Spectroscopic and microscopic investigations of tautomerization in porphycenes: condensed phases, supersonic jets, and single molecule studies.

We describe various experimental approaches that have been used to obtain a detailed understanding of double hydrogen transfer in porphycene, a model system for intramolecular hydrogen bonding and tautomerism. The emerging picture is that of a multidimensional tautomerization coordinate, with several vibrational modes acting as reaction-promoters or inhibitors through anharmonic intermode coupling. Tunnelling processes, coherent in the case of isolated molecules and incoherent in condensed phases, are found to play a major role even at elevated temperatures. Single-molecule spectroscopy studies reveal large fluctuations in hydrogen transfer rates observed over time for the same chromophore. Scanning probe microscopy is employed to directly observe the structure and tautomerization dynamics of single molecules adsorbed on metal surfaces and demonstrates how the interactions of the molecules with atoms of the supporting surface affect their static and dynamic properties: different tautomeric forms are stabilized for molecules depending on the surface structure and the reaction mechanism can also change, from a concerted to a stepwise transfer. The scanning probe microscopy studies prove that tautomerization in single molecules can be induced by different stimuli: heat, electron attachment, light, and force exerted by the microscope's tip. Possible applications utilizing tautomerism are discussed in combination with molecular architectures on surfaces, which could pave the way for the development of single-molecule electronics.

Spectroscopic study of jet-cooled deuterated porphycenes: unusual isotopic effects on proton tunneling.

Porphycene (Pc) is a well-known model for studying double hydrogen transfer, which shows vibrational-mode-specific tunneling splitting when isolated in supersonic jets or helium nanodroplets. The effect of deuteration on tunneling splitting is reported for jet-cooled heterogeneous, deuterated Pc samples (Pc-d(mix)) with the prevailing contribution of Pc-d12 isotopologue. The sample introduced into the gas phase using laser desorption is studied by means of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and single vibronic level fluorescence (SVLF) measurements, in combination with quantum chemical calculations. The influence of molecular symmetry is studied by comparing Pc, Pc-d12, and Pc-d11. The spectra of Pc-d12 show strong similarity to those of the parent undeuterated porphycene (Pc). Comparable tunneling splitting is observed in the two isotopologues, both for the 0-0 transition and the most efficient promoting 2Ag mode. In contrast, an unusual isotopic effect is observed for the totally symmetrical 4Ag mode. While this vibration behaves as a neutral mode in Pc, neither enhancing nor decreasing the tunneling efficiency, it strongly promotes hydrogen transfer in Pc-d12. This observation is explained in terms of modification of the displacement vectors of the 4Ag mode upon deuteration. It demonstrates that isotope substitution affects hydrogen transfer even when the weak structural modifications are far from the reaction center, emphasizing the strongly multidimensional nature of the tunneling process.

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer reaction modulated by low-frequency vibrations: an effect of an electron-donating substituent on the dually fluorescent bis-benzoxazole.

Excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction has been studied in a molecule showing dual fluorescence, the 2,5-bis(2-benzoxazolyl)-4-methoxyphenol (BBMP), and its isotopomers, where the methoxy, and alternatively, the OH group has been deuterated. Attention is focused on the influence of electron donating OCH(3) substituent on fast excited state reaction. Comparison between the resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization spectrum and the laser-induced excitation of the primary and phototautomeric emissions has been done. The geometry, electron density distribution, vibrational structure as well as the potential energy profiles in the S(0) and S(1) states of four possible rotameric forms of BBMP were calculated with application of the density functional theory (DFT). It allowed identifying the most probable conformer and assessing the role of low-frequency motions for the ESIPT efficiency.

Fluorescence studies of terrylene in a supersonic jet: indication of a dark electronic state below the allowed transition.

Jet-cooled terrylene has been studied in helium buffer gas using a pulsed nozzle by means of laser-induced fluorescence. Fluorescence excitation and two-color depletion experiments (resulting in hole burning spectra) are presented. Analysis of the spectra leads to the conclusion that another excited electronic state is present in the vicinity of the allowed 1B1u state. Assuming (according to previous literature suggestions Karabunarliev, S.; Baumgarten, M.; Müllen, K. J. Phys. Chem. A 1998, 102, 7029) that this dark state is the 21Ag state, we discuss the vibrational structure of the fluorescence excitation spectrum in terms of two manifolds of vibronic states belonging to Sd(21Ag) and S1(1B1u) states. The anomalous shift between excitation and dispersed fluorescence spectra observed earlier for terrylene in a neon matrix is discussed as a consequence of terrylene electronic relaxation to the low-energy dark state.

