Roles of rhenium diimine complexes as metal‐ion probes and photosensitizers in functional polyurethanes

Polyurethanes incorporated with rhenium diimine complexes were synthesized. The polymers exhibited interesting morphologies and solution properties. Results from gel permeation chromatography suggested the formation of polymer aggregates in solutions. The polymers could act as probes for metal ions. The addition of metal ions to polymer solutions led to significant changes in the electronic absorption properties of the polymer solutions. This was attributed to the interactions between the polyether moieties and metal ions. The metal complexes could also act as efficient photosensitizers. After doping with charge‐transport viologens, the photoconductivity of the polymers was greatly enhanced. The experimental quantum efficiency was simulated with Onsager's theory. The thermalization distances and the primary yields were typically 12–14 Å and 10^?3, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1708–1715, 2003     

REASSESSMENT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF ULTRAVIOLET AND IONIZING RADIATION ON HIV PROMOTER: THE USE OF CELL SURVIVAL AS THE BASIS FOR COMPARISONS

Abstract: Effects of different radiation treatments on the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) promoter were reassessed for exposures comparable to those encountered in clinical or cosmetic practice, using survival of the host cell as a basis for comparisons. The exposures were performed with two ultraviolet radiation sources commonly used as medical or cosmetic devices (UVASUN 2000 and FS20 lamps), a germicidal (G15T8) lamp and an X-ray machine. The UVC component of the FS20 lamp was filtered out. The emission spectra of the lamps were determined. The characteristics of these sources allowed us to discriminate among effects of UVA1 (340–400 nm), UVB + UVA2 (280–340 nm) and UVC (254 nm) radiations. Effects of irradiation were ascertained using cultures of HeLa cells stably transfected with the HIV promoter linked to a reporter—chloramphenicol acetyl transferase—gene. The exposures used caused at least two logs of cell killing. In this cytotoxicity range, UVA1 or X radiations had no effect on the HIV promoter, whereas UVB + UVA2 or UVC radiations activated the HIV promoter in a fluence-dependent manner. Survivals following exposure to UVB + UVA2 or UVC radiation were (1) at the lowest measurable HIV promoter activation, 30 and 20%, respectively, (2) at one-half maximal activation, 6 and 3%, respectively and (3) at the maximal activation, 0.5 and 0.2%, respectively. The results suggest that, among the radiations studied, UVB is the most important modality from the viewpoint of its potential effects on HIV-infected individuals, since (1) UVA1 or X radiations have no effects on the HIV promoter, (2) human exposure to UVC radiation is infrequent and (3) human UVB exposure is very common.     

The thermal decomposition of thiirane: a mechanistic study by ab initio MO theory

Using high-level ab initio MO methods, we have identified two reaction pathways with different thermodynamic and kinetic properties for the thermal decomposition of the three-membered heterocycle thiirane (C2H4S) and related derivatives. A homolytic ring opening, followed by attack of the generated diradical on another thiirane molecule, and subsequent elimination of ethene in a fast radical chain reaction results in the formation of disulfur molecules in their triplet ground state (3S2) and requires activation enthalpies of deltaH#(298) = 222 kJ mol(-1) and deltaG#(298) = 212 kJ mol(-1). This reaction mechanism would result in a first-order rate law in agreement with one reported gas-phase experiment but does neither match the experimental activation energy nor does it explain the observed retention of the stereochemical configuration in the thermal decomposition of certain substituted thiiranes. Alternatively, sulfur atoms can be transferred from one thiirane moleculeto another with the intermediate formation of thiirane 1-sulfide (C2H4S2). This molecule can either decompose unimolecularly to ethene and disulfur in its excited singlet state (1S2) or, by means of spin crossover, S2 in its triplet ground state may be formed. On the other hand, the thiirane 1-sulfide may react with itself and transfer one sulfur atom from one molecule to another with formation of thiirane 1,1-disulfide (C2H4S3), which is an analogue of thiirane sulfone; thiirane is formed as the second product. The 1,1-disulfide may then decompose to ethene and S3. In still another bimolecular reaction, the thiirane 1-sulfide may react with itself in a strongly exothermic reaction to give S4 and two equivalents of ethene. This series of reactions results in a second-order rate law and requires activation enthalpies of deltaH#(298) = 109 kJ mol(-1) and deltaG#(298) = 144 kJ mol(-1) for the formation of thiirane 1-sulfide, while the consecutive reactions require less activation enthalpy. Elemental sulfur (S8) is eventually formed by oligomerization of either S2, S3, or S4 in spin-allowed reactions. These findings are in agreement with most experimental data on the thermal desulfurization of thiirane and its substituted derivatives. Thiirane 1-persulfide (C2H4S3) with a linear arrangement of the three sulfur atoms as well as zwitterions and radicals derived from thiirane are not likely to be intermediates in the thermal decomposition of episulfides.     

