The synthesis of a hyperpolarized molecule was developed, where the polarization and the singlet state were preserved over two controlled chemical steps. Nuclear singlet-state lifetimes close to 6 min for protons are reported in dimethyl fumarate. Owing to the high symmetry (AA'X X ' and A systems), the singlet-state readout requires either a chemical desymmetrization or a long and repeated spin lock. Using DFT calculations and relaxation models, we further determine nuclear spin singlet lifetime limiting factors, which include the intramolecular dipolar coupling mechanism (proton-proton and proton-deuterium), the chemical shift anisotropy mechanism (symmetric and antisymmetric), and the intermolecular dipolar coupling mechanism (to oxygen and deuterium). If the limit of paramagnetic relaxation caused by residual oxygen could be lifted, the intramolecular dipolar coupling to deuterium would become the limiting relaxation mechanism and proton lifetimes upwards of 26 min could become available in the molecules considered here (dimethyl maleate and dimethyl fumarate).
A new type of fluorescent probes for thiophenols, 6HQM-DNP and 7HQM-DNP, containing 6- or 7-hydroxy quinonlinium as fluorophore and 2,4-dinitrophenoxy (DNP) as nucleophilic recognition unit were constructed. As ethers, these non-fluorescent probe molecules can release the corresponding fluorescent quinolinium (6HQM and 7HQM) through aromatic nucleophilic substitution (S(N)Ar) by thiolate anions from thiophenols. The sensing reaction is highly sensitive (detection limit of 8 nM for 7HQM-DNP) and highly selective to thiophenols over aliphatic thiols and other nucleophiles under neutral conditions (pH 7.3). The probes respond rapidly to thiophenols, with second-order rate constants k=45 M(-1) s(-1) for 7HQM-DNP and 24 M(-1) s(-1) for 6HQM-DNP. Furthermore, the selective detection of thiophenols in living cells by 7HQM-DNP was demonstrated by confocal fluorescence imaging. In addition, these quinolinium salts show excellent chemical and thermal stability. In conclusion, this type of probes may find use in the detection of thiophenols in environmental samples and biosystems.
Two new o-hydroxycinnamates have been prepared for photoremovable protecting groups, and their photochemistry has been investigated. The photolysis of two caged compounds can efficiently release the corresponding alcohol in aqueous solutions, and the uncaging reaction proceeds with large one-photon excitation cross sections (1919 and 1535 M(-1) cm(-1)). The uncaging process has been observed by NMR spectroscopy. The caged compounds exhibit good aqueous solubility and excellent resistance to hydrolysis in a buffer solution.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.