Synthesis and in vitro antifungal activity of 1-amino-3,4-dialkylnaphthalene-2-carbonitriles and their analogues.

Twenty-four 3- and/or 4-alkyl-substituted 1-aminonaphthalene-2-carbonitriles and their analogues were prepared and evaluated for growth-inhibiting activity against four phytopathogenic fungi: Fusarium culmorum, Alternaria brassicicola, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum. The results obtained were compared with the activity of a commercial fungicide. The highest fungistatic activity was revealed by amino nitriles having hydrogen atoms or only one short alkyl group (CH3, C2H5) at the 3- or 4-position of the naphthalene system. The minimum values of calculated EC50 and EC95 indexes were 1.1 and 5.1 mg litre-1, respectively. These values were considerably lower than those for the reference fungicide.

Mutagenicity of bay-region amino-substituted cyclopenta[a]phenanthrenes and 2- and 5-aminochrysene.

The relative mutagenic potentials of 11-amino-16,17-dihydro-15H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene, its 17-keto derivative, and 2- and 5-aminochrysene have been compared in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 in the presence of a postmitochondrial liver preparation from Aroclor 1254 induced rats. The 11-amino hydrocarbon is a very weak mutagen (0.27 revertants/nmol), whereas the 11-amino-17-ketone is much more active (129 revertants/nmol). 2-Aminochrysene is the most mutagenic arylamine ( approximately 500 revertants/nmol) among these compounds, but its 5-amino isomer is much less active (0.9 revertants/nmol). Possible reasons for these marked differences are suggested. Use of TA98 with over-expressing O-acetyltransferase (YG 1024) and deficient in this enzyme (TA98/l,8-DNP(6)) with the 11-amino-17-ketone and with 5-aminochrysene clearly indicates the importance of this enzyme in their bioactivation, implying oxidation of the amino group to the hydroxylamine in both these compounds.

Use of the Role Checklist with the patient with multiple personality disorder.

A paucity of occupational therapy evaluation tools exists for use with patients with multiple personality disorder. The Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner & Burke, 1980), particularly the volition and habituation subsystems within this model, proved useful for the identification of the many facets of patients with multiple personality disorder on a short-term treatment unit. The Role Checklist (Oakley, Kielhofner, Barris, & Richler, 1986), a tool derived from the Model of Human Occupation, was adapted for use with this population and was found to be beneficial in the identification of common goals held by most of the personalities of each patient with multiple personality disorder. The use of the Role Checklist is illustrated with a case example.

Tautomerism of isoguanosine and solvent-induced keto-enol equilibrium.

Ultraviolet and infrared absorption spectroscopy, in aqueous and non-aqueous media, have been employed to study the tautomerism of 9-substituted isoguanines, including the nucleoside isoguanosine. With the aid of a series of model compounds, it was shown that 9-substituted isoguanines, and isoguanosine, in aqueous medium are predominantly in the form N (1) H, 2-keto-6-amino. In dioxane solution the tautomeric equilibrium is shifted in the direction of the enol form. The shift towards this form is accentuated for those analogues in which the exocyclic amino group is methylated. With the aid of N6,N6, 9-trimethylisoguanine, and 9-octyl analogue, the tautomeric constant was studied as a function of concentration, temperature, and solvent polarity, and the results applied to evaluate the tautomeric equilibria of 9-methylisoguanine and isoguanosine as a function of these variables. In general the enol form is favoured by a decrease in solvent polarity, by a decrease in concentration in dioxane, or an increase in temperature in chloroform solution. Syntheses are described for several N6 amino and methylamino derivatives of 2-methoxy-9-methylpurine, and 3-methyl-5-oxo-7,8-dihydroimidazo (2,1-i) purine, which served as an analogue of the unavailable 1,9-dimethylisoguanine.