Keishiro Tahara

Eco-friendly molecular transformations catalyzed by a vitamin B12 derivative with a visible-light-driven system

A new bio-inspired system composed of a vitamin B12 derivative and Rose Bengal, catalyzed the dehalogenations of various toxic alkyl halides such as 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) via a noble-metal-free and visible-light-driven process. This system also catalyzed radical-involved organic reactions such as the 1,2-migration of acyl groupvia a tin-free process.

Synthesis, characterization and catalytic function of a B12-hyperbranched polymer

A new hybrid catalyst composed of a vitamin B(12) derivative and a hyperbranched polymer (HBP) was synthesized and characterized by UV-vis and ESR spectroscopy as well as AFM. The B(12)-HBP showed good properties as a homogenous catalyst. The covalently-immobilized B(12) moieties were efficiently solvated and the cobalt centers were accessible for pyridine guests. The B(12)-HBP showed high reactivity to 2-phenethylbromide and increased selectivity for reductive dimerization in the presence of TiO(2) with UV light irradiation.

Bioinspired catalytic reactions with vitamin B 12 derivative and photosensitizers

As part of a study directed toward design of good catalytic systems based upon a hydrophobic vitamin B12, heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate, we describe the preparation of various nanomaterials using the vitamin B12 derivative and photosensitizers. Examples include vitamin B12-hyperbranched polymers (HBPs), human serum albumin (HSA) containing vitamin B12 derivatives, a vitamin B12-titanium dioxide hybrid catalyst, a vitamin B12-Ru complex combined system, and a vitamin B12-rose bengal combined system. These bioinspired materials have the potential as catalytic systems for the degradation of organic halide pollutants and for molecular transformations via radical intermediates during irradiation by UV or visible light, and offer a variety of applications that are of great interest in terms of green chemistry.

Dechlorination of DDT catalyzed by visible-light-driven system composed of vitamin B12 derivative and Rhodamine B

The visible-light-driven dechlorination of 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) was carried out in the presence of a hydrophobic vitamin B12, heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate and Rhodamine B. DDT was successfully dechlorinated to form 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethane (DDD) as the mono-dechlorinated product upon visible light irradiation with a tungsten lamp (λ > 440 nm). Upon prolonged visible light irradiation to DDT, DDMU (1-chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene), DDMS (1-chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane) and DCS (trans-4,4′-dichlorostilbene) were obtained as the di- and tri-dechlorinated products. The use of the photostable organic sensitizer enabled prolonged photocatalysis via a noble-metal-free process. The vitamin B12 derivative was replaced by an imine/oxime-type cobalt complex although the cobalt complex system showed a lower catalytic activity than the B12 derivative system. The dechlorination mechanism in the B12-Rhodamin B system was investigated by various methods such as UV-vis absorption and fluorescence quenching.

Cerasomes: Soft Interface for Redox Enzyme Electrochemical Signal Transmission

Anionic cerasomes, which consist of a liposomal lipid bilayer and a ceramic surface, were used as a soft interface for the construction of an integrated modified electrode to achieve the transmission of chemical information from a redox enzyme through electrical signals. The morphological properties of the cerasomes were systematically compared with those of two structural analogues, namely, liposomes and silica nanoparticles. The results indicated that the cerasomes combined the advantages of liposomes and silica nanoparticles. The lipid bilayer gave excellent biocompatibility, as in the case of liposomes, and high structural stability, similar to that of silica nanoparticles, was derived from the silicate framework on the cerasome surface. The performance at the electrochemical interface created by means of a combination of cerasomes and horseradish peroxidase on a glassy carbon electrode was much better than those achieved with liposomes or silica nanoparticles instead of cerasomes. The potential use of cerasomes in the construction of supramolecular devices for mediator-free biosensing was evaluated.

Supramolecular system composed of B12 model complex and organic photosensitizer: impact of the corrin framework of B12 on the visible-light-driven dechlorination without the use of noble metals

The visible-light-driven dechlorination system without the use of a noble metal has been developed. We screened the combination of cobalt catalysts having square-planar monoanionic ligands (hydrophobic B12 model complex 1/imine-oxime type complex 2) and typical red dyes (Rose Bengal 3/Rhodamine B 4/Nile Red 5) for the construction of a dehalogenation system via a noble-metal-free and visible-light-driven process. The combination of the hydrophobic B12 model complex 1 and Rose Bengal 3 exhibited the highest catalytic activity to 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethane (DDT) to form the monodechlorinated compound, 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethane, as the major product. The prolonged photocatalysis of DDT by the B12–Rose Bengal system afforded the tri-dechlorinated compound, trans-4,4′-dichlorostilbene, as the major product. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanism of the dehalogenation cycle using various methods such as UV–vis spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis. Finally, we clarified the advantage of using the hydrophobic B12 model complex 1 as an electron acceptor as well as a cobalt catalyst in the organic dye-involved photocatalysis.

