Under simulated solar irradiation in the visible spectral region, the catalytically active RuIV-oxo species [Ru(O)(bpy)(tppz)]2+ (tppz = tetrapyridylpyrazine, a strongly π-accepting tridentate N, N, N-ligand) is produced directly from a single metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) photoexcitation of the resting RuII-aquo complex [Ru(H2O)(bpy)(tppz)]2+ in aqueous media containing an electron acceptor. This photoinduced path to 2-electron/2-proton activation of a mononuclear catalyst (i.e., without a paired chromophoric unit) is enabled by the thermodynamic instability of the intermediate RuIII-hydroxo species [Ru(OH)(bpy)(tppz)]2+, which promptly disproportionates into the RuIV-oxo and RuII-aquo states as electrochemically observed by cyclic and pulse voltammetries in a wide range of pH. The proton-coupled multielectron photocatalytic capability of the complex in neutral aqueous solutions, at room conditions, was demonstrated through the dehydrogenative oxidation of benzyl alcohol into benzaldehyde with a product selectivity of about 100%. The performance of this mononuclear complex acting as chromophore/catalyst is comparable to that of the previously reported dinuclear complex [(tpy)Ru(tppz)Ru(HxO)(bpy)]4+. In addition to the characterization of redox and spectroscopic properties for the [Ru(L)(bpy)(tppz)]n+ derivatives with L = Cl- or HxO, structural analysis of the precursor chloro complex [RuCl(bpy)(tppz)](PF6) was also performed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in this work.

Significant differences were found in the proton-coupled redox chemistry and catalytic behavior of the binuclear [{Ru(H2O)(bpz)}2(tpy2ph)](PF6)4 complex [bpz = 2,2'-bipyrazine; tpy2ph = 1,3-bis(4'-2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4-yl)benzene] as compared with the structurally analogous derivative with 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) instead of bpz. The differences were assigned to the stronger π-accepting character of bpz relative to bpy as the ancillary ligand. The expectation of a positive shift for the Ru-centered redox potentials was confirmed for the lower oxidation state species, but that trend was reversed in the formation of the high-valence catalytic active species as shown by a negative shift of 0.14 V for the potential of the [RuIV/V[double bond, length as m-dash]O] process. Moreover, DFT calculations indicated a significant decrease of about 15% on the spin density and oxyl character of the [RuV[double bond, length as m-dash]O]3+ fragment. The significantly lower kcat(O2) for the bpz system was attributed to these combined electronic effects.

Polystyrene-b-polyethylene glycol (PS-b-PEG) amphiphilic block copolymers featuring a terminal tridentate N,N,N-ligand (terpyridine) were synthesized for the first time through an efficient route. In this approach, telechelic chain-end modified polystyrenes were produced via reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization by using terpyridine trithiocarbonate as the chain-transfer agent, after which the hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) block was incorporated into the hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) block in high yields via a thiol-ene process. Following metal-coordination with Mn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, the resulting metallo-polymers were self-assembled into spherical, vesicular nanostructures, as characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging.

An optically active metallo-polymer assembly is demonstrated via conjugation of a genetically engineered elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) and a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex. By taking advantage of the phase transition of ELPs in water, photophysical properties of the resultant conjugate are investigated for both phases, below and above the critical transition temperature. Upon coacervation, the luminescence of the metallo-ELP is greatly enhanced as a consequence of local effects on the metal–ligand luminophore. These findings open a possibility to harness the temperature control of stimuli-responsive properties of biopolymers.

In the mixed-valence complex [Ru-III(NH3)(5)(-dpypn)Fe-II(CN)(5)] with the flexible bridging ligand 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane (dpypn), electrostatic interactions between the {Ru(NH3)(5)}(3+) and {Fe(CN)(5)}(3-) moieties drive a strong bending of dpypn and approximation of the Ru-III and Fe-II centers, from which the enhanced electronic coupling between metal ions produces an intense intervalence-transfer absorption in the near-infrared region. Density functional theory calculations corroborate both the electrostatic bending in this heterobinuclear complex and a linear geometry in the homobinuclear counterparts [Ru(NH3)(5)(-dpypn)Ru(NH3)(5)](5+) and [Fe(CN)(5)(-dpypn)Fe(CN)(5)](5-), for which no evidence of electronic coupling was found because of the separation between metal centers. Furthermore, the heterobinuclear species formed an inclusion complex with -cyclodextrin where the imposed linear geometry prevents significant electronic coupling and intervalence charge transfer between the Ru-III and Fe-II centers. [GRAPHICS] .

