Minzhi Li

Electroreductive dechlorination of α-hexachlorocyclohexane catalyzed by iron porphyrins in nonaqueous media

Two iron porphyrins, (TPP)FeCl and (OEP)FeCl, where TPP and OEP are the dianions of tetraphenylporphyrin and octaethylporphyrin, respectively, were utilized as catalysts for the electroreductive dechlorination of α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH) which was monitored by electrochemistry, in situ UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry and controlled potential electrolysis in N,N′-dimethylformamide. GC-MS analysis of the α-HCH degradation products revealed the stepwise formation of pentachlorocyclohexene and tetrachlorocyclohexadiene as intermediates, prior to generation of the final dechlorination products which consisted of an isomeric mixture of trichlorobenzenes. Based on identification of the intermediates and final products in the reaction, an overall dechlorination mechanism of α-hexachlorocyclohexane is proposed.

Neo-N-confused Phlorins and Phlorinone: Rational Synthesis and Tunable Properties

By the acid-catalyzed [2 + 2] condensation, an unprecedented neo-N-confused phlorin (neo-NCphlorin 1) was successfully synthesized. By treating 1 with N-chlorosuccinimide, the corresponding chloro-substituted neo-NCphlorin (1-Cl) was obtained. The oxidization of 1 with FeCl3 afforded the neo-N-confused phlorinone (neo-NCphlorinone 2), which bears a relatively coplanar conformation, different from the highly distorted ones observed for 1 and 1-Cl. Notably, 2 shows striking long-wavelength absorption beyond 1300 nm upon addition of TBAF.

Facile synthesis, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties, and theoretical calculations of porphyrin dimers with a bridging amide-bonded xanthene moiety

A free base porphyrin dimer bridged by a flexible amide-bonded xanthene moiety and its binuclear zinc(II) complex zinc(II) complex were synthesized and characterized. Structural characterization by MS and 1H NMR spectroscopy confirmed the bridged porphyrin dimer structure. The properties of the dimers were characterized by IR, UV-visible absorption, fluorescence and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, and electrochemistry studies. Theoretical calculations were carried out to analyze the electronic structures of porphyrin dimers with a bridging amide-bonded xanthene moiety.

Regioselective Oxidative Ring Cleavage of a Phlorin Analogue: An Approach for Synthesizing Linear Tetrapyrroles

Oxidation of neo-N-confused phlorin 1 with excessive FeCl3 leads to regioselective ring opening, generating three linear tetrapyrroles, i.e., (10 Z,15 Z)-biladienone 2, (10 Z,15 E)-biladienone 3, and 19-methoxy (10 Z,15 E)-biladiene 4 with an overall yield of 88%. The coordination of these compounds with Zn(II) is affected by the inverted terminal pyrrolic unit, and the presence of the electron-withdrawing keto moiety. The structural identities were also clearly elucidated by the crystal structures of 3 and 4-Zn and were rationalized by DFT calculations.

Spectroscopic investigations and theoretical calculations of DABCO induced xanthene bridged self-assembled zinc(II) porphyrin dimer

An in-depth study of the electronic structure of a 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) induced molecular self-assembled xanthene-bridged and amide-bonded porphyrin dimer is reported. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations are used to identify trends in the optical spectroscopic properties. B3LYP geometry optimization predicts the formation of an almost perfectly eclipsed structure with respect to the two porphyrin rings with the analogous pyrrole nitrogens separated by 7.7–8.1 A. The observed distinctive derivative-shaped band morphology of the pseudo-Faraday-A1 terms in the MCD spectra has been used to identify the main electronic Q and B-bands and to validate the TD-DFT calculations. The absence of a discernible splitting of the redox steps or a quenching of the fluorescence demonstrates that there is no significant exciton coupling between the two porphyrin rings.

Push–pull type manganese(III)corroles: Synthesis, electronic structures and tunable interactions with ctDNA

The synthesis of three low symmetry A2B type Mn(III)triarylcorroles with meso-aryl substituents that provide push–pull electron-donating and -withdrawing properties is reported. An analysis of the structure-property relationships for the optical and redox properties has been carried out through a comparison with the results of theoretical calculations. The results demonstrate that A2B type Mn(III)triarylcorroles interact strongly with cell-free circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) in solution, and that the interaction constants are enhanced when a stronger electron-donating substituent is introduced at the 10-position of the meso-triarylcorrole ligand.