated with 3 mol % of [Cl(2)(L(1))(L(2))Ru=CHPh] (L(1)=L(2)=PCy(3), 4 a; L(1)=PCy(3), L(2)=(H(2)IMes), 4 b) to yield the dimetallic complex [Cl(3)Ti(C(5)H(4))-CH(2)CH=CHCH(2)-(C(5)H(4))TiCl(3)] (5). The allyl-substituted titanocene complex [Cp(C(5)H(4)bond;allyl)TiCl(2)] (3) analogously yields the dimetallic system 6 when treated with 4. The ansa-zirconocene complex [Me(2)Si(C(5)H(4))(C(5)H(3)bond;allyl)ZrCl(2)] (7) cleanly yields the analogous dimetallic coupling product 8 (>95 % isomerically pure), when treated with catalytic amounts of 4 b in toluene. Complex 8 gives an active homogeneous ethene or propene polymerization catalyst, especially at elevated temperatures, when treated with excess methylalumoxane.     

Investigation of drift gas selectivity in high resolution ion mobility spectrometry with mass spectrometry detection

Recent studies in electrospray ionization (ESI)/ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) have focussed on employing different drift gases to alter separation efficiency for some molecules. This study investigates four structurally similar classes of molecules (cocaine and metabolites, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and small peptides) to determine the effect of structure on relative mobility changes in four drift gases (helium, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide). Collision cross sections were plotted against drift gas polarizability and a linear relationship was found for the nineteen compounds evaluated in the study. Based on the reduced mobility database, all nineteen compounds could be separated in one of the four drift gases, however, the drift gas that provided optimal separation was specific for the two compounds.     

Exploring CH-activation pathways in bifunctional zirconocene/borane systems

The dimethylsilanediyl-bridged ansa-zirconocene dichloride 1, that contains a pendent allyl substituent at a Cp-ring, adds HB(C(6)F(5))(2) to the vinyl group to yield the bifunctional zirconocene/borane complex 2. Substituted benzimidazoles were added to the strongly electrophilic borane moiety as protective groups, which allowed subsequent chloride versus -CH(2)SiMe(3) exchange at zirconium to take place by treatment with the respective alkyllithium reagent. Alternatively, the introduction of active sigma-ligands at zirconium is carried out first, followed by the hydroboration reaction. This route was followed for the synthesis of the diphenyl-ansa-zirconocene/borane complex 12. Complex 12 reacts slowly in solution by intramolecular electrophilic attack of the borane at its adjacent Cp-ring, followed by deprotonation using a [Zr]-Ph group to yield the zwitterionic complex 14 featuring a borata-tetrahydroindenyl moiety as part of the ansa-metallocene framework. Complex 14 was characterized by X-ray diffraction. It adds PMe(3) at zirconium to yield 15. Thermolysis of 12 with excess PMe(3) leads to the formation of the (aryne)zirconocene complex 18, which is stabilized by PMe(3) coordination to zirconium and PMe(3) addition to boron. N-Methylbenzimidazole adds to the -B(C(6)F(5))(2) unit of 12 to give the 1:1 adduct 19. Thermolysis of 19 at 80 degrees C in benzene solution in the presence of one additional equivalent of N-methylbenzimidazole results in deprotonation of the substrate to yield the sigma-N-methylbenzimidazolyl zirconium complex 20 (as a mixture of two diastereoisomers). An additional N-methylbenzimidazole ligand is bonded to the B(C(6)F(5))(2) unit in this product.     

Solvent extraction and lanthanide complexation studies with new terdentate ligands containing two 1,3,5-triazine moieties

The extracting agent 2,6-bis(4,6-di-pivaloylamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-pyridine (L(5)) in n-octanol was found, in synergy with 2-bromodecanoic acid, to give D(Am)/D(Eu) separation factors (SFs) between 2.4 and 3.7 when used to extract the metal ions from 0.02-0.12 M HNO(3). Slightly higher SFs (4-6) were obtained in the absence of the synergist when the ligand was used to extract Am(III) and Eu(III) from 0.98 M HNO(3). In order to investigate the possible nature of the extracted species crystal structures of L(5) and the complex formed between Yb(III) with 2,6-bis(4,6-di-amino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-pyridine (L(4)) were also determined. The structure of L(5) shows 3 methanol solvent molecules all of which form 2 or 3 hydrogen bonds with triazine nitrogen atoms, amide nitrogen or oxygen atoms, or pyridine nitrogen atoms. However, L(5) is relatively unstable in metal complexation reactions and loses amide groups to form the parent tetramine L(4). The crystal structure of Yb(L(4))(NO(3))(3) shows ytterbium in a 9-coordinate environment being bonded to three donor atoms of the ligand and three bidentate nitrate ions. The solvent extraction properties of L(4) and L(5) are far inferior to those found for the 2,6-bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-pyridines (L(1)) which have SF values of ca. 140 and theoretical calculations have been made to compare the electronic properties of the ligands. The electronic charge distribution in L(4) and L(5) is similar to that found in other terdentate ligands such as terpyridine which have equally poor extraction properties and suggests that the unique properties of L(1) evolve from the presence of two adjacent nitrogen atoms in the triazine rings.     

