Debra L. Mohler

Photoinduced Ultrafast Electron Transfer from CdSe Quantum Dots to Re-bipyridyl Complexes

Ultrafast dissociation of excitons in CdSe quantum dots via electron transfer to adsorbed Re-bipyridyl complexes was demonstrated. The dissociation pathway was determined by the observation of reduced adsorbate using femtosecond IR spectroscopy. The rate of electron transfer was shown to increase at smaller QD sizes. Electron transfer time as fast as 2.3 ps was observed, faster than the exciton annihilation time in CdSe. The ultrafast charge separation in this quantum dot-adsorbate donor-acceptor complex provides a potential approach for separating multiple excitons in quantum dots.

The synthesis of tethered ligand dimers for PPARγ–RXR protein heterodimers

Heterodimeric compounds based on tethering the PPARgamma agonist Rosiglitazone to the RXR ligand Targretin have been prepared.

Solution- and solid-phase synthesis of peptide-substituted thiazolidinediones as potential PPAR ligands

Solution- and solid-phase methods for the preparation of peptide-substituted thiazolidinediones have been developed as an approach towards the preparation of a library of these compounds as potential ligands for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs).

Photoinduced DNA cleavage by benzenediradical equivalents: 1,3- and 1,4-Bis(dicarbonylcyclopentadienyliron)benzene

Upon photolysis, diiron complexes 1,4- and 1,3-Fp(2)C(6)H(4) (1 and 2) linearize plasmid DNA at ratios as low as 1.5 and 3.0 molecules/bp DNA, respectively. Additionally, single-strand cleavage was observed at ratios higher than 0.05 and 0.19 molecules/bp DNA for 1 and 2, respectively. Radical scavenging studies and metal radical control experiments implicate carbon-centered radicals as participants in the cleavage pathway.