Rational Design and Reticulation of Infinite qbe Rod Secondary Building Units into Metal-Organic Frameworks through a Global Desymmetrization Approach for Inverse C H /C H Separation.

The development of reticular chemistry has enabled the construction of a large array of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with diverse net topologies and functions. However, dominating this class of materials are those built from discrete/finite secondary building units (SBUs), yet the designed synthesis of frameworks involving infinite rod-shaped SBUs remain underdeveloped. Here, by virtue of a global linker desymmetrization approach, we successfully targeted a novel Cu-MOF (Cu-ASY) incorporating infinite Cu-carboxylate rod SBUs with its structure determined by micro electron diffraction (MicroED) crystallography.

Modulator-Dependent Dynamics Synergistically Enabled Record SO Uptake in Zr(IV) Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on Pyrene-Cored Molecular Quadripod Ligand.

Developing innovative porous solid sorbents for the capture and storage of toxic SO is crucial for energy-efficient transportation and subsequent processing. Nonetheless, the quest for high-performance SO sorbents, characterized by exceptional uptake capacity, minimal regeneration energy requirements, and outstanding recyclability under ambient conditions, remains a significant challenge. In this study, we present the design of a unique tertiary amine-embedded, pyrene-based quadripod-shaped ligand.

Selective photoinduced charge separation in perylenediimide-pillar[5]arene rotaxanes.

The ability to control photoinduced charge transfer within molecules represents a major challenge requiring precise control of the relative positioning and orientation of donor and acceptor groups. Here we show that such photoinduced charge transfer processes within homo- and hetero-rotaxanes can be controlled through organisation of the components of the mechanically interlocked molecules, introducing alternative pathways for electron donation. Specifically, studies of two rotaxanes are described: a homo[3]rotaxane, built from a perylenediimide diimidazolium rod that threads two pillar[5]arene macrocycles, and a hetero[4]rotaxane in which an additional bis(1,5-naphtho)-38-crown-10 (BN38C10) macrocycle encircles the central perylenediimide.

Single crystal X-ray structure determination and temperature-dependent structural studies of the smectogenic compound 7OS5.

Structural characteristics of solid and liquid crystalline phases of 7OS5 (4-n-pentylphenyl-4'-n-heptyloxythiobenzoate), the achiral smectogenic mesogen with the shortest terminal carbon chain in the nOS5 homologous series, are studied by complementary methods. Simultaneously perfomed X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry occur to be a powerful tool to study metastable phases. The single crystal structure of a high-temperature phase, supercooled from the room temperature down to -183°C [orthorhombic crystal system; space group Pca2; a = 54.

Coherent Electron Transport in Air-Stable, Printed Single-Crystal Organic Semiconductor and Application to Megahertz Transistors.

Organic semiconductors (OSCs) have attracted growing attention for optoelectronic applications such as field-effect transistors (FETs), and coherent (or band-like) carrier transport properties in OSC single crystals (SCs) have been of interest as they can lead to high carrier mobilities. Recently, such p-type OSC SCs compatible with a printing technology have been used to achieve high-speed FETs; therefore, developments of n-type counterparts may be promising for realizing high-speed complementary organic circuits. Herein, coherent electron transport properties in a printed SC of a state-of-the-art, air-stable n-type OSC, PhC -BQQDI, by means of variable-temperature gated Hall effect measurements and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analyses in conjunction with band structure calculations, are reported.

Ensemble structural analyses depict the regulatory mechanism of non-phosphorylated human MAP2K4.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MAP2K4) plays a critical role in regulating the stress-activated protein kinase signaling cascade. A small angle X-ray scattering experiment, a powerful technique for analyzing a solution structure cleared from the structural artifacts due to crystal packing, provided the ensemble structures of human non-phosphorylated MAP2K4 in three states involving the apo form, the binary complex with an ATP analogue, and the ternary complex with the ATP analogue and substrate peptide. These ensemble structures provided more detailed mechanisms for regulating MAP2K4 in addition to those delineated only by the crystal structures in three states.

Development of a structure determination method using a multidrug-resistance regulator protein as a framework.

The structure determination of organic compounds is desirable for the development of medicines, aroma chemicals, and agricultural chemicals. However, the crystallization of organic compounds is often troublesome, because crystallization requires a relatively large quantity of high purity compounds and crystallization trials often need to be performed repetitively using different conditions. Some proteins are known to be able to bind to various organic compounds.

Zigzag-Elongated Fused π-Electronic Core: A Molecular Design Strategy to Maximize Charge-Carrier Mobility.

