Sulfur K-edge XAS and DFT calculations on P450 model complexes: effects of hydrogen bonding on electronic structure and redox potentials

Hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) is generally thought to play an important role in tuning the electronic structure and reactivity of metal-sulfur sites in proteins. To develop a quantitative understanding of this effect, S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) has been employed to directly probe ligand-metal bond covalency, where it has been found that protein active sites are significantly less covalent than their related model complexes. Sulfur K-edge XAS data are reported here on a series of P450 model complexes with increasing H-bonding to the ligated thiolate from its substituent. The XAS spectroscopic results show a dramatic decrease in preedge intensity. DFT calculations reproduce these effects and show that the observed changes are in fact solely due to H-bonding and not from the inductive effect of the substituent on the thiolate. These calculations also indicate that the H-bonding interaction in these systems is mainly dipolar in nature. The -2.5 kcal/mol energy of the H-bonding interaction was small relative to the large change in ligand-metal bond covalency (30%) observed in the data. A bond decomposition analysis of the total energy is developed to correlate the preedge intensity change to the change in Fe-S bonding interaction on H-bonding. This effect is greater for the reduced than the oxidized state, leading to a 260 mV increase in the redox potential. A simple model shows that E degrees should vary approximately linearly with the covalency of the Fe-S bond in the oxidized state, which can be determined directly from S K-edge XAS.     

Syntheses, structures, and luminescent and magnetic properties of novel three-dimensional lanthanide complexes with 1,3,5-benzenetriacetate

Five novel lanthanide complexes with the formulas [Nd(bta)(H2O)2.4.35H2O]n(1), [Sm(bta)(H2O)2.4.5H2O]n (2), [Eu(bta)(H2O).1.48H2O]n (3), [Tb(bta)(H2O).1.31H2O]n (4), and [Yb(bta)(H2O).H2O]n (5) (H3bta = 1,3,5-benzenetriacetic acid) have been prepared by using the corresponding lanthanide salt and H3bta. The results of an X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that all the complexes have three-dimensional channel-like structures, in which the bta3- ligands adopt different coordination modes: monodentate and mu2-eta2:eta1-bridging coordination modes in 1, 2, and 5 and mu2-eta1:eta1-bridging and mu2-eta2:eta1-bridging coordination modes in 3 and 4, respectively. Complexes 1 and 2, as well as 3 and 4, are isostructural, respectively, in which all the Ln(III) (Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, and Tb) atoms are nine-coordinated, while the Yb(III) atoms in complex 5 are eight-coordinated. Both complexes 3 and 4 showed strong luminescence upon excitation, and their luminescence decay curves fit well with single exponential decays of which the lifetime is 0.45 ms for 3 and 1.0 ms for 4. The magnetic properties of the complexes were investigated in the temperature range of 1.8-300 K.     

Photothermal reshaping of gold nanorods depends on the passivating layers of the nanorod surfaces

Photothermal reshaping of gold nanorods was triggered by pulsed-laser irradiation. The efficiency of the reshaping was strongly dependent on the surface conditions of the gold nanorods. When the gold nanorods were dispersed in concentrated hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), the gold nanorods were efficiently transformed into a phi-shape. By comparison when poly(styrene sulfonate), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(ethylene glycol), or phosphatidylcholine layers were used, the CTAB layers were found to be a better thermal insulator that helped to enhance the photothermal reshaping of the gold nanorods.     

Total synthesis of (+)-epiepoformin and (−)-phyllostine

An efficient asymmetric total synthesis of naturally occurring cyclohexeneoxides, (+)-epiepoformin and (−)-phyllostine has been achieved using the chiral building block available from the base-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone. Since (−)-theobroxide was derived from the same precursor of (+)-epiepoformin, the formal total synthesis of (−)-theobroxide has also been achieved.     

Electron and ion transfer through multilayers of gold nanoclusters covered by self-assembled monolayers of alkylthiols with various functional groups

The electrochemical characteristics of various kinds of multilayers of gold nanoclusters (GNCs) were investigated. Two types of gold nanoclusters, one covered by self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA), hexanethiol (C6SH), and ferrocenylhexanethiol (FcC6SH), MHF-GNC, and the other with MUA and C6SH, MH-GNC, were used. The multilayers were constructed on a Au(111) surface based on a carboxylate/metal cation (Cu++)/carboxylate or carboxylate/cationic polymer (poly(allylamine hydrochloride):PAH)/carboxylate electrostatic interaction. While the multilayers constructed by the former method were stable only in nonaqueous solutions, those constructed by the latter method were stable even in aqueous solutions. Electrochemical measurements of the multilayers of MHF-GNCs showed a pair of waves corresponding to the redox of the ferrocene group around 350-480 mV and the charge of these peaks, i.e., the amount of adsorbed GNC, increased linearly with the construction cycle up to 6 cycles in the former and to 18 cycles in the latter. A rather reversible redox response of the ferrocene moiety was observed even at the gold electrodes with five GNC layers of two different sequences in which MHF-GNC exists as the layer closest to the gold electrode, ie., the first layer, or as the outermost layer with MH-GNC in the other layers. These results show the facile transfer of electrons and ions through the multilayers of the SAM-covered GNCs and electron transfer between the ferrocene moiety and the Au(111) electrode takes place through the GNC cores by hopping.     

