A Ground-State Complex Between Methyl Viologen and the Fluorescent Whitening Agent 4, 4’–bis (2-sulfostyryl)-biphenyl disodium salt: A Fluorescence Spectroscopy Study

This study explores the quenching of the dianionic fluorescent whitening agent, NFW, by various substances, including methyl viologen (MV), in water and in the presence of Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Results of a fluorescence spectroscopic examination of the β-CD-NFW system are presented. It was found that NFW forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with β-CD with an association constant of 2540 ± 380 M^-1. The included NFW fluorescent state is protected by the β-CD cavity from a range of water-based quenchers (neutral, anionic and cationic). Quenching proceeds near the diffusion-controlled limit in water for the quenchers tested with the exception of the dicationic MV. MV is an extremely efficient quencher of NFW fluorescence with a nominal K_SV ~ 5.0x10³ M^-1 in water alone, corresponding to a nominal k_q of ~ 4x10¹² M^-1s^-1, which exceeds the diffusion-controlled limit in this solvent. The quenching efficiency of MV is strongly suppressed in the presence of 10 mM β-CD (K_SV = 105 ± 12 M^-1) and in the presence of NaCl (K_SV = 106 ± 9 M^-1 at 0.5 M salt). In the absence of CD or salt, there is a strong contribution from static quenching in the MV system; the presence of these additives suppresses the static quenching. Various results suggest the static quenching is due to formation of a ground-state complex between the dianion NFW and the dication MV.

Ellagitannins and Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins of Three Polygonaceous Plants

The aim of this study was to characterize hydrolyzable tannins in Polygonaceous plants, as only a few plants have previously been reported to contain ellagitannins. From Persicaria chinensis, a new hydrolyzable tannin called persicarianin was isolated and characterized to be 3-O-galloyl-4,6-(S)-dehydrohexahydroxydiphenoyl-d-glucose. Interestingly, acid hydrolysis of this compound afforded ellagic acid, despite the absence of a hexahydroxydiphenoyl group. From the rhizome of Polygonum runcinatum var. sinense, a large amount of granatin A, along with minor ellagitannins, helioscpoinin A, davicratinic acids B and C, and a new ellagitannin called polygonanin A, were isolated. Based on 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic examination, the structure of polygonanin A was determined to be 1,6-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-2,4-hydroxychebuloyl-β-d-glucopyranose. These are the second and third hydrolyzable tannins isolated from Polygonaceous plants. In addition, oligomeric proanthocyanidins of Persicaria capitatum and P. chinensis were characterized by thiol degradation. These results suggested that some Polygonaceous plants are the source of hydrolyzable tannins not only proanthocyanidins.

Insights into the Electronic Structure of Fe Penta-Coordinated Complexes. Spectroscopic Examination and Electrochemical Analysis for the Oxygen Reduction and Oxygen Evolution Reactions.

Fe phthalocyanine was coordinated to pyridine-modified carbon nanotubes and studied as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Mössbauer, and Electron...