C–HPt(II) interaction-controlled self-assembly and photophysics of chiral bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyleneamino)cyclohexane platinum(II) complexes

Reaction of (R,R)-(−)- and (S,S)-(+)-1,2-bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyleneamino)cyclohexane with K₂PtCl₄ afforded chiral, neutral platinum(II) Schiff base complexes of (R,R)-PtL and (S,S)-PtL with high yields. The rare C–HPt(II) intermolecular interaction was found to show considerable strength and directionality for controlling M and P helical supramolecular architectures of (R,R)-PtL and (S,S)-PtL, respectively, in crystal lattices. More importantly, the open square-planar geometry of platinum(II) complexes allows axial C–HPt(II) interaction, resulting in the ³(ππ^*) excited state with some mixing of the Pt(II) metal character observed both in concentrated solutions and in the solid state at room temperature.     

Surfactant-free water-processable photoconductive all-carbon composite

Heterojunctions between different graphitic nanostructures, including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene-based sheets, have attracted significant interest for light to electrical energy conversion. Because of their poor solubility, fabrication of such all-carbon nanocomposites typically involves covalently linking the individual constituents or the extensive surface functionalization to improve their solvent processability for mixing. However, such strategies often deteriorate or contaminate the functional carbon surfaces. Here we report that fullerenes, pristine single walled carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide sheets can be conveniently coassembled in water to yield a stable colloidal dispersion for thin film processing. After thermal reduction of graphene oxide, a solvent-resistant photoconductive hybrid of fullerene-nanotube-graphene was obtained with on-off ratio of nearly 6 orders of magnitude. Photovoltaic devices made with the all-carbon hybrid as the active layer and an additional fullerene block layer showed unprecedented photovoltaic responses among all known all-carbon-based materials with an open circuit voltage of 0.59 V and a power conversion efficiency of 0.21%. The ease of making such surfactant-free, water-processed, carbon thin films could lead to their wide applications in organic optoelectronic devices.     

Fabrication of single crystal CuGaS2 nanorods by X-ray irradiation

CuGaS(2) nanorods were synthesized by irradiating the precursor solution with intense X-rays. The products are single crystal nanorods with preferential [220] growth and a uniform size distribution. We also report on the photoresponse of drop-cast films of these nanorods.     

The molecular mechanism studies of chirality effect of PHA-739358 on Aurora kinase A by molecular dynamics simulation and free energy calculations

Aurora kinase family is one of the emerging targets in oncology drug discovery and several small molecules targeting aurora kinases have been discovered and evaluated under early phase I/II trials. Among them, PHA-739358 (compound 1r) is a 3-aminopyrazole derivative with strong activity against Aurora A under early phase II trial. Inhibitory potency of compound 1r (the benzylic substituent at the pro-R position) is 30 times over that of compound 1s (the benzylic substituent at the pro-S position). In present study, the mechanism of how different configurations influence the binding affinity was investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, free energy calculations and free energy decomposition analysis. The predicted binding free energies of these two complexes are consistent with the experimental data. The analysis of the individual energy terms indicates that although the van der Waals contribution is important for distinguishing the binding affinities of these two inhibitors, the electrostatic contribution plays a more crucial role in that. Moreover, it is observed that different configurations of the benzylic substituent could form different binding patterns with protein, thus leading to variant inhibitory potency of compounds 1r and 1s. The combination of different molecular modeling techniques is an efficient way to interpret the chirality effects of inhibitors and our work gives valuable information for the chiral drug design in the near future.     

Monofunctionalized pillar[5]arene-based stable [1]pseudorotaxane

A new monofunctionalized pillar[5]arene bearing imidazolium moiety that formed stable [1]pseudorotaxane even at high concentration (100 mmol/L) was reported. [1]Rotaxane was obtained effi ciently through thiol-ene reaction from [1]pseudorotaxane which further confi rmed the formation of [1]pseudorotaxane.     

Characterization of Novel Aminobenzylcantharidinimides and Related Imides by Proton NMR Spectra and Their Effects on NO Induction

Various acidic anhydrides including cantharidin were converted into corresponding aminobenzylcantharidinimide 3a and analogous imides 3b～k (at the ortho, meta, and para positions) with 35%～87% yields by reacting with aminobenzylamines and triethylamine. The two methyl side chains of cantharidinimides 3ao , 3am , and 3ap, and related imides had more than two chiral centers; the lone pair of electrons of nitrogen displayed a different chemical shift and coupling constant in H‐NMR spectra when the amino group of benzylamine was in the ortho position. These cantharidinimides had parent aniline, pyridine, and naphthalene plane structures, and the primary amine nucleophilicity and basicity might reflect the inductive electron’s negative effect on chemical shifts. We prepared cantharidinimides by heating the reactants cantharidin 1a , aliphatic and aromatic acid anhydrides, primary benzylic amines, and aniline derivatives to ca. 200 °C with 3 mL of dry toluene, and 1～2 mL of triethylamine in high‐pressure sealed tubes (Buchi glasuster 0032) to produce cantharidinimides and their analogues in good yields. The para‐aminobenzylic imides showed greater inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis by NO synthase (NOS) than did ortho‐ and meta‐aminobenzylic imides. Compound 3fp , para‐aminobenzylic norbonane‐imide, had the most potent effect on inducible NOS among the tested compounds and showed 35% inhibition.