Self-assembly of electron donor-acceptor dyads into ordered architectures in two and three dimensions: surface patterning and columnar "double cables"

We report the synthesis and characterization of covalent dyads and multiads of electron acceptors (A) and donors (D), with the purpose of exploiting their nanophase separation behavior toward (a) two-dimensional (2D) surface patterning with well-defined integrated arrays of dissimilar molecular electronic features and (b) bulk self-assembly to noncovalent columnar versions of the so-called "double cable" systems, the likes of which could eventually provide side-by-side percolation pathways for electrons and holes in solar cells. Soluble, alkylated hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronenes (HBCs) bearing tethered anthraquinones (AQs) are shown by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to self-assemble at the solution-graphite interface into either defect-rich polycrystalline monolayers or extended 2D crystalline domains, depending on the number of tethered AQs. In the bulk, the thermal stability of the room-temperature HBC columnar phase is increased, which is attributed to the desired nanotriphase separation of HBC columns, insulating alkyl sheaths, and AQ units. Homeotropic alignment (columns normal to surfaces), predicted to be ideal for potential exploitation of such "double cables" in photovoltaic devices, is demonstrated.     

Schiff碱配合物的研究——Ⅸ.表面Schiff碱配合物对H2O2分解的催化作用

制备了两种表面Schiff碱及其Cu²⁺、Co²⁺、Ni²⁺、Zn²⁺配合物,考察了它们对H₂O₂分解的催化性能,其活性顺序为:Co²⁺>Cu²⁺>Ni²⁺>Zn²⁺,且与金属离子氧化还原电位有关。溶液的pH值增加有利于催化反应,有机配体的加入则对反应有所抑制。     

色谱法在三氯半乳蔗糖合成中的应用

采用薄层色谱和柱色谱法，选择优化展开体系，有效地分析了三氯半乳蔗糖中间体2，3，6，3′，4′-五氧乙酰蔗糖混合物，并证实该混合物中杂质为三苯甲醇，为三氯半乳蔗糖的合成研究取得了重要发现。     

Different catalysis role of in‐loop and out‐of‐loop waters in assisting HNS/HSN proton transfer isomerizations: Bridging vs. surrounding effect

In this work, a density function theory (DFT) study is presented for the HNS/HSN isomerization assisted by 1–4 water molecules on the singlet state potential energy surface (PES). Two modes are considered to model the catalytic effect of these water molecules: (i) water molecule(s) participate directly in forming a proton transfer loop with HNS/HSN species, and (ii) water molecules are out of loop (referred to as out‐of‐loop waters) to assist the proton transfer. In the first mode, for the monohydration mechanism, the heat of reaction is 21.55 kcal · mol^?1 at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level. The corresponding forward/backward barrier lowerings are obtained as 24.41/24.32 kcal · mol^?1 compared with the no‐water‐assisting isomerization barrier T (65.52/43.87 kcal · mol^?1). But when adding one water molecule on the HNS, there is another special proton‐transfer isomerization pathway with a transition state 10T′ in which the water is out of the proton transfer loop. The corresponding forward/backward barriers are 65.89/65.89 kcal · mol^?1. Clearly, this process is more difficult to follow than the R–T–P process. For the two‐water‐assisting mechanism, the heat of reaction is 19.61 kcal · mol^?1, and the forward/backward barriers are 32.27/12.66 kcal · mol^?1, decreased by 33.25/31.21 kcal · mol^?1 compared with T. For trihydration and tetrahydration, the forward/backward barriers decrease as 32.00/12.60 (30T) and 37.38/17.26 (40T) kcal · mol^?1, and the heat of reaction decreases by 19.39 and 19.23 kcal · mol^?1, compared with T, respectively. But, when four water molecules are involved in the reactant loop, the corresponding energy aspects increase compared with those of the trihydration. The forward/backward barriers are increased by 5.38 and 4.66 kcal · mol^?1 than the trihydration situation. In the second mode, the outer‐sphere water effect from the other water molecules directly H‐bonded to the loop is considered. When one to three water molecules attach to the looped water in one‐water in‐loop‐assisting proton transfer isomerization, their effects on the three energies are small, and the deviations are not more than 3 kcal · mol^?1 compared with the original monohydration‐assisting case. When adding one or two water molecules on the dihydration‐assisting mechanism, and increasing one water molecule on the trihydration, the corresponding energies also are not obviously changed. The results indicate that the forward/backward barriers for the three in‐loop water‐assisting case are the lowest, and the surrounding water molecules (out‐of‐loop) yield only a small effect. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Effect of electric field on liquid chromatographic separation of peptide digests. Combining capillary separation techniques

A system is described which allows operation of a range of capillary based liquid phase separations including capillary electrophoresis, isocratic and gradient capillary electrochromatography, isocratic and gradient capillary liquid chromatography and electrically assisted gradient capillary liquid chromatography. The system was coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the electrically assisted capillary liquid chromatography mode to investigate the effect of applied voltage on the selectivity in peptide mapping separations. Analyses were performed on tryptic digests of recombinant human growth hormone and tissue plasminogen activator. The results show a small but useful effect on selectivity that can be used to fine tune specific separations.     

