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Ring-shaped Re(I) multinuclear complexes (Re(I) rings) in which Re(I)-diimine-biscarbonyl complexes are connected to each other through bisphosphine bridging ligands exhibit very suitable photophysical and electrochemical properties as redox photosensitizers. We developed two approaches for synthesizing Re(I) rings connected with a Ru(II) complex: cyclization of a linear Re(I) trinuclear complex connected with a Ru(II) complex and Mizoroki-Heck coupling of a ring-shaped Re(I) trinuclear complex and a Ru(II) complex. Photophysical measurements of these heteromultinuclear complexes and comparisons with their model complexes indicated that they exhibit efficient light-harvesting abilities, where energy transfer from the excited ring-shaped Re(I) trinuclear complex unit to the Ru(II) complex unit proceeds efficiently., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

1-Aminopyrene and 1-naphthylamine-5-sulfonic acid were converted to the putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane)-substituted derivatives (dyes 1 and 2). The diaminobutyl anchor serves as a common binding motive for cation-receptor macrocycles such as cucurbit[n]urils (n = 6-8) and p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene. When protonated, they are prone to undergo a rapid deprotonation in their excited state to result in fluorescence from the unprotonated form (Förster cycle). The deprotonation can be suppressed by complexation with cation-receptor macrocycles, which allows the fluorescence of the locally excited (protonated) state to be dramatically enhanced (factor 12 for dye 1 and 83 for dye 2). This host-retarded excited-dye deprotonation is a direct consequence of the previously established complexation-induced pK a shifts that dyes undergo upon binding to a macrocyclic host. The data set also allows a systematic comparison of complexation-induced pK a shifts in the ground and excited state of a dye. The trends are comparable, which suggests that structural factors, that is, the geometry of the host-guest complexes, determine the magnitude of the shifts. In regard to the magnitude of the absolute pK a shifts on the size of the macrocycles, we observe for dye 2 that the complexation-induced pK a shifts decrease as the portals become larger along the cucurbit[n]uril series.

We developed new cyclic Re(i)-based trinuclear redox photosensitizers with both high oxidation power in the excited state and strong reduction power in the reduced form. These excellent properties were achieved by introducing electron-donating groups on the diimine ligand of the Re(i) metal centre and by connecting each Re(i) unit with polyphenyl-bisphosphine bridging ligands. These Re-rings were applied to homogenous visible light-driven photocatalytic CO 2 reduction in conjunction with various mononuclear catalysts, such as Re(i), Ru(ii) and Mn(i) metal complexes, employing a relatively weak sacrificial electron donor, triethanolamine. Each system showed good product selectivity (CO or HCOOH) and an excellent quantum yield of product formation Φ CO = 0.60 to 0.74 using fac -[Re I (bpy)(CO) 3 (CH 3 CN)] + , Φ HCOOH = 0.58 using trans (Cl)-Ru II (dtbb)(CO) 2 Cl 2 and Φ HCOOH = 0.48 using a fac -[Mn I (dtbb)(CO) 3 (CH 3 CN)] + catalyst. The high photocatalytic efficiencies for CO 2 reduction are attributed to efficient reductive quenching of the Re-ring by triethanolamine and fast electron transfer from the generated one-electron-reduced species of the ring to the catalyst.

Binding of natural bile acids to human serum albumin (HSA) is an important step in enterohepatic circulation and provides a measure of liver function. In this article, we report on the use of four dansyl (Dns) derivatives of cholic acid (ChA) to demonstrate a regiodifferentiation in their relative affinity for the two binding sites of HSA. Using both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence, formation of Dns-ChA@HSA complexes was confirmed; the corresponding binding constants were determined, and their distribution between bulk solution and HSA microenvironment was estimated. By means of energy transfer from Trp to the Dns moiety, donor-acceptor distances were estimated (21-25 Å) and found to be compatible with both site 1 and site 2 occupancies. Nevertheless, titration using warfarin and ibuprofen as specific displacement probes clearly indicated that 3α- and 3β-Dns-ChA bind to HSA at site 2, whereas their C-7 regioisomers bind to HSA at site 1. Furthermore, the C-3-labeled compounds are displaced by lithocholic acid, whereas they are insensitive to ChA, confirming the assumption that the former binds to HSA at site 2. Thus, Dns labeling provides a useful tool to modulate the relative affinity of ChA to the major binding sites of HSA and, in combination with other fluorescent ChA analogs, to mimic the binding behavior of natural bile acids.

Interaction between bile acids and plasma proteins has attracted considerable attention over past decades. In fact, binding of bile acids to human serum albumin (HSA) determines their level in plasma, a value that can be used as a test for liver function. However, very little is known about the role that bile acids-HSA complexes play in hepatic uptake. In the present paper, we report on the utility of the singlet excited state properties of 4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) fluorescent derivatives of cholic acid (ChA); namely, 3alpha-NBD-ChA, 3beta-NBD-ChA, 3beta-NBD-ChTau, 7alpha-NBD-ChA, and 7beta-NBD-ChA to clarify key aspects of bile acids-HSA interactions that remain poorly understood. On the basis of either absorption or emission measurements, formation of NBD-ChA@HSA complexes with 1:1 stoichiometry has been proven. Enhancement of the fluorescence emission upon addition of HSA has been used for determination of the binding constants, which are in the range of 10(4) M(-1). Energy transfer from tryptophan to NBD-ChA occurs by a FRET mechanism; the donor-acceptor distances have been determined according to Forster's theory. The estimated values (27-30 A) are compatible with both site I and site II occupancy and do not provide sufficient information for a safe assignment; however, fluorescence titration using warfarin (site I probe) and ibuprofen (site II probe) for displacement clearly indicates that the employed cholic acid derivatives bind to HSA at site I.