Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence in a Y3N@C80 Endohedral Fullerene: Time‐Resolved Luminescence and EPR Studies

The endohedral fullerene Y₃N@C₈₀ exhibits luminescence with reasonable quantum yield and extraordinary long lifetime. By variable‐temperature steady‐state and time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy, it is demonstrated that above 60 K the Y₃N@C₈₀ exhibits thermally activated delayed fluorescence with maximum emission at 120 K and a negligible prompt fluorescence. Below 60 K, a phosphorescence with a lifetime of 192±1 ms is observed. Spin distribution and dynamics in the triplet excited state is investigated with X‐ and W‐band EPR and ENDOR spectroscopies and DFT computations. Finally, electroluminescence of the Y₃N@C₈₀/PFO film is demonstrated opening the possibility for red‐emitting fullerene‐based organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs).     

THERMODYNAMICS OF PORPHYRIN BINDING TO SERUM ALBUMIN: EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, OF PORPHYRIN SPECIES and OF ALBUMIN-CARRIED FATTY ACIDS

Abstract Porphyrin binding to serum albumin was studied at the molecular level probing the effects of: porphyrin self-aggregation, porphyrin species, temperature and protein-bound fatty acids. Human serum albumin was found to have a single high-affinity site for porphyrin monomers, with binding constants of 2 x 10⁶, 5 x 10⁷ and 3 x 10⁸ (37^o C, neutral pH, M ⁻¹), for hemato-, deutero- and protoporphyrins, respectively. Three equilibria models for the dimer binding were developed and tested. The data were found to fit best with a model proposing a single high-affinity binding site for the dimer, independent of and different than the monomer site. The binding constants of the hematoporphyrin and deuteroporphyrin dimers to human serum albumin (37^o C, neutral pH, M^−l) being 4 x 10* and 5 x 10⁸ respectively. The temperature dependence (Dp and HSA, 22-37^o C) of the monomer binding showed the process to be entropy-driven (δG^o= -45 kJ mol⁻¹; δS^o=+146 kJ mol⁻¹; δH^o= 0 kJ mol⁻¹). For the dimer binding, the enthalpy change was found to be highly temperature-dependent implying continuous changes in the heat capacity of the system over the entire temperature range, the trend at the 37^o C region fitting an entropy-driven process. The monomer vs dimer differences in temperature dependence strongly support separate and independent binding sites for these species. Similar thermodynamics were determined for fatty-acid carrying as well as for fatty-acid free HSA, with mild quantitative (but not qualitative) shifts.     

Great expectations: can artificial molecular machines deliver on their promise?

The development and fabrication of mechanical devices powered by artificial molecular machines is one of the contemporary goals of nanoscience. Before this goal can be realized, however, we must learn how to control the coupling/uncoupling to the environment of individual switchable molecules, and also how to integrate these bistable molecules into organized, hierarchical assemblies that can perform significant work on their immediate environment at nano-, micro- and macroscopic levels. In this tutorial review, we seek to draw an all-important distinction between artificial molecular switches which are now ten a penny-or a dime a dozen-in the chemical literature and artificial molecular machines which are few and far between despite the ubiquitous presence of their naturally occurring counterparts in living systems. At the single molecule level, a prevailing perspective as to how machine-like characteristics may be achieved focuses on harnessing, rather than competing with, the ineluctable effects of thermal noise. At the macroscopic level, one of the major challenges inherent to the construction of machine-like assemblies lies in our ability to control the spatial ordering of switchable molecules-e.g., into linear chains and then into muscle-like bundles-and to influence the cross-talk between their switching kinetics. In this regard, situations where all the bistable molecules switch synchronously appear desirable for maximizing mechanical power generated. On the other hand, when the bistable molecules switch "out of phase," the assemblies could develop intricate spatial or spatiotemporal patterns. Assembling and controlling synergistically artificial molecular machines housed in highly interactive and robust architectural domains heralds a game-changer for chemical synthesis and a defining moment for nanofabrication.     

Electron–ion recombination in radiation tracks in liquid argon: a computer simulation study

A simulation method is proposed to model electron–ion recombination in radiation tracks in liquid argon at 87 K. The method is applied to calculate the electron escape probability in clusters of up to 20 pairs of electrons and cations that represent a fragment of the track. The results reproduce the basic features of the track recombination in liquid argon observed in experiment.     