Immobilization and direct electrochemistry of cytochrome <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">c</Emphasis> at a single-walled carbon nanotube-modified electrode

A single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-modified electrode was fabricated and characterized by SEM and ac impedance techniques. The direct electrochemistry of cytochrome c (Cyt c), which was adsorbed on the surface of the SWNT, was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The results from cyclic voltammetry and infrared spectroscopy indicated that Cyt c remained in its original structure and did not undergo structural change after its immobilization on the SWNT. Further results demonstrated that the SWNT had promotional effects on the direct electron transfer of Cyt c and also indicated that the immobilized Cyt c retained its electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of H₂O₂. This modified electrode might be used in development of new biosensors and the biofuel cells.     

Ultrasensitive small molecule fluorogenic probe for human heparanase

Heparanase (HPA) is a critical enzyme involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and its elevated expression has been linked with diseases such as various types of cancer and inflammation. The detection of heparanase enzymatic activity holds tremendous value in the study of the cellular microenvironment, and search of molecular therapeutics targeting heparanase, however, no structurally defined probes are available for the detection of heparanase activity. Here we present the development of the first ultrasensitive fluorogenic small-molecule probe for heparanase enzymatic activity via tuning the electronic effect of the substrate. The probe exhibits a 756-fold fluorescence turn-on response in the presence of human heparanase, allowing one-step detection of heparanase activity in real-time with a picomolar detection limit. The high sensitivity and robustness of the probe are exemplified in a high-throughput screening assay for heparanase inhibitors.

Heparanase, a critical enzyme involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, activates a disaccharide probe HADP to give a strong fluorescence signal.     

Porphyrin distortion during affinity maturation of a ferrochelatase antibody, monitored by Resonance Raman spectroscopy

Resonance Raman (RR) spectra are reported for mesoporphyrin IX bound to the Fab fragment of the ferrochelatase antibody 7G12. Binding induces activation of a Raman band at 680 cm(-1), which is assigned to an out-of-plane porphyrin vibration, gamma15. This is exactly the predicted effect of distorting mesoporphyrin to the geometry of N-methylmesoporphyrin IX, the 7G12 hapten, based on DFT/CIS modeling of the RR spectrum. The modeling also shows that the pyrrole ring that is tilted out of the porphyrin plane bears a nitrogen lone pair, which is therefore available for coordination by an incoming metal ion. The 680 cm(-1) band intensity is approximately 3 times higher for the affinity-matured antibody than for the germline precursor antibody, while intermediate values are found for variants in which germline residues are mutated to mature residues or vice versa. Thus, RR spectroscopy reveals an evolution from weak substrate distortion in the germline antibody to strong substrate distortion in the affinity-matured antibody, and supports the view that catalysis involves a substrate strain mechanism.     

Synthesis of lipid A derivatives and their interactions with polymyxin B and polymyxin B nonapeptide

Lipid A is the causative agent of Gram-negative sepsis, a leading cause of mortality among hospitalized patients. Compounds that bind lipid A can limit its detrimental effects. Polymyxin B, a cationic peptide antibiotic, is one of the simplest molecules capable of selectively binding lipid A and may serve as a model for further development of lipid A binding agents. However, association of polymyxin B with lipid A is not fully understood, primarily due to the low solubility of lipid A in water and inhomogeneity of lipid A preparations. To better understand lipid A-polymyxin B interaction, pure lipid A derivatives were prepared with incrementally varied lipid chain lengths. These compounds proved to be more soluble in water than lipid A, with higher aggregation concentrations. Isothermal titration calorimetric studies of these lipid A derivatives with polymyxin B and polymyxin B nonapeptide indicate that binding stoichiometries (peptide to lipid A derivative) are less than 1 and that affinities of these binding partners correlate with the aggregation states of the lipid A derivatives. These studies also suggest that cooperative ionic interactions dominate association of polymyxin B and polymyxin B nonapeptide with lipid A.