Synthesis and structures of O-anthrylmethyl-substituted hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arenes

O-Alkylation of 7,15,23-tri-tert-butyl-25,26,27-trihydroxy-2,3,10,11,18,19-hexahomo-3,11,19-trioxacalix[3]arene (1H₃) with 9-chloromethylanthracene 5 was carried out under different reaction conditions. Variation of the number of anthrylmethyl group introduced at the phenolic rim of hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene 1H₃ was achieved through selective O-alkylation using stoichiometric amounts of 9-chloromethylanthracene 5 in acetone to afford the mono-O-alkylated product 2H₂An, the di-O-alkylated product 3HAn₂ and the tri-O-alkylated product partial-cone-4An₃, respectively. Interestingly, by using an acetone/benzene (1:1 v/v) mixed solvent system, the cone-4An₃ was successfully synthesized. These results suggest that the solvent can also control the conformation of the O-alkylation products. The possible reaction routes of the cone-4An₃ and partial-cone-4An₃ are also discussed

A readily accessible multifunctional probe: simultaneous recognition of the cation ZN²⁺ and the anion F⁻ via distinguishable wavelengths

The probe 1 was readily prepared via condensation of 8-formyl-7-hydroxy-coumarin and carbonic dihydrazide in a one-step procedure. Probe 1 exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity towards Zn²⁺ and F⁻ through a “turn-on” fluorescence response and/or ratiometric colorimetric response with low detection limits of the order of 10-8 M. The complex behaviour was fully investigated by spectral titration, isothermal titration calorimetry, 1H NMR spectroscopic titration and mass spectrometry. Interestingly, probe 1 not only recognizes the cation Zn²⁺ and the anion F⁻, but can also distinguish between these two ions via the max wavelength in their UV-vis spectra (360 nm for 1-Zn²⁺ versus 400 nm for 1-F⁻ complex) or their fluorescent spectra (λₑₓ / λₑm = 360 nm/ 454 nm for 1-Zn²⁺ versus λₑₓ / λₑm = 400 nm/ 475 nm for 1-F⁻ complex) due to their differing red-shifts. Additionally, probe 1 has been further explored in the detection of Zn²⁺ in living cells

Synthesis and inclusion behavior of a heterotritopic receptor based on hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene

A heterotritopic hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene receptor with the capability of binding two alkali metals and a transition metal in a cooperative fashion was synthesized. The binding model was investigated by using ¹H NMR titration experiments in CDCl₃–CD₃CN (10:1, v/v), and the results revealed that the transition metal was bound at the upper rim and the alkali metals at the lower and upper rims. Interestingly, the alkali metal ions Li⁺ and Na⁺ bind at the lower and upper rim respectively depending on the dimensions of the alkali metal ions versus the size of the cavities formed by the calix[3]arene derivative. The hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene receptor acts as a heterotritopic receptor, binding with the transition metal ion Ag⁺ and the alkali metals ions Li⁺ and Na⁺. These findings were not applicable to other different sized alkali metals, such as K⁺ and Cs⁺

Molecular Lines of 13 Galactic Infrared Bubble Regions

We investigated the physical properties of molecular clouds and star formation processes around infrared bubbles which are essentially expanding HII regions. We performed observations of 13 galactic infrared bubble fields containing 18 bubbles. Five molecular lines, 12CO (J=1-0), 13CO (J=1-0), C18O(J=1-0), HCN (J=1-0), and HCO+ (J=1-0), were observed, and several publicly available surveys, GLIMPSE, MIPSGAL, ATLASGAL, BGPS, VGPS, MAGPIS, and NVSS, were used for comparison. We find that these bubbles are generally connected with molecular clouds, most of which are giant. Several bubble regions display velocity gradients and broad shifted profiles, which could be due to the expansion of bubbles. The masses of molecular clouds within bubbles range from 100 to 19,000 solar mass, and their dynamic ages are about 0.3-3.7 Myr, which takes into account the internal turbulence pressure of surrounding molecular clouds. Clumps are found in the vicinity of all 18 bubbles, and molecular clouds near four of these bubbles with larger angular sizes show shell-like morphologies, indicating that either collect-and-collapse or radiation-driven implosion processes may have occurred. Due to the contamination of adjacent molecular clouds, only six bubble regions are appropriate to search for outflows, and we find that four of them have outflow activities. Three bubbles display ultra-compact HII regions at their borders, and one of them is probably responsible for its outflow. In total, only six bubbles show star formation activities in the vicinity, and we suggest that star formation processes might have been triggered.Comment: 55 Pages, 32 figures. Accepted for publication in A

Positive allosteric binding behavior of pyrene-appended triazole-modified thiacalix[4]arene-based fluorescent receptors

The novel heteroditopic receptors 5a∼c have been synthesized, which bear a thiacalix[4]arene in the 1,3-alternate conformation. Two urea moieties possessing various aryl groups with either electron-donating or -withdrawing groups at their p-positions function as anion-binding sites. At the opposite side of the cavity are two pyrene-appended triazole rings, which act as cation-binding sites. The binding property of receptor 5c was investigated by means of 1H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopy and by fluorescence titration experiments in the presence of various transition metal cations and anions in CH2Cl2–DMSO (10:1, v/v) solution. Interestingly, it was found that receptor 5c possessing two p-nitrophenyl ureido moieties, most efficiently complexes in the urea cavity or bistriazoles; the plausible allosteric effect of receptor 5c was also investigated

Quantum-State Engineering of Multiple Trapped Ions for Center-of-Mass Mode

We propose a scheme to generate a superposition with arbitrary coefficients on a line in phase space for the center-of-mass vibrational mode of N ions by means of isolating all other spectator vibrational modes from the center-of-mass mode. It can be viewed as the generation of previous methods for preparing motional states of one ion. For large number of ions, we need only one cyclic operatin to generate such a superposition of many coherent states.Comment: 14 pages, revte