Synthetic Advances for Mechanistic Insights: Metal-Oxygen Intermediates with a Macrocyclic Pyridinophane System.

ConspectusMetalloenzymes, which are proteins containing earth-abundant transition-metal ions as cofactors in the active site, generate various metal-oxygen intermediates via activating a dioxygen molecule (O2) to mediate vital metabolic functions, such as the oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics and the biotransformation of naturally occurring molecules. By replicating the active sites of metalloenzymes, many bioinorganic chemists have studied the geometric and electronic properties and reactivities of model complexes to understand the nature of enzymatic intermediates and develop bioinspired metal catalysts. Among the reported model complexes, nonporphyrinic macrocyclic ligands are the predominant coordination system widely used in stabilizing and isolating diverse metal-oxygen intermediates, which allows us to extensively investigate the physicochemical characteristics of the analogs of reactive intermediates of metalloenzymes. In particular, it has been reported that the ring size of the macrocyclic ligands, defined by the number of atoms in the macrocyclic ring, drastically affects the identity of the metal-oxygen intermediate. Thus, systematic modification of the macrocyclic ligands has been a great subject being examined in various inorganic fields.In this Account, we describe synthetic advances of a macrocyclic ligand system by introducing pyridine donors into a 12-membered tetraazamacrocyclic ligand (12-TMC) that initially has 4 amine donors. Interestingly, the backbone of the pyridinophane ligand with 2 pyridine and 2 amine donors in a 12-membered ring is shown to be much more folded than in other macrocyclic ligands, thereby allowing the axial and equatorial donors to separately control the electronic structure of metal complexes. Then, we looked over independent electronic and steric effects on metal-oxygen species with thorough physicochemical analysis. The NiIII-peroxo complexes exhibit nucleophilic reactivity dependent on the steric hindrance of the second coordination sphere. Furthermore, the C-H bond strength of the second coordination sphere has also been an important factor in determining the stability of MnIV-bis(hydroxo) intermediates. Electronic tuning on CoIII-hydroperoxo intermediates results in a trend between the electron-donating abilities of para-substituents on pyridine in the pyridinophane ligand and electrophilic reactivities, from which mechanistic insights into the metal-hydroperoxo species have been gained. Importantly, the metal-oxygen intermediates supported by the pyridinophane ligand system have revealed quite challenging chemical reactions, including dioxygenase-like nitrile activation by CoIII-peroxo intermediates and the oxidation of aldehyde and aromatic compounds by manganese-oxygen intermediates. Based on the fine substitution of donors, we have addressed that those novel reactions originated from the unique framework of the pyridinophane system incorporating spin-crossover behavior and high redox potentials of the metal-oxygen intermediates. These results will be valuable for the structure-activity relationship of metal-oxygen intermediates, giving a better understanding on the enzymatic coordination system where amino acid ligands vary for specific chemical reactions.

Controlling Redox Potential of a Manganese(III)-Bis(hydroxo) Complex through Protonation and the Hydrogen-Atom Transfer Reactivity.

A series of mononuclear manganese(III)-hydroxo and -aqua complexes, [MnIII(TBDAP)(OH)2]+ (1), [MnIII(TBDAP)(OH)(OH2)]2+ (2) and [MnIII(TBDAP)(OH2)2]3+ (3), were prepared from a manganese(II) precursor and confirmed using various methods including X-ray crystallography. Thermodynamic analysis showed that protonation from hydroxo to aqua species resulted in increased redox potentials (E1/2) in the order of 1 (-0.15 V) < 2 (0.56 V) < 3 (1.11 V), while pKa values exhibited a reverse trend in the order of 3 (3.87) < 2 (11.84). Employing the Bordwell Equation, the O-H bond dissociation free energies (BDFE) of [MnII(TBDAP)(OH)(OH2)]+ and [MnII(TBDAP)(OH2)2]2+, related to the driving force of 1 and 2 in hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), were determined as 75.3 and 77.3 kcal mol-1, respectively. It was found that the thermodynamic driving force of 2 in HAT becomes greater than that of 1 as the redox potential of 2 increases through protonation from 1 to 2. Kinetic studies on electrophilic reactions using a variety of substrates revealed that 1 is only weakly reactive with O-H bonds, whereas 2 can activate aliphatic C-H bonds in addition to O-H bonds. The reaction rates increased by 1.4 × 104-fold for the O-H bonds by 2 over 1, which was explained by the difference in BDFE and the tunneling effect. Furthermore, 3, possessing the highest redox potential value, was found to undergo an aromatic C-H bond activation reaction under mild conditions. These results provide valuable insights into enhancing electrophilic reactivity by modulating the redox potential of manganese(III)-hydroxo and -aqua complexes through protonation.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of a Highly Oxidative Mononuclear Manganese(IV)-Bis(Fluoro) Complex.

Recently, transition-metal terminal nonoxo complexes have shown a remarkable ability to activate and functionalize C-H bonds via proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). Here we report the first example of a mononuclear manganese(IV) bis(fluoro) complex bearing a tetradentate pyridinophane ligand, [MnIV(TBDAP)(F)2]2+ (3), with an X-ray single crystal structure and physicochemical characterization. The manganese(IV) bis(fluoro) complex has a very high reduction potential of 1.61 V vs SCE, thereby enabling the four-electron oxidation of mesitylene to 3,5-dimethylbenzaldehyde. Kinetic studies, including the kinetic isotope effect and employment of other toluene derivatives, reveal the electron transfer (ET)-driven PCET in the C-H bond activation of mesitylene by 3. This novel metal halide intermediate would be prominently valuable for expanding transition-metal halide chemistry.

Timosaponin A3 Induces Anti-Obesity and Anti-Diabetic Effects In Vitro and In Vivo.

Obesity is a serious global health challenge, closely associated with numerous chronic conditions including type 2 diabetes. Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (AA) known as Jimo has been used to address conditions associated with pathogenic heat such as wasting-thirst in Korean Medicine. Timosaponin A3 (TA3), a natural compound extracted from AA, has demonstrated potential therapeutic effects in various disease models. However, its effects on diabetes and obesity remain largely unexplored. We investigated the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties of TA3 using in vitro and in vivo models. TA3 treatment in NCI-H716 cells stimulated the secretion of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) through the activation of phosphorylation of protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKAc) and 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, TA3 effectively inhibited lipid accumulation by regulating adipogenesis and lipogenesis. In a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice model, TA3 administration significantly reduced body weight gain and food intake. Furthermore, TA3 improved glucose tolerance, lipid profiles, and mitigated hepatic steatosis in HFD-fed mice. Histological analysis revealed that TA3 reduced the size of white adipocytes and inhibited adipose tissue generation. Notably, TA3 downregulated the expression of lipogenic factor, including fatty-acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), emphasizing its potential as an anti-obesity agent. These findings revealed that TA3 may be efficiently used as a natural compound for tackling obesity, diabetes, and associated metabolic disorders, providing a novel approach for therapeutic intervention.

Oxidation of Aldehydes into Carboxylic Acids by a Mononuclear Manganese(III) Iodosylbenzene Complex through Electrophilic C-H Bond Activation.

