Synthesis of 5‐tert‐butyl‐1‐(3‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy)phenyl‐4,4‐dimethyl‐2,6,7‐trioxabicyclo[3.2.0]heptanes and their fluoride‐induced chemiluminescent decomposition: effect of a phenolic electron donor on the CIEEL decay rate in aprotic polar solvent

Four bicyclic dioxetanes bearing a phenolic substituent, 3‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy‐4‐chlorophenyl ( 3a ), 5‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy‐4‐chloro‐2‐ethylphenyl ( 3b ), 5‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy‐2‐ethylphenyl ( 3c ), and 3‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy‐4‐ethylphenyl ( 3d ), were synthesized. All dioxetanes 3a – 3d gave intense blue light on treatment with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) in DMSO or acetonitrile. Kinetic study on the fluoride‐induced CIEEL decay of these dioxetanes 3a – 3d and the parent dioxetane 2b revealed that the para‐substitution with chlorine on the phenolic moiety of dioxetane increases free energy of activation (ΔG?), while the para‐substitution with ethyl on the aryl decreases ΔG?. On the other hand, substitution with an ethyl at the ortho‐position instead of the para‐position was found to increase ΔG? and to suppress the CIEEL decay. This fact is attributed to the steric factor of the ortho‐ethyl group which would prevent the aromatic ring from rotating freely around the axis joined to the peroxide ring, and supports the suggestion for a CIEEL‐active dioxetane bearing a phenolic moiety that an intramolecular electron transfer occurs preferentially from the phenolic donor to O–O of the dioxetane ring, when the aromatic ring lies in a certain conformation(s). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemiluminescence of bicyclic dioxetanes bearing a hydroxyphenyl moiety substituted with carbazolyl, indolyl or benzotriazolyl group in the coordination sphere.

Bicyclic dioxetanes bearing a 3-(carbazol-9-yl)-5-hydroxyphenyl 2a, 3-hydroxy-5-(indol-1-yl)phenyl 2b, or 3-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-5-hydroxyphenyl group 2c were synthesized. Base-induced decomposition of dioxetane 2a displayed intense light, the maximum wavelength (lambda(max) (CTICL)) of which changed depending on the crown ether complex of potassium t-butoxide used as a base, although the magnitude of lambda(max) (CTICL) change was considerably smaller than the case of dioxetane bearing a 3-(anthracen-9-yl)-5-hydroxyphenyl group 1. Chemiluminescence (CL) from 2b resembled closely that from 2a in response to the crown ether complexes. On the other hand, dioxetane 2c exhibited emission of red light on treatment with tetrabutylammonium fluoride. The colour of light changed significantly and exhibited two peaks in the CL spectrum when treated with complex of bulky dibenzyldiazacrown ether 13.     

Bicyclic dioxetanes bearing an inden-2-yl or a benzo(b)thiazol-2-yl moiety as a CIEEL-active chemiluminescent substrate emitting red light.

Bicyclic dioxetanes bearing 5-(t-butyldimethylsiloxy)inden-2-yl, 3, or 5-(t-butyldimethylsiloxy)benzo(b)thiazol-2-yl, 4, were synthesized. On treatment with large excess of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in DMSO, dioxetane, 3, decomposed rapidly with accompanying emission of red (vermilion) light (lambda(max) (CL) = 637 nm). Comparing the chemiluminescent properties for 3 with those for related dioxetane, 1, in which pi-conjugation system is not fixed in plane, both CIEEL-decay rate and chemiluminescent efficiency were found to be improved for 3. Chemiluminescent decomposition of dioxetane, 4, was similarly induced to emit crimson light (lambda(max) (CL) = 725 nm), though the chemiluminescent efficiency was low.     

Unusual luminescent properties of odd- and even-substituted naphthyl-derivatized dioxetanes

With the advent of enzymatically induced chemiluminescence and improved instrumentation for luminometry, ultrasensitive detection of a wide variety of analytes is now possible using standard immunoassay and DNA probe formats. Model molecular orbital calculations and literature precedent suggest that the singlet efficiencies observed upon decomposition of dioxetanes appended with donor substituted aromatic moieties are dependent on substitution pattern. We have recently discovered, in a series of 3-(2′-spiroadamantane)-4-methoxy-4-acetoxynaphth-2′-yl-1,2-dioxetanes, that enzymatic generation of a nonconjugated, charge transfer excited state results in luminescence of markedly different properties than that observed from an isomeric, conjugated excited state. An example of the former type, 3-(2′-spiroadamantane)-4-methoxy-4-(7″-acetoxy)naphth-2′-yl-1,2-dioxetane (1) emitting at 550 nm, not only provides an increase in Φ_CL but exhibits a dramatic bathochromic shift of 80–110 nm from the 460 nm emission of the conjugated isomer 3-(2′-spiroadamantane)-4-methoxy-4-(6″-acetoxy)naphth-2′-yl-1,2-dioxetane (2). These developments, along with the attendant glow-type luminescence kinetics displayed during the enzymatic decomposition of the new ‘odd-pattern’ dioxetane, allow the design of simple protocols capable of simultaneous or ‘multichannel’ detection of several analytes.     

