Electronic spectral and photophysical properties of some p-phenylenevinylene oligomers in solution and thin films

A comprehensive photophysical and spectroscopic study of a new class of p-phenylenevinylene oligomers (PPV-trimers) possessing different alkyl and alkyloxy sidechain substituents and different end groups (aldehyde, CC, phenylene and anthracene units) was undertaken in solution at room temperature (293 K), low temperature (77 K) and in thin films. The study comprises absorption, emission and triplet–triplet absorption spectra, together with quantitative measurements of quantum yields (fluorescence, intersystem crossing, internal conversion and singlet oxygen formation) and lifetimes. The data allow the determination of rate constants for all decay processes. From these, several conclusions could be drawn. Changing from alkyl to alkyloxy substituents does not change fluorescence and internal conversion yields but decreases the (already small) intersystem crossing yield. The introduction of anthracene at the terminal ends of the PPV-trimers leads to the lowest fluorescence yield reported in this study. Of particular importance is the fact that the fluorescence quantum yields in films are of the same order of magnitude as those in solution, which suggests the potential for use of these oligomers for light-emitting device applications. With one of the alkyloxy derivatives, a more detailed study of the early part of the fluorescence decay was made, and it was found that upon excitation a fast conformational relaxation process of the initially excited oligomer occurs, leading to a more planar conjugation segment.     

Solvation of uranyl(II), europium(III) and europium(II) cations in "basic" room-temperature ionic liquids: a theoretical study

We report a molecular dynamics study of the solvation of UO2(2+), Eu3+ and Eu2+ ions in two "basic" (Lewis acidity) room-temperature ionic liquids (IL) composed of the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation (EMI+) and a mixture of AlCl4- and Cl- anions, in which the Cl-/AlCl4- ratio is about 1 and 3, respectively. The study reveals the importance of the [UO2Cl4]2- species, which spontaneously form during most simulations, and that the first solvation shell of europium is filled with Cl- and AlCl4- ions embedded in a cationic EMI+ shell. The stability of the [UO2Cl4]2- and [Eu(III)Cl6]3- complexes is supported by quantum mechanical calculations, according to which the uranyl and europium cations intrinsically prefer Cl- to the AlCl4- ion. In the gas phase, however, [Eu(III)Cl6]3- and [Eu(II)Cl6]4- complexes are predicted to be metastable and to lose two to three Cl- ions. This contrasts with the results of simulations of complexes in ILs, in which the "solvation" of the europium complexes increases with the number of coordinated chlorides, leading to an equilibrium between different chloro species. The behavior of the hydrated [Eu(OH2)8]3+ complex is considered in the basic liquids; the complex exchanges H2O molecules with Cl- ions to form mixed [EuCl3(OH2)4] and [EuCl4(OH2)3]- complexes. The results of the simulations allow us to better understand the microscopic nature and solvation of lanthanide and actinide complexes in "basic" ionic liquids.     

3-Cyanopyridine-2(1H)-thiones and 3-cyano-2-(methylthio)pyridines in the synthesis of substituted 3-(aminomethyl)pyridines

The reactions of substituted 3-cyanopyridine-2(1H)-thiones and 3-cyano-2-(methylthio)pyridines with lithium aluminum hydride in anhydrous diethyl ether afforded the corresponding 3-aminomethyl derivatives, which were used in the synthesis of the corresponding amides.     

Synthesis and structure of Mn(II) and Zn(II) complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline unit

The Mn(II) and Zn(II) complexes of N,N′-diisopropyl-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dimethanamine have been synthesised, and the structure of the two complexes have been studied by X-ray crystallography.     

Deprotonierte Dithiocarbaminsäureester als Thiolat-S-Donor-Liganden. Strukturen von Ph(H)NC(S)SMe,Co(PhNC(S)SMe)3 und Cu6(PhNC(S)SMe)6

Deprotonated Dithiocarbamic Acid Esters as Thiolate S-Donor Ligands. Structures of Ph(H)NC(S)SMe, Co(PhNC(S)SMe)₃, and Cu₆(PhNC(S)SMe)₆ The reaction of N-phenyl-S-methyldithiocarbamate, PhN(H)C(?S)SMe, ( 1 ) with cobalt(II) and copper(II) salts yields the monomeric compound Co^III(PhNC(S)SMe)₃ ( 2 ) and the hexameric compound Cu₆^I(PhNC(S)SMe)₆ ( 3 ). These complexes contain the negatively charged imino-thiolate ligand PhN?C(? S)SMe, which has been formed by deprotonation of 1 . The crystal structures of 1 – 3 have been determined. 1 forms centrosymmetrical dimers through N? H …? S bridge bonds, the conformation in the solid state and in solution is Z,E′. Co^III shows in 2 a trigonal-antiprismatic coordination, with the ligands acting as N,S-chelates. 3 contains an octahedral Cu₆-core with Cu …? Cu-distances ranging from 276.3(5) to 305.7(4) pm. Each copper center is trigonally coordinated to one nitrogen and two sulfur atoms of three different ligands. Crystal data: 1 , triclinic, space group P1 , a = 590.5(6), b = 869.0(1), c = 968.5(9) pm, α = 67.29(8), β = 78.44(8), γ = 81.64(9)°, Z = 2, 1 775 reflections, R(R_w) = 0.0317(0.032). 2 , orthorhombic, space group Pbca, a = 978.0(2), b = 1 842.9(4), c = 3 059.7(6) pm, Z = 8, 1 129 reflections, R(R_w) = 0.0997(0.0886). 3 , monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 1 363.1(3), b = 1 342.8(3), c = 1 671.9(3) pm, β = 103.48°, Z = 2, 1 374 reflections, R(R_w) = 0.0708(0.0617).     

Prediction of the binding site of 1-benzyl-4-[(5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanon-2-yl)methyl]piperidine in acetylcholinesterase by docking studies with the SYSDOC program

Summary In the preceding paper we reported on a docking study with the SYSDOC program for predicting the binding sites of huperzine A in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) [Pang, Y.-P. and Kozikowski, A.P., J. Comput.-Aided Mol. Design, 8 (1994) 669]. Here we present a prediction of the binding sites of 1-benzyl-4-[(5,6-dimethoxy-1-indanon-2-yl)methyl]piperidine (E2020) in AChE by the same method. E2020 is one of the most potent and selective reversible inhibitors of AChE, and this molecule has puzzled researchers, partly due to its flexible structure, in understanding how it binds to AChE. Based on the results of docking 1320 different conformers of E2020 into 69 different conformers of AChE and on the pharmacological data reported for E2020 and its analogs, we predict that both the R- and the S-isomer of E2020 span the whole binding cavity of AChE, with the ammonium group interacting mainly with Trp⁸⁴, Phe³³⁰ and Asp⁷², the phenyl group interacting mainly with Trp⁸⁴ and Phe³³⁰, and the indanone moiety interacting mainly with Tyr⁷⁰ and Trp²⁷⁹. The topography of the calculated E2020 binding sites provides insights into understanding the high potency of E2020 in the inhibition of AChE and provides hints as to possible structural modifications for identifying improved AChE inhibitors as potential therapeutics for the palliative treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

A Photophysical Study of Terphenyl Core Oligosulfonimide Dendrimers Exhibiting High Steady‐State Anisotropy

The photophysical properties of three dendrimers containing a p‐terphenyl core with appended sulfonimide branches of different size and n‐octyl chains have been investigated in dichloromethane solution. In the dendrimer absorption spectra contributions from both the branches and the core are clearly identified. The fluorescence spectra show only the characteristic fluorescence of the terphenyl unit. Energy transfer from the appended chromophoric groups to the core does not occur. In the dendrimers, the terphenyl core exhibits a very high fluorescence quantum yield (ca. 0.75) and a short emission lifetime (0.8 ns). These properties allowed investigations of the fluorescence depolarization caused by rotation of the dendrimers. The dendrimers show a very high steady‐state anisotropy in dichloromethane solution at room temperature (0.24 for the largest one), compared to that of the parent terphenyl under the same experimental conditions (<0.01) and in rigid matrix (0.33). Both the n‐octyl chains and the sulfonimide branches play important roles to slow down the molecular rotation.     

Different approaches toward an automatic structural alignment of drug molecules: Applications to sterol mimics,thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors

Summary A relative comparison of the binding properties of different drug molecules requires their mutual superposition with respect to various alignment criteria. In order to validate the results of different alignment methods, the crystallographically observed binding geometries of ligands in the pocket of a common protein receptor have been used. The alignment function in the program SEAL that calculates the mutual superposition of molecules has been optimized with respect to these references. Across the reference data set, alignments could be produced that show mean rms deviations of approximately 1 Å compared to the experimental situation. For structures with obvious skeletal similarities a multiple-flexible fit, linking common pharmacophoric groups by virtual springs, has been incorporated into the molecular mechanics program MOMO. In order to combine conformational searching with comparative alignments, the optimized SEAL approach has been applied to sets of conformers generated by MIMUMBA, a program for conformational analysis. Multiple-flexible fits have been calculated for inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis. Sets of different thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors have been conformationally analyzed and subsequently aligned by a combined MIMUMBA/SEAL approach. Since for these examples crystallographic data on their mutual alignment are available, an objective assessment of the computed results could be performed. Among the generated conformers, one geometry could be selected for the thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors that approached reasonably well the experimentally observed alignment.     

Isoperichoric focusing field-flow fractionation and thin layer isoperichoric focusing based on coupling of gradient generated by primary field with secondary field action: general principles and performances

The primary field forces can generate spatially oriented gradient of the effective property of a continuum or pseudo-continuum fluid (carrier liquid). When this gradient is coupled with the action of a secondary field of identical or different nature the isoperichoric focused zones of the dispersed species can appear. Consequently, they can be separated according to differences responding to the property gradient of the carrier liquid. This concept can be applied under static (non-flow) conditions in thin layer focusing as well as under dynamic conditions with the elution due to the carrier liquid flow in focusing field-flow fractionation. The gradient established by the action of the primary field and the concentration distribution of the isoperichoric focused zone formed by the coupled effect of the gradient and of the primary or secondary field are described theoretically. The rigorous relationship describing the shape of the focused zone is compared with the approximate solutions. The performances of the proposed principle were evaluated by model calculations. Potential experimental configurations considering the implementation of the static and dynamic conditions are discussed. The generalized isoperichoric focusing theory can be applied to describe the particular processes operating in analytical and preparative focusing separations of the particles of various, but especially of biological origin.     

Synthese und Kristallstrukturen der Phosphanimin-Komplexe MCl2(Me3SiNPMe3)2 mit M = Zn und Co,und CoCl2(HNPMe3)2

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of the Phosphaneimine Complexes MCl₂(Me₃SiNPMe₃)₂ with M = Zn and Co, and CoCl₂(HNPMe₃)₂ The molecular complexes MCl₂(Me₃SiNPMe₃)₂ (M = Zn, Co) have been prepared by the reaction of the dichlorides of zinc and cobalt with Me₃SiNPMe₃ in CH₃CN and CH₂Cl₂, respectively, whereas the complex CoCl₂(HNPMe₃)₂ has been prepared by the reaction of CoCl₂ with NaF in boiling acetonitrile in the presence of Me₃SiNPMe₃. All complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy and by crystal structure determinations. The complexes MCl₂(Me₃SiNPMe₃)₂ crystallize isotypically. ZnCl₂(Me₃SiNPMe₃)₂: Space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 4, 2677 observed unique reflections, R = 0.024. Lattice dimensions at ?70°C: a = 1243.6; b = 1319.0; c = 1464.7 pm. CoCl₂(Me₃SiNPMe₃)₂: Space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 4, 3963 observed unique reflections, R = 0,071. Lattice dimensions at ?80°C: a = 1236.3; b = 1317.4; c = 1457.6 pm. CoCl₂(HNPMe₃)₂ · CH₂Cl₂: Space group Pbca, Z = 8, 1354 observed unique reflections, R = 0.055. Lattice dimensions at ?80°C: a = 1247.3; b = 998.4; c = 2882.4 pm. All complexes have monomeric molecular structures, in which the metal atoms are coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral fashion by the two chlorine atoms and by the nitrogen atoms of the phosphaneimine molecules.