Manipulating the Through‐Space Spin–Spin Interaction of Organic Radicals in the Confined Cavity of a Self‐Assembled Cage

We show a new approach to manipulating the through‐space spin–spin interaction by utilizing the confined cavity of a self‐assembled M₆L₄ coordination cage. The coordination cage readily encapsulates stable organic radicals in solution, which brings the spin centers of the radicals closer to each other. In sharp contrast to the fact that the radical in solution in the absence of the cage is in a doublet state, in the presence of the cage through‐space spin–spin interaction is induced through cage‐encapsulation effects in solution as well as in the solid state, resulting in the triplet state of the complex. These results were confirmed by ESR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. The quantity of triplet species generated by encapsulation in the cage increases with increasing affinity of the radicals to the cage. We estimated the affinity between several types of guests and the cage in solution by cyclic voltammetry. We also demonstrate that the through‐space interaction of organic radicals within the self‐assembled coordination cage can be controlled by external stimuli such as heat or pH.     

Chiral Recognition of Phenylacetic Acid Derivatives by Aminated Cyclodextrins

Chiral recognition of mandelic acid ( 1), acetylmandelic acid ( 2), 1-methoxyphenylacetic acid ( 3), phenylsuccinic acid ( 4), 2-phenylpropanoic acid ( 5) and ibuprofen ( 6) in their anionic forms by protonated 6A-amino-6A-deoxy--cyclodextrin (mono-NH3+--CD) and 6A,6D-diamino-6A,6D-dideo xy--cyclodextrin (di-NH3+--CD) has been studied by means of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Both methods show the preferable guests for mono-NH3+--CD to be the (R)-enantiomers of 1, 3 and 5 and the (S)-enantiomers of 2, 4 and 6. Cooperative work of Coulomb interactions and inclusion is essential for chiral recognition of these anionic guests.     

Structures and stabilities of 3d-transition metal-benzene organometallic clusters

In the gas phase, we have successfully synthesized organometallic clusters, M_n(benzene)_m (M=3d transition metal atoms), by using a laser vaporization method. The measurements of mass spectra and ionization energies (E_i) have revealed that the organometallic clusters can take two types of structures; layered sandwich structures (m = n + 1) and metal clusters saturatedly covered with benzenes. For early transition metals of Sc, Ti, and V, only the multiple decker sandwich structure clusters were preferentially produced, in which benzene and metal atoms are alternately piled up. For late transition metals of Co and Ni, the metal clusters saturatedly surrounded by benzenes were also produced as well as the sandwich clusters. Furthermore, the E_is of M₁(benzene)₂ (M = Sc-Ni) were systematically measured and their electronic properties will be discussed.     

Effect of Coriolis force on counter-current chromatographic separation by centrifugal partition chromatography

The effect of Coriolis force on the counter-current chromatographic separation was studied using centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) with four different two-phase solvent systems including n-hexane-acetonitrile (ACN); tert-butyl methyl ether (MtBE)-aqueous 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (1:1); MtBE-ACN-aqueous 0.1% TFA (2:2:3); and 12.5% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000-12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate. Each separation was performed by eluting either the upper phase in the ascending mode or the lower phase in the descending mode, each in clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise column rotation. Better partition efficiencies were attained by the CW rotation in both mobile phases in all the two-phase solvent systems examined. The mathematical analysis also revealed the Coriolis force works favorably under the CW column rotation for both mobile phases. The overall results demonstrated that the Coriolis force produces substantial effects on CPC separation in both organic-aqueous and aqueous-aqueous two-phase systems.     

Mononuclear five-coordinate molybdenum(IV) and -(V) monosulfide complexes coordinated with dithiolene ligands: reversible redox of Mo(V)/Mo(IV) and irreversible dimerization of [MoVS]- cores to a dinuclear [MoV2(mu-S)2]2- Core

A mononuclear five-coordinate molybdenum(IV) monosulfide complex, (Et4N)2[MoS(L)2] (L = cyclohexene-1,2-dithiolate) (1), was obtained and characterized by IR, UV-vis spectroscopic methods, and X-ray crystallography. 1 was oxidized by an equivalent ferrocenium cation to give the corresponding mononuclear molybdenum(V) complex, (Et4N)[MoS(L)2] (2), which was stable for a few minutes under a lower concentration than 0.3 mM and then further dimerized to (Et4N)2[Mo(L)2]2(mu-S)2 (3).     

Characterization of p-aminobenzamidine-based sorbent and its use for high-performance affinity chromatography of trypsin-like proteases

An affinity sorbent, hydrophilic polymer-based carrier of different pore size (Toyopearl) with immobilized p-aminobenzamidine (ABA), has been prepared. Its basic properties and some applications for protein purification were studied. ABA, which is a synthetic inhibitor for trypsin-like proteases, was covalently immobilized to Toyopearl by reductive amination. The ligand density and binding capacity for porcine trypsin varied depending on the pore size of Toyopearl. The maximum binding capacity of the immobilized p-aminobenzamidine Toyopearl (ABA-Toyopearl) for trypsin was more than 40 mg/ml gel. ABA-Toyopearl thus obtained was very stable below pH 8 and was successfully used for high-performance affinity chromatography of trypsin-like proteases such as trypsin, thrombin, tissue-type plasminogen activator or urokinase in a single step at 25 degrees C.     