Generation of electronically excited aromatic aldehydes in the peroxidase catalyzed aerobic oxidation of aromatic acetaldehydes

The peroxidase catalyzed aerobic oxidation of aromatic acetaldehydes has been investigated with regard to the formation of electronically excited states because it generates the products expected from the cleavage of an intermediate dioxetane, that is, the aromatic aldehyde and formic acid. Emission was detected with the liquid scintillation counter. Integrated emission, indole-3-aldehyde formation, and O₂ uptake strictly correlate with each other, unequivocally indicating that the aromatic aldehyde is generated electronically excited. Although the quantum yield of emission is approximately 5×10^?9, the yield of chemiexcitation must be several orders of magnitude higher.     

Photophysics of diphenyl-pyrazole compounds in solutions and α-synuclein aggregates

Background

Recently diphenyl-pyrazole (DPP) compounds and especially anle138b were found to reduce the aggregation of α-synuclein or Tau protein in vitro as well as in a mouse model of neurodegenerative diseases [1,2]. Direct interaction of the DPPs with the fibrillar structure was identified by fluorescence spectroscopy. Thereby a strong dependence of the fluorescence on the surroundings could be identified [3].

Chemienergized aromatic aldehydes from the peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of pyruvates: excited vanillin from vanylpyruvate.

Oxidation by molecular oxygen of vanylpyruvate in dimethylsulfoxide containing potassium t-butoxide results in formation of emissive, electronically excited (singlet) vanillin and of oxalate, that is, the products expected from the cleavage of a dioxetane intermediate. The reaction is a model for the peroxidase and laccase catalyzed processes that occur during lignin degradation by fungi. It is inferred that vanillin formed in the latter processes is generated in an electronically excited state, not necessarily emissive. This view is strengthened by (i) the emission, albeit very weak, observed from the enzyme system, and (ii) the alteration of the enzyme as a result of the reaction, the spectral changes being similar to those induced by uv irradiation of the enzyme alone. Also other peroxidase catalyzed oxidations of aromatic pyruvates should produce the electronically excited aldehyde.     

Photochemical DNA modifications induced by 1,2-dioxetanes.

1,2-Dioxetanes are efficient sources of triplet excited carbonyl compounds, into which they decompose on thermal or photochemical activation. In the presence of DNA, the decomposition of dioxetanes gives rise to DNA modifications, which have been studied by means of specific repair endonucleases. Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, which are generated by triplet-triplet energy transfer, were detected by a UV endonuclease; they made up between 2% and 30% of the total modifications recognized by a crude repair endonuclease preparation from Micrococcus luteus. For various 1,2-dioxetanes, the yield of pyrimidine dimers was proportional to their triplet excitation flux. DNA strand breaks, sites of base loss (AP sites; recognized by exonuclease III and endonuclease IV) and dihydropyrimidines (recognized by endonuclease III) were found to represent only a small fraction of the modifications. The majority of the modifications detected were recognized by formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG protein) and represent 8-hydroxyguanine (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine) residues or other yet not defined base modifications which are recognized by this enzyme. The modifications were generated in similar relative yields by thermal and photo-induced decomposition of the 1,2-dioxetanes and therefore emanate under both conditions from the excited carbonyl compounds. The formation of the FPG protein-sensitive modifications was efficiently quenched by azide anions; the Stern-Volmer quenching of these modifications was 150-fold more effective than that of the pyrimidine dimers. The relative amounts of the two types of modifications were strongly dependent on the structure of the 1,2-dioxetanes and on the concentration of molecular oxygen. Singlet oxygen appears to be involved only to some extent in the generation of the FPG protein-sensitive base modifications as their yield was only moderately (approximately 2-fold) increased in D2O as solvent. A mechanism is suggested in which oxidized guanine is predominantly formed by a single-electron-transfer reaction of the triplet excited carbonyl product derived from the 1,2-dioxetane, followed by unknown secondary oxidations, which involve molecular oxygen and/or undecomposed 1,2-dioxetane.     

Development of a high‐throughput,indirect antibody immobilization format chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) for the determination of progesterone in human serum

A high‐throughput and simple chemiluminescence (CL) enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) for the determination of progesterone (P) in human serum was developed, with the highly sensitive 4‐methoxy‐4‐(3‐phosphatephenyl)‐spiro‐(1,2‐dioxetane‐3,2′‐adamantane) (AMPPD)–alkaline phosphatase (ALP) system as the CL detection system. The results showed that the indirect immobilization of rabbit anti‐progesterone polyclonal antibody (RAPA) through secondary antibody exhibited apparent advantages over direct coating in terms of antibody saving and improvement of the coating stability and uniformity. The direct analysis of P in human serum without extraction was realized by using 8‐anilino‐1‐naphthalenesulphonic acid (ANS) to displace P from its binding proteins. The effect of several relevant parameters of the immunoreaction were examined and optimized. Compared with some commercial progesterone kits, the presented CLEIA has higher sensitivity with detection limitation as low as 0.06 ng/mL. The recoveries were 95.9–101%. The coefficient of variation was <8.4% and 9.9% for intra‐ and inter‐assay precision, respectively. This method has been successfully applied to the evaluation of P in human serum. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the mechanism of peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence. Quenched chemiluminescence as a detection method in HPLC

Several analytes such as the inorganic anions bromide, iodide, sulphite and nitrite and organic compounds as substituted anilines and sulphur compounds cause quenching of peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence. A detection method for liquid chromatography based on the quenching phenomenon has been developed. It makes use of an immobilized luminophore, i.e. 3-aminofluoranthene covalently bound via an alkyl-spacer on controlled pore glass, packed in the detector cell. The mechanism behind the quenching has been elucidated by investigating the roles of luminophores (both in the liquid and in solid state) and oxalates in peroxylate CL with respect to quenchers. Most probably the quencher destroys the radical ion pair produced after electron transfer in the last stage of the CIEEL reaction scheme, thus preventing the formation of electronically excited luminophore.     

Characterization and validation of a chemiluminescent assay based on a 1,2-dioxetane for rapid detection of enterococci in contaminated water and comparison with standard methods and qPCR

Aims: To evaluate the potential for using a novel chemiluminescence‐based enzyme assay for rapid detection of enterococci in water contaminated with faecal waste. Methods and Results: The novel assay (EntLight) was based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of the chemiluminescent 1,2‐dioxetane [(4‐methoxy‐4(3‐β‐d ‐glucoside‐4‐chlorophenyl)]spiro[1,2‐dioxetane‐3‐1,3‐tricyclo[7·3·1·0^2,7]tridec‐2,7‐ene] specific for β‐d ‐glucosidase. The specificity of the proposed EntLight assay was characterized using 26 different Enterococcus strains and 10 bacterial genera other than Enterococcus. With an analysis time of ≤8 h, the assay was found to be sensitive and specific. Validation experiments were carried out using water samples contaminated with raw municipal wastewater in comparison with qPCR and ISO standard methods. EntLight was successfully applied to detect enterococci in contaminated water within ≤8 h, and the proposed assay correlated well with both qPCR and ISO standard methods (R² > 0·776). Conclusions: EntLight can be applied to rapid and simple detection of viable enterococci in water contaminated with faecal matter. Significance and Impact of the Study: The novel EntLight assay and qPCR have the potential to be used as methods for early warning (1–7 h) of faecal pollutions in different water types.     

Design,synthesis, spectral analysis and in vitro microbiological evaluation of 2-phenyl-3-(4,6-diarylpyrimidin-2-yl)thiazolidin-4-ones

A series of novel 2-phenyl-3-(4,6-diarylpyrimidin-2-yl)thiazolidin-4-ones 23-33 were synthesized, and studied for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities against clinically isolated strains. Generally compounds possessing electron donating groups showed good antibacterial activity. Compound 31, which contain both electron withdrawing chloro and electron donating methyl groups showed potent activity against all the tested Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains whereas compounds 32 and 33 which contain electron donating methoxy functional group at the para position of the phenyl ring attached to pyrimidine ring showed promising activity against S.aureus, S.typhii and E.coli. Compounds 32 and 33, both containing electron withdrawing groups (-Cl, -F) showed excellent activities against all the tested A. flavus, Mucor, Rhizopus and M.gypsuem fungal strains. while against Mucor, compound 27 which contains an electron donating methyl group at the para position of the phenyl ring attached to pyrimidine ring showed promising activity. Also compound 31, which contains both electron withdrawing chloro and electron donating methyl groups showed potent activity against A. flavus and Rhizopus.     

First Synthesis of Double Headed 1,3,4‐Oxadiazino[6,5‐b]indole Acyclo C‐Nucleosides

Condensation of 1,3‐dihydro‐2,3‐dioxo‐2H‐indoles (1a–c) with galactaric acid bis hydrazide (2) gave the corresponding galactaric acid bis[2‐(1,2‐dihydro‐2‐oxo‐3H‐indol‐3‐ylidene)hydrazides] (3a–c). Acetylation of the latter compounds with acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine at ambient temperature gave the 2,3,4,5‐tetra‐O‐acetylgalactaric acid bis[2‐(1,2‐dihydro‐2‐oxo‐1‐substituted‐3H‐indol‐3‐ylidene)hydrazides] (4b–d). Heterocyclization of the tetra‐O‐acetates 4b–d by heating with thionyl chloride afforded the double headed acyclo C‐nucleosides: 1,2,3,4‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐1,4‐bis{9‐substituted‐1,3,4‐oxadiazino[6,5‐b]indol‐2‐yl‐1‐ium}‐galacto‐tetritol dichlorides (5b–d). Structures of the prepared compounds were elucidated from their spectral properties.     

Possible reactions of 1,2-naphthaquinone in the eye

1. Reactions of 1,2-naphthaquinone with amino acids, glutathione and proteins of the lens have been studied in connexion with investigations of naphthalene-induced cataract. 2. Cysteine reacts probably through its amino group with 1,2-naphthaquinone to form either purple or brown compounds with characteristic absorption spectra. 3. Glutathione reacts with 1,2-naphthaquinone through its thiol group. 4. Spectroscopic evidence suggests that 1,2-naphthaquinone reacts with the amino group of amino acids. This reaction may take place in the aqueous humour. 5. The proteins of lens react with 1,2-naphthaquinone to form brown compounds. 6. There is loss of protein thiol in this reaction and the products are less easily digestible by pancreatin than normal lens proteins. 7. The compound of α-crystallin and 1,2-naphthaquinone is soluble at neutrality, but the compounds of β-crystallins and of γ-crystallins are largely insoluble. 8. The brown reaction products of glutathione or cysteine with 1,2-naphthaquinone catalyse the oxidation of ascorbic acid in the same way as 1,2-naphthaquinone itself. 9. These results are discussed in relation to naphthalene-induced cataract.     

Excitation of indole analogs by phagocytosing leukocytes

The system suspended with phagocytosing leukocytes and related system produce weak light which could be greatly amplified by indole analogs with plain fatty acids at 3 position. Main emitting species in indole-3-acetic acid or indole-3-propionic acid-sensitized system was analyzed spectrometrically in the dark and ascribed to the transition of an excited indole compound in triplet state to its ground state. Such an excited species would be generated by the oxidative way of the indole analogs but not through the dioxetane structure of 2 and 3 positions on indole ring.     

A combined spectroscopic and TDDFT investigation of the solute‐solvent interactions of two coumarin derivatives

The UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence characteristics of 3‐cyano‐7‐hydroxycoumarin [ CHC ] and 7‐amino‐4‐methyl‐3‐coumarinylacetic acid [ AMCA‐H ] were studied at room temperature in several neat solvents and binary solvent mixtures of 1,4‐dioxane/acetonitrile. The effects of solvent on the spectral properties are analyzed using single and multi‐parameter solvent polarity scales. Both general solute/solvent interactions and hydrogen bond interactions are operative in these systems. The solvation of CHC and AMCA‐H dyes in 1,4‐dioxane/acetonitrile solvent mixtures has been studied. The solutes CHC and AMCA‐H are preferentially solvated by acetonitrile and a synergistic effect is observed for both molecules in dioxane/acetonitrile solvent mixtures. In addition, using the solvatochromic method the ground‐ and the excited‐state dipole moments of both the dyes were calculated. The ground‐ and excited‐state dipole moments, absorption and emission maxima and HOMO–LUMO gap were also estimated theoretically using B3LYP/6–311+ G (d,p) level of theory in the gaseous phase, dioxane and acetonitrile solvents. Furthermore, changes in dipole moment values were also calculated using the variation of Stokes shift with the molecular–microscopic empirical solvent polarity parameter ( ). The observed excited‐state dipole moments are larger than their ground‐state counterparts, indicating a substantial redistribution of the electron densities in a more dipolar excited state for both coumarins investigated.     

Photochemical rearrangement of dibenzo[1,4]dioxins proceeds through reactive spirocyclohexadienone and biphenylquinone intermediates.

Photochemical studies on a range of model dibenzo[1,4]dioxins were performed in aqueous and organic solutions. The compounds were found to undergo a photochemically initiated aryl-ether bond homolysis that yields reactive 2-spiro-6'-cyclohexa-2',4'-dien-1'-one and subsequent 2,2'-biphenylquinone intermediates. Under steady-state irradiation, the 2,2'-biphenylquinones were observed to participate in excited state hydrogen abstraction from the organic solvent to give the corresponding 2,2'-dihydroxybiphenyls. In the absence of continued irradiation, 2,2'-biphenylquinones with electron donating substituents thermally rearrange to the corresponding oxepino[2,3-b]benzofurans, whereas the unsubstituted 2,2'-biphenylquinone and its derivatives with electron withdrawing groups thermally rearrange to the corresponding 1-hydroxydibenzofurans.     

Design and Synthesis of Selective Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Arylisoxazole‐Phenylpiperazine Derivatives

In this work, a novel series of arylisoxazole‐phenylpiperazines were designed, synthesized, and evaluated toward acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Our results revealed that [5‐(2‐chlorophenyl)‐1,2‐oxazol‐3‐yl](4‐phenylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methanone ( 5c ) was the most potent AChE inhibitor with IC₅₀ of 21.85 μm . It should be noted that most of synthesized compounds showed no BChE inhibitory activity and [5‐(2‐fluorophenyl)‐1,2‐oxazol‐3‐yl](4‐phenylpiperazin‐1‐yl)methanone ( 5a ) was the most active anti‐BChE derivative (IC₅₀=51.66 μm ). Also, kinetic studies for the AChE and BChE inhibitory activity of compounds 5c and 5a confirmed that they have simultaneously bound to the catalytic site (CS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) of both AChE and BChE. Furthermore, docking study of compound 5c showed desired interactions of that compound with amino acid residues located in the active and peripheral anionic sites. Compound 5c was also evaluated for its BACE1 inhibitory activity and demonstrated IC₅₀=76.78 μm . Finally, neuroprotectivity of compound 5c on Aβ‐treated neurotoxicity in PC12 cells depicted low activity.     

Rapid determination of rice seed vigour by spontaneous chemiluminescence and singlet oxygen generation during early imbibition

Using a highly sensitive single photon counter, a spontaneous chemiluminescence (CL) study on rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds stored in different years was carried out. We first observed that the degree of ageing in rice seeds was related to the intensity of spontaneous CL during early imbibition (0–30 min). Rice seeds stored for a shorter time had a stronger intensity of CL in early imbibition. The germination rate of rice seeds showed an obvious positive correlation with the intensity of spontaneous CL. Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in rice seeds during early imbibition was investigated by a CL method using a cypridina luciferin analogue, 2‐methyl‐6‐(p‐methoxyphenyl)‐3,7‐dihydroimidazo [1,2α] pyrazin‐3‐one (MCLA), as a selective CL probe. Additional experimental evidence for the formation of ¹O₂ came from the quenching effect of sodium azide (NaN₃) on MCLA‐mediated rice seeds' CL. Analysis based on the experimental results demonstrated that spontaneous CL in rice seeds during early imbibition was mainly contributed by singlet oxygen (¹O₂). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High‐Performance Thick‐Film All‐Polymer Solar Cells Created Via Ternary Blending of a Novel Wide‐Bandgap Electron‐Donating Copolymer

A novel wide‐bandgap electron‐donating copolymer containing an electron‐deficient, difluorobenzotriazole building block with a siloxane‐terminated side chain is developed. The resulting polymer, poly{(4,8‐bis(4,5‐dihexylthiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene‐co‐4,7‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐5,6‐difluoro‐2‐(6‐(1,1,1,3,5,5,5‐heptamethyltri‐siloxan‐3‐yl)hexyl)‐2H‐benzo[d][1,2,3]triazole} (PBTA‐Si), is used to successfully fabricate high‐performance, ternary, all‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) insensitive to the active layer thickness. An impressively high fill factor of ≈76% is achieved with various ternary‐blending ratios. The optimized all‐PSCs attain a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.17% with an active layer thickness of 350 nm and maintain a PCE over 8% for thicknesses over 400 nm, which is the highest reported efficiency for thick all‐PSCs. These results can be attributed to efficient charge transfer, additional energy transfer, high and balanced charge transport, and weak recombination behavior in the photoactive layer. Moreover, the photoactive layers of the ternary all‐PSCs are processed in a nonhalogenated solvent, 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran, which greatly improves their compatibility with large‐scale manufacturing.