Measuring spin diffusion of electrons in bulk n-GaAs using circularly dichromatic absorption difference spectroscopy of spin gratings

Circular dichromatic absorption difference spectroscopy is developed to measure the spin diffusion dynamics of electrons in bulk n-GaAs. This spectroscopy has higher detection sensitivity over homodyne detection of spin-grating-diffracted signal. A model to describe circular dichromatic absorption difference signal is derived and used to fit experimental signal to retrieve decaying rate of spin gratings. A spin diffusion constant of D-s=201 +/- 25 cm(2)/s for bulk n-GaAs has been measured at room temperature using this technique and is close to electron diffusion constant (D-c), which is much different from the case in GaAs quantum wells where D-s is markedly less than D-c.

环糊精衍生物的设计、合成及其对环辛烯光异构化研究

环糊精(Cyclodextrins, CDs)经化学修饰后可以得到各种类型的衍生物，不仅可以扩展其原有的键合能力，而且还可以改变其选择性，是当代超分子化学的一个研究热点。环糊精第二面的仲羟基比第一面的伯羟基有着更好的催化性能，第二面的选择性修饰将产生更多有价值的衍生物，可用于催化、酶模拟、手性识别等方面。 取代苯甲酰基修饰环糊精对顺式环辛烯(cis-cyclooctene)光异构化反应有非常重要的影响作用，苯环上取代基的性质和取代位置与产物的%ee值和对映体构型之间存在某种内在联系。有目的地选择适宜取代基，设计、合成新型环糊精光增感剂, 有可能按预定目的得到更高%ee值的反式环辛烯；同时，取代苯甲酰基修饰环糊精对cis-cyclooctene光异构化的增感机理有待于进一步阐明。 本论文工作对环糊精的化学修饰以及超分子体系对cis-cyclooctene不对称光异构化反应方面的进展进行了调研。合成了一系列单-6-位取代苯甲酰基修饰环糊精，用于cis-cyclooctene光异构化增感反应，并用圆二色光谱滴定法研究这些环糊精衍生物与cis-cyclooctene的相互作用，以探索光增感反应机理。在此基础上，探讨了环糊精第二面的选择性修饰方法。内容主要包括： 1. 简要介绍了超分子化学的概况，并对环糊精的选择性修饰方法和超分子体系对cis-cyclooctene不对称光异构化反应的主要成果和最新进展进行了评述。 2. 合成了12种单-6-O-(取代苯甲酰基)-β-环糊精，其中10种为新化合物。采用紫外光谱、红外光谱、核磁共振波谱以及质谱等手段对化合物的结构进行了表征。 3. 探索了直接选择性修饰环糊精第二面的便捷新方法。用取代苯甲酰咪唑酯为酰化试剂，0.2M碳酸盐缓冲溶液(pH=9.9)作催化剂，能够有效地活化2-位仲羟基，对环糊精第二面进行选择性修饰，此方法既简便又经济；同时，发现取代苯甲酰基能够在β-CD第二面的2-位、3-位羟基间相互迁移。 4. 用单-6-O-(取代苯甲酰基)-β-环糊精作光增感剂，对cis-cyclooctene光异构化反应进行研究。实验结果证明：取代苯甲酰基上的取代基性质、位置、长度对反应的对映选择性有很大影响；此外，反应体系溶剂极性对产物的%ee值和对映体构型也有重大影响。用单-6-O-(3-甲氧苯甲酰基)-β-CD作增感剂，cis-cyclooctene光异构化反应产物(R)-trans-cyclooctene的对映选择性为45.8%ee，是到目前为止取得的最好对映选择性。 5. 采用圆二色光谱滴定法研究环糊精衍生物与cis-cyclooctene的相互作用，计算包结物的平衡常数，研究包结物的相对稳定性，为探索光增感反应机理提供基础。我们猜测：电子效应对cis-cyclooctene光异构化反应的影响，可能比取代基位置对反应的影响更大，借助电子效应有希望获得更高的%ee值。 Cyclodextrins can be subjected to diverse modifications to give a wide variety of cyclodextrin derivatives, which could not only extend their original molecular binding ability, but also alter their molecular selectivity. Therefore, cyclodextrin chemistry is currently a significant topic in supramolecular chemistry. The more open secondary hydroxyl side of CDs is stated to be catalytically very important, modifications of this face are believed to produce valuable derivatives for catalysis, enzyme mimic, chiral discrimination, etc. Mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs as novel supramolecular photosensitizing hosts have recently excited considerable attention in photochirogenesis. The supramolecular photosenstization of cis-cyclooctene mediated by them gave chiral trans-cyclooctene, enantiomeric excess of which was critically affected by the substituent introduced to the sensitizer moiety. In order to enhance the photoenantiodifferentiating ability, and elucidate the origin mechanisms of substituent-dependent enantioselectivity, in this work a series of mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs have been synthesized, and applied for enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene. The major contents are as follows: 1. The general aspects of supramolecular chemistry were descibed briefly. The new progress and important achievements on methods of selective modification of cyclodextrin and supramolecular enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene were reviewed. 2. Twelve mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs including ten novel compounds have been synthesized. Their structures have been characterized by using UV-vis, IR, NMR and MS methods. 3. A new convenient strategy for direct acylation of β-cyclodextrin on the secondary hydroxyl face was achieved by using the combination of N-benzoylimidazole and carbonate buffer in DMF, and the acyl migration between the C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups of β-cyclodextrin was found. 4. Experiments using mono-6-O-(substituted benzoyl)-β-CDs as chiral sensitizing hosts for mediating the enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene, were carried out. The results indicate that enantiomeric excess was critically affected, or even switched in sign, by the substituent introduced to the sensitizer moiety, and polarity of solvent. Using mono-6-O-(3-methoxybenzoyl)-β-CD as chiral sensitizing host, (R)-trans-cyclooctene was obtained in up to 45.8% enantiomeric excess, which is the highest value ever reported for supramolecular photochirogenesis with analogous hosts. 5. The conformational variation of these modified CDs and their complexation behaviors with cis-cyclooctene were examined by circular dichroism spectroscopy in water-methanol mixed solvents, which reveal that the orientation of chromophore was highly sensitive to the type, position and length of the introduced substituents. In the end, the complex stability constants(Ks) were calculated, and the mechanisms of reaction were discussed. Maybe, electronic effects are more important than positions of substituents for mediating the enantiodifferentiating photoisomerization of cis-cyclooctene.

