Role of Intact Hydrogen-Bond Networks in Multiproton-Coupled Electron Transfer.

The essential role of a well-defined hydrogen-bond network in achieving chemically reversible multiproton translocations triggered by one-electron electrochemical oxidation/reduction is investigated by using pyridylbenzimidazole-phenol models. The two molecular architectures designed for these studies differ with respect to the position of the N atom on the pyridyl ring. In one of the structures, a hydrogen-bond network extends uninterrupted across the molecule from the phenol to the pyridyl group. Experimental and theoretical evidence indicates that an overall chemically reversible two-proton-coupled electron-transfer process (E2PT) takes place upon electrochemical oxidation of the phenol. This E2PT process yields the pyridinium cation and is observed regardless of the cyclic voltammogram scan rate. In contrast, when the hydrogen-bond network is disrupted, as seen in the isomer, at high scan rates (∼1000 mV s-1) a chemically reversible process is observed with an E1/2 characteristic of a one-proton-coupled electron-transfer process (E1PT). At slow cyclic voltammetric scan rates (<1000 mV s-1) oxidation of the phenol results in an overall chemically irreversible two-proton-coupled electron-transfer process in which the second proton-transfer step yields the pyridinium cation detected by infrared spectroelectrochemistry. In this case, we postulate an initial intramolecular proton-coupled electron-transfer step yielding the E1PT product followed by a slow, likely intermolecular chemical step involving a second proton transfer to give the E2PT product. Insights into the electrochemical behavior of these systems are provided by theoretical calculations of the electrostatic potentials and electric fields at the site of the transferring protons for the forward and reverse processes. This work addresses a fundamental design principle for constructing molecular wires where protons are translocated over varied distances by a Grotthuss-type mechanism.

Proton-coupled electron transfer across benzimidazole bridges in bioinspired proton wires.

Designing molecular platforms for controlling proton and electron movement in artificial photosynthetic systems is crucial to efficient catalysis and solar energy conversion. The transfer of both protons and electrons during a reaction is known as proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) and is used by nature in myriad ways to provide low overpotential pathways for redox reactions and redox leveling, as well as to generate bioenergetic proton currents. Herein, we describe theoretical and electrochemical studies of a series of bioinspired benzimidazole-phenol (BIP) derivatives and a series of dibenzimidazole-phenol (BI2P) analogs with each series bearing the same set of terminal proton-accepting (TPA) groups. The set of TPAs spans more than 6 pK a units. These compounds have been designed to explore the role of the bridging benzimidazole(s) in a one-electron oxidation process coupled to intramolecular proton translocation across either two (the BIP series) or three (the BI2P series) acid/base sites. These molecular constructs feature an electrochemically active phenol connected to the TPA group through a benzimidazole-based bridge, which together with the phenol and TPA group form a covalent framework supporting a Grotthuss-type hydrogen-bonded network. Infrared spectroelectrochemistry demonstrates that upon oxidation of the phenol, protons translocate across this well-defined hydrogen-bonded network to a TPA group. The experimental data show the benzimidazole bridges are non-innocent participants in the PCET process in that the addition of each benzimidazole unit lowers the redox potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol couple by 60 mV, regardless of the nature of the TPA group. Using a series of hypothetical thermodynamic steps, density functional theory calculations correctly predicted the dependence of the redox potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol couple on the nature of the final protonated species and provided insight into the thermodynamic role of dibenzimidazole units in the PCET process. This information is crucial for developing molecular "dry proton wires" with these moieties, which can transfer protons via a Grotthuss-type mechanism over long distances without the intervention of water molecules.

Controlling Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Bioinspired Artificial Photosynthetic Relays.

Bioinspired constructs consisting of benzimidazole-phenol moieties bearing N-phenylimines as proton-accepting substituents have been designed to mimic the H-bond network associated with the TyrZ-His190 redox relay in photosystem II. These compounds provide a platform to theoretically and experimentally explore and expand proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) processes. The models feature H-bonds between the phenol and the nitrogen at the 3-position of the benzimidazole and between the 1 H-benzimidazole proton and the imine nitrogen. Protonation of the benzimidazole and the imine can be unambiguously detected by infrared spectroelectrochemistry (IRSEC) upon oxidation of the phenol. DFT calculations and IRSEC results demonstrate that with sufficiently strong electron-donating groups at the para-position of the N-phenylimine group (e.g., -OCH3 substitution), proton transfer to the imine is exergonic upon phenol oxidation, leading to a one-electron, two-proton (E2PT) product with the imidazole acting as a proton relay. When transfer of the second proton is not sufficiently exergonic (e.g., -CN substitution), a one-electron, one-proton transfer (EPT) product is dominant. Thus, the extent of proton translocation along the H-bond network, either ∼1.6 Å or ∼6.4 Å, can be controlled through imine substitution. Moreover, the H-bond strength between the benzimidazole NH and the imine nitrogen, which is a function of their relative p Ka values, and the redox potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol couple are linearly correlated with the Hammett constants of the substituents. In all cases, a high potential (∼1 V vs SCE) is observed for the phenoxyl radical/phenol couple. Designing and tuning redox-coupled proton wires is important for understanding bioenergetics and developing novel artificial photosynthetic systems.

Droplet-droplet interactions investigated using a combination of electrochemical and dynamic light scattering techniques. The case of water/BHDC/benzene:n-heptane system.

In this contribution the electrochemistry of [Fe(CN)6](4-/3-) as the probe molecule was investigated in benzyl-n-hexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (BHDC) reverse micelles (RMs) varying the composition of the external solvent (benzene:n-heptane mixtures) and the surfactant concentration, at a fixed water content and probe concentration. The electrochemical and dynamic light scattering results show that in water/BHDC/benzene:n-heptane systems the aggregate sizes increase on increasing BHDC concentration. This behavior was unexpected since it is known that for water/BHDC/benzene RM systems keeping the water content constant and the surfactant concentration below 0.2 M, the droplet sizes are independent of the concentration of the surfactant. We explain the results considering that on changing the external solvent to benzene:n-heptane mixtures, RMs tend to associate in clusters and equilibrium between free RMs and droplet clusters is established. A model is presented which, using electrochemical and dynamic light scattering data, allows calculating the aggregation number of the RMs, the number of RMs that form the droplet clusters and the standard electron transfer heterogeneous rate constant.

An alternative approach to quantify partition processes in confined environments: the electrochemical behavior of PRODAN in unilamellar vesicles.

Herein, we investigate the behavior of the electroactive molecular probe 6-propionyl-2-dimethyl amino naphthalene (PRODAN) in large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) formed with the phospholipid 1,2-di-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The CV studies in pure water confirm our previous spectroscopic results that PRODAN self-aggregates due to its low water solubility. Moreover, the electrochemical results also reveal that the PRODAN aggregated species are non-electroactive within the studied electrochemical potential region. In DOPC LUV media, the redox behavior of PRODAN shows how the LUV bilayer interacts with PRODAN aggregated species to form PRODAN monomer species. Moreover, the electrochemical response of PRODAN allows us to propose a model for explaining the electrochemical experimental results and--in conjunction with our measurements--for calculating the value of the partition constant (K(p)) of PRODAN between the water and LUV bilayer pseudophases. This value coincides with that obtained through an independent technique. Moreover, our electrochemical model allows us to calculate the diffusion coefficient (D) for the DOPC LUV, which coincides with the D value obtained through dynamic light scattering (DLS). Thus, our data clearly show that electrochemical measurements could be a powerful alternative approach to investigate the behavior of nonionic electroactive molecules embed in a confined environment such as the LUV bilayer. Moreover, we believe that this approach can be used to investigate the behavior of non-optical molecular drugs embedded in bilayer media.

Conductance of a biomolecular wire.

Carotenoids (Car) act as "wires" that discharge unwanted electrons in the reaction center of higher plants. One step in this "side-path" electron conduction is thought to be mediated by Car oxidation. We have carried out direct measurements of the conductance of single-Car molecules under potential control in a membrane-mimicking environment, and we found that when Car are oxidized conductance is enhanced and the electronic decay constant (beta) is decreased. However, the neutral molecule may already be conductive enough to account for observed electron transfer rates.

Carboxyphenyl metalloporphyrins as photosensitizers of semiconductor film electrodes. A study of the effect of different central metals.

Free-base (P), Zn(II) (P(Zn)), Cu(II) (P(Cu)), Pd(II) (P(Pd)), Ni(II) (P(Ni)), and Co(II) (P(Co)) 5-(4-carboxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(4-methylphenyl) porphyrins were designed and synthesized to be employed as spectral senzitizers in photoelectrochemical cells. The dyes were studied adsorbed on SnO(2) nanocrystalline semiconductor and also in Langmuir-Blodgett film ITO electrodes in order to disclose the effect of molecular packing on the studied properties. Electron injection yields were obtained by fluorescence quenching analysis comparing with the dyes adsorbed on a SiO(2) nanocrystalline insulator. Back electron-transfer kinetics were measured by using laser flash photolysis. The unmetallized and metallized molecules have different singlet state energies, fluorescence quantum yields, and redox properties. The quantum yields of sensitized photocurrent generation are shown to be highly dependent on the identity of the central metal. It is shown that P(Ni) and P(Co) do not present a photoelectric effect. The other porhyrins present reproducible photocurrent, P(Pd) being the one that gives the highest quantum yield even in closely packet ITO/LB films. Photocurrent quantum yields increase as the dye ground-state oxidation potential becomes more anodic, which is in agreement with the observation, obtained by laser flash photolysis, that back electron-transfer kinetics decrease with the increase in the driving force for the recombination process. This effect could be exploited as a design element in the development of new and better sensitizers for high-efficiency solar cells involving porphyrins and related dyes.

Voltammetric determination of salicylic acid in pharmaceuticals formulations of acetylsalicylic acid.

The electrochemical oxidation of salicylic acid (SA) has been studied on a glassy carbon electrode using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method. SA gives a single irreversible oxidation wave over the wide pH range studied. The irreversibility of the electrode process was verified by different criteria. The mechanism of oxidation is discussed. Using differential pulse voltammetry, SA yielded a well-defined voltammetric response in Britton-Robinson buffer solution, pH 2.37 at 1.088V (versus Ag/AgCl). The method was linear over the SA concentration range: 1-60mugml(-1). The method was successfully applied for the analysis of SA as a hydrolysis product, in solid pharmaceutical formulations containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA).

Optimization of the electrodeposition of copper on poly-1-naphthylamine for the amperometric detection of carbohydrates in HPLC.

A modified electrode consisting of copper dispersed in a poly-1-naphthylamine (p-1-NAP/Cu) film on a glassy carbon electrode was used as an amperometric detector for the on-line analysis of various carbohydrates separated by high performance liquid chromatography. The results obtained with this new sensor were compared to those obtained with a modified electrode based on the same polymer but with copper ions incorporated at open circuit, as described in a previous paper. In this new modified electrode the copper microparticles were electrochemically deposited into the polymeric matrix by single potential step chronoamperometry. A nucleation and growth mechanism was proposed to explain the current transients of copper electrodeposition. The experimental results were fitted to the proposed mechanism by using a mathematical equation that considers three-dimensional growth and progressive nucleation, assuming a no overlap and no diffusion mechanism. Cyclic voltammetric experiments showed that the electrodeposited copper microparticles provided a catalytic surface suited for the oxidation of glucose and several carbohydrates. The sensitivity of the electrode was influenced by the amount of copper electrodeposited, which in turn depended on the applied overpotential used for the deposition of copper. Liquid chromatographic experiments were carried out to test the analytical performance of these electrodes for the determination of various carbohydrates.

Active transport of Ca2+ by an artificial photosynthetic membrane.

Transport of calcium ions across membranes and against a thermodynamic gradient is essential to many biological processes, including muscle contraction, the citric acid cycle, glycogen metabolism, release of neurotransmitters, vision, biological signal transduction and immune response. Synthetic systems that transport metal ions across lipid or liquid membranes are well known, and in some cases light has been used to facilitate transport. Typically, a carrier molecule located in a symmetric membrane binds the ion from aqueous solution on one side and releases it on the other. The thermodynamic driving force is provided by an ion concentration difference between the two aqueous solutions, coupling to such a gradient in an auxiliary species, or photomodulation of the carrier by an asymmetric photon flux. Here we report a different approach, in which active transport is driven not by concentration gradients, but by light-induced electron transfer in a photoactive molecule that is asymmetrically disposed across a lipid bilayer. The system comprises a synthetic, light-driven transmembrane Ca2+ pump based on a redox-sensitive, lipophilic Ca2+-binding shuttle molecule whose function is powered by an intramembrane artificial photosynthetic reaction centre. The resulting structure transports calcium ions across the bilayer of a liposome to develop both a calcium ion concentration gradient and a membrane potential, expanding Mitchell's concept of a redox loop mechanism for protons to include divalent cations. Although the quantum yield is relatively low (approximately 1 per cent), the Ca2+ electrochemical potential developed is significant.

Eliminación de fluoruros utilizando hidroxiapatita

Dado que en diversos lugares del mundo existen aguas subterráneas con elevadas cantidades de flúor que resultan altamente tóxicas a la salud humana, se están ensayando nuevos métodos alternativos para la eliminación parcial de dicho elemento, utilizando hueso molido