Fernando Pina

Multistate/Multifunctional Molecular-Level Systems: Light and pH Switching between the Various Forms of a Synthetic Flavylium Salt

An optical memory device with multiple storage in two different memory levels and nondestructive readout capacity requires the properties exhibited by the 4′-hydroxyflavylium ion, which can exist in several forms (multistate) that can be interconverted by more than one type of external stimulus (multifunctional), as depicted on the right. Its intricate network of light- and/or pH-induced transformations form a basis for simple logic operations.

Photochemical and thermal degradation of anthocyanidins

Abstract Photochemical and thermal degradation of four anthocyanidins (pelargonidin, delphinidin, malvidin and cyanidin) in aqueous acidic media was studied. The kinetics of the degradation were followed by absorption spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. All anthocyanidins studied have shown a similar thermal degradation pattern. Chalcone was detected as an intermediary product, which undergoes cleavage yielding the final decomposition products, identified as (i) 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde originated from ring A for all four anthocyanidins and (ii) 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid for delphinidin, 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid for malvidin, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid for cyanidin, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid for pelargonidin (all these originated from ring B). During the photochemical degradation, the formation of the same final products as for thermal reaction was observed, but through a different kinetic pathway involving the excitation of the flavylium cation. The substitution of the hydroxyl in position 3 by a glucoside gives rise to a large increase in the thermal stability, and a decrease in the quantum yield of the photochemical reaction.

Fluorescent Chemosensors Containing Polyamine Receptors

Chemosensors have attracted interest in many different scientific fields, such as environmental chemistry, medicine, and the processing and storage of information. These molecular-scale devices have the advantage of working on the same spatial scale as the chemical structures that are responsible for macroscopic behaviour observed in the environment or those associated with health problems. Moreover, they allow the construction of molecular-scale devices for information storage. In this review, we describe a family of chemosensors based on a polyamine receptor and a fluorescent signalling unit. Polyamine receptors are water-soluble ambidentate receptors; they are able to coordinate either metal ions, when sufficient deprotonated amino groups are available, or anionic species, when there are sufficient protonated amino groups. On the other hand, the use of fluorescent signalling units confers the advantage of an immediate visual response/signal.

Specific Supramolecular Interactions between Zn2+-Salophen Complexes and Biologically Relevant Anions

Recognition of inorganic phosphates PO(4)(3-), P(2)O(7)(4-), and P(3)O(10)(5-) and nucleotides AMP(2-), ADP(3-), and ATP(4-) by Zn(2+)-salophen complexes 1 and 2 in ethanol was investigated by different spectroscopic techniques. (31)P NMR and mass spectrometry showed that anions of both series are bound by 1 and 2, while absorption and emission studies revealed that only nucleotides produce relevant changes in the spectral properties of the two hosts. (1)H NMR studies proved that the adenine aromatic group is involved in the complexation, thus pointing out the role of supramolecular ditopic receptors played by salophen derivatives toward this class of biologically relevant substrates. The lifetime of the photogenerated triplet state of the Zn(2+)-salophen compounds was measured by nanosecond laser flash photolysis, and the observed changes upon increasing the concentration of nucleotides allowed the identification of the formation of a 1:0.5 host/guest intermediate complex additionally to the formation of a 1:1 complex.

The use of microspectrofluorimetry for the characterization of lake pigments

In this paper, the potential of confocal microfluorescence spectroscopy is explored for the characterization of selected red lake pigments and paints based on alizarin, purpurin and eosin (weak, medium and strong emitters). The anthraquinone pigments have been used since ancient times by artists, and eosin lakes were used by impressionist painters. Reconstructions of artists paints based on 19th century recipes are examined. The paints were made using the lake pigments bound in a range of binding media including gum arabic, collagen, a vinyl emulsion and linseed oil. The acquisition of the spectra is rapid, with high spatial resolution and the data reliable and reproducible. Together with full emission spectra, it was possible to acquire well-resolved excitation spectra for purpurin, alizarin and eosin based colors. The present investigation suggests that micro-emission fluorescence can also be used as a semi-quantitative method for madder lake pigments, enabling the determination of purpurin lake ratio in a mixture of purpurin and alizarin, which is important for provenance studies. The data obtained with microfluorescence emission with those acquired with fiber-optic fluorimetry are compared. The spatial resolution used, 8microm, is appropriate for the analysis of individual pigments particles or aggregates in a paint film. Micro-emission molecular fluorescence proved to be a promising analytical tool to identify the presence of selected red lake pigments combined with a range of binding media.

