Novel peripherally functionalized seco-porphyrazines: synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic evaluation

Co-macrocyclizations of 2,3-dipropylmaleonitrile and 2,3-di-(4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)maleonitrile, respectively, with N,N′-dibenzyl-N,N′-di-(11-tetrahydropyranyloxy-3,6,9-trioxo-undecyl))maleonitrile and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylmaleonitrile were used to prepare derivatives of the 4,5-diamino-porphyrazine systems including the zinc(II) complexes. Subsequent oxidation of the macrocycles with potassium permanganate gave the corresponding seco-porphyrazines. These were shown to be efficient sensitizers for the production of singlet oxygen (Φ_Δ=0.15-0.57) by the determination of their photophysical properties.     

Aggregation of PMe3-stabilized molybdenum sulfides and the catalytic dehydrogenation of H2S

The reactivity of [MoS(4)](2-) (1) toward PMe(3) was explored in the presence and absence of proton donors. Whereas MeCN solutions of (Et(4)N)(2)[MoS(4)] and PMe(3) are stable, in the presence of H(2)S such solutions catalyze formation of H(2) and SPMe(3). Addition of NH(4+) to such solutions afforded MoS(2)(PMe(3))(4) (2), which can be prepared directly from (NH(4))(2)[1]. Compound 2 is reactive toward thiols via a process proposed to involve the initial dissociation of one PMe(3) ligand, a hypothesis supported by the relative inertness of trans-MoS(2)(dmpe)(2). Benzene solutions of 2 react with EtSH to give Mo(2)(mu-S)(mu-SH)(PMe(3))(4)(SEt)(3) (3Et). Analogous reactions with thiocresol (MeC(6)H(4)SH) and H(2)S gave Mo(2)(mu-S)(mu-SH)(PMe(3))(4)(SR)(3) (R = tol, H). Crystallographic analyses of 3Et, 3H, and 3tol indicate dinuclear species with seven terminal ligands and a Mo(2)(mu-SR)(mu-S) core (r(Mo)(-)(Mo) = 2.748(1) A). From reaction mixtures leading to 3Et from 2, we obtained the intermediate Mo(IV)(2)(mu-S)(2)(SEt)(4)(PMe(3))(2) (4), an edge-shared bis(trigonal pyramidal) structure. Compounds 3H and 3Et react further with H(2)S to give Mo(4)(mu(2)-S)(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)(PMe(3))(6)(SH)(2) (5H) and Mo(4)(mu(2)-S)(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)(PMe(3))(6)(SEt)(2) (5Et), respectively. Analogously, W(4)(mu(2)-S)(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)(PMe(3))(6)(SH)(2) was synthesized from a methanol solution of (NH(4))(2)WS(4) with H(2)S and PMe(3). A highly accurate crystallographic analysis of (NH(4))(2)MoS(4) (R(1) = 0.0193) indicates several weak NH.S interactions.     

Characterization of single- and double-stranded DNA on gold surfaces

Single- and double-stranded deoxy ribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules attached to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces were characterized by a number of optical and electronic spectroscopic techniques. The DNA-modified gold surfaces were prepared through the self-assembly of 6-mercapto-1-hexanol and 5'-C(6)H(12)SH -modified single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). Upon hybridization of the surface-bound probe ssDNA with its complimentary target, formation of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) on the gold surface is observed and in a competing process, probe ssDNA is desorbed from the gold surface. The competition between hybridization of ssDNA with its complimentary target and ssDNA probe desorption from the gold surface has been investigated in this paper using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, chronocoulometry, fluorescence, and polarization modulation-infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). The formation of dsDNA on the surface was identified by PM-IRRAS by a dsDNA IR signature at approximately 1678 cm(-)(1) that was confirmed by density functional theory calculations of the nucleotides and the nucleotides' base pairs. The presence of dsDNA through the specific DNA hybridization was additionally confirmed by atomic force microscopy through colloidal gold nanoparticle labeling of the target ssDNA. Using these methods, strand loss was observed even for DNA hybridization performed at 25 degrees C for the DNA monolayers studied here consisting of attachment to the gold surfaces by single Au-S bonds. This finding has significant consequence for the application of SAM technology in the detection of oligonucleotide hybridization on gold surfaces.     