Chiral metallo-supramolecular complexes selectively recognize human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA

Here, we report the first example that one enantiomer of a supramolecular cylinder can selectively stabilize human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA. The P-enantiomer of this cylinder has a strong preference for G-quadruplex over duplex DNA and, in the presence of sodium, can convert G-quadruplexes from an antiparallel to a hybrid structure. The compound's chiral selectivity and its ability to discriminate quadruplex DNA have been studied by DNA melting, circular dichroism, gel electrophoresis, fluorescence spectroscopy and S1 nuclease cleavage.

Self-assembly of single-stranded RNA on carbon nanotube: Polyadenylic acid to form a duplex structure

All messenger-RNA (mRNA) molecules in eukaryotic cells have a polyadenylic acid [poly (rA)] tail at the 3'-end and human poly (rA) polymerase (PAP) has been considered as a tumor-specific target. A ligand that is capable of recognizing and binding to the poly(M) tail of mRNA might interfere with the full processing of mRNA by PAP and can be a potential therapeutic agent. We report here for the first time that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can cause single-stranded poly (M) to self-structure and form a duplex structure, which is studied by UV melting, atomic force microscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and NMR spectrometry.

The direct electrochemistry behavior of Cyt c on the modified glassy carbon electrode by SBA-15 with a high-redox potential

It is discovered that SBA-15 (santa barbara amorphous) can provide the favorable microenvironments and optimal direct electron-transfer tunnels (DETT) of immobilizing cytochrome c (Cyt c) by the preferred orientation on it. A high-redox potential (254 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) was obtained on glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified by immobilizing Cyt c on rod-like SBA-15. With ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), circular dichroism (CD), FTIR and cyclic voltammetry, it was demonstrated that immobilization made Cyt c exhibits stable and ideal electrochemical characteristics while the biological activity of immobilized Cyt c is retained as usual.

