Supramolecular porphyrin-fullerene via 'two-point' binding strategy: axial-coordination and cation-crown ether complexation

A highly stable porphyrin-fullerene conjugate with defined distance and orientation, was formed using a newly developed 'two-point' binding strategy involving axial-coordination and cation-crown ether complexation; photochemical studies performed in benzonitrile revealed efficient charge separation and slow charge-recombination in the supramolecular complex.     

Effect of axial ligation or pi-pi-type interactions on photochemical charge stabilization in "two-point" bound supramolecular porphyrin-fullerene conjugates

Two types of structurally well-defined, self-assembled zinc porphyrin-fullerene conjugates were formed by "two-point" binding strategies to probe the effect of axial ligation or pi-pi-type interactions on the photochemical charge stabilization in the supramolecular dyads. To achieve this, meso-tetraphenylporphyrin was functionalized to possess one or four [18]crown-6 moieties at different locations on the porphyrin macrocycle while fullerene was functionalized to possess an alkyl ammonium cation, and a pyridine or phenyl entities. As a result of the crown ether-ammonium cation complexation, and zinc-pyridine coordination or pi-pi-type interactions, stable zinc porphyrin-fullerene conjugates with defined distance and orientation were formed. Evidence for the zinc-pyridine complexation or pi-pi-type interactions was obtained from the spectral and computational studies. Steady-state and time-resolved emission studies revealed efficient quenching of the zinc-porphyrin singlet excited state in these dyads, and the measured rates of charge separation, k(CS) were found to be slightly better in the case of the dyads held by axial coordination and crown ether-cation complexation. Nanosecond transient absorption studies provided evidence for the electron transfer reactions, and these studies also revealed charge stabilization in these dyads. The lifetimes of the radical ion pairs were found to depend upon the type of porphyrins utilized to form the dyads, that is, porphyrin possessing the crown ether moiety at the ortho position of one of the phenyl rings yielded prolonged charge stabilized states. Addition of pyridine to the supramolecular dyads eliminated the zinc-pyridine coordination or pi-pi-type interactions of the "two-point" bound systems due to the formation of a new zinc-pyridine axial bond thus giving a unique opportunity to probe the effect of axial coordination or pi-pi interactions on k(CS) and k(CR). Under these conditions, the measured electron transfer rates revealed faster k(CS) and slower k(CR) as compared to those obtained in the absence of added pyridine. The evaluated lifetimes of the radical ion-pairs were found to be hundreds of nanoseconds and were longer in the presence of pyridine.     

Solvent extraction studies of radioisotopic exchange of36Cl with Chloramine-B in strong acid medium

Exchange studies with³⁶Cl and Chloramine-B in strong acid medium revealed that the extent of exchange is less than that occurs at pH 3.3 indicating the formation of a new species of Chloramine-B which is not participating in the exchange reaction and this has been confirmed by conductometric titration of Chloramine-B with dilute solutions of H₂SO₄, HCl, HClO₄ and CH₃COOH.     

Determination of affinity constants and response factors of the noncovalent dimer of gramicidin by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and mathematical modeling

The dimerization of gramicidin, a 15-residue membrane peptide, in solution can be viewed as a model for protein-protein interactions. We reported previously that the dimer can be observed when electrosprayed from organic solvents and that the abundances of the dimer depends on the dielectric constant of the solvent. Here, we report an effort to determine an affinity constant for the dimerization of gramicidin by using gas-phase abundance. Two issues affecting the determination are the electrospray-induced dissociation of the dimer and discrimination in the electrospray of the dimer compared with the monomer. Other methods developed for the purpose of determining affinity from mass spectral abundance do not address the dissociation of the complex in the gas phase or can not be applied for cases of low affinity constant, K(a). We present a mathematical model that uses the ratio of the signal intensities of the dimer and the monomer during a titration. The model also incorporates the dissociation and an electrospray ionization-response factor of the dimer for extracting the affinity constant for the dimerization of gramicidin. The dimerization constants from the new method agree within a factor of two with values reported in the literature.     

An approach to computer-aided inhibitor design: Application to cathepsin L

Summary We have developed an approach to search for molecules that can be used as lead compounds in designing an inhibitor for a given proteolytic enzyme when the 3D structure of a homologous protein is known. This approach is based on taking the cast of the binding pocket of the protease and comparing its dimensions with that of the dimensions of small molecules. Herein the 3D structure of papain is used to model cathepsin L using the comparative modeling technique. The cast of the binding pocket is computed using the crystal structure of papain because the structures of papain and the model of cathepsin L are found to be similar at the binding site. The dimensions of the cast of the binding site of papain are used to screen for molecules from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) of small molecules. Twenty molecules out of the 80 000 small molecules in the CSD are found to have dimensions that are accommodated by the papain binding pocket. Visual comparison of the shapes of the cast and the 20 screened molecules resulted in identifying brevotoxin b, a toxin isolated from the red tide dinoflagellate Ptycho brevis (previously classified as Gymonodium breve), as the structure that best fits the binding pocket of papain. We tested the proteolytic activity of papain and cathepsin L in the presence of brevotoxin b and found inhibition of papain and cathepsin L with K_is of 25 M and 0.6 M, respectively. We also compare our method with a more elaborate method in the literature, by presenting our results on the computer search for inhibitors of the HIV-1 protease.     

