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Hirohiko Houjou

Publications and source records attributed to Hirohiko Houjou.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Accurate evaluation of the absorption maxima of retinal proteins based on a hybrid QM/MM method.

Here we improved our hybrid QM/MM methodology (Houjou et al. J Phys Chem B 2001, 105, 867) for evaluating the absorption maxima of photoreceptor proteins. The renewed method was applied to evaluation of the absorption maxima of several retinal proteins and photoactive yellow protein. The calculated absorption maxima were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data with a computational error of <10 nm. In addition, our calculations reproduced the experimental gas-phase absorption maxima of model chromophores (protonated all-trans retinal Schiff base and deprotonated thiophenyl-p-coumarate) with the same accuracy. It is expected that our methodology allows for definitive interpretation of the spectral tuning mechanism of retinal proteins.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMed2004

Structural and electrochemical studies of novel bis(mu-methoxo)diiron complexes: observation of Fe(III)Fe(IV) and Fe(IV)Fe(IV) states resonating with phenoxyl radicals.

Novel diiron complexes with an Fe2(mu-OMe)2 core were studied as models of the active site of nonheme iron-containing enzymes. X-ray crystal structures of the complexes showed the existence of two types of ligand folding-parallel and twisted-both of which have four virtually equivalent phenolato groups sticking out from the Fe2O2 rhombic plane. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed two or more distinct redox waves in a region of relatively high potential, in addition to known Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox waves in a region of lower potential. These new peaks were assigned to the high-valence state of iron atoms, that is, Fe(III)Fe(IV) and Fe(IV)Fe(IV), resonating with the phenoxyl radical(s). The split width of the redox waves ranged from 0.14 to 0.20 eV, which may be a measure of the electronic interaction of the phenolate groups through the Fe2(mu-OMe)2 core.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗
PubMed2004

Long-range stereocontrol in the self-assembly of two-nanometer-dimensioned triple-stranded dinuclear helicates.

A series of bisimine-bridged dicatechol ligands 2-H(4)-5-H(4) were synthesized and were used to prepare triple-stranded dinuclear helicate-type complexes with a length of up to more than 2 nm. X-ray structural analyses of Na(4)[(2)(3)V(2)], Na(4)[(3)(3)Ti(2)], Na(4)[(4)(3)Ti(2)], and Na(4)[(5)(3)Ti(2)], as well as temperature-dependent NMR investigations of Na(4)[(4)(3)Ti(2)] and Na(4)[(5)(3)Ti(2)] show that, in the case of the rigid linear ligands 2 and 3, and of the ligand 5, which possesses C(2h) symmetry in its idealized structure, homochiral helicates are diastereoselectively formed. Ligand 4, on the other hand, with idealized C(2v) symmetry, leads with surprisingly high selectivity to the formation of the heterochiral meso-helicate. This is attributed to the ability of ligand 4 to adopt a less-restricted conformation in the meso compound than in the helical complex. NMR investigations indicate that both complex units of Na(4)[(4)(3)Ti(2)] invert (LambdaDelta-->DeltaLambda) simultaneously, while in the case of Na(4)[(5)(3)Ti(2)] a stepwise racemization proceeds.

Catechols↗
PubMed2003

Adjustment of twist angles in pseudo-helical lanthanide complexes by the size of metal ions.

Control of self-assembled nanostructures is a promising technique for nanotechnology. We have examined as to whether nanostructures could be controlled by the size of the central metal ion. Lanthanides are a natural choice for such a study as the size of their trivalent ions changes with atomic number gradually. For this investigation, a series of rare earth complexes ([LaL(1)], [CeL(1)], [SmL(1)], [TbL(1)], [YL(1)], and [LuL(1)]) with a tripodal heptadentate ligand L(1) were synthesized, and their X-ray crystallographic analysis was performed. Although the structures of the ligand (H(3)L(1)) and of the metal complex ([ML(1)]) were quite different, all complexes were almost isostructural pseudohelices. The result of the crystallographic studies demonstrated that the twist angles of helices in the complexes depend on the ionic size of the central metal. A detailed analysis helped determine which portion of the helical strand contributed to the total helicity, and the major cause for the difference in helicity among the lanthanides is discussed. Moreover, this result is the first example showing that La(I) (II) and Lu(I) (II) complexes with the same tripodal heptadentate ligand are isostractural.

Journal Article↗