The oxidation of aldehyde is one of the fundamental reactions in the biological system. Various synthetic procedures and catalysts have been developed to convert aldehydes into corresponding carboxylic acids efficiently under ambient conditions. In this work, we report the oxidation of aldehydes by a mononuclear manganese(III) iodosylbenzene complex, [MnIII(TBDAP)(OIPh)(OH)]2+ (1), with kinetic and mechanistic studies in detail. The reaction of 1 with aldehydes resulted in the formation of corresponding carboxylic acids via a pre-equilibrium state. Hammett plot and reaction rates of 1 with 1°-, 2°-, and 3°-aldehydes revealed the electrophilicity of 1 in the aldehyde oxidation. A kinetic isotope effect experiment and reactivity of 1 toward cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde (CCA) analogues indicate that the reaction of 1 with aldehyde occurs through the rate-determining C-H bond activation at the formyl group. The reaction rate of 1 with CCA is correlated to the bond dissociation energy of the formyl group plotting a linear correlation with other aliphatic C-H bonds. Density functional theory calculations found that 1 electrostatically interacts with CCA at the pre-equilibrium state in which the C-H bond activation of the formyl group is performed as the most feasible pathway. Surprisingly, the rate-determining step is characterized as hydride transfer from CCA to 1, affording an (oxo)methylium intermediate. At the fundamental level, it is revealed that the hydride transfer is composed of H atom abstraction followed by a fast electron transfer. Catalytic reactions of aldehydes by 1 are also presented with a broad substrate scope. This novel mechanistic study gives better insights into the metal oxygen chemistry and would be prominently valuable for development of transition metal catalysts.

Fenton-like Chemistry by a Copper(I) Complex and H2O2 Relevant to Enzyme Peroxygenase C-H Hydroxylation.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases have received significant attention as catalytic convertors of biomass to biofuel. Recent studies suggest that its peroxygenase activity (i.e., using H2O2 as an oxidant) is more important than its monooxygenase functionality. Here, we describe new insights into peroxygenase activity, with a copper(I) complex reacting with H2O2 leading to site-specific ligand-substrate C-H hydroxylation. [CuI(TMG3tren)]+ (1) (TMG3tren = 1,1,1-Tris{2-[N2-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidino)]ethyl}amine) and a dry source of hydrogen peroxide, (o-Tol3P═O·H2O2)2 react in the stoichiometry, [CuI(TMG3tren)]+ + H2O2 → [CuI(TMG3tren-OH)]+ + H2O, wherein a ligand N-methyl group undergoes hydroxylation giving TMG3tren-OH. Furthermore, Fenton-type chemistry (CuI + H2O2 → CuII-OH + ·OH) is displayed, in which (i) a Cu(II)-OH complex could be detected during the reaction and it could be separately isolated and characterized crystallographically and (ii) hydroxyl radical (·OH) scavengers either quenched the ligand hydroxylation reaction and/or (iii) captured the ·OH produced.

Systematic Electronic Tuning on the Property and Reactivity of Cobalt-(Hydro)peroxo Intermediates.

A series of cobalt(III)-peroxo complexes, [CoIII(R2-TBDAP)(O2)]+ (1R2; R2 = Cl, H, and OMe), and cobalt(III)-hydroperoxo complexes, [CoIII(R2-TBDAP)(O2H)(CH3CN)]2+ (2R2), bearing electronically tuned tetraazamacrocyclic ligands (R2-TBDAP = N,N'-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)-p-R2-pyridinophane) were prepared from their cobalt(II) precursors and characterized by various physicochemical methods. The X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic analyses unambiguously showed that all 1R2 compounds have similar octahedral geometry with a side-on peroxocobalt(III) moiety, but the O-O bond lengths of 1Cl [1.398(3) Å] and 1OMe [1.401(4) Å] were shorter than that of 1H [1.456(3) Å] due to the different spin states. For 2R2, the O-O bond vibration energies of 2Cl and 2OMe were identical at 853 cm-1 (856 cm-1 for 2H), but their Co-O bond vibration frequencies were observed at 572 cm-1 for 2Cl and 550 cm-1 for 2OMe, respectively, by resonance Raman spectroscopy (560 cm-1 for 2H). Interestingly, the redox potentials (E1/2) of 2R2 increased in the order of 2OMe (0.19 V) < 2H (0.24 V) < 2Cl (0.34 V) according to the electron richness of the R2-TBDAP ligands, but the oxygen-atom-transfer reactivities of 2R2 showed a reverse trend (k2: 2Cl < 2H < 2OMe) with a 13-fold rate enhancement at 2OMe over 2Cl in a sulfoxidation reaction with thioanisole. Although the reactivity trend contradicts the general consideration that electron-rich metal-oxygen species with low E1/2 values have sluggish electrophilic reactivity, this could be explained by a weak Co-O bond vibration of 2OMe in the unusual reaction pathway. These results provide considerable insight into the electronic nature-reactivity relationship of metal-oxygen species.