A distance-controlled oligopeptide linker as a novel photo-induced energy transfer switch by secondary structural transition

By using an oligopeptide chain as a functional linker and introducing coumarin 2 and coumarin 343 at the chain ends, an effective photo-induced energy transfer system was constructed and energy transfer from coumarin 2 to coumarin 343 was switched on and off by a solvent-induced helix-coil secondary transition of the oligopeptide chain.     

Polymer‐Assisted Solution‐Phase Synthesis and Neurite‐Outgrowth‐Promoting Activity of 15‐Deoxy‐Δ12,14‐PGJ2 Derivatives

An efficient solution‐phase synthesis of rac‐15‐deoxy‐Δ^12,14‐PGJ₂ (15dPGJ₂) derivatives that contain variable α and ω chains based on a polymer‐assisted strategy and their neurite‐outgrowth‐promoting activity are described. The strategy for the synthesis of PGJ₂ derivatives involves the use of a vinyl iodide bearing cyclopentenone as a key intermediate, which undergoes Suzuki–Miyaura coupling and subsequent Lewis acid catalyzed aldol condensation for incorporation of the ω and α chains, respectively. For easy access to the PGJ₂ derivatives, a polymer‐supported catalyst and scavengers were adapted for use in these four diverse steps, in which workup and purification can be performed by simple filtration of the solid‐supported reagents. By using this methodology, we succeeded in the synthesis of 16 PGJ₂ derivatives with four alkyl boranes and four aldehydes. The neurite‐outgrowth‐promoting activity of the 16 synthetic compounds in PC12 cells revealed that the side‐chains play a major role in modulating their biological activity. The carboxylic acid on the α chain improved the biological activity, although it was not absolutely required. Furthermore, a PGJ₂ derivative with a phenyl moiety on the ω chain was found to exhibit an activity comparable to that of natural 15dPGJ₂.     

Structure and crystallization of sub-elementary fibrils of bacterial cellulose isolated by using a fluorescent brightening agent

The structure and crystallization of carefully isolated sub-elementary fibrils (SEFs) of bacterial cellulose have been investigated using TEM, WAXD, and high-resolution solid-state ¹³C NMR. The addition of a suitable amount of fluorescent brightener (FB) to the incubation medium of Acetobacter xylinum effectively suppressed the aggregation of the SEFs into the microfibrils, as previously reported. However, this study confirmed for the first time that serious structural change in the SEFs occurs during the removal of excess FB by washing with buffer solutions having pH values higher than 6 or with the alkaline aqueous solution that was frequently used in previous studies. In contrast, the isolation of unmodified SEFs was successfully performed by utilizing a washing protocol employing pH 7 citrate–phosphate buffer solution containing 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. High-resolution solid-state ¹³C NMR and WAXD measurements revealed that the SEFs thus isolated are in the noncrystalline state in which the pyranose rings of the almost parallel cellulose chains appear to be stacked on each other. The respective CH₂OH groups of the SEFs adopt the gt conformation instead of the tg conformation found in cellulose I _α and I _β crystals, and undergo significantly enhanced molecular motion in the absence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding associated with these groups. The main chains are also subject to rapid motional fluctuations while maintaining the parallel orientation of the respective chains, indicating that the SEFs have a liquid crystal-like structure with high molecular mobility. Moreover, the SEFs crystallize into cellulose I _β when the FB molecules that may adhere to the surface of the SEFs are removed by extraction with boiling 70 v/v% ethanol and 0.1N NaOH aqueous solution. On the basis of these results, the crystallization of the SEFs into the I _α and I _β forms is discussed, including the possible formation of the crystalline-noncrystalline periodic structure in native cellulose.     

Cloning and Characterization of Fructosamine-6-Kinase from Arthrobacter aurescens

Fructosamine-6-kinases (FN6Ks) that catalyze phosphorylation of glycated amino acids, i.e., fructosyl amino acids (FAs), have been shown as a potential recognition element for glycated protein detection. However, there are only two available FN6Ks: those from Escherichia coli which is specific for ε-fructosyl lysine (ε-FK) and Bacillus subtilis which recognizes both ε-FK and α-FA as substrates. In this study, we characterized an FN6K homologue isolated from Arthrobacter, some of whose species are reported to assimilate FA. The BLAST searches of Arthrobacter genomic database, using the bacterial FN6K primary structure information, revealed the presence of an FN6K homologue in Arthrobacter aurescens TC1 strain. Indeed, enzymatic assays confirmed that the putative FN6K from A. aurescens is an FN6K that is specific for ε-FK, although the primary sequence alignments showed similarity of A. aurescens FN6Ks with FN6Ks from B. subtilis and E. coli at the same level. In this study, we describe for the first time the presence of FN6K in Arthrobacter spp. and ε-FK-specific degradation pathway from Gram-positive bacteria, providing important information for the development of FA-recognizing molecules as well as for the FA assimilation system in bacteria.