Vapor pressure of selected aliphatic alcohols by ebulliometry. Part 2

Vapor pressures of six pentanols, 2-methyl-1-butanol (CAS Registry Number 137-32-6), 2-methyl-2-butanol (CAS Registry Number 75-85-4), 3-methyl-1-butanol (CAS Registry Number 123-51-3), 3-methyl-2-butanol (CAS Registry Number 598-75-4), 2-pentanol (CAS Registry Number 6032-29-7) and 3-pentanol (CAS Registry Number 584-02-1), were measured by the precision ebulliometry over an approximate pressure range from 9 to 99 kPa. The absolute uncertainties in pressure and temperature are estimated to be less than or equal to 7 Pa and 0.02 K, respectively. The results are represented by the Antoine equation and compared with available literature data.     

Fast choice of separation conditions for analyses by capillary zone electrophoresis using an information system Xemic

An information system Xemic applicable in analytical chemistry is described and its use in capillary electrophoresis for searching suitable separation conditions is demonstrated. This system is capable to provide suitable separation conditions even for analytes for which no electrophoretic experiments have been published so far. The system works with a database of components of anionic character the analyses of which have been performed, published in reviewed scientific journals, and included into a database created by an expert. Moreover, the system learned to search also in abstracts or complete scientific articles to find articles dealing with the determination of a substance in a given sample matrix. When no experiments have been published so far for a defined substance in a specific matrix, Xemic shows the separation conditions for determination of the substance regardless of the matrix. When no response can be found for the analyte of interest at all, the system Xemic works like an expert in the field and searches chemically similar substances and offers a series of substances the physicochemical properties of which are close to the followed analyte with respect to the behavior in the electric field, and shows working conditions for their analysis. Thus, the analyst puts only the order in the form of a given analyte in a given matrix and obtains a recommendation of a separation system that should enable to perform a successful separation. The system is not rigid and enables the operator to change the importance of individual attributes used in similarity search so as to obtain a broader or narrower group of similar components. With a certain probability the analyte of interest can be successfully analyzed under separation conditions that suited for the analysis of the most similar substances in the given matrix.     

Ab initio study of the NMR shielding constants and spin-spin coupling constants in cyclopropene

Summary Ab initio calculations of parameters which characterize the NMR spectrum are presented for the cyclopropene molecule. The London orbitals CHF (or GIAO-CHF, Gauge-Independent Atomic Orbital Coupled Hartree-Fock) results for the shielding constants are in good agreement with the experimental data, accurately determined, and with otherab initio values. The calculations of the NMR spin-spin coupling constants have been performed using the Multiconfiguration Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock (MC TDHF) approach. Different basis sets and MC SCF wavefunctions were used to estimate the accuracy of the results. Good agreement is obtained with the coupling constants estimated using the available experimental data.Dedicated to Professor Werner Kutzelnigg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Chemiluminescence determination of antibacterial drug trimethoprim by automated sequential injection technique with permanganate and hexametaphosphate as reagents

Antibacterial drug trimethoprim [2,4-diamino-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-pyrimidine] (I) was determined in pharmaceutical formulations by using a lab-made PC-controlled SIA analyser linked to conventional HPLC fluorimetric detector equipped with a chemiluminescence module. The chemical principle is the oxidation of I by KMnO(4) in acid medium; the reaction is accompanied by the emission of chemiluminescence, which is enhanced in the presence of hexametaphosphate (HMP). The optimum sequence and the flow parameters and concentrations and volumes of reagents aspirated optimised by a computer-aided simplex method were, 100 mul of 5 mM HMP, 40 mul of a test solution of I, 2 mul of 0.5 M H(2)SO(4) and 20 mul of 1 mM KMnO(4); the luminescing zone was pushed into the detector at a flow rate of 49 mul s(-1). The calibration graph relating the intensity of luminescence to concentration of I was parabolic (r=0.9994) in the range 0.5-100 mug ml(-1) of I with rectilinear part (r=0.9999) in the range 20-100 mug ml(-1) of I; the limit of detection was 0.1 mug ml(-1) of I. The method was used for the assay of Triprim(R) tablets (with nominal content 100 or 200 mg of I) for the active substance as well as for content uniformity tests; the R.S.D. values did not exceed 1% (n=5). The SIA results did not show statistical difference from those obtained by pharmacopoeial acidimetric titration in non-aqueous medium; the excipients such as microcrystalline cellulose, maze starch, povidone, talc, magnesium stearate and gelatin did not interfere.