Using a non-invasive stable isotope tracer to measure the absorption of water in humans

The development of solutions that prevent dehydration or promote adequate re-hydration play a vital role in preventing fatigue during exercise, however, the methods commonly used to assess the hydration ability of such solutions are invasive and often assess the components of absorption separately. This paper describes using a non-invasive deuterium tracer technique that assesses gastric emptying and intestinal absorption simultaneously to evaluate the uptake of water during rest and exercise. The kinetics of absorption are further examined by mathematical modelling of the data generated. For the rest group, 0.05 g/kg of body weight of deuterium, contained in gelatine capsules, was ingested with ordinary tap water and saliva samples were collected every 5 min for one hour while the subject remained seated. The deuterium was administered as above for the exercise group but sample collection was during one hour of exercise on a treadmill at 55% of the subject's maximum heart rate. The enrichment data for each subject were mathematically modelled and the parameters obtained were compared across groups using an independent samples t-test. Compared with the rest condition, the exercise group showed delayed absorption of water as indicated by significant differences for the modelling parameters t2, t1/2, maximum absorption rate and solution absorption amount at t1. Labelling with a deuterium tracer is a good measure of the relative rate ingested fluids are absorbed by the body. Mathematical modelling of the data generates rates of maximum absorption and allows calculation of the percentage of the solution that is absorbed at any given time during the testing period.     

Multi-iron wells-Dawson heteropolytungstates. Electrochemical probing of siderophoric behavior in sandwich-type complexes

The demetalation process of 10 multi-iron Wells-Dawson polyoxometalates is studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. Eight sandwich-type complexes (alphaalphaalphaalpha-Na(16)[(NaOH(2))(2)(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)], alphaalphabetaalpha-Na(14)[(NaOH(2))(Fe(III)OH(2))(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)], alphabetabetaalpha-Na(12)[(Fe(III)OH(2))(2)(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)], and alphabetabetaalpha-Na(14)[(Mn(II)OH(2))(2)(Fe(III))(2)(X(2)W(15)O(56))(2)] (where X = P(V) or As(V))) and two monomeric complexes (alpha-Na(11)[(P(2)(Fe(III)Cl)(2)(Fe(III)OH(2))W(15)O(59))] and alpha-Na(11)[(As(2)(Fe(III)Cl)(2)Fe(III)OH(2))W(15)O(59))]) were selected for this study. All 10 complexes show Fe(III) waves which are well-separated from the redox activity of the W(VI) centers. At room temperature and under mild conditions, iron release from the complexes is observed upon reduction of the Fe(III) centers. This release is controlled by the ionic strength of the medium, the nature and concentration of the anions present in the supporting electrolyte, and by the pH of the solution. This behavior parallels those described for most siderophores which depend on the same parameters.     

Mineral-organic interfacial processes: potential roles in the origins of life

Life is believed to have originated on Earth ～4.4-3.5 Ga ago, via processes in which organic compounds supplied by the environment self-organized, in some geochemical environmental niches, into systems capable of replication with hereditary mutation. This process is generally supposed to have occurred in an aqueous environment and, likely, in the presence of minerals. Mineral surfaces present rich opportunities for heterogeneous catalysis and concentration which may have significantly altered and directed the process of prebiotic organic complexification leading to life. We review here general concepts in prebiotic mineral-organic interfacial processes, as well as recent advances in the study of mineral surface-organic interactions of potential relevance to understanding the origin of life.     

Novel Copolymers of 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylene with 4-Fluoro- and Pentafluorostyrene

Copolymerization of 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylene (PDE) with 4-fluorostyrene and pentafluorostyrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C yielded random copolymers with PDE alternating units. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis and the structure was analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r₁) and the tendency toward alternation of monomer units in the copolymer for these two monomers, is 4-fluorostyrene (1.96) > pentafluorostyrene (0.51). Higher glass transition temperature of the copolymers in comparison with that of homopolymers indicates a decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit.     

Novel Copolymers of 4-Fluorostyrene. 3. Some Ring-Substituted 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes

Novel copolymers of trisubstituted ethylene monomers, ring-substituted 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes, RC₆H₄CH=C(CN)₂ (where R is 4-dimethylamino, 4-diethylamino, 3-phenoxy, 3-benzyloxy, 4-benzyloxy, 4-acetoxy, 2-cyano, 3-cyano, and 4-cyano) and 4-fluorostyrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers is 3-benzyloxy (2.9) > 4-cyano (2.7) > 3-phenoxy (1.9) > 4-acetoxy (1.8) > 3-cyano (1.7) > 2-cyano (1.6) > 4-benzyloxy (0.6) > 4-dimethylamino (0.4) = 4-diethylamino (0.4). High T _g of the copolymers, in comparison with that of poly (4-fluorostyrene) indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 290–400°C range with residue, which then decomposition in 400–800°C range.