Synthesis, characterization, Co–S bond reactivity of a vitamin B12 model complex having pentafluorophenylthiolate as an axial ligand

Heptamethyl (aquo)(pentafluorophenylthiolate)cobyrinate perchlorate, [(H2O)(C6F5S)Cob(III)7C1ester]ClO4, was synthesized as a B12 model complex having a thiolate ligand in the axial position. The axial ligand change in heptamethyl (diaquo)cobyrinate diperchlorate, [(H2O)2Cob(III)7C1ester](ClO4)2, from H2O to C6F5S(-) afforded the B12-thiolate complex. The B12-thiolate model complex was characterized by UV-vis, NMR and ESI-mass spectroscopies. The coordination of C6F5S(-) to the cobalt center affected the spectroscopic properties of the corrin ring through the electronic interaction between the axial ligand (C6F5S(-)) and the equatorial ligand (corrin). The photolysis of the B12-thiolate model complex led to the homolytic cleavage of the Co(iii)-S bond to form the Co(II) complex and the phenyl thiyl radical. The thermolysis of the B12-thiolate model complex also led to the homolytic cleavage of the Co(III)-S bond. Furthermore, the reactivity of the Co(III)-S bond of the B12-thiolate model complex was applied to the catalytic oxidation of C6F5SH to C6F5S-SC6F5.

Learning from B12 enzymes: biomimetic and bioinspired catalysts for eco-friendly organic synthesis

Cobalamins (B12) play various important roles in vivo. Most B12-dependent enzymes are divided into three main subfamilies: adenosylcobalamin-dependent isomerases, methylcobalamin-dependent methyltransferases, and dehalogenases. Mimicking these B12 enzyme functions under non-enzymatic conditions offers good understanding of their elaborate reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, bio-inspiration offers a new approach to catalytic design for green and eco-friendly molecular transformations. As part of a study based on vitamin B12 derivatives including heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate, we describe biomimetic and bioinspired catalytic reactions with B12 enzyme functions. The reactions are classified according to the corresponding three B12 enzyme subfamilies, with a focus on our recent development on electrochemical and photochemical catalytic systems. Other important reactions are also described, with a focus on radical-involved reactions in terms of organic synthesis.

Impact of the corrin framework of vitamin B12 on the electrochemical carbon-skeleton rearrangement in comparison to an imine/oxime planar ligand; tuning selectivity in 1,2-migration of a functional group by controlling electrolysis potential

Among the coenzyme B12-dependent enzymes, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMCM) catalyzes the carbon-skeleton rearrangement reaction between R-methylmalonyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA. Diethyl 2-bromomethyl-2-phenylmalonate, an alkyl bromide substrate having two different migrating groups (phenyl and carboxylic ester groups) on the β-carbon, was applied to the electrolysis mediated by a hydrophobic vitamin B12 model complex, heptamethyl cobyrinate perchlorate in this study. The electrolysis of the substrate at -1.0V vs. Ag-AgCl by light irradiation afforded the simple reduced product (diethyl 2-methyl-2-phenylmalonate) and the phenyl migrated product (diethyl 2-benzyl-2-phenylmalonate), as well as the electrolysis of the substrate at -1.5V vs. Ag-AgCl in the dark. The electrolysis of the substrate at -2.0V vs. Ag-AgCl afforded the carboxylic ester migrated product (diethyl phenylsuccinate) as the major product. The selectivity for the migrating group was successfully tuned by controlling the electrolysis potential. We clarified that the cathodic chemistry of the Co(III) alkylated heptamethyl cobyrinate is critical for the selectivity of the migrating group through mechanistic investigations and comparisons to the simple vitamin B12 model complex, an imine/oxime-type cobalt complex.

Integrated π-Electron Systems on Artificial Cell Membranes

Highly elaborated π-spaces were constructed on lipid bilayer membranes by self-organization of functional π-conjugated molecules. The resulting artificial cell membranes showed dynamic performance as supramolecular devices mimicking information processing in biological systems. Membrane trafficking, including synthetic cell division and propagation of molecular capsule from sender to receiver vesicles, was achieved using π-conjugated molecules as a molecular signal or artificial receptor, respectively. Thermoresponsive and photoresponsive signal transduction behaviors were observed on supramolecular lipid bilayer membranes containing an artificial receptor with functional π-conjugated moiety, an enzyme as a signal amplifier, and a mediator species between the receptor and enzyme. The results indicated that lipid bilayer membranes are highly sophisticated platforms that can exhibit the potential of π-conjugated molecules.