Role of the special pair in the charge-separating event in photosynthesis

We synthesized special-pair/electron-acceptor systems consisting of a complementary slipped cofacial dimer of imidazolyl-substituted zinc porphyrin, bearing pyromellitdiimide as the electron acceptor. In the case of the dimer, the first and second oxidation potentials were split into a total of four peaks in the differential pulse voltammetry measurement. Furthermore, the shift values of the first oxidation potentials obtained by changing the solvent polarity for the dimer were almost half of those observed for the monomer. These results indicate that the radical cation is delocalized over the whole pi system of the dimer. Time-resolved transient absorption measurements revealed that, relative to the corresponding monomer, the dimer accelerated the charge separation rate, but decelerated the charge recombination rate. The smaller reorganization energy of the slipped cofacial dimer relative to that of the monomeric system demonstrates the significance of the special-pair arrangement for efficient charge separation in photosynthesis.     

Self‐Assembly of Dialkyltin Moieties and Mercaptobenzoic Acid into Macrocyclic Complexes with Hydrophobic “Pseudo‐Cage” or Double‐Cavity Structures: Supramolecular Infrastructures Involving Intermolecular C?H⋅⋅⋅S Weak Hydrogen Bonds and π–π Interactions

Four novel organotin complexes of two types—[R₂Sn(o‐SC₆H₄CO₂)]₆ (R=Me, 1 ?H₂O; nBu, 2 ) and {[R₂Sn(m‐CO₂C₆H₄S)R₂Sn(m‐SC₆H₄CO₂)SnR₂]O}₂ (R=Me, 3 ; nBu, 4 )—have been prepared by treatment of o‐ or m‐mercaptobenzoic acid and the corresponding R₂SnCl₂ (R=Me, nBu) with sodium ethoxide in ethanol (95 %). All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy, TGA, and X‐ray crystallography diffraction analysis. The molecular structure analyses reveal that both 1 and 2 are hexanuclear macrocycles with hydrophobic “pseudo‐cage” structures, while 3 and 4 are hexanuclear macrocycles with double‐cavity structures. Furthermore, the supramolecular structure analyses show that looser and more intriguing supramolecular infrastructures were also found in complexes 1 – 4 , which exist either as one‐dimensional chains of rings or as two‐dimensional networks assembled from the organometallic subunits through intermolecular C? H???S weak hydrogen bonds (WHBs) and π–π interactions.     

Dipyrrolyldiketone difluoroboron complexes: novel anion sensors with C-H...X- interactions

1,3-Dipyrrolyl-1,3-propanediones, synthesized from pyrroles and malonyl chloride, form BF2 complexes, which represent a new class of naked-eye sensors for halide and oxoanions. The association mode for the interactions of both the pyrrolyl NH and bridging CH protons with anions was confirmed by 1H NMR chemical shifts in CD2Cl2 and supported by theoretical studies. The binding constants (Ka) were estimated as 8.1x10(4), 2.0x10(3), 3.3x10(2), 1.3x10(4), and 80 M(-1) for F-, Cl-, Br-, H2PO4(-), and HSO4(-) by UV/Vis absorption spectral changes in CH2Cl2. Augmentation of Ka compared with dipyrrolylquinoxaline for H2PO4(-) is much larger than those for other anions. Contrary to other anions, F- quenches the emission almost completely, which was detected by the fluorescence spectrum as well as the naked-eye. In the case of the chloride anion complex, the formation of Cl(-)-bridged 1D networks, in which anion is associated with two BF2 complexes, is observed in the solid state.     

Design and self-assembly of ditopic and tetratopic cavitand complexes

The self-assembly of open ditopic and tetratopic cavitand complexes has been investigated by using monofunctionalized cavitand ligands and suitable metal precursors. In the case of ditopic complexes, self-assembly protocols, leading exclusively to the formation of both thermodynamically stable cis-Pt square-planar complexes 8 and 9 and the kinetically inert fac-Re octahedral complex 14, have been elaborated. The use of cis-[Pt(CH3)CN)2Cl2] as metal precursor led to the formation of monotopic trans-10 and ditopic trans-11 cavitand complexes, while cis-[Pt(dmso)2Cl2] afforded both cis-13 and trans-11 isomers. The self-assembly of tetratopic cavitand complexes has been achieved by using mononuclear [Pd(CH3CN)4(BF4)2] and dinuclear [M2(tppb)(OTf)4] (19: M = Pt; 20: M = Pd) metal precursors. Only the tetratopic dinuclear complexes 21 and 22 were stable. The ligand configuration with two phosphorus and two cavitand ligands at the metal centers is the most appropriate to build tetratopic cavitand complexes with sufficient kinetic stability.     

Topological polymer chemistry by dynamic selection from electrostatic polymer self-assembly

A collection of recent developments in topological polymer chemistry is presented. First, topological isomerism occurring on randomly coiled, flexible polymer molecules having cyclic and linear structures is discussed. Second, an electrostatic self-assembly and covalent fixation strategy has been developed for the synthesis of polymeric topological isomers. These isomers have double cyclic, manacle-, and theta-shaped constructions, and are prepared by using either linear or star telechelic polymer precursors having moderately strained cyclic ammonium salt groups, which carry multifunctional carboxylate counteranions. A technique of reversed-phase chromatography (RPC) is demonstrated as an effective means to separate polymers with different topologies, especially polymeric topological isomers. A further extension of topological polymer chemistry has been observed by dynamic selection from electrostatic polymer self-assembly to enable the effective formation of tadpole-shaped, cyclic-linear hybrid topologies.     

Self-organized glycoclusters along DNA: effect of the spatial arrangement of galactoside residues on cooperative lectin recognition

We describe herein the relationship between the spatial arrangement of self-organized galactose clusters and lectin recognition. beta-Galactose-modified deoxyuridine phosphoramidite was synthesized and applied to solid-phase synthesis to provide 18-, 20-, and 22-mers of site-specifically galactosylated oligodeoxynucleotides (Gal-ODNs). These Gal-ODNs were self-organized through hybridization with the corresponding 18-, 20-, and 22-mers of half-sliding complementary ODNs (hsc-ODNs) to give periodic galactoside clusters. The self-organization of ODNs was confirmed by size exclusion chromatography and gel electrophoresis. The binding of the Gal-clusters to the FITC-labeled RCA(120) lectin was analyzed by monitoring the change in fluorescence intensity. The assembly of 20-mer Gal-ODN with the 20-mer hsc-ODN was strongly and cooperatively recognized by the lectin. The 18-mer assembly was bound more weakly and less cooperatively, and the 22-mer assembly was minimally bound to the lectin. RCA(120) lectin recognized not only the density of galactoside residues, but also the spatial arrangement. The size of the Gal cluster was estimated from the association constant of Gal-ODN with hsc-ODN. The relationship between lectin-recognition and Gal-cluster size is also discussed.     

Self-assembly of amphiphilic hexapyridinium cations at the air/water interface and on HOPG surfaces.

Mono- and multilayers of a novel amphiphilic hexapyridinium cation with six eicosyl chains (3) are spread at the air/water interface as well as on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). On water, the monolayer of 3 is investigated by recording surface pressure/area and surface potential/area isotherms, and by Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Self-organized tubular micelles with an internal edge-on orientation of molecules form at the air/water interface at low surface pressure whereas multilayers are present at high surface pressure, after a phase transition. Packing motifs suggesting a tubular arrangement of the constituting molecules were gleaned from atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers being transferred on HOPG at different surface pressures. These LB film structures are compared to the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 3 formed via adsorption from a supersaturated solution, which is studied by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). On HOPG the SAM of 3 consists of nanorods with a highly ordered edge-on packing of the aromatic rings and an arrangement of alkyl chains which resembles the packing of molecules at the air/water interface at low surface pressure. Additional details of the molecular packing were gleaned from single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of the hexapyridinium model compound 2b, which possesses methyl instead of eicosyl residues.     

Microscale sample deposition onto hydrophobic target plates for trace level detection of neuropeptides in brain tissue by MALDI-MS

A sample preparation method that combines a modified target plate with a nanoscale reversed-phase column (nanocolumn) was developed for detection of neuropeptides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). A gold-coated MALDI plate was modified with an octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayer to create a hydrophobic surface that could concentrate peptide samples into a approximately 200-500-microm diameter spot. The spot sizes generated were comparable to those obtained for a substrate patterned with 200-microm hydrophilic spots on a hydrophobic substrate. The sample spots on the ODT-coated plate were 100-fold smaller than those formed on an unmodified gold plate with a 1-microl sample and generated 10 to 50 times higher mass sensitivity for peptide standards by MALDI-TOF MS. When the sample was deposited on an ODT-modified plate from a nanocolumn, the detection limit for peptides was as low as 20 pM for 5-microl samples corresponding to 80 amol deposited. This technique was used to analyze extracts of microwave-fixed tissue from rat brain striatum. Ninety-eight putative peptides were detected including several that had masses matching neuropeptides expected in this brain region such as substance P, rimorphin, and neurotensin. Twenty-three peptides had masses that matched peaks detected by capillary liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization MS.     

Effects of Self—coiling of Organic Molecules on Intramolecular Exciplex Formation and Fluoresscence Quenching in DX—H2O Solvent System

Effects of self-coiling of organic molecules on intramolecular exciplex formation of compound I,in which the carbazole chromophore and terephthalic acid methylester acceptor group are linked by one (CH2)10 chain,and the decrease of the fluorescence intensities of compounds Ⅱ，Ⅲ，and Ⅳ,in which the carbazole chromophore and 3,5-dinitrobenzoate are connected by one aliphatic chain of (CH2)10 (Ⅱ），（CH2）12（Ⅲ）,or (CH2)4(Ⅳ）,have been studied in the dioxane (DX)-H2O binary system.The results show that self-coiling of organic molecules in DX-H2O facilitates intramolecular exciplex formation of I and induces the decrease of fluorescence intensities of Ⅱ,bacause of the proximity effect brought about by selfcoiling of organic molecules under hydrophobic-lipophilic interaction(HLI) between the excited carbazole chromophore and the acceptor.Since the similar effects are observed even when the concentration of the probes are less than their CAgCs(critical aggregate concentrations )in the DX-H2O mixture with the same φ values,formation of the intermolecular exciplex has been excluded.The effects are found to be strongly depended on φ values,indication that they are mainly driven by HLI.The properties of the acceptors can also affect the intramolecular exciplex formation.With terephthalic acid methylester moiety as the acceptor,the carbazole chromophore exhibits the fluorescence spectra of the exciplex,while with 3,5-dinitrobenzoate moiety as the acceptor,only the fluorescence spectra of excited carbazolyl chromophore are observed.     

Synthesis of conjugated polyrotaxanes

A series of conjugated polyrotaxane insulated molecular wires are synthesised by aqueous Suzuki polymerisation, using hydrophobic binding to promote threading of the cyclodextrin units. These polyrotaxanes have conjugated polymer cores based on poly(para-phenylene), polyfluorene, and poly(diphenylene-vinylene), threaded through 0.9-1.6 cyclodextrins per repeat unit. Bulky naphthalene-3,6-disulfonate endgroups prevent the macrocycles from slipping off the conjugated polymer chains. Dialysis experiments show that the cyclodextrins become unthreaded only if smaller stoppers are used. MALDI TOF mass spectra detect oligomers with up to ten threaded cyclodextrins, and reveal the presence of some defects that result for oxidative homo-coupling of boronic acids. Weight-average molecular weights were determined by analytical ultracentrifugation, demonstrating that step-growth polymerisation is efficient enough to achieve degrees of polymerisation up to approximately 20 repeat units (84 para-phenylenes). The fluorescence spectra of these polyrotaxanes indicate that the presence of the threaded cyclodextrin macrocycles reduces the flexibility of the conjugated polymer pi-systems. Both the solution and the solid-state photoluminescence quantum yields are enhanced upon threading of the conjugated polyaromatic cores through alpha- or beta-cyclodextrins, and the emission spectra of the polyrotaxanes are blue-shifted compared to the corresponding unthreaded polymers. The greater weight of the 0-0 transition in the emission spectra, as well as the smaller Stokes shift, indicate that the polyrotaxanes are more rigid than the unthreaded polymers.