From clusters to ionic complexes: structurally characterized thallium titanium double alkoxides

A series of sterically varied titanium alkoxides [[Ti(OR)(4)](n)(), n = 4, OR = OCH(2)CH(3) (OEt); n = 1, OCH(CH(3))(2) (OPr(i)); n = 2, OCH(2)C(CH(3))(3) (ONep); n = 1, OC(6)H(3)(CH(3))(2)-2,6 (DMP)] were reacted with a series of thallium alkoxides [[Tl(OR)](x) (x = 4, OR = OEt, ONep; n = infinity, DMP)]. The resultant products of the [Tl(mu(3)-OEt)](4)-modified [Ti(OR)(4)](n)() (OR = OEt, OPr(i), ONep) were found by X-ray analysis to be Tl(4)Ti(2)(mu-O)(mu(3)-OEt)(8)(OEt)(2) (1), Tl(4)Ti(2)(mu-O)(mu(3)-OPr(i))(5)(mu(3)-OEt)(3)(OEt)(2) (2), and TlTi(2)(mu(3)-OEt)(2)(mu-OEt)(mu-ONep)(2)(ONep)(4) (3), respectively. The reaction of [Tl(mu(3)-OEt)](4), 12HOEt, and 4[Ti(mu-ONep)ONep)(3)](2) to generate 3 in a higher yield resulted in the isolation of TlTi(2)(mu(3)-OEt)(mu(3)-ONep)(mu-OEt)(mu-ONep)(2)(ONep)(4) (4). Compounds 1 and 2 possess an octahedral (Oh) arrangement of two Ti and four Tl metal atoms around a mu-O central oxide atom (the Tl-O distance is too long to be considered a bond). For both compounds, each Ti atom adopts a distorted Oh geometry with one terminal OEt ligand. The Tl atoms are formally 4-coordinated, adopting a distorted pyramidal geometry using four mu(3)-OR (OR = OEt or OPr(i)) ligands to complete their coordination sphere. The Tl atoms reside approximately 1.4 A below the basal plane of oxygens. In contrast to these structures, both 3 and 4 utilize ONep ligands and display reduced oligomerization yielding trinuclear complexes without oxo formation. The two Ti cations are Oh, and the single Tl cation is in a formal distorted pyramidal (PYD) arrangement. If the lone pair of the Tl cations are considered in the geometry, each Tl adopts a square base pyramidal geometry. Two terminal ONep ligands are bound to each Ti with the remainder of the molecule consisting of mu(3)- and mu-ONep ligands. The reaction of [Tl(mu(3)-ONep)](4) with two equivalents of [Ti(mu-ONep)(ONep)(3)](2) also led to the isolation of the homoleptic trinuclear complex TlTi(2)(mu(3)-ONep)(2)(mu-ONep)(3)(ONep)(4) (5) which is analogous in structure to the mixed ligand species of 3 and 4. Each Ti is Oh coordinated with six ONep ligands, and the single Tl is PYD bound by ONep ligands. A further increase in the steric bulk of the pendant ligands, using [Tl(mu-DMP)](infinity) and [Ti(mu-ONep)(ONep)(3)](2), resulted in a further decrease in the nuclearity yielding the dinuclear species TlTi(mu-DMP)(mu-ONep)(DMP)(ONep)(2) (6). For 6, the two metals are bound by a mu-ONep and a mu-DMP ligand. The Tl metal center was solved in a bent geometry while the Ti adopted a distorted trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometry using three ONep and two DMP ligands to fill its coordination sphere. Further increasing the steric bulk of the ancillary ligands using Ti(DMP)(4) and [Tl(mu-DMP)](infinity) led to the formation of [Tl(+)][(-)(eta(2-3)-DMP)Ti(DMP)(4)] (7). The Ti metal center is in a TBP geometry, and the "naked" Tl cation resides unencumbered by solvent molecules but was found to have a strong pi-interaction with four DMP ligands of neighboring Ti(DMP)(5)(-) anions. For this novel set of compounds, (205)Tl NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate the solution behavior of these compounds. Multiple (205)Tl resonances were observed for the solution spectra of the crystalline material of 1-6, and a broad singlet was observed for 7. The large number of minor resonances noted for these compounds was attributed to sensitivity of the Tl cation based on small variations due to ligand rearrangement. However, the major resonance noted in the (205)Tl NMR solution spectra of 1-7 are in agreement with their respective solid-state structures.     