Multiplex binding modes of toluidine blue with calf thymus DNA and conformational transition of DNA revealed by spectroscopic studies

It is noteworthy to understand the details of interactions between antitumor drugs and DNA because the binding modes and affinities affect their antitumor activities. Here, The interaction of toluidine blue (TB), a potential antitumor drug for photodynamic therapy of tumor, with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) was explored by UV-vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, UV-rnelting method and surface-enhance Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The experimental results suggest that TB could bind to ctDNA via both electrostatic interaction and partial intercalation.

Effect of secondary ligands' size on energy transfer and electroluminescent efficiencies for a series of europium(III) complexes, a density functional theory study

In this paper, a quantum chemistry method was used to investigate the effect of different sizes of substituted phenanthrolines on absorption, energy transfer, and the electroluminescent performance of a series of Eu(TTA)(3)L (L = [1,10] phenanthroline (Phen), Pyrazino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline (PyPhen), 2-methylprrazino[2,3-f][1,10] phenanthroline(MPP), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine(DPPz), 11-methyldipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c]phenazine(MDPz), 11.12-dimethyldipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine(DDPz), and benzo[i]dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (BDPz)) complexes. Absorption spectra calculations show that different sizes of secondary ligands have different effects on transition characters, intensities, and absorption peak positions.

The Reasons for Ligand-Dependent Quantum Yields and Absorption Spectrum of Four Polypyridylruthenium(II) Complexes with a Tetrazolate-Based Ligand: TDDFT Study

The quantum yield, lifetime, and absorption spectrum of four [Ru(bpy)(2)L](+) [where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridyl; L is represented by the deprotonated form of 2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridine (L1) or 2-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyrazine (L2)], as well as their methylated complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)LMe](2+) (RuL1Me and RuL2Me) are closely ligand dependent. In this paper, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) were performed to compare the above properties among these complexes. The calculated results reveal that the replacement of pyridine by pyrazine or the attachment of a CH3 group to the tetrazolate ring greatly increases the pi-accepting ability of the ancillary ligands.

Electrically-controlled near-infrared chiroptical switching of enantiomeric dinuclear ruthenium complexes

Enantiomerically pure dinuclear ruthenium complexes with 1,2-dicarbonylhydrazide as a bridging ligand are optically active in the visible and near infrared spectral regions depending on the oxidation states of the metal centers and are useful as an electrochemically driven near infrared chiroptical switch.

A DNA nanomachine induced by single-walled carbon nanotubes on gold surface

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can selectively induce human telomeric i-motif DNA formation at pH 7.0. Based on this property, we design a DNA nanomachine induced by SWNTs on gold surface. The motor DNA is human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA. The reversible hybridization between the motor DNA and its complementary human telomeric i-motif DNA can be modulated by SWNTs without changing solution pH. Up to now, to our knowledge, there is no report to show that a DNA nanomachine is induced by SWNTs or a DNA nanomachine can detect i-motif formation at pH 7.0. Our work may provide a new concept for designing an SWNT-induced DNA nanomachine and for the detection of i-motif DNA structure at pH 7.0. DNA hybridization, conformational transition and i-motif formation have been characterized on surface or in solution by fluorescence confocal microscopy, circular dichroism, DNA melting and gel electrophoresis. The folding and unfolding kinetics of the DNA nanomachine on gold surface were studied by Fourier transform-surface plasmon resonance (FT-SPR). All these results indicate that SWNTs can induce the DNA nanomachine to work efficiently and reversibly.

