Femtosecond Dynamics in the Lactim Tautomer of Phycocyanobilin: A Long‐Wavelength Absorbing Model Compound for the Phytochrome Chromophore

Transient UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy is used to study the primary dynamics of the ring‐A methyl imino ether of phycocyanobilin (PCB‐AIE), which was shown to mimic the far‐red absorbance of the Pfr chromophore in phytochromes (R. Micura, K. Grubmayr, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.­ 1994, 4, 2517–2522 ). After excitation at 615 nm, the excited electronic state is found to decay with τ₁=0.4 ps followed by electronic ground‐state relaxation with τ₂=1.2 and τ₃=6.7 ps. Compared with phycocyanobilin (PCB), the initial kinetics of PCB‐AIE is much faster. Thus, the lactim structure of PCB‐AIE seems to be a suitable model that could not only explain the bathochromic shift in the ground‐state absorption but also the short reaction of the Pfr as compared to the Pr chromophore in phytochrome. In addition, the equivalence of ring‐A and ring‐D lactim tautomers with respect to a red‐shifted absorbance relative to the lactam tautomers is demonstrated by semiempirical calculations.     

Functionalized supramolecular nanoporous arrays for surface templating

Controlled self-assembly and chemical tailoring of bimolecular networks on surfaces is demonstrated using structural derivatives of 3,4:9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) combined with melamine (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine). Two functionalised PTCDI derivatives have been synthesised, Br(2)-PTCDI and di(propylthio)-PTCDI, through attachment of chemical side groups to the perylene core. Self-assembled structures formed by these molecules on a Ag-Si(111)${\sqrt{3}}$x${\sqrt{3}}$R30 degrees surface were studied with a room-temperature scanning tunneling microscope under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. It is shown that the introduction of side groups can have a significant effect upon both the structures formed, notably in the case of di(propylthio)-PTCDI which forms a previously unreported unimolecular hexagonal arrangement, and their entrapment behaviour. These results demonstrate a new route of functionalisation for network pores, opening up the possibility of designing nanostructured surface structures with chemical selectivity and applications in nanostructure templating.     

Watching the low-frequency motions in aqueous salt solutions: the terahertz vibrational signatures of hydrated ions

The details of ion hydration still raise fundamental questions relevant to a large variety of problems in chemistry and biology. The concept of water "structure breaking" and "structure making" by ions in aqueous solutions has been invoked to explain the Hofmeister series introduced over 100 years ago, which still provides the basis for the interpretation of experimental observations, in particular the stabilization/destabilization of biomolecules. Recent studies, using state-of-the-art experiments and molecular dynamics simulations, either challenge or support some key points of the structure maker/breaker concept, specifically regarding long-ranged ordering/disordering effects. Here, we report a systematic terahertz absorption spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation study of a series of aqueous solutions of divalent salts, which adds a new piece to the puzzle. The picture that emerges from the concentration dependence and assignment of the observed absorption features is one of a limited range of ion effects that is confined to the first solvation shell.     

Classical light scattering studies on structure formation in polymer solutions

The scattered light is very sensitive to the presence of supermolecular structures in polymer solutions, offering the possibility to study structure formation in situ by classical light scattering and to characterize the generated particles. An improved analysis of light scattering data yields information on the structure type, polydispersity of the systems, particle mass and size as well as the degree of swelling. The flocculation process of ampholytic modified poly(acrylonitrile) was investigated in dependence on the pH-value and the content of different salts in the solvent. Results obtained give a deeper insight into the flocculation mechanism.