Synthesis of zigzag-chain and cyclic-octanuclear calcium complexes and hexanuclear bulky aryl-phosphate sodium complexes with ortho-amide groups: structural transformation involving a network of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds

Three new polynuclear Ca(II)- and Na(I) phosphate complexes with two strategically oriented bulky amide groups, 2,6-(PhCONH)(2)C(6)H(3)OPO(3)H(2), were synthesized, including one with a zigzag-chain, [Ca(II)[O(3)POC(6)H(3)-2,6-(NHCOPh)(2)](H(2)O)(4)(EtOH)](n), a cyclic-octanuclear form, [Ca(II)(8)[O(3)POC(6)H(3)-2,6-(NHCOPh)(2)](8)(O=CHNMe(2))(8)(H(2)O)(12)], and a hexanuclear complex, (NHEt(3))[Na(3)[O(3)POC(6)H(3)-2,6-(NHCOPh)(2)](2)(H(2)O)(MeOH)(7)]. X-ray crystallography revealed that all have an unsymmetric ligand position due to the bulky amide groups. A dynamic transformation of the Ca(II) zigzag-chain structure to the cyclic-octanuclear complex was induced by changing coordination of DMF molecules, which caused a reorganization of the intermolecular/intramolecular hydrogen bond network.     

Cationic polymerization of α,β-disubstituted olefins. IV. Stereospecific polymerization of propenyl alkyl ethers catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2 and Al2(SO4)3–H2SO4 complex

The cis- and trans-propenyl alkyl ethers were polymerized by a homogeneous catalyst [BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂] and a heterogeneous catalyst [Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex]. Methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl and tert-butyl propenyl ethers were used as monomers. The steric structure of the polymers formed depended on the geometric structures of monomer and the polymerization conditions. In polymerizations with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ at ?78°C., trans isomers produced crystalline polymers, but cis isomers formed amorphous ones except for tert-butyl propenyl ether. On the other hand, highly crystalline polymers were formed from cis isomers, but not from the trans isomers in the polymerization by Al₂(SO₄)₃–H₂SO₄ complex at 0°C. The x-ray diffraction patterns of the crystalline polymers obtained from the trans isomers were different from those produced from the cis isomers, except for poly(methyl propenyl ether). The reaction mechanism was discussed briefly on these basis of these results.     

Solution polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by stannic chloride

The polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by stannic chloride (SnCl₄) in ethylene dichloride was studied and compared with the results obtained with boron trifluoride etherate, BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂, as catalyst. Under the same conditions, the polymerization rate was larger with SnCl₄ than with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂, while at a fixed polymer yield the molecular weight of the polymer obtained by SnCl₄ was lower than with the BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ catalyzed reaction. The overall activation energy of trioxane polymerization with SnCl₄ was 11.0 ± 0.8 kcal/mole. The kinetic orders of catalyst and monomer were determined to be close to 2 and 4, respectively. A certain amount of tetraoxane was also produced in an early stage of the polymerization with SnCl₄ similar to BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂-catalyzed reaction. However, the maximum amount of tetraoxane produced at 30°C was larger with SnCl₄ than with BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂. In addition, a ten-membered ring compound (pentoxane) was isolated in the solution polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by both SnCl₄ and BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂. The confirmation of pentoxane formation is strong evidence for the back-biting reaction mechanism.     

Copolymerization of tetraoxane with styrene catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2

The copolymerization of tetraoxane with styrene catalyzed by BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂ was studied at 30°C. to determine whether a cyclic monomer can copolymerize with a vinyl monomer. The formation of the copolymer was confirmed by elementary analysis of both benzene-soluble and benzene-insoluble fractions of the polymer obtained. It was found by gas chromatography that a fairly large amount of 4-phenyl-1,3-dioxane and a small amount of trioxane were formed in the present system, in addition to polymers. Roughly a third of the total amount of the monomers reacted was consumed in the formation of methanol-insoluble polymer, a third for 4-phenyl-1,3-dioxane, and another third for trioxane and unknown products which could not be indentified. The formation of these cyclic compounds during the copolymerization may be explained in terms of a back-biting (or intramolecular transacetalization) reaction. The cationic reactivity of tetraoxane was found to be similar to that of styrene on the basis of both the consumption rate of each monomer in the copolymerizing system and the composition of the methanol-insoluble polymer obtained.     

Stereospecific polymerization of α-methylstyrene by friedel-crafts catalysts

The relationship between stereoregularity and polymerization conditions of α-methylstyrene has been studied by means of NMR spectra. The effects of solvents and various Freidel-Crafts catalysts have been investigated. The stereoregularity of poly-α-methylstyrene increased with increased polymer solubility in the solvent used and with decreasing polymerization temperature. This behavior is completely different from the stereospecific polymerization of vinyl ethers and methyl methacrylate in homogeneous systems. This may be due to the strong steric repulsion exerted by the two substituents in the α-position of α-methylstyrene. For example, with BF₃ · O(C₂H₅)₂ as catalyst at ?78°C., atactic polymer is obtained in n-hexane, a nonsolvent for α-methylstyrene, whereas highly stereoregular polymer is produced in toluene or methylene chloride, good solvents for the polymer. However, the polarity of the solvent and the nature of the catalyst hardly affect the stereoregularity of the polymer.