Protein-ligand conjugations are usually carried out in aqueous media in order to mimic the environment within which the conjugates will be used. In this work, we focus on the conjugation of amphiphilic variants of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), short elastin (sEL), to poorly water-soluble compounds like OPPVs ( p-phenylenevinylene oligomers), triarylamines, and polypyridine-metal complexes. These conjugations are problematic when carried out in aqueous phase because hydrophobic ligands tend to avoid exposure to water, which in turn causes the ligand to self-aggregate and/or interact noncovalently with hydrophobic regions of the amphiphile. Ultimately, this behavior leads to low conjugation efficiency and contamination with strong noncovalent "conjugates". After exploring the solubility of sEL in various organic solvents, we have established an efficient conjugation methodology for obtaining covalent conjugates virtually free of contaminating noncovalent complexes. When conjugating carboxylated ligands to the amphiphile amines, we demonstrate that even when only one amine (the N-terminus) is present, its derivatization is 98% efficient. When conjugating amine moieties to the amphiphile carboxyls (a problematic configuration), protein multimerization is avoided, 98-100% of the protein is conjugated, and the unreacted ligand is recovered in pure form. Our syntheses occur in "one pot", and our purification procedure is a simple workup utilizing a combination of water and organic solvent extractions. This conjugation methodology might provide a solution to problems arising from solubility mismatch of protein and ligand, and it is likely to be widely applied for modification of recombinant amphiphiles used for drug delivery (PEG-antibodies, polymer-enzymes, food proteins), cell adhesion (collagen, hydrophobins), synthesis of nanostructures (peptides), and engineering of biocompatible optoelectronics (biological polymers), to cite a few.

We report the structural and electrochemical characterization of the binuclear complex [μ-(C24H16N6){RuCl(C10H8N2)}2](PF6)2, which contains the bis-tridentate bridging ligand 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine (tppz), the monodentate ligand Cl−, and the bidentate ligand 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) {systematic name: μ-2,3,5,6-tetrakis(pyridin-2-yl)pyrazine-bis[(2,2′-bipyridine)chloridoruthenium(II)] bis(hexafluoridophosphate)}. The complete [(bpy)(Cl)Ru(tppz)Ru(Cl)(bpy)]2+ dication is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry; the tppz bridging ligand has a significantly twisted conformation, with an average angle of 42.4° between the mean planes of adjacent pyridyl rings. The metal-coordinated chloride ligands are in a trans configuration relative to each other across the {Ru(tppz)Ru} unit. The RuII ion exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry due to the restricted bite angle [160.6 (3)°] of the tppz ligand. For bpy, the bond lengths of the Ru—N bonds are 2.053 (8) and 2.090 (8) Å, with the shorter bond being opposite to Ru—Cl. For the tridentate tppz, the Ru—N distances involving the outer N atoms trans to each other are 2.069 (8) and 2.072 (9) Å, whereas the Ru—N bond involving the central N atom has the much shorter length of 1.939 (7) Å as a result of the geometric constraints and stronger π-acceptor ability of the pyrazine-centered bridge. The Ru—Cl distance is 2.407 (3) Å and the intramolecular distance between Ru centers is 6.579 (4) Å. In the crystal, weak C—H...Cl and C—H...F interactions consolidate the packing.

The trinuclear chromium(III) complex [Cr3O(CH3CO2)(6)(L)(H2O)(2)] (where L is the monoanion of the flavonoid naringenin) was synthesized and characterized. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis show that the flavonoid binds to Cr-III as an O,O-bidentate ligand via the 5-hydroxy and 4-oxo groups. Reactions with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) indicate that the antiradical activity of this flavonoid-metal complex is enhanced in comparison with uncoordinated naringenin.[GRAPHICS].

The cover picture shows the catalytic oxidation of water by a novel, weakly coupled binuclear complex of the type [RuV2(O)2(bpy)2(L)]6+, where L is the angular bridging ligand 1,3-bis(4'-2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4-yl)benzene. This “Pacman-like” molecule has an appetite for water molecules (oxidizes them to O2) and, with a kcat(O2) about 20 times that of the corresponding mononuclear complex, demonstrates significant cooperation between Ru sites. Details are discussed in the article by K. Araki et al. (DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201600889). For more on the story behind the cover research, see the Cover Profile (DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201601446).

Biopolymer-based optical hydrogels represent an emerging class of materials with potential applications in biocompatible integrated optoelectronic devices, bioimaging applications, and stretchable/flexible photonics. We have synthesized stimuli-responsive three-dimensional hydrogels from genetically engineered elastin-like polymers (ELPs) and have loaded these hydrogels with an amine-containing p-phenylenevinylene oligomer (OPPV) derivative featuring highly tunable, environmentally sensitive optical properties. The composite ELP/OPPV hydrogels exhibit both pH- and temperature-dependent fluorescence emission, from which we have characterized a unique optical behavior that emerged from OPPV within the hydrogel environment. By systematic comparison with free OPPV in solution, our results suggest that this distinct behavior is due to local electronic effects arising from interactions between the hydrophobic ELP microenvironment and the nonprotonated OPPV species at pH 7 or higher.

A novel 6-atom gold nanocluster is templated by a phosphorodiamidate oligomer and binds to a P,N,N pocket of the ligand backbone, as opposed to the peripheral nucleobases.

The catalytic oxidation of water by the binuclear complex [Ru 2 (H 2 O) 2 (bpy) 2 (tpy 2 ph)](PF 6 ) 4 [bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; tpy 2 ph = 1,3-bis(4′-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridin-4-yl)benzene] was investigated comparatively to its mononuclear counterpart [Ru(H 2 O)(bpy)(phtpy)](PF 6 ) 2 (phtpy = 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine). These catalysts were prepared from the synthesis of their precursor chloride complexes, which were also extensively characterized in this work. The H 2 O–Ru II complexes were found to undergo proton-coupled electron-transfer processes to generate the redox species HO–Ru III , O=Ru IV , and O=Ru V . The catalytically active species, [Ru V 2 (O) 2 (bpy) 2 (tpy 2 ph)] 6+ and [Ru V (O)(bpy)(phtpy)] 3+ , were generated electrochemically and by using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate. In the presence of Ce IV , the catalytic rates for O 2 production by the binuclear and mononuclear species were 1.9 × 10 –3 and 9.5 × 10 –5 s –1 , respectively. This superior catalytic performance of the binuclear complex suggests that, despite weak electronic coupling between the Ru centers, the second site could play an important mechanistic role in the formation of the activated species [(bpy)(OO)Ru IV (tpy 2 ph)Ru III (OH)(bpy)] 4+ .

Functional hybrid materials with optically active metal-ligand moieties embedded within a polymer matrix have a great potential in (bio)materials science, including applications in light-emitting diode devices. Here, a simple strategy is reported to incorporate terpyridine derivatives into the side chains of elastin-like polymers (ELPs). The further binding of trivalent lanthanide ions with the terpyridine ligands generates an array of photoluminescence ranging from the visible to the near-infrared regions. As thin films, these ELP-based optical materials also exhibit distinct morphologies that depend upon the temperature of the aqueous solutions from which the hybrid polymers are spin coated or drop cast.

A new trinuclear oxo-centered chromium(III) complex with formula [Cr3O(CH3CO2)6(L)(H2O)2] (L = 5-hydroxyflavone, known as primuletin) was synthetized and characterized by ESI mass spectrometry, thermogravimetry, and 1H-NMR, UV-Vis, and FTIR spectroscopies. In agreement with the experimental results, DFT calculations indicated that the flavonoid ligand is coordinated to one of the three Cr(III) centers in an O,O-bidentate mode through the 5-hydroxy/4-keto groups. In a comparative study involving the uncoordinated primuletin and its corresponding complex, systematic reactions with the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) showed that antiradical activity increases upon complexation.

We report the structural characterization of [6′,6′′-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-2,2′:4′,4′′:2′′,2′′′-quaterpyridine](2,2′-bipyridine)chloridoruthenium(II) hexafluoridophosphate, [RuCl(C10H8N2)(C30H20N6)]PF6, which contains the bidentate ligand 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) and the tridendate ligand 6′,6′′-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-2,2′:4′,4′′:2′′,2′′′-quaterpyridine (tpy–tpy). The [RuCl(bpy)(tpy–tpy)]+ monocation has a distorted octahedral geometry at the central RuII ion due to the restricted bite angle [159.32 (16)°] of the tridendate ligand. The Ru-bound tpy and bpy moieties are nearly planar and essentially perpendicular to each other with a dihedral angle of 89.78 (11)° between the least-squares planes. The lengths of the two Ru—N bonds for bpy are 2.028 (4) and 2.075 (4) Å, with the shorter bond being opposite to Ru—Cl. For tpy–tpy, the mean Ru—N distance involving the outer N atoms trans to each other is 2.053 (8) Å, whereas the length of the much shorter bond involving the central N atom is 1.936 (4) Å. The Ru—Cl distance is 2.3982 (16) Å. The free uncoordinated moiety of tpy–tpy adopts a trans,trans conformation about the interannular C—C bonds, with adjacent pyridyl rings being only approximately coplanar. The crystal packing shows significant π–π stacking interactions based on tpy–tpy. The crystal structure reported here is the first for a tpy–tpy complex of ruthenium.

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

ABSTRACTIn this article, we describe the engineering and X‐ray crystal structure of Thermal Green Protein (TGP), an extremely stable, highly soluble, non‐aggregating green fluorescent protein. TGP is a soluble variant of the fluorescent protein eCGP123, which despite being highly stable, has proven to be aggregation‐prone. The X‐ray crystal structure of eCGP123, also determined within the context of this paper, was used to carry out rational surface engineering to improve its solubility, leading to TGP. The approach involved simultaneously eliminating crystal lattice contacts while increasing the overall negative charge of the protein. Despite intentional disruption of lattice contacts and introduction of high entropy glutamate side chains, TGP crystallized readily in a number of different conditions and the X‐ray crystal structure of TGP was determined to 1.9 Å resolution. The structural reasons for the enhanced stability of TGP and eCGP123 are discussed. We demonstrate the utility of using TGP as a fusion partner in various assays and significantly, in amyloid assays in which the standard fluorescent protein, EGFP, is undesirable because of aberrant oligomerization. Proteins 2015; 83:1225–1237. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.