Pillar[n]arenes: Chemistry and Their Material Applications

Background Pillar[n]arene(PA[n])contains a symmetrical structures,where para-bridge connection between the units looks like a column-like or pillar shape and polygonal structure from side and top views,respectively.The attached groups to the PA[n]are pointing towards the opposite directions along the columnar axis.     

Dry deposition of elemental iodine on skin,hair, and clothing from air

Hairless rats, clothes, human hair, filter paper and water were exposed to gaseous elemental iodine in a glass chamber for 60–120 minutes. The deposition of gaseous elemental iodine on skin and lung of rats, human hair, water, clothes and paper were investigated by measuring iodine content in the exposed material by epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA). For measurement of the iodine concentration in the chamber air, elemental iodine in the air was collected by continuously sucking air through an active charcoal column. The trapped iodine in the active charcoal was then determined by ENAA. The measured deposition velocity in the test chamber of gaseous elemental iodine on skin, clothing, hair and water ranges from 0.006 on filter paper and water to about 0.05 cm/s on skin and clothes. The variation of elemental iodine concentration in air of the glass chamber was investigated by collecting and analyzing air samples at various time intervals. The results show that the variation with time in the concentration of the iodine can be described by an exponential function.     

Insight into the drastically different triplet lifetimes of BODIPY obtained by optical/magnetic spectroscopy and theoretical computations

The triplet state lifetimes of organic chromophores are crucial for fundamental photochemistry studies as well as applications as photosensitizers in photocatalysis, photovoltaics, photodynamic therapy and photon upconversion. It is noteworthy that the triplet state lifetime of a chromophore can vary significantly for its analogues, while the exact reason was rarely studied. Herein with a few exemplars of typical BODIPY derivatives, which show triplet lifetimes varying up to 110-fold (1.4–160 μs), we found that for these derivatives with short triplet state lifetimes (ca. 1–3 μs), the electron spin polarization (ESP) pattern of the time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectra of the triplet state is inverted at a longer delay time after laser pulse excitation, as a consequence of a strong anisotropy in the decay rates of the zero-field state sublevel of the triplet state. For the derivatives showing longer triplet state lifetimes (>50 μs), no such ESP inversion was observed. The observed fast decay of one sublevel is responsible for the short triplet state lifetime; theoretical computations indicate that it is due to a strong coupling between the T_z sublevel and the ground state mediated by the spin–orbit interaction. Another finding is that the heavy atom effect on the shortening of the triplet state lifetime is more significant for the T₁ states with lower energy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic study to rationalize the short triplet state lifetime of visible-light-harvesting organic chromophores. Our results are useful for fundamental photochemistry and the design of photosensitizers showing long-lived triplet states.

The electron spin polarization inversion and anisotropic decay of triplet substates explain the short triplet state lifetime of BODIPY derivatives.     

Mapping the binding site of a large set of quinazoline type EGF-R inhibitors using molecular field analyses and molecular docking studies

