Synthetic Studies in Phytochrome Chemistry

An account is given of the author's several approaches to the synthesis of the parent chromophore of phytochrome (1), a protein-bound linear tetrapyrrole derivative that controls photomorphogenesis in higher plants. These studies culminated in enantioselective syntheses of both 2R- and 2S-phytochromobilin (4), as well as several (13)C-labeled derivatives designed to probe the site of Z,E-isomerization during photoexcitation. When reacted in vitro, synthetic 2R-4 and recombinant-derived phytochrome apoprotein N-C produced a protein-bound chromophore with identical difference spectra to naturally occurring 1.     

Electron transfer. 109. The reaction of dimeric molybdenum(V) with carboxylato-bound chromium(V). A third mechanistic variation

The bridged dimer of molybdenum(V), Mo₂O₄²⁺ (aq) is oxidized to Mo(VI) by carboxylato-bound chromium(V). Reaction of bis(chelated) Cr(V) with excess (Mo^V)₂ yields a chelated Cr(III) complex, but this conversion proceeds through a pink Cr(IV) intermediate, indicating that the oxidation of (Mo^V)₂ entails a series of le^? steps, passing through a reactive transient, the mixed valence complex, Mo^VMo^VI. When experiments are carried out in buffers of the ligating acid, 2-ethyl-2-hydroxybutanoic acid, two stages of ligation of (Mo^V)₂ by the ligand anion, characterized by rate constants near 10⁴ and 0.14 M^?1 s^?1 (19°C; pH 3.0; μ = 0.6 M) must be considered. In quick mixing experiments, the first, but not the second, of these proceeds before the redox reaction gets under way, and autocatalytic redox profiles are observed. If the slower ligation is allowed to reach completion before Cr(V) is added, reduction to Cr(IV) is greatly accelerated and conforms to the superposition of two processes, whereas the reduction of Cr(IV) to Cr(III) is slow and exhibits a rate independent of [Cr^IV]. A proposed sequence applicable to the latter conditions includes reductions of Cr(V) at two ligation levels, slow unimolecular conversion of (Mo^V)₂ to an activated form, and rapid reduction of the latter with Cr(IV). Here Cr(IV) has assumed the role of a scavenger for the reactive form of (Mo^V)₂.     

Noncovalent multivalent assembly of jun peptides on a leucine zipper dendrimer displaying fos peptides

[reaction: see text] The synthesis and characterization of a new leucine-zipper dendrimer (LZD) is reported that displays four copies of the peptide corresponding to the coiled-coiled dimerization domain of Fos. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence titration, and sedimentation equilibrium experiments demonstrate that Fos-LZD can noncovalently assemble four copies of the peptide corresponding to the coiled-coil domain of Jun. This work provides the basis for the future construction of noncovalently assembled multivalent protein assemblies displaying any protein of interest.     

Field-induced disorder in a gapped spin system with nonmagnetic impurities

We study the combined effect of doping and an external magnetic field on S = 1/2 dimers which are weakly coupled by three-dimensional antiferromagnetic interactions J'. We show that application of an external magnetic field H opposes the long-range Ne el order which is known to result from doping with nonmagnetic impurities and drives the system back to the disordered phase if 3D interactions J' are not too large. We discuss the zero temperature phase diagram in the (H,J') plane and suggest that the reentrant behavior can be experimentally observed.     

Oxovanadium(V) and cobalt(III) complexes of dithiocarbazate-based Schiff base ligands: formation of a thiadiazole ring by vanadium-induced cyclization of the coordinated ligand

S-Methyl 3-((2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl)dithiocarbazate (H(2)L(1)) and its bromo derivative (H(2)L(2)), which are traditionally biprotic tridentate (ONS) ligands, behave in an unprecedented manner when allowed to react with [VO(acac)(2)] under an oxidative environment in acetonitrile-water medium containing a catalytic amount of alkali metal ion. The products obtained are oxovanadium(V) compounds [VOL(L(cyclic))] (L = L(1), 1a, and L(2), 1b) that contain one molecule of ligand which undergoes metal-induced cyclization to form a thiadiazole ring. Compound 1a crystallizes in the triclinic space group P(-)1 with a = 9.1830(9) A, b = 9.4165(12) A, c = 12.700(2) A, alpha = 100.988(8)(o), beta = 100.195(7)(o), gamma = 78.774(8)(o), V = 1046.3(2) A(3), and Z = 2. With cobalt(III), however, the products [CoL(HL)].H(2)O (L = L(1), 2a, and L(2), 2b) have hydrogen-bonded dimeric structures with each ligand virtually carrying 1.5 units of negative charge as confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis of 2a. It also crystallizes in triclinic space group P(-)1 with a = 12.0842(8) A, b = 13.5251(9) A, c = 14.1960(10) A, alpha = 78.122(6)(o), beta = 73.888(6)(o), gamma = 78.255(6)(o), V = 2154.7(3) A(3), and Z = 4. In solution, 2a is a symmetric molecule as indicated by (1)H NMR, involving a characteristic hydrogen-bonded O-H-O broad feature in the downfield (at 14.5 ppm) connecting both monoprotonated (LH(-)) and deprotonated (L(2-)) forms of the ligand--a situation somewhat analogous to the classic H-F-H case as observed in bifluoride ion.     

Novel template effect for the preparation of [2]rotaxanes with functionalised centre pieces

A novel anion-templated synthesis permits the preparation of [2]rotaxanes with a tetralactam wheel through which axles are threaded that are functionalised at their center pieces; the wheel protects these groups efficiently against modifications.     

New Pd-catalyzed selective reduction of carboxylic acids to aldehydes

A catalyst generated in situ from palladium acetate and tricyclohexylphosphine efficiently catalyzes the reduction of carboxylic acids with sodium hypophosphite in the presence of pivalic anhydride to give aldehydes with high selectivity. The low cost and convenient handling of the reagents makes this process a valuable alternative to hydrogenations and metal hydride reductions.     

Imaging characteristics of a birefringent lens under broadband illumination

This paper reports the imaging characteristics of an optical system consisting of a lens made of a uniaxial birefringent crystal sandwiched between two linear polarizers under polychromatic input illumination. The optic axis of the birefringent crystal is perpendicular to the lens axis and for an initial investigation, the spectral profile of the input beam is considered to be uniform for all wavelengths. The study reveals that if the variation of the birefringence parameters of the device with the wavelength is less, a larger bandwidth may be used without considerably deviating from the imaging characteristics under strictly monochromatic illumination. The nonlinear variation of birefringence with wavelength results in an asymmetric axial irradiance distribution. This obviates an optimal operating wavelength as well as a proper choice of the lens material. It is found that no appreciable change in image quality under diffraction-limited condition results for an input beam having 632 nm operating wavelength and 60 nm bandwidth. Therefore, it may be feasible to use this system with a white light source in conjunction with a wavelength-selective filter.     

Laser damage studies in nonlinear optical crystal sodium p-nitrophenolate dihydrate

We report the surface laser damage threshold in sodium p-nitrophenolate dihydrate, a nonlinear optical crystal. The experiment is performed with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser in TEM₀₀ mode. The single shot damage thresholds are 11.16±0.28 GW cm^-2 and 1.25±0.02 GW cm^-2 for 1064 nm and 532 nm laser wavelengths respectively. A close correlation between the laser damage threshold and mechanical hardness is observed. A possible mechanism of laser damage is discussed. PACS 42.70.Mp; 61.80.Ba; 81.10.Dn