Photochemical expulsion of the neutral monodentate ligand L in Ru(terpy*)(diimine)(L)2+: a dramatic effect of the steric properties of the spectator diimine ligand

A series of photoreactive complexes of the type Ru(terpy*)(N-N)(L)(2+), where terpy* is 4'-(3,5-ditertiobutylphenyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, N-N is the bidentate chelate phen or dmp (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline), and L is the monodentate ligand dms, MeBN, or MeOBN (dms = dimethyl sulfide, MeBN = 2,6-dimethyl benzonitrile, MeOBN = 2,6-dimethoxybenzonitrile), has been synthesized and fully characterized by proton NMR spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The X-ray structures of four complexes were also obtained. In neat pyridine, the quantum yields for the photosubsitution of L by pyridine were measured and showed dramatic variations depending on the steric interactions between the spectator bidentate ligand and the leaving monodentate ligand L. The use of dmp instead of phen multiplied the photosubstitution efficiency by a factor of 20-50, depending on L. This effect could be qualitatively correlated to the distortions observed in the X-ray structures of the corresponding complexes. The highly distorted structure of Ru(terpy)(dmp)(dms)(PF(6))(2) showed a very high photosubsitution quantum yield phi = 0.36 in neat pyridine. The high photoreactivity of some of the compounds makes them particularly promising as components of future light-driven molecular machines.     

Two-Photon-Induced CO-Releasing Molecules as Molecular Logic Systems in Solution,Polymers, and Cells

Phototherapeutic applications of carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing molecules are limited because they require harmful UV and blue light for activation. We describe two-photon excitation with NIR light (800 nm)-induced CO-release from two Mn^I tricarbonyl complexes bearing 1,8-naphthalimide units ( 1 , 2 ). Complex 2 behaves as a logic OR gate in solution, nonwovens, and in HeLa cells. CO release, indicated by fluorescence enhancement, was detected in solution, nonwoven, and HeLa cells by single- (405 nm) and two-photon (800 nm) excitation. The photophysical properties of 1 and 2 have been measured and supported by DFT and TDDFT quantum chemical calculations. Both photoCORMs are stable in the dark in solution and noncytotoxic, leading to promising applications as phototherapeutics with NIR light.     

The 3-Methyl-1,3-butadienyl Phenyl Sulfoxide I. Preparation and Some Properties

The title sulfoxide 5 is worthy of interest because of its isoprenoid structure and its synthetic potentialities¹     

Reactions of 1,2-Epoxy-2-Methyl-3-butene with Lithio Derivatives of Allylic Sulfoxides. Syntheses of 2,6-Dimethylocta-3,7-dien-2,6-diol and of 5,8-Dehydro-4-0xo-nerolidol

Our preceding studies have shown that lithio carbanions of protected cyanohydrins can undergo Michael additions to an isoprenic sulfoxide to yield lithio derivatives of allylic sulfoxides¹. These results have led us to investigate the utilization of these lithio sulfoxides for new simple syntheses of aliphatic terpenes by head-to-tail linking of functionalized isoprenoid units. For this purpose, 1,2-epoxy-2-methyl-3-butene 2 was one especially appropriate electro-phile, but at the outset of our work, there had been very few investigations of the reactivity of lithio carbanions of allylic sulfoxides with epoxides²     

Development of a Mild and Versatile Directed Cycloaddition Approach to Pyridines

The aza‐Diels–Alder cycloaddition of 1,2,4‐triazines with alkynes offers a rapid and convenient method for the synthesis of highly substituted pyridines, but often requires harsh conditions and long reaction times. The present study offers a solution to these limitations by use of a temporary tether established by a Lewis acid–base complexation of in situ generated alkynylboranes and triazines bearing a Lewis basic donor. The cycloaddition reactions take place within 20 min at 40 °C and provide direct access to a broad range of pyridines with complete and predictable regiocontrol. The carbon?boron bond can be further functionalised by cross‐coupling allowing further functionality to be introduced after cycloaddition.     

Activation of a Photodissociative Ruthenium Complex by Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion in Liposomes

Liposomes capable of generating photons of blue light in situ by triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion of either green or red light, were prepared. The red‐to‐blue upconverting liposomes were capable of triggering the photodissociation of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes from PEGylated liposomes using a clinical grade photodynamic therapy laser source (630 nm).     

Raman-assisted parametric frequency conversion in a normally dispersive single-mode fiber

We demonstrate efficient frequency conversion with large frequency shifts of an anti-Stokes signal into a parametrically seeded Stokes idler, which is generated by a highly mismatched three-wave mixing interaction and subsequent Raman amplification in a normally dispersive single-mode fiber. The use of non-phase-matched waves in Raman-assisted three-wave mixing interactions overcomes the strict spectral limitations imposed by phase-matching conditions in parametric frequency-conversion processes.     

Ruthenium-Decorated Lipid Vesicles: Light-Induced Release of [Ru(terpy)(bpy)(OH(2))](2+) and Thermal Back Coordination

Electrostatic forces play an important role in the interaction between large transition metal complexes and lipid bilayers. In this work, a thioether-cholestanol hybrid ligand (4) was synthesized, which coordinates to ruthenium(II) via its sulfur atom and intercalates into lipid bilayers via its apolar tail. By mixing its ruthenium complex [Ru(terpy)(bpy)(4)](2+) (terpy = 2,2';6',2'-terpyridine; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with either the negatively charged lipid dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) or with the zwitterionic lipid dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), large unilamellar vesicles decorated with ruthenium polypyridyl complexes are formed. Upon visible light irradiation the ruthenium-sulfur coordination bond is selectively broken, releasing the ruthenium fragment as the free aqua complex [Ru(terpy)(bpy)(OH(2))](2+). The photochemical quantum yield under blue light irradiation (452 nm) is 0.0074(8) for DMPG vesicles and 0.0073(8) for DMPC vesicles (at 25 °C), which is not significantly different from similar homogeneous systems. Dynamic light scattering and cryo-TEM pictures show that the size and shape of the vesicles are not perturbed by light irradiation. Depending on the charge of the lipids, the cationic aqua complex either strongly interacts with the membrane (DMPG) or diffuses away from it (DMPC). Back coordination of [Ru(terpy)(bpy)(OH(2))](2+) to the thioether-decorated vesicles takes place only at DMPG bilayers with high ligand concentrations (25 mol %) and elevated temperatures (70 °C). During this process, partial vesicle fusion was also observed. We discuss the potential of such ruthenium-decorated vesicles in the context of light-controlled molecular motion and light-triggered drug delivery.