Bimolecular quadruplexes and their transitions to higher-order molecular structures detected by ESI-FTICR-MS

Four individual quadruplexes, which are self-assembled in ammonium acetate solution from telomeric sequences of closely related DNA strands - d(G(4)T(4)G(4)), d(G(3)T(4)G(4)), d(G(3)T(4)G(3)), and d(G(4)T(4)G(3)) - have been detected in the gas phase using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). The bimolecular quadruplexes associate with the same number of NH4+ in the gas phase as NMR shows that they do in solution. The quadruplex structures formed in solution are maintained in the gas phase. Furthermore, the mass spectra show that the bimolecular quadruplexes generated by the strands d(G(3)T(4)G(3)) and d(G(4)T(4)G(3)) are unstable, being converted into trimolecular and tetramolecular structures with increasing concentrations of NH4+ in the solution. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra reveal structural changes during the process of strand stoichiometric transitions, in which the relative orientation of strands in the quadruplexes changes from an antiparallel to a parallel arrangement. Such changes were observed for the strand d(G(4)T(4)G(3)), but not for the strand d(G(3)T(4)G(3)). The present work provides a significant insight into the formation of various DNA quadruplexes, especially the higher-order species.

pH-dependent protein conformational changes in albumin : gold nanoparticle bioconjugates: A spectroscopic study

The conformational changes of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in the albumin:gold nanoparticle bioconjugates were investigated in detail by various spectroscopic techniques including UV-vis absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies. Our studies suggested that albumin in the bioconjugates that was prepared by the common adsorption method underwent substantial conformational changes at both secondary and tertiary structure levels. BSA was found to adopt a more flexible conformational state on the boundary surface of gold nanoparticles as a result of the conformational changes in the bioconjugates. The conformational changes at pH 3.8, 7.0, and 9.0, which corresponded to different isomeric forms of albumin, were investigated, respectively, to probe the pH effect on the conformational changes of BSA in the bioconjugates. The results showed that the pH of the medium influenced the changes greatly and that fluorescence and circular dichroism studies further indicated that the changes were larger at higher pH.

Energetic basis of molecular recognition in a DNA aptamer

The thermal stability and ligand binding properties of the L-argininamide-binding DNA aptamer (5'-GATCGAAACGTAGCGCCTTCGATC3') were studied by spectroscopic and calorimetric methods. Differential calorimetric studies showed that the uncomplexed aptamer melted in a two-state reaction with a melting temperature T-m = 50.2 +/- 0.2 degrees C and a folding enthalpy Delta H degrees(fold) = -49.0 +/- 2.1 kcal mol(-1). These values agree with values of T-m = 49.6 degrees C and Delta H degrees(fold) = -51.2 kcal mol(-1) predicted for a simple hairpin structure. Melting of the uncomplexed aptamer was dependent upon salt concentration, but independent of strand concentration. The T of aptamer melting was found to increase as L-argininamide concentrations increased. Analysis of circular dichroism titration data using a single-site binding model resulted in the determination of a binding free energy Delta G degrees(bind) = -5.1 kcal mol(-1). Isothermal titration calorimetry studies revealed an exothermic binding reaction with Delta H degrees(bind) = -8.7 kcal mol(-1). Combination of enthalpy and free energy produce ail unfavorable entropy of -T Delta S degrees = +3.6 kcal mol(-1). A molar heat capacity change of -116 cal mol(-1) K-1 was determined from calorimetric measurements at four temperatures over the range of 15-40 degrees C. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore the structures of the unligated and ligated aptamer structures.

Interaction between La3+ and MP-11 in the physiological solution

In this paper, the interaction between La3+ and microperoxidase-11 (MP-11) in the imitated physiological solution was investigated with the electrochemical method, circular dichroism (CD) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy. It was found that the interaction ways between La3+ and MP-11 are different with increasing the molar ratio of La3+ and MP-11. When the molar ratio of La3+ and MP-11 is less than 2, La3+ mainly interacts with the metacetonic acid group of the heme group in the MP-11 molecules, causing the increase in the non-planarity of the porphyrin cycle in the heme group and the decrease in the content of the random coil conformation of MP-11. These structural changes would increase the exposure extent of the electrochemical active center of MP-11 and thus, La3+ can promote the electrochemical reaction of MP-11 and its electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of H2O2 at the glassy carbon (GC) electrode. However, when the molar ratio of La3+ and MP-11 is larger than 3, except binding to the carbonyl oxygen of the metacetonic acid group in the heme group, La3+ interacts also with the oxygen-containing groups of the amides in the polypeptide chains of the MP-11 molecules, leading to the increase in the contents of the random coil conformation in the peptide of the MP-11 molecule, comparing with that for the molar ratio of less than 2.