Effectiveness of Chuna (or Tuina) Manual Therapy for Temporomandibular Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects patients' quality of life (QoL) because of the resulting structural and functional impairment and pain. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the evidence regarding the effectiveness, safety and improvement in QoL in patients who underwent Chuna manual therapy (CMT) for TMD. Methods: We searched 11 databases and included randomized controlled trials (RCT) on CMT for TMD published before March 2020. A meta-analysis was conducted, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method was used to evaluate the evidence level. We included 12 RCTs that compared CMT and conventional care. Results: CMT showed significantly better patient pain reduction, functional improvement and QoL. A superior result was seen in the use of CMT in conjunction with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) or conventional care. CMT showed no minor or serious adverse events compared with medical treatments. The evidence level was low for all outcomes, except QoL. Conclusions: We found that CMT for TMD resulted in functional improvement, pain reduction and improvement in QoL, with fewer adverse events. However, since the evidence level varied from very low to moderate due to imprecision and the risk of bias with the included studies, we are limited in determining the efficacy of Chuna therapy using these studies. High-quality, well-designed and large-scale RCTs are needed to conclusively determine the clinical efficacy of CMT in TMD.

Aliphatic and Aromatic C-H Bond Oxidation by High-Valent Manganese(IV)-Hydroxo Species.

The strong C-H bond activation of hydrocarbons is a difficult reaction in environmental and biological chemistry. Herein, a high-valent manganese(IV)-hydroxo complex, [MnIV(CHDAP-O)(OH)]2+ (2), was synthesized and characterized by various physicochemical measurements, such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and helium-tagging infrared photodissociation (IRPD) methods. The one-electron reduction potential (Ered) of 2 was determined to be 0.93 V vs SCE by redox titration. 2 is formed via a transient green species assigned to a manganese(IV)-bis(hydroxo) complex, [MnIV(CHDAP)(OH)2]2+ (2'), which performs intramolecular aliphatic C-H bond activation. The kinetic isotope effect (KIE) value of 4.8 in the intramolecular oxidation was observed, which indicates that the C-H bond activation occurs via rate-determining hydrogen atom abstraction. Further, complex 2 can activate the C-H bonds of aromatic compounds, anthracene and its derivatives, under mild conditions. The KIE value of 1.0 was obtained in the oxidation of anthracene. The rate constant (ket) of electron transfer (ET) from N,N'-dimethylaniline derivatives to 2 is fitted by Marcus theory of electron transfer to afford the reorganization energy of ET (λ = 1.59 eV). The driving force dependence of log ket for oxidation of anthracene derivatives by 2 is well evaluated by Marcus theory of electron transfer. Detailed kinetic studies, including the KIE value and Marcus theory of outer-sphere electron transfer, imply that the mechanism of aromatic C-H bond hydroxylation by 2 proceeds via the rate-determining electron-transfer pathway.

Structure and Reactivity of Nonporphyrinic Terminal Manganese(IV)-Hydroxide Complexes in the Oxidative Electrophilic Reaction.

High-valent transition metal-hydroxide complexes have been proposed as essential intermediates in biological and synthetic catalytic reactions. In this work, we report the single-crystal X-ray structure and spectroscopic characteristics of a mononuclear nonporphyrinic MnIV-(OH) complex, [MnIV(Me3-TPADP)(OH)(OCH2CH3)]2+ (2), using various physicochemical methods. Likewise, [MnIV(Me3-TPADP)(OH)(OCH2CF3)]2+ (3), which is thermally stable at room temperature, was also synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. The MnIV-(OH) adducts are capable of performing oxidation reactions with external organic substrates such as C-H bond activation, sulfoxidation, and epoxidation. Kinetic studies, involving the Hammett correlation and kinetic isotope effect, and product analyses indicate that 2 and 3 exhibit electrophilic oxidative reactivity toward hydrocarbons. Density functional theory calculations support the assigned electronic structure and show that direct C-H bond activation of the MnIV-(OH) species is indeed possible.

Treatment for temporomandibular disorders in South Korea: A 9-year trend using cluster analysis.

BACKGROUND: Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), research evidence on current clinical practice trends is scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the TMD treatment trends and patterns according to patient characteristics in Korea over a 9-year period. METHODS: The 2010-2018 Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service National Patient Sample data were used. A total of 109 969 patients diagnosed with TMD as the principal diagnosis at least once in each year were included in the study. The types of visits and treatments were analysed by year. K-medoids clustering was then performed to analyse the treatment patterns according to patient characteristics. RESULTS: The most commonly used drugs for pharmacological treatment were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and relaxants. The prescription of opioids, anxiolytics and antidepressants was reduced. Among non-pharmacological treatments, physiotherapy was the most utilised, and its use increased over the years. Cluster analysis showed that treatment patterns generally differed between sexes; the rate of outpatient visits and the use of NSAIDs, relaxants and physiotherapy were higher among female patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that TMD treatment prescriptions changed from 2010 to 2018 and found notable trends in NSAIDs, relaxants, opioids, anxiolytics, antidepressants and physiotherapy. Moreover, the treatment patterns differed between the sexes. These findings indicate that the prescriptions for TMD treatment changed over the years; these results may be useful in the development of future clinical guidelines and should be reflected in future guidelines.

Association of temporomandibular disorders and tinnitus with health-related quality of life: A cross-sectional study using the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the associations of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and tinnitus with health-related quality of life on a national level. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the associations of TMDs, tinnitus and quality of life among the Korean population, aged 19 years or older. METHODS: Data were obtained from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012; N = 5786). TMDs, tinnitus and health-related quality of life were assessed using self-report data from EuroQol-5 Dimension. Participants were divided into four groups: no TMD and no tinnitus, TMD present but no tinnitus, no TMD but tinnitus present and both TMD and tinnitus present. RESULTS: Among the participants, 21.88% had TMD, 24.93% had tinnitus, and 7.74% had both. The prevalence of most TMD and all types of tinnitus was higher among females than among males. The group with both TMD and tinnitus reported the highest percentage of problems in the usual activity, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression dimensions. Moreover, the odds ratio (OR) for lower quality of life was significantly higher in the group with both TMD and tinnitus compared to the group without TMD and tinnitus: mobility (OR = 1.527, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.014-2.300), pain/discomfort (OR = 2.072, 95% CI: 1.570-2.735), anxiety/depression (OR = 1.692, 95% CI: 1.034-2.767), EQ-5D score (OR = 1.651, 95% CI: 1.121-2.431) and EQ-VAS (OR = 1.682, 95% CI: 1.246-2.269). CONCLUSION: The presence of both TMD and tinnitus has a considerable impact on HRQoL in the Korean population. In our study, the group with both TMD and tinnitus showed lower HRQoL than without TMD and tinnitus group. These results emphasise the need for a multilateral and comprehensive approach to address these disorders and provide baseline data for developing appropriate interventions.

Challenges of Measuring Soluble Mn(III) Species in Natural Samples.

Soluble Mn(III)-L complexes appear to constitute a substantial portion of manganese (Mn) in many environments and serve as critical high-potential species for biogeochemical processes. However, the inherent reactivity and lability of these complexes-the same chemical characteristics that make them uniquely important in biogeochemistry-also make them incredibly difficult to measure. Here we present experimental results demonstrating the limits of common analytical methods used to quantify these complexes. The leucoberbelin-blue method is extremely useful for detecting many high-valent Mn species, but it is incompatible with the subset of Mn(III) complexes that rapidly decompose under low-pH conditions-a methodological requirement for the assay. The Cd-porphyrin method works well for measuring Mn(II) species, but it does not work for measuring Mn(III) species, because additional chemistry occurs that is inconsistent with the proposed reaction mechanism. In both cases, the behavior of Mn(III) species in these methods ultimately stems from inter- and intramolecular redox chemistry that curtails the use of these approaches as a reflection of ligand-binding strength. With growing appreciation for the importance of high-valent Mn species and their cycling in the environment, these results underscore the need for additional method development to enable quantifying such species rapidly and accurately in nature.

Controlled Regulation of the Nitrile Activation of a Peroxocobalt(III) Complex with Redox-Inactive Lewis Acidic Metals.

Redox-inactive metal ions play vital roles in biological O2 activation and oxidation reactions of various substrates. Recently, we showed a distinct reactivity of a peroxocobalt(III) complex bearing a tetradentate macrocyclic ligand, [CoIII(TBDAP)(O2)]+ (1) (TBDAP = N,N'-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane), toward nitriles that afforded a series of hydroximatocobalt(III) complexes, [CoIII(TBDAP)(R-C(═NO)O)]+ (R = Me (3), Et, and Ph). In this study, we report the effects of redox-inactive metal ions on nitrile activation of 1. In the presence of redox-inactive metal ions such as Zn2+, La3+, Lu3+, and Y3+, the reaction does not form the hydroximatocobalt(III) complex but instead gives peroxyimidatocobalt(III) complexes, [CoIII(TBDAP)(R-C(═NH)O2)]2+ (R = Me (2) and Ph (2Ph)). These new intermediates were characterized by various physicochemical methods including X-ray diffraction analysis. The rates of the formation of 2 are found to correlate with the Lewis acidity of the additive metal ions. Moreover, complex 2 was readily converted to 3 by the addition of a base. In the presence of Al3+, Sc3+, or H+, 1 is converted to [CoIII(TBDAP)(O2H)(MeCN)]2+ (4), and further reaction with nitriles did not occur. These results reveal that the reactivity of the peroxocobalt(III) complex 1 in nitrile activation can be regulated by the redox-inactive metal ions and their Lewis acidity. DFT calculations show that the redox-inactive metal ions stabilize the peroxo character of end-on Co-η1-O2 intermediate through the charge reorganization from a CoII-superoxo to a CoIII-peroxo intermediate. A complete mechanistic model explaining the role of the Lewis acid is presented.

Dynamic Transformation of a Ag+-Coordinated Supramolecular Nanostructure from a 1D Needle to a 1D Helical Tube via a 2D Ribbon Accompanying the Conversion of Complex Structures.

We report a unique dynamic morphology transformation of a Ag+-coordinated supramolecular nanostructure accompanying the conversion of complex structures in aqueous solution. In the presence of AgNO3 (1.0 equiv), the achiral bipyridine-based ligand 1G, possessing hydrazine and glycine moieties, preferentially generated a 1D needle-like structure (nanostructure I) based on the 1GAgNO3 complex (1G:Ag+ = 1:1) as a metastable product. Nanostructure I was then transformed into nanostructure II, which was composed of the 1G3Ag2(NO3)2 complex (1G:Ag+ = 3:2) as the thermodynamically stable product. This nanostructure exhibited a 1D helical tubular structure with a uniform diameter via a 2D ribbon as an intermediator, which led to the generation of a circular dichroism (CD) signal with right-handed (P-type) helicity. The observed dynamic transformation was attributed to formation of the thermodynamically favored helical 1G3Ag2(NO3)2 complex. In addition, the helical 1G3Ag2(NO3)2 complex acted as an initiator in the transformation from the 1D needle-like structure to the 1D helical tube via a 2D ribbon. The enhanced ΔG° value of nanostructure II compared to that of nanostructure I confirmed that nanostructure II is thermodynamically stable. More importantly, the transformation of supramolecular nanostructure I to nanostructure II occurred via an "on" pathway, even though the 1GAgNO3 complex was converted to the 1G3Ag2(NO3)2 complex, which did not involve dissociation from nanostructure I into the monomeric 1GAgNO3 complex species. In the kinetic study, the NO3- anion was found to act as an accelerator for the dynamic transformation from nanostructure I to nanostructure II. This result provides the first example of a dynamic transformation of a 1D needle-like structure into a 1D tubular structure via a 2D ribbon structure, accompanied by the conversion of a complex structure and the generation of a large CD signal for the metallo-supramolecular nanostructure. This study may open up new avenues to the understanding of a dynamic morphology transformation process in biological systems.

Proton Switch in the Secondary Coordination Sphere to Control Catalytic Events at the Metal Center: Biomimetic Oxo Transfer Chemistry of Nickel Amidate Complex.

High-valent metal-oxo species are key intermediates for the oxygen atom transfer step in the catalytic cycles of many metalloenzymes. While the redox-active metal centers of such enzymes are typically supported by anionic amino acid side chains or porphyrin rings, peptide backbones might function as strong electron-donating ligands to stabilize high oxidation states. To test the feasibility of this idea in synthetic settings, we have prepared a nickel(II) complex of new amido multidentate ligand. The mononuclear nickel complex of this N5 ligand catalyzes epoxidation reactions of a wide range of olefins by using mCPBA as a terminal oxidant. Notably, a remarkably high catalytic efficiency and selectivity were observed for terminal olefin substrates. We found that protonation of the secondary coordination sphere serves as the entry point to the catalytic cycle, in which high-valent nickel species is subsequently formed to carry out oxo-transfer reactions. A conceptually parallel process might allow metalloenzymes to control the catalytic cycle in the primary coordination sphere by using proton switch in the secondary coordination sphere.

Hydride-Transfer Reaction to a Mononuclear Manganese(III) Iodosylarene Complex.

Metal iodosylarene species have received interest because of their potential oxidative power as a catalyst. We present the first example of hydride-transfer reactions to a mononuclear manganese(III) iodosylbenzene complex, [MnIII(TBDAP)(OIPh)(OH)]2+ (1; TBDAP = N,N-di-tert-butyl-2,11-diaza[3.3](2,6)pyridinophane), with dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) analogues. Kinetic studies show that hydride-transfer from the NADH analogues to 1 occurs via a proton-coupled electron transfer, followed by a rapid electron transfer.

Twist to Boost: Circumventing Quantum Yield and Dissymmetry Factor Trade-Off in Circularly Polarized Luminescence.

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) enables promising applications in asymmetric photonics. However, the performances of CPL molecules do not yet meet the requirements of these applications. The shortcoming originates from the trade-off in CPL between the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and the photoluminescence dissymmetry factor (gPL). In this study, we developed a molecular strategy to circumvent this trade-off. Our approach takes advantage of the strong propensity of [Pt(N^C^N)Cl], where the N^C^N ligand is 1-(2-oxazoline)-3-(2-pyridyl)phenylate, to form face-to-face stacks. We introduced chiral substituents, including (S)-methyl, (R)- and (S)-isopropyl, and (S)-indanyl groups, into the ligand framework. This asymmetric control induces torsional displacements that give homohelical stacks of the Pt(II) complexes. X-ray single-crystal structure analyses for the (S)-isopropyl Pt(II) complex reveal the formation of a homohelical dimer with a Pt···Pt distance of 3.48 Å, which is less than the sum of the van der Waals radii of Pt. This helical stack elicits the metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MMLCT) transition that exhibits strong chiroptical activity due to the electric transition moment making an acute angle to the magnetic transition moment. The PLQY and gPL values of the MMLCT phosphorescence emission of the (S)-isopropyl Pt(II) complex are 0.49 and 8.4 × 10-4, which are improved by factors of ca. 6 and 4, respectively, relative to the values of the unimolecular emission (PLQY, 0.078; gPL, 2.4 × 10-4). Our photophysical measurements for the systematically controlled Pt(II) complexes reveal that the CPL amplifications depend on the chiral substituent. Our investigations also indicate that excimers are not responsible for the enhanced chiroptical activity. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach, organic electroluminescence devices were fabricated. The MMLCT emission devices were found to exhibit simultaneous enhancements in the external quantum efficiency (EQE, 9.7%) and the electroluminescence dissymmetry factor (gEL, 1.2 × 10-4) over the unimolecular emission devices (EQE, 5.8%; gEL, 0.3 × 10-4). These results demonstrate the usefulness of using the chiroptically active MMLCT emission for achieving an amplified CPL.

Multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial of electroacupuncture with usual care for patients with non-acute pain after back surgery.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety between electroacupuncture (EA) combined with usual care (UC) and UC alone for pain reduction and functional improvement in patients with non-acute low back pain (LBP) after back surgery. METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised, assessor-blinded active-controlled trial, 108 participants were equally randomised to either the EA with UC or the UC alone. Participants in the EA with UC group received EA treatment and UC treatment twice a week for 4 weeks; those allocated to the UC group received only UC. The primary outcome was the VAS pain intensity score. The secondary outcomes were functional improvement (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI]) and the quality of life (EuroQol-5-dimension questionnaire [EQ-5D]). The outcomes were measured at Week 5. RESULTS: Significant reductions were observed in the VAS (mean difference [MD] -8.15; P=0.0311) and ODI scores (MD -3.98; P=0.0460) between two groups after 4 weeks of treatment. No meaningful differences were found in the EQ-5D scores and incidence of adverse events (AEs) between the groups. The reported AEs did not have a causal relationship with EA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that EA with UC treatment was more effective than UC alone and relatively safe in patients with non-acute LBP after back surgery. EA with UC treatment may be considered as an effective, integrated, conservative treatment for patients with non-acute LBP after back surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: KCT0001939.

Redox-Inactive Metal Ions That Enhance the Nucleophilic Reactivity of an Alkylperoxocopper(II) Complex.

The importance of redox-inactive metal ions in modulating the reactivity of redox-active biological systems is a subject of great current interest. In this work, the effect of redox-inactive metal ions (M3+ = Sc3+, Y3+, Yb3+, La3+) on the nucleophilic reactivity of a mononuclear ligand-based alkylperoxocopper(II) complex, [Cu(iPr2-tren-C(CH3)2O2)]+ (1), was examined. 1 was prepared by the addition of hydrogen peroxide and triethylamine to the solution of [Cu(iPr3-tren)(CH3CN)]+ (iPr3-tren = tris[2-(isopropylamino)ethyl]amine) via the formation of [Cu(iPr3-tren)(O2H)]+ (2) in methanol (CH3OH) at 30 °C. 1 was characterized using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and spectroscopic methods such as UV-vis, resonance Raman (rR), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). DFT calculations support the electronic structure of 1 with an intermediate geometry between the trigonal-bipyramidal and square-pyramidal geometries, which is consistent with the observed EPR signal exhibiting a signal with g⊥ = 2.03 (A⊥ = 16 G) and g|| = 2.19 (A|| = 158 G). The Cu-O bond stretching frequency of 1 was observed at 507 cm-1 for 16O2 species (486 cm-1 for 18O2 species), and its O-O vibrational energy was determined to be 799 cm-1 for 16O2 species (759 cm-1 for 18O2 species) by rR spectroscopy. The reactivity of 1 was investigated in oxidative nucleophilic reactions. The positive slope of the Hammett plot (ρ = 2.3(1)) with para-substituted benzaldehydes and the reactivity order with 1°-, 2°-, and 3°-CHO demonstrate well the nucleophilic character of this copper(II) ligand-based alkylperoxo complex. The Lewis acidity of M3+ improves the oxidizing ability of 1. The modulated reactivity of 1 with M3+ was revealed to be an opposite trend of the Lewis acidity of M3+ in aldehyde deformylation.