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<p>The molybdenum cofactor (Moco) is an essential enzyme cofactor found in all kingdoms of life. Moco plays central roles in many vital biological processes, and must be biosynthesized de novo. During its biosynthesis, the characteristic pyranopterin ring of Moco is constructed by a complex rearrangement of guanosine 5'-­triphosphate (GTP) into cyclic pyranopterin (cPMP) through the action of two enzymes, MoaA and MoaC. However, the mechanisms and the functions of the two enzymes are under significant debate. To elucidate their physiological roles, I took a multidisciplinary approach to functionally characterize MoaA and MoaC in vivo and in vitro. In this dissertation, I report the first isolation and characterization of the physiological MoaC substrate, 3',8-­ cyclo-­7,8-­dihydro-­guanosine 5'-triphosphate (3',8-cH2GTP). I also report the first X-­ray crystal structures of MoaC in complex with this highly air sensitive substrate, and its product cPMP. These studies, combined with in vitro experiments using substrate analogs, catalytically impaired mutants, and synthetic peptides, have enabled me to delineate the functions of the Moco biosynthetic enzymes, MoaA and MoaC, and proposed mechanistic models for their roles in the formation of cPMP.</p> / Dissertation

Ce travail concerne la préparation et la caractérisation des systèmes moléculaires photocommutables multifonctionnels incorporant l'unité photochrome diméthyldihydropyrène/cyclophanediène (DHP/CPD) et leur mise en œuvre dans des matériaux et dispositifs.Un dérivé DHP tétrasubstitué par des unités pyridinium, étudié en solution, possède des propriétés exploitables de photocommutation d'absorption, de fluorescence et de communication électronique intramoléculaire. La coordination axiale de certains dérivés de type DHP-pyridyle à une entité métallique porphyrinique améliore les propriétés de photoisomérisation du système photochrome par rapport à celles des ligands libres correspondants. D'autre part, l'association du motif DHP à des complexes métalliques contenant la terpyridine confère au système résultant des propriétés rédox supplémentaires. Parmi les deux familles de complexes élaborés, les systèmes à pont pyridinium reliant le noyau DHP au complexe métallique présentent des propriétés de commutation exploitables pour la conception d'un système quadristable rédox- et photocommutable. Ces systèmes modèles ont été insérés dans une architecture macromoléculaire de type polymère de coordination photocommutable élaboré en solution ou immobilisé sur une surface. Les films assemblés autour du complexe de Zn2+ présentent des propriétés de conductance commutables suivant l'état de l'unité photochrome. Des nanotubes de carbone fonctionnalisés par des dérivés DHP substitués par un groupement pyridinium-CH2-pyrène constituent des nouveaux nanomatériaux photo- et thermocommutables. Enfin, un film mince comportant une unité DHP greffée sur ITO, constitue un générateur de 1O2 à la demande. En présence d'oxygène moléculaire, le dérivé DHP joue le rôle de sensibilisateur de 3O2 et subit une réaction de photooxygénation. L'espèce photogénérée sous forme de CPDO2 libère thermiquement 1O2. / This work deals with the design of molecular multifunctional photoswitchable systems incorporating dimethyldihydropyrene (DHP) photochromic unit and with their implantation and characterization in switchable devices.We show that a tetra pyridinium-appended DHP derivative displays interesting photoswitchable optical properties, emission and excitation fluorescence and electronic communication. Combining DHP pyridine-substituted ligand with porphyrin complex via axial coordination enhances the photoinduced DHP ring-opening reaction. Additionally, associating photoresponsive DHP unit with electron-responsive transition metal complexes confers additional redox properties to the resulting hybrid system. The DHP core photo-isomerization proceeds much more efficiently when the metal complexes and the DHP moiety are connected through pyridinium-bridge vs phenyl bridge. The resulting systems are used for the conception of new multi-addressable photo- and redox- switches. These assemblies are applied for the design of photoswitchable coordination polymers developed in solution or immobilized onto ITO. Photochromic films based on Zn2+ exhibit conductance properties that can be tuned optically and thermally according to the photostate of the photochromic unit. The DHP core associated with a pyrene entity and immobilized onto carbon nanotube electrode via -stacking acts as a switchable material. Finally, we report the possibility of controlling 1O2 production by light irradiation or by heating, of an ITO surface functionalized by pyridinium-substituted DHP derivatives. In the presence of dioxygen, this DHP derivative plays the role of an O2 sensitizer. The photogenerated 1O2 reacts with the open-ring isomer to afford the corresponding endoperoxyde species which then releases 1O2 thermally.

abstract: New forms of carbon are being discovered at a rapid rate and prove to be on the frontier of cutting edge technology. Carbon possesses three energetically competitive forms of orbital hybridization, leading to exceptional blends of properties unseen in other materials. Fascinating properties found among carbon allotropes, such as, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene have led to new and exciting advancement, with recent applications in defense, energy storage, construction, and electronics. Various combinations of extreme strength, high electrical and thermal conