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Norifumi Fujita

Publications and source records attributed to Norifumi Fujita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Axial coordination changes the morphology of porphyrin assemblies in an organogel system.

The gelation properties of a zinc porphyrin bearing peripheral urea groups (1 x Zn) were evaluated in the absence and the presence of several diamines. In aromatic solvents such as benzene, toluene and p-xylene, 1 x Zn only provided the precipitate. In contrast, 1 x Zn with 0.5 and 1.0 equiv. of piperazine formed gels, and the gel with 0.5 equiv. of piperazine showed a unique physical property called 'thixotropy'. On the other hand, upon addition of similar diamines such as DABCO, ethylenediamine and N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine, 1 x Zn did not gelate these solvents. When the critical gelation concentration was plotted against the ratio of piperazine versus 1 x Zn, it afforded a minimum breakpoint at 0.5 equiv. and the critical concentration increased with further increase in the fraction of piperazine, indicating that the stable gel is formed from the 1 x Zn + piperazine 2:1 complex and the subsequent transformation to the 1:1 complex rather destabilizes the gel. Very interestingly, it was clearly shown by SEM and TEM observations that such structural changes of the unit complex induced by the ratio of piperazine versus 1 x Zn can lead to gradual morphological transitions: that is, spherical structure at 0 equiv., 1-D fibrous structure at 0.5 equiv. and 2-D sheet-like structure at 1.0 equiv. In addition, UV-VIS spectra revealed that 1 x Zn itself adopts a J-aggregation mode, whereas 1 x Zn + piperazine 2:1 and 1:1 complexes adopt an H-like aggregation mode. On the other hand, upon addition of 0.5 equiv. of other diamines, 1 x Zn + diamine complexes result in different morphologies other than the 1-D fibrous structure. To explore a reasonable rationale for these results, we conducted computational studies. As a result, we found that the complex symmetry of the unit complex plays an important role in determining the final ordered structure.

Diamines↗
PubMed2005

Porphyrin gels reinforced by sol-gel reaction via the organogel phase.

Porphyrins bearing four urea-linked dodecyl groups (3a) or four urea-linked triethoxysilylpropyl groups (3TEOS) at their peripheral positions were synthesized. 3a tends to assemble into a sheetlike two-dimensional structure due to the predominant hydrogen-bonding interaction among the urea groups and acts as a moderate gelator of organic solvents. On the other hand, its Cu(II) compelx (3a.Cu) tends to assemble into a fibrous one-dimensional structure due to the predominant porphyrin-porphyrin pi-pi stacking interaction and acts as an excellent gelator of many organic solvents. 3TEOS and 3TEOS.Cu, which also act as gelators, afforded similar superstructures as those of 3a and 3a.Cu, respectively, and as evidenced by SEM and TEM observations and XRD measurements, the original superstructures could be precisely immobilized by in situ sol-gel polycondensation of the triethoxysilyl groups. The TEM images of 3a gels and 3TEOS gels after sol-gel polycondensation showed a fine striped structure, the periodical distance of which was either 2 or 4 nm. X-ray crystallographic analysis of a single crystal obtained from a reference porphyrin bearing four urea-linked butyl groups revealed that there are two different porphyrin-stacked columns in the crystal and both the 2 nm distance and the 4 nm distance can appear, depending on the observation tilting angle. The hybrid gel prepared from 3TEOS.Cu by sol-gel polycondensation showed unique physicochemical properties such as a high sol-gel phase-transition temperature (>160 degrees C), sufficient elasticity, high mechanical strength, etc. Thus, the present study has established new concepts for molecular design of porphyrin-based gelators on the basis of cooperative and/or competitive actions of hydrogen-bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions and for immobilization of their superstructures leading to development of new functional organic/inorganic hybrid materials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Quater-, quinque-, and sexithiophene organogelators: unique thermochromism and heating-free sol-gel phase transition.

A series of quater-, quinque-, and sexithiophene derivatives bearing two cholesteryl groups at the alpha-position, which are abbreviated as 4 T-(chol)(2), 5 T-(chol)(2), and 6 T-(chol)(2), respectively, have been synthesized. It has been found that these oligothiophene derivatives act as excellent organogelators for various organic fluids and show the unique thermochromic behaviors through the sol-gel phase transition. It was shown on the basis of extensive investigations, performed with UV-visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), that these gelators self-assemble into the one-dimensional structures in the organogels, in which the pi-block moieties of the oligothiophenes are stacked in an H-aggregation mode. Surprisingly, an AFM image shows that 4 T-(chol)(2) forms unimolecular fibers in a left-handed helical sense, whereby one pitch of the helical fiber is constructed by 400-540 4 T-(chol)(2) molecules. Very interestingly, the conformational change in the oligothiophene moieties can be visually detected: for example, 6 T-(chol)(2) shows a specific absorption maximum in the gel (lambda(max) = 389 nm) and in the solution (lambda(max) = 439 nm). In addition, a sol-gel phase transition of the 6 T-(chol)(2) gel was implemented by addition of oxidizing and reducing reagents such as FeCl(3) and ascorbic acid, respectively. The stimuli-responsive functionality of the oligothiophene-based organogels makes them promising candidates for switchable opto- and electronic soft materials.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Organogel of an 8-quinolinol platinum(II) chelate derivative and its efficient phosphorescence emission effected by inhibition of dioxygen quenching.

A newly synthesized 8-quinolinol platinum(II) chelate derivative gelates various organic solvents, and the gel formed shows unique thermo- and solvatochromism of visible and phosphorescent colour in response to a sol-gel phase transition and possesses an attractive ability to inhibit dioxygen quenching of excited triplet states.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Sol-gel reaction of porphyrin-based superstructures in the organogel phase: creation of mechanically reinforced porphyrin hybrids.

We have demonstrated that a one-dimensional molecular assembly created by an H-aggregated porphyrin.Cu(II) stack can be immobilized, without a morphological change, by sol-gel polycondensation of the peripheral triethoxysilyl groups. The resultant gel prepared according to this flowchart has gained a very high thermal stability as well as a unique mechanical strength.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

A stable single piece of unimolecularly pi-stacked porphyrin aggregate in a thixotropic low molecular weight gel: a one-dimensional molecular template for polydiacetylene wiring up to several tens of micrometers in length.

An amide-type copper porphyrin gelator having alkyldiacetylene tethers gives very transparent gel in Decalin, and the gel shows unique thixotropic behavior. One-dimensional aggregates generated in the gel act as templates for unimolecularly segregated polydiacetylene wiring upon UV irradiation on the surface. The polymerization along the aggregation goes to at least several micrometers long.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Spontaneous rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon in a professional skier.

Spontaneous rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon is uncommon in sports activities. We report a rare case of a professional downhill skier presenting with a rupture of the EPL tendon. Repetitive motion of the wrist joint appeared to cause the rupture. The patient was treated successfully with tendon transfer of the extensor indicis proprius.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Helical structures of conjugate polymers created by oxidative polymerization using synthetic lipid assemblies as templates.

The morphology of conjugate polymers (such as poly(ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(pyrrole), and poly(aniline)) can be controlled in their polymerization processes, by applying the concept of the templating method to oxidative polymerization. As oxidative polymerization of these monomers produces cationic intermediates, the anionic assemblies can act as potential templates due to the mutual electrostatic attractive force. Oxidative polymerization of ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), pyrrole, and aniline was carried out using helical superstructures of synthetic lipid assemblies as templates. Interestingly, we have found that oxidative polymerization of these monomers results in novel polymeric aggregates, such as a helical-tape structure and an intertwined helical structure, and that both the right-handed and left-handed helical structures can be created by a change in the hydrophilic head groups. This is the first example of helical superstructures composed of conjugate polymers that have been designed utilizing a convenient templating method.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Photoinduced electron transfer in multiporphyrinic interlocked structures: the effect of copper(I) coordination in the central site.

Photoinduced processes have been determined in a [2]catenane containing a zinc(II) porphyrin, a gold(III) porphyrin, and two free phenanthroline binding sites, Zn-Au(+), and in the corresponding copper(I) phenanthroline complex, Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+). In acetonitrile solution Zn-Au(+) is present in two different conformations: an extended one, L, which accounts for 40 % of the total, and a compact one, S. In the L conformation, the electron transfer from the excited state of the Zn porphyrin to the gold-porphyrin unit (k = 1.3x10(9) s(-1)) is followed by a slow recombination (k = 8.3x10(7) s(-1)) to the ground state. The processes in the S conformation cannot be clearly resolved but a charge-separated (CS) state is rapidly formed and decays with a lifetime on the order of fifty picoseconds. In the catenate Zn-Cu(+)-Au(+), the zinc-porphyrin excited state initially transfers energy to the Cu(I)-phenantholine unit, producing a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited state localized on the copper complex with a rate k = 1.4x10(9) s(-1). From this excited state the transfer of an electron to the gold-porphyrin unit takes place, producing the CS state Zn-Cu(2+)-Au(.), which decays with a lifetime of 10 ns. The results are discussed in comparison with the closely related [2]rotaxane, in which a further charge shift from the copper center to the zinc-porphyrin unit leads to the fully CS state. Even in the absence of such full charge separation, it is shown that the lifetimes of the CS states are increased by a factor of about 2-2.5 over those of the corresponding rotaxanes.

Copper↗
PubMed2004

Sol-gel polycondensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in sugar-based porphyrin organogels: inorganic conversion of a sugar-directed porphyrinic fiber library through sol-gel transcription processes.

Sugar-appended porphyrins (1 a-e) with monosaccharide groups at their periphery have been rationally designed for a new class of gelating reagents. A few of these compounds have the tendancy to form one-dimensional aggregates stable enough to show successful gelation ability for DMF-alcohol mixed solvents. The aggregation mode in the specific columnar super structures has been evaluated in detail by UV-visible spectrometry (UV/Vis), circular dichroism (CD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All UV-visible spectra of sugar-appended porphyrinic gels obtained from 1 a-c exhibit Soret band absorptions, which shift to lower wavelength and are significantly broadened. This phenomenon indicates that these porphyrin cores strongly interact with each other in an H-aggregate fashion, which drives the generation of a one-dimensional porphyrin-stacking array. The CD spectra of the organogels from 1 a and 1 b, which are in anomers, exhibit an almost symmetric pattern, whereas the gel from 1 c gives a completely different pattern. This implies that the gel fibrils wind themselves in a right- or left-handed fashion; this reflects chirality in the specific molecular structure of the gelators. The results from SEM for the gel fibrils are in good agreement with the CD patterns. The gel fibrils in 1 a possess left-handed helicity, whereas those in 1 b wind themselves right-handedly. Macroscopic helical morphology reflects the microscopic structure well at a molecular level, which gives structural variety of the gel fibrils, which can be defined by the sugar library. Inorganic conversion of the organic helical fibrils by a sol-gel transcription process successfully gives the helical-silica structures, which finely inherit the organic morphology. A striking observation is that a unimolecular porphyrin-stacking array is also transcribed into silica fibers when the optimized sol-gel reaction conditions are selected. A sugar-based organic-fiber library in porphyrinic gels thus provides a variety of inorganic materials through the sol-gel transcription process.

Journal Article↗