Printed and flexible electronics requires solution-processable organic semiconductors with a carrier mobility (μ) of ≈10 cm V s as well as high chemical and thermal durability. In this study, chryseno[2,1-:8,7-']dithiophene (ChDT) and its derivatives, which have a zigzag-elongated fused π-electronic core (π-core) and a peculiar highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) configuration, are reported as materials with conceptually new semiconducting π-cores. ChDT and its derivatives are prepared by a versatile synthetic procedure.

Building-block architecture of botulinum toxin complex: Conformational changes provide insights into the hemagglutination ability of the complex.

produces the botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT). Previously, we provided evidence for the "building-block" model of botulinum toxin complex (TC). In this model, a single BoNT is associated with a single nontoxic nonhemagglutinin (NTNHA), yielding M-TC; three HA-70 molecules are attached and form M-TC/HA-70, and one to three "arms" of the HA-33/HA-17 trimer (two HA-33 and one HA-17) further bind to M-TC/HA-70 via HA-17 and HA-70 binding, yielding one-, two-, and three-arm L-TC.

Pleurocins A and B: Unusual 11(9 → 7)-abeo-Ergostanes and Eringiacetal B: A 13,14-seco-13,14-Epoxyergostane from Fruiting Bodies of Pleurotus eryngii and Their Inhibitory Effects on Nitric Oxide Production.

Two novel 11(9 → 7)-abeo-ergostane-type steroids, named pleurocins A (1) and B (2), a 13,14-seco-13,14-epoxy ergostane, named eringiacetal B (3), and an ergostane steroid (4) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus eryngii (Pleurotaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic data and X-ray crystallography. A possible biogenesis pathway for 1-3 was also described.

Crystal structure of the solute-binding protein BxlE from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus OPC-520 complexed with xylobiose.

BxlE from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus OPC-520 is a xylo-oligosaccharide (mainly xylobiose)-binding protein that serves as the initial receptor for the bacterial ABC-type xylo-oligosaccharide transport system. To determine the ligand-binding mechanism of BxlE, X-ray structures of ligand-free (open form) and ligand (xylobiose)-bound (closed form) BxlE were determined at 1.85 Å resolution.

Cyclopropane-Based Peptidomimetics Mimicking Wide-Ranging Secondary Structures of Peptides: Conformational Analysis and Their Use in Rational Ligand Optimization.

Detailed conformational analyses of our previously reported cyclopropane-based peptidomimetics and conformational analysis-driven ligand optimization are described. Computational calculations and X-ray crystallography showed that the characteristic features of cyclopropane function effectively to constrain the molecular conformation in a three-dimensionally diverse manner. Subsequent principal component analysis revealed that the diversity covers the broad chemical space filled by peptide secondary structures in terms of both main-chain and side-chain conformations.

Conformational divergence in the HA-33/HA-17 trimer of serotype C and D botulinum toxin complex.

Clostridium botulinum produces a large toxin complex (L-TC) comprising botulinum neurotoxin associated with auxiliary nontoxic proteins. A complex of 33- and 17-kDa hemagglutinins (an HA-33/HA-17 trimer) enhances L-TC transport across the intestinal epithelial cell layer via binding HA-33 to a sugar on the cell surface. At least two subtypes of serotype C/D HA-33 exhibit differing preferences for the sugars sialic acid and galactose.

Characterization of a Rh(III) porphyrin-CO complex: its structure and reactivity with an electron acceptor.

To analyse the electrocatalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide by Rh porphyrins, we isolated a CO-adduct of Rh octaethylporphyrin, and examined its properties and reactivity by IR, NMR, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The results indicate that the CO adduct of Rh octaethylporphyrin is vulnerable to nucleophilic attack by H2O. The CO-adduct was easily oxidized by an electron acceptor (1,4-naphthoquinone) to generate CO2.

Spectroscopic tracking of Schiff base compounds' hydrogen bonding reorganization associated with solid-to-solid phase transition.

A series of 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene-1-methylidene alkylamines whose alkyl chain lengths ranged from 9 to 12 was spectroscopically examined. Transmission ultraviolet-visible absorption microspectroscopy revealed that the spectra of solid thin-films of the crystalline samples showed two distinct profiles depending on polymorphs as well as on alkyl chain length. We concluded that these spectral changes occurred not because of conventional intramolecular proton transfer but because of the molecules' interactions with an external proton source, that is, the intermolecular proton transfer.

High-performance solution-processable N-shaped organic semiconducting materials with stabilized crystal phase.