Microwave–assisted synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">submicrometer</Emphasis> GaO(OH) and Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> rods

Submicrometer sized gallium oxide hydroxide (GaO(OH)) and gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) rods have been successfully fabricated on a large scale by refluxing an aqueous solution of Ga(NO₃)₃ and NH₄OH in a simple domestic microwave oven (DMO). The structures, morphologies, compositions and physical properties of the as–synthesized and calcined products have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), selected area energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SAEDS), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. TEM images show that submicrometer sized as–synthesized Ga O(OH) rods have diameters of 0.3–0.5 m and lengths of 3.2–3.5 m. The calcined product consists of submicrometer rods with diameters of 0.4–0.5 m and lengths of 5–5.5 m. XRD, EDX and SAED analysis together indicate that the as–synthesized product has an orthorhombic gallium oxide hydroxide (GaO(OH)) crystal structure, and that the calcined product is rhombohedral Ga₂O₃. A possible mechanism for the formation of submicrometer sized GaO(OH) rods is discussed briefly.     

Kinetics of isotopic exchange between chloramine-B and radioactive chloride

The kinetics of chlorine isotope exchange between chloramine-B /CAB/ and chloride has been studied using ion-exchange separation and tracer technique. McKay's plot are linear. The exchange reaction is fast in acidic medium, very slow in neutral medium and does not take place in alkaline medium. In the acidic range the exchange is maximum at pH 3.3. The rate of exchange decreases at pH >3.3 and <3.3. The order with respect to CAB and chloride is unity. The order with respect to [H⁺] is unity at pH>5. Addition of neutral salt or parent compound has no effect on the rate of exchange. Activation energy and activation entropy for this exchange reaction have been calculated.     

Growth of EuTe islands on SnTe by molecular beam epitaxy

Semiconductor magnetic quantum dots are very promising structures, with novel properties that find multiple applications in spintronic devices. EuTe is a wide gap semiconductor with NaCl structure, and strong magnetic moments S=7/2 at the half filled 4f⁷ electronic levels. On the other hand, SnTe is a narrow gap semiconductor with the same crystal structure and 4% lattice mismatch with EuTe. In this work, we investigate the molecular beam epitaxial growth of EuTe on SnTe after the critical thickness for island formation is surpassed, as a previous step to the growth of organized magnetic quantum dots. The topology and strain state of EuTe islands were studied as a function of growth temperature and EuTe nominal layer thickness. Reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) was used in-situ to monitor surface morphology and strain state. RHEED results were complemented and enriched with atomic force microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurements made at the XRD2 beamline of the Brazilian Synchrotron. EuTe islands of increasing height and diameter are obtained when the EuTe nominal thickness increases, with higher aspect ratio for the islands grown at lower temperatures. As the islands grow, a relaxation toward the EuTe bulk lattice parameter was observed. The relaxation process was partially reverted by the growth of the SnTe cap layer, vital to protect the EuTe islands from oxidation. A simple model is outlined to describe the distortions caused by the EuTe islands on the SnTe buffer and cap layers. The SnTe cap layers formed interesting plateau structures with easily controlled wall height, that could find applications as a template for future nanostructures growth.     

Tetrameric zirconium(IV) compounds derived from oxozirconium(IV) chloride and heterocyclic aldimines and ketimines

Summary Interaction of ZrOCl₂:8H₂O, [Zr₄(OH)₈(H₂O)₁₆]Cl₈ 12H₂O, with the heterocyclic, aldimines (PyAlA) and heterocyclic ketimines (AcPyA) in Me₂CO in the presence of HC(OEt)₃ yields white amorphous compounds of the type [Zr₄(OH)₁₂(H₂O)₈(PyAlA)₂]Cl₄ and [Zr₄(OH)₁₂(H₂O)₁₀(AcPyA)]Cl₄. Presumably these compounds have a tetrameric dodecahedral structure, derived from the parent. The analytical data, i.r., electrical conductance and t.g. measurements all favour the tetrameric formulation. The t.g. studies also indicate the intermediacy of complex species, which lose water and the Schiff base ligands, with increase in temperature.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Molecular Docking,and Antimicrobial Activity of New Arylidene-Substituted Imidazoles

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - The title compounds are synthesized by condensation of 2-[4-(arylidene)-5-oxo-4, 5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl]phenylacetate with aromatic amines in presence of the...