Multiple glass transitions and local composition effects on polymer solvent mixtures

Recent differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results on polystyrene–solvent mixtures show two distinct glass transitions whose positions and widths vary with composition. Parallel work on the dynamic response in polymer blends has focused on how segmental mobilities are controlled by local composition variations within a “cooperative volume” containing the segment. Such variations arise from both chain connectivity and composition fluctuations. We account for both using a lattice model for polymer–solvent mixtures that yields the composition distribution around polymer and solvent segments. Insights from our lattice model lead us to simplified calculations of the mean and variance of local composition, both in good agreement with lattice results. Applying our model to compute DSC traces leads to an estimate of the cooperative volume, since a larger cooperative volume both reduces the biasing effect of connectivity, and narrows the composition distribution. Comparing our results to data, we are able to account for the composition-dependent broadening with a cooperative length scale of about 2.5 nm. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3528–3545, 2006     

Electron-rich diferrous-phosphane-thiolates relevant to Fe-only hydrogenase: is cyanide "nature's trimethylphosphane"?

The two-step one-pot oxidative decarbonylation of [Fe2(S2C2H4)(CO)4(PMe3)2] (1) with [FeCp2]PF6, followed by addition of phosphane ligands, led to a series of diferrous dithiolato carbonyls 2-6, containing three or four phosphane ligands. In situ measurements indicate efficient formation of 1(2+) as the initial intermediate of the oxidation of 1, even when a deficiency of the oxidant was employed. Subsequent addition of PR3 gave rise to [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CO)3(PMe3)3]2+ (2) and [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CO)2(PMe3)2(PR3)2]2+ (R = Me 3, OMe 4) as principal products. One terminal CO ligand in these complexes was readily substituted by MeCN, and [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CO)2(PMe3)3(MeCN)]2+ (5) and [Fe2(S2C2H4)(mu-CO)(CO)(PMe3)4(MeCN)]2+ (6) were fully characterized. Relevant to the H(red) state of the active site of Fe-only hydrogenases, the unsymmetrical derivatives 5 and 6 feature a semibridging CO ligand trans to a labile coordination site.     

Nitrogen rotational excitation by collisions with argon-observations and comprison with theory

Measurements of the distribution of rotational states in a nitrogen molecular beam before and after deflection by collision with rare gas atoms are interpreted in terms of the intermolecular potential. A potential of the form V(R, θ) = 4?(1 + b₂P₂(cosθ)| R^*12 ? 4θ [1 + α₂P₂(cosθ)]/R^*6 is used with semiclassical theory using the sudden approximation to fit the observations. As α₂ is known, as well as ? and the size parameter, σ, the objective is to find b₂. However, the calculated state distributions are found to systematically vary from those measured, irrespective of the value of b₂. This result is tentatively explained as due to the inadequacies of the 12-6 potential.     

Synthesis of PI3K inhibitor GDC-0077 via a stereocontrolled N-arylation of α-amino acids

An efficient synthesis of PI3K inhibitor GDC-0077, featuring two consecutive Cu-catalyzed CN coupling reactions, is reported. The described synthetic route involves a chemoselective Ullmann-type coupling of a chiral difluoromethyl-substituted oxazolidinone, a Cu-catalyzed N-arylation of l-alanine with high stereochemical integrity, and a high-yielding final amide bond formation step to produce GDC-0077 in >99.5 area % HPLC purity.     

Transient absorption spectra of 2-hydroxybenzophenone photostabilizers

Transient absorption spectra (400–600 nm) of 2-hydroxybenzophenone and the methyl methacrylate copolymer of 2-hydroxy, 3-allyl, 4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone following 355 nm excitation (7–480 ps delay) are reported. A short-lived, 435 nm transient (τ ≈ 10 ps in CH₂Cl₂) for both molecules is assigned to the lowest excited singlet before internal proton transfer. Weaker, broad T-T absorption is observed after 480 ps.