N-shaped organic semiconductors are synthesized via four steps from a readily available starting material. Such semiconductors exhibit preferable ionization potential for p-type operation, thermally stable crystalline phase over 200 °C, and high carrier mobility up to 16 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) (12.1 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) on average) with small threshold voltages in solution-crystallized field-effect transistors.

Furan fused V-shaped organic semiconducting materials with high emission and high mobility.

We report a facile synthetic protocol for preparation of dinaphtho[2,3-b:2',3'-d]furan (DNF-V) derivatives. DNF-V derivatives showed high emissive behaviour in solid. A solution-crystallized transistor based on alkylated DNF-V derivatives showed an excellent carrier mobility of up to 1.

Kinetic resolution of allyl fluorides by enantioselective allylic trifluoromethylation based on silicon-assisted C-F bond cleavage.

Two birds, one stone! The first kinetic resolution of allyl fluorides was achieved by the development of an organocatalyzed enantioselective allylic trifluoromethylation. Two kinds of chiral fluorinated compounds, which incorporate C*F and C*CF3 units, respectively, can thus be accessed by a single transformation.

V-shaped organic semiconductors with solution processability, high mobility, and high thermal durability.

V-shaped organic semiconductors have been designed and synthesized via a large-scale applicable synthetic route. Solution-crystallized films based on such molecules have demonstrated high-performance transistor properties with maximum mobilities of up to 9.5 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) as well as pronounced thermal durability of up to 150 °C inherent in the V-shaped cores.

Sugar-induced conformational change found in the HA-33/HA-17 trimer of the botulinum toxin complex.

Large-sized botulinum toxin complex (L-TC) is formed by conjugation of neurotoxin, nontoxic nonhemagglutinin and hemagglutinin (HA) complex. The HA complex is formed by association of three HA-70 molecules and three HA-33/HA-17 trimers, comprised of a single HA-17 and two HA-33 proteins. The HA-33/HA-17 trimer isolated from serotype D L-TC has the ability to bind to and penetrate through the intestinal epithelial cell monolayer in a sialic acid-dependent manner, and thus it plays an important role in toxin delivery through the intestinal cell wall.

Enantioselective cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides with arylallenes using Rh2(S-TCPTTL)4.

The first catalytic asymmetric carbonyl ylide cycloaddition with arylallenes is described. With dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrachlorophthaloyl-(S)-tert-leucinate], Rh2(S-TCPTTL)4, the cycloaddition of carbonyl ylides derived from diazoketoesters with arylallenes proceeded in a fully chemo- and regioselective manner to give highly functionalized 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.

Investigation of the noncovalent binding mode of covalent proteasome inhibitors around the transition state by combined use of cyclopropylic strain-based conformational restriction and computational modeling.

To develop potent covalent inhibitors, the noncovalent interactions around the transition state to form covalent bonding should be optimized because the potency of the inhibitor can be depending on the energy of the transition state. Here, we report an efficient analysis of the noncovalent binding mode of a potent covalent proteasome inhibitor 3a around the transition state by a combined use of the chemical approach, i.e.

Increasing the electron-transfer ability of Cyanidioschyzon merolae ferredoxin by a one-point mutation--a high resolution and Fe-SAD phasing crystal structure analysis of the Asp58Asn mutant.

Cyanidioschyzon merolae (Cm) is a single cell red algae that grows in rather thermophilic (40-50°C) and acidic (pH 1-3) conditions. Ferredoxin (Fd) was purified from this algae and characterized as a plant-type [2Fe-2S] Fd by physicochemical techniques. A high resolution (0.

Asymmetric aldol reactions between acetone and benzaldehydes catalyzed by chiral Zn2+ complexes of aminoacyl 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane: fine-tuning of the amino-acid side chains and a revised reaction mechanism.

We previously reported that chiral Zn(2+) complexes that were designed to mimic the actions of class-I and class-II aldolases catalyzed the enantioselective aldol reactions of acetone and its analogues thereof with benzaldehyde derivatives. Herein, we report the synthesis of new chiral Zn(2+) complexes that contain Zn(2+)-tetraazacyclododecane (Zn(2+)-[12]aneN4) moieties and amino acids that contain aliphatic, aromatic, anionic, cationic, and dipeptide side chains. The chemical and optical yields of the aldol reaction were improved (up to 96 % ee) by using ZnL complexes of L-decanylglycyl-pendant [12]aneN4 (L-ZnL(7)), L-naphthylalanyl-pendant [12]aneN4 (L-ZnL(10)), L-biphenylalanyl-pendant [12]aneN4 (L-ZnL(11)), and L-phenylethylglycyl-pendant [12]aneN4 ligands (L-ZnL(12)).