In the current work, three-dimensional QSAR studies for one large set of quinazoline type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) inhibitors were conducted using two types of molecular field analysis techniques: comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA). These compounds belonging to six different structural classes were randomly divided into a training set of 122 compounds and a test set of 13 compounds. The statistical results showed that the 3D-QSAR models derived from CoMFA were superior to those generated from CoMSIA. The most optimal CoMFA model after region focusing bears significant cross-validated r(2)(cv) of 0.60 and conventional r(2) of 0.92. The predictive power of the best CoMFA model was further validated by the accurate estimation to these compounds in the external test set, and the mean agreement of experimental and predicted log(IC(50)) values of the inhibitors is 0.6 log unit. Separate CoMFA models were conducted to evaluate the influence of different partial charges (Gasteiger-Marsili, Gasteiger-Hückel, MMFF94, ESP-AM1, and MPA-AM1) on the statistical quality of the models. The resulting CoMFA field map provides information on the geometry of the binding site cavity and the relative weights of various properties in different site pockets for each of the substrates considered. Moreover, in the current work, we applied MD simulations combined with MM/PBSA (Molecular mechanics/Possion-Boltzmann Surface Area) to determine the correct binding mode of the best inhibitor for which no ligand-protein crystal structure was present. To proceed, we define the following procedure: three hundred picosecond molecular dynamics simulations were first performed for the four binding modes suggested by DOCK 4.0 and manual docking, and then MM/PBSA was carried out for the collected snapshots. The most favorable binding mode identified by MM/PBSA has a binding free energy about 10 kcal/mol more favorable than the second best one. The most favorable binding mode identified by MM/PBSA can give satisfactory explanation of the SAR data of the studied molecules and is in good agreement with the contour maps of CoMFA. The most favorable binding mode suggests that with the quinazoline-based inhibitor, the N3 atom is hydrogen-bonded to a water molecule which, in turn, interacts with Thr 766, not Thr 830 as proposed by Wissner et al. (J. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 3244). The predicted complex structure of quinazoline type inhibitor with EGF-R as well as the pharmacophore mapping from CoMFA can interpret the structure activities of the inhibitors well and afford us important information for structure-based drug design.     

Electrochemically Enabled Intramolecular Aminooxygenation of Alkynes via Amidyl Radical Cyclization

An electrochemical synthesis of oxazol‐2‐ones and imidazol‐2‐ones has been developed via 5‐exo‐dig cyclization of propargylic carbamates‐ and ureas‐derived amidyl radicals. The electrosynthesis relies on the dual function of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐ 1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO) as a redox mediator for amidyl radical formation and an oxygen atom donor. The reactions are conducted under mild conditions using a simple setup and provide convenient access to functionalized oxazol‐2‐ones and imidazol‐2‐ones from readily available materials.     

Luminescent Metallo‐Supramolecular Polymers

Luminescent metallo‐supramolecular polymers are a type of functional supramolecular architectures which integrates the advantages of emission, metal‐coordination, supramolecular chemistry as well as polymeric properties to realize advanced functions. Due to the abundant stimuli‐responsiveness of supramolecular assemblies and the light‐emitting properties, they have been widely applied as chemo‐sensors, light‐emitting devices, contrast agents for bio‐imaging, etc. In this review, we classify luminescent metallo‐supramolecular polymers based on the types of species (lanthanides, organometallic compounds, oligomer or polymer‐based ligands, small‐molecule‐based organic ligands) used to generate the luminescence and summarize recent developments of luminescent metallo‐supramolecular polymers. We mainly focus on the functions and applications of luminescent metallo‐supramolecular polymers and hope to give our reader a snapshot of research on luminescent metallo‐supramolecular polymers and encourage more scientists to devote into this promising area.     

The two-photon excitation cross section of 6MAP, a fluorescent adenine analogue

6MAP is a fluorescent analogue of adenine that undergoes Watson-Crick base pairing and base stacking in double-stranded DNA. The one-photon absorption spectrum of 6MAP is characterized by a maximum around 330 nm with moderate quantum yield fluorescence centered at about 420 nm. To take advantage of this probe for confocal and single-molecule microscopy, it would be advantageous to be able to excite the analogue via two photons. We report the first determination of the two-photon excitation cross section and spectrum for 6MAP from 614 to 700 nm. The power dependence of the fluorescence indicates that emission results from the absorption of two photons. The one-photon and two-photon emission line shapes are identical within experimental error. A study of the concentration dependence of the fluorescence yield for one-photon excitation shows no measurable quenching up to about 5 microM. The maximum in the two-photon excitation spectrum gives a two-photon cross section, delta(TPE), of 3.4 +/- 0.1 Goeppert-Mayer (G.M.) at 659 nm, which correlates well with the one-photon absorption maximum. This compares quite favorably with cross sections of various naturally fluorescent biological molecules such as flavins and nicotiamide. In addition, we have also obtained the two-photon-induced fluorescence emission spectrum of quinine sulfate. It is approximately the same as that for one-photon excitation, suggesting that two-photon excitation of quinine sulfate may be used for calibration purposes.     

Novel Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) coordination polymers constructed from ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate and bipyridine-based ligands

Treatment of two kinds of ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate ligands (3-ferrocenyl-2-crotonic acid, HOOC-CH=(CH(3))CFc (Fc=(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))) or O-ferrocecarbonyl benzoic acid, o-HOOCC(6)H(4)COFc with Pb(OAc)(2).3H(2)O, Zn(OAc)(2).2H(2)O, or Cd(OAc)(2).2H(2)O) resulted in four novel ferrocene-containing coordination polymers [[Pb(mu(2)-eta(2)-OOCCH=(CH(3))CFc)(2)].MeOH](n) (1), [[Zn(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(2)(4,4'-bipy)(H(2)O)(2)].2MeOH.2H(2)O](n) (4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine) (2), [[Cd(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(2)(bpe)(MeOH)(2)].2H(2)O](n) (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene) (3), and [Pb(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(eta(2)-o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(bpe)](n)() (4). Their crystal structures have been characterized by single X-ray determinations. In polymer 1, Pb(II) ions are bridged by tridentate FcC(CH(3))=CHCOO(-) anions, forming an infinite chain [Pb(mu(2)-eta(2)-OOC=CH(CH(3))CFc)(2)](n). In polymers 2-4, there are three kinds of components, metal ions, o-FcCOC(6)H(4)COO(-) units, and organic bridging ligands. The bipyridine-based ligands connect metal ions leading to a one-dimensional chain with o-FcCOC(6)H(4)COO(-) units acting as monodentate or chelate ligands in the side chain. Such coordination polymers containing ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate and bipyridine-based ligands are very rare. The solution-state differential pulse voltammetries of polymers 1-4 were determined. The results indicate that the half-wave potential of the ferrocenyl moieties is influenced by the Pb(II) ions in polymer 1 and strongly influenced by Zn(II), Cd(II), or Pb(II) ions in polymers 2-4. The thermal properties of the four polymers were also investigated.     

Two-Level Finite Element Iterative Algorithm Based on Stabilized Method for the Stationary Incompressible Magnetohydrodynamics

In this paper, based on the stabilization technique, the Oseen iterative method and the two-level finite element algorithm are combined to numerically solve the stationary incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. For the low regularity of the magnetic field, when dealing with the magnetic field sub-problem, the Lagrange multiplier technique is used. The stabilized method is applied to approximate the flow field sub-problem to circumvent the inf-sup condition restrictions. One- and two-level stabilized finite element algorithms are presented, and their stability and convergence analysis is given. The two-level method uses the Oseen iteration to solve the nonlinear MHD equations on a coarse grid of size H, and then employs the linearized correction on a fine grid with grid size h. The error analysis shows that when the grid sizes satisfy h=O(H2), the two-level stabilization method has the same convergence order as the one-level one. However, the former saves more computational cost than the latter one. Finally, through some numerical experiments, it has been verified that our proposed method is effective. The two-level stabilized method takes less than half the time of the one-level one when using the second class Nédélec element to approximate magnetic field, and even takes almost a third of the computing time of the one-level one when adopting the first class Nédélec element.     

The Biosynthesis Related Enzyme,Structure Diversity and Bioactivity Abundance of Indole-Diterpenes: A Review

Indole diterpenes are a large class of secondary metabolites produced by fungi, possessing a cyclic diterpenoid backbone and an indole moiety. Novel structures and important biological activity have made indole diterpenes one of the focuses of synthetic chemists. Although the discovery, identification, structural diversity, biological activity and especially structure–activity relationship of indole diterpenes have been reported in some papers in recent years, they are absent of a systematic and comprehensive analysis, and there is no elucidation of enzymes related to this kind of natural product. Therefore, it is necessary to summarize the relevant reports to provide new perspectives for the following research. In this review, for the first time, the function of related synthases and the structure–activity relationship of indole diterpenes are expounded, and the recent research advances of them are emphasized.