The effect of self-aggregation on the determination of the kinetic and thermodynamic constants of the network of chemical reactions in 3-glucoside anthocyanins.

The six most common 3-glucoside anthocyanins, pelargonidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside and petunidin-3-glucoside were studied in great detail by NMR, UV-vis absorption and stopped flow. For each anthocyanin, the thermodynamic and kinetic constants of the network of chemical reactions were calculated at different anthocyanin concentration, from 6 × 10⁻⁶ M up to 8 × 10⁻⁴ M; an increasing of the flavylium cation acidity constant to give quinoidal base and a decreasing of the flavylium cation hydration constant to give hemiketal were observed by increasing the anthocyanin concentration. These effects are attributed to the self-aggregation of the flavylium cation and quinoidal base, which is stronger in the last case. The UV-vis and ¹H NMR spectral variations resulting from the increasing of the anthocyanin concentration were discussed in terms of two aggregation models; monomer-dimer and isodesmic, the last one considering the formation of higher order aggregates possessing the same aggregation constant of the dimer. The self-aggregation constant of flavylium cation at pH=1.0, calculated by both models increases by increasing the number of methoxy (-OCH₃) or hydroxy (-OH) substituents following the order: myrtillin (2 -OH), oenin (2 -OCH₃), 3-OGl-petunidin (1 -OH, 1 -OCH₃), kuromanin (1 -OH), 3-OGl-peonidin (1 -OCH₃) and callistephin (none). Evidence for flavylium aggregates possessing a shape between J and H was achieved, as well as for the formation of higher order aggregates.

Thermodynamics and kinetics of flavylium salts Malvin revisited

The pH-dependent structural transformations in aqueous solutions of natural and synthetic flavylium salts are re-examined. The procedure uses Malvin as a reference compound and exploits the different timescales of the kinetic process that take place prior to the equilibration. For each process a kinetic expression was deduced allowing calculation of all the equilibrium constants and most of the rate constants of the system. The equilibrium constants were confirmed by comparison with the data obtained by 1H NMR. Clear evidence for the formation of significant amounts of trans-chalcone in Malvin was obtained.

Micelle effect on the ‘write–lock–read–unlock–erase’ cycle of 4′-hydroxyflavylium ion

In aqueous solution the 4′-hydroxyflavylium ion (AH + ) can be interconverted into several different neutral forms by light excitation and/or pH changes. All the observed processes are fully reversible and accompanied by strong changes in absorption and emission spectra. This system exhibits properties required by optical memory devices with multiple storage in two different memory levels and non-destructive readout capacity through a write-lock-read-unlock-erase cycle. The effect of micelles on the pH and light induced interconversion of AH + and its neutral forms has been investigated. Negatively charged sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles stabilize AH + , whereas the positively charged cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and neutral polyoxyethylene(10) isooctyl phenyl ether (Triton X-100) micelles stabilize the uncharged (basic) forms. Besides affecting the molar fraction distribution of the various species, the presence of micelles also influences their interconversion rates. Addition of micelles can therefore be considered as a third external stimulus (besides light excitation and pH jump) capable of changing the state of this multistate/multifunctional molecular-level system. Particularly interesting is the possibility to change the autolock pH of the photochromic reaction by addition of micelles.

PH-CONTROLLED PHOTOCHROMISM OF HYDROXYFLAVYLIUM IONS

The structural transformations and the photochromic properties of the 7-hydroxyflavylium ion have been investigated by means of the pH jump technique and continuous and pulsed light excitation. The various forms of flavylium compounds, trans- and cis-chalcone (Ct and Cc), quinoidal base A, and hemiacetal form B, are related by interconversions like communicating vessels containing a fluid. Since the amount of colored species formed upon irradiation depends on the pH of the solution, pH can be viewed as a “tap” that modulates the color intensity generated by light excitation.

Elucidation of the multiple equilibria of malvin in aqueous solution by One- and two-dimensional NMR

Abstract One- and two-dimensional NMR were used to characterize the several forms of malvin present in aqueous solution in the pH range 0.3–4.5 and to determine their molar fractions as a function of pH. In addition to the flavylium cation, two hemiacetal forms and both the cis and trans forms of chalcone were firmly identified. The pathways for the interconversion of the different forms were derived and the molar absorbances of the species calculated by coupling NMR and UV/Vis data. Equilibrium constants were determined at different temperatures, and enthalpy and entropy changes were calculated for the interconversion processes. The conclusions are supported by molecular orbital calculations.