Intermolecular rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] carbocyclization reactions of 1,6-enynes with symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkynes

The crossed intermolecular rhodium-catalyzed [2+2+2] carbocyclization of carbon and heteroatom tethered 1,6-enynes can be accomplished with symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkynes, to afford the corresponding bicyclohexadienes in an efficient and highly selective manner.     

A novel class of amide-derived air-stable P,O-ligands for Suzuki cross-coupling at low catalyst loading

The benzamide-derived P,O-ligands efficiently promoted the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid at 0.01 mol % of Pd loading at 60-80 °C to form biaryls in excellent yields. A sterically hindered arylboronic acid gave a quantitative yield of the coupling product at 110 °C with 1 mol % Pd.     

Electron beam coater for reduction of charging in ice-embedded biological specimens using Ti(88)Si(12) alloy.

Biological macromolecules embedded in vitreous ice are known to suffer from charging while being imaged in an electron transmission cryomicroscope. We developed an electron beam coater that deposits conductive films onto the surface of frozen-hydrated specimens. The conductive films help to dissipate charge during electron irradiation of poorly conductive ice-embedded biological samples. We observed significant reduction in charging of ice-embedded catalase crystals suspended over holes in a holey carbon film after coating them with a 30-A-thick layer of an amorphous alloy, Ti(88)Si(12). Images of the crystals after coating showed diffraction spots of up to 3 A resolution.     

Ultrafast time-resolved study of photophysical processes involved in the photodeprotection of p-hydroxyphenacyl caged phototrigger compounds

A combined femtosecond Kerr gated time-resolved fluorescence (fs-KTRF) and picosecond Kerr gated time-resolved resonance Raman (ps-KTR(3)) study is reported for two p-hydroxyphenacyl (pHP) caged phototriggers, HPDP and HPA, in neat acetonitrile and water/acetonitrile (1:1 by volume) solvents. Fs-KTRF spectroscopy was employed to characterize the spectral properties and dynamics of the singlet excited states, and the ps-KTR(3) was used to monitor the formation and subsequent reaction of triplet state. These results provide important evidence for elucidation of the initial steps for the pHP deprotection mechanism. An improved fs-KTRF setup was developed to extend its detectable spectral range down to the 270 nm UV region while still covering the visible region up to 600 nm. This combined with the advantage of KTRF in directly monitoring the temporal evolution of the overall fluorescence profile enables the first time-resolved observation of dual fluorescence for pHP phototriggers upon 267 nm excitation. The two emitting components were assigned to originate from the (1)pipi (S(3)) and (1)npi (S(1)) states, respectively. This was based on the lifetime, the spectral location, and how these varied with the type of solvent. By correlating the dynamics of the singlet decay with the triplet formation, a direct (1)npi --> (3)pipi ISC mechanism was found for these compounds with the ISC rate estimated to be approximately 5 x 10(11) s(-)(1) in both solvent systems. These photophysical processes were found to be little affected by the kind of leaving group indicating the common local pHP chromophore is largely responsible for the fluorescence and relevant deactivation processes. The triplet lifetime was found to be approximately 420 and 2130 ps for HPDP and HPA, respectively, in the mixed solvent compared to 150 and 137 ns, respectively, in neat MeCN. The solvent and leaving group dependent quenching of the triplet is believed to be associated with the pHP deprotection photochemistry and indicates that the triplet is the reactive precursor for pHP photorelease reactions for the compounds examined in this study.