Approaching supramolecular functionality

Functional molecules require a high degree of complexity which is difficult to achieve by covalent synthesis. This article discusses supramolecular approaches to the creation of larger architectures through noncovalent bonds, self-assembly, and template strategies. It highlights selected examples for the structural and conformational control of function and attempts to identify difficulties and challenges which may arise in future.     

Structure and dynamics of self-assembled poly(ethylene glycol) based coiled-coil nano-objects.

Herein we describe the structure and dynamics of self-assembled nano-objects generated from poly(ethylene glycol) based (PEG-ylated) coiled-coil hybrid block copolymers. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments on spin-labeled samples provided a strong indication for a parallel alignment of the peptide helices in at least the dimeric coiled-coil nano-object and indicated that the PEG chains are folded rather closely around the peptide core of the nano-objects. The EPR results were supported by AFM studies, which revealed the presence of discrete nanosized objects in thin, spin cast films of the block copolymers on mica substrates. Since their size and structure may be engineered via directed mutations in the amino acid sequence, these nano-objects may be interesting building blocks for the development of supramolecular materials with various potential applications.     

聚丙烯/聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯共混自增强材料的研究(Ⅰ)

本文根据聚丙烯（ＰＰ）与聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（ＰＥＴ）共混对在熔 融状态下．流动粘度差阳溶度参数差大的特点，用挤出造粒的方法制得 共熔成纤目增强材料。通过扫描电镜观察．证实ＰＰ／ＰＥＴ比从９５／５到 ８０／２０时。ＰＥＴ均以纤维状结构分布在ＰＰ基质中。该共熔成纤体具有 良好的机械性能。在未加偶联剂时，拉伸强度虽略比纯ＰＰ低．但抗冲击 强度与纯ＰＰ相当。该结果可用于指导ＰＰ的改性和ＰＥＴ废料再生利用 工作。     

非线型聚苯类大分子的研究进展

对支化及树枝状聚苯、环状聚苯、环状聚苯乙炔以及环蕃等几类以苯环为基本结构单元的非线型大分子的研究, 特别是合成作了综述。     

Conformational changes of the amyloid beta-peptide (1-40) adsorbed on solid surfaces

The conformational change of the 39-43 residues of the amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) toward a beta-sheet enriched state promotes self-aggregation of the peptide molecules and constitutes the major peptide component of the amyloid plaques in Alzheimer patients. The crucial question behind the self-aggregation of Abeta is related to the different pathways the peptide may take after cleavage from the amyloid precursor proteins at cellular membranes. This work is aiming at determining the conformation of the Abeta (1-40) adsorbed on hydrophobic Teflon and hydrophilic silica particles, as model sorbent surfaces mimicking the apolar transmembrane environment and the polar, charged membrane surface, respectively. The mechanism by which the Abeta interacts with solid surfaces strongly depends on the hydrophobic/hydrophilic character of the particles. Hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions contribute differently in each case, causing a completely different conformational change of the adsorbed molecules on the two surfaces. When hydrophobic interactions between the peptide and the sorbent prevail, the adsorbed Abeta (1-40) mainly adopts an alpha-helix conformation due to H-bonding in the apolar part of the peptide that is oriented towards the surface. On the other hand, when the peptide adsorbs by electrostatic interactions beta-sheet formation is promoted due to intermolecular association between the apolar parts of the adsorbed peptide. Irrespective of the characteristics of the solid sorbent, crowding the surface results in intermolecular association between adsorbed molecules leading to a strong aggregation tendency of the Abeta (1-40). [Diagram: see text] CD spectra of Abeta (1-40) at pH 7: A) in solution ([Abeta]=0.2 mg.ml(-1)) freshly prepared (line) and after overnight incubation (symbols);B) on Teflon (Gamma=0.5 mg.m(-2)).     

Nanotechnology with soft materials.

Nature exploits self-organization of soft materials in many ways, to produce cell membranes, biopolymer fibers and viruses, to name just three. Mankind is now able to design materials at the nanoscale, whether through atom-by-atom or molecule-by-molecule methods (top-down) or through self-organization (bottom-up). The latter method encompasses soft nanotechnology. Self-organization of soft materials can be exploited to create a panoply of nanostructures for diverse applications. The richness of structures results from the weak ordering because of noncovalent interactions. Thus, thermal energy is important as it enables transitions between phases with differing degrees of order. The power of self-organization may be harnessed most usefully in a number of nanotechnology applications, which include the preparation of nanoparticles, the templating of nanostructures, nanomotor design, the exploitation of biomineralization, and the development of functionalized delivery vectors.     

氢甲酰化反应溶剂效应的量子化学研究

在B3LYP/6-31G(d, p)(Rh和P采用LANL2DZ + Polar)水平下,利用自洽反应场（SCRF）的Onsager模型,系统研究了C6H12、C6H6、THF、CH2Cl2、CH3OH和H2O（相对介电常数ε分别为2.02、2.25、7.58、8.93、32.63和78.39）六种溶剂对乙烯氢甲酰化反应中各驻点的结构和反应机理的影响.分别在上述溶剂中优化了反应物、产物、中间体和过渡态的结构,并计算了自由能和活化自由能.计算结果表明,不同溶剂对反应势能面上各驻点的结构和能量均有一定的影响,而且随着相对介电常数ε的增加,反应的活化自由能下降.水是以上六种溶剂中最佳的溶剂,这与大量的实验研究结果一致.     

Two‐ and Three‐Dimensional Molecular Organization of Schiff‐Base Derivatives

We have designed and synthesized a series of Schiff base derivatives, and studied their structural features in two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) states by combining scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X‐ray diffraction experiments. The Schiff‐base derivatives with short alkyl chains crystallize easily, which allows a detailed structural analysis by X‐ray diffraction. Due to the strong adsorbate–substrate interactions, those bases with long alkyl chains easily form 2D assemblies on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The STM images indicate also that the introduction of two methoxy groups into the molecule can change the structure of these 2D assemblies as a result of the increased steric hindrances, for example: the Schiff‐base derivative, bearing both methoxy groups and C₁₆H₃₃ tails, forms 2D Moiré patterns, and an alignment of pairing Schiff‐base molecules may be easily resolved. Conversely, the Schiff base derivative, bearing solely C₁₆H₃₃ tails, forms 2D non‐Moiré patterns. It is demonstrated that the 3D structural features result from the compromise of intermolecular interactions of different molecular moieties. However, there is one more factor, which also governs the 2D structure: the adsorbate‐substrate interaction. The 3D crystal structure may thus help to understand many factors involved in the formation of 2D structures, and would be helpful for designing new molecular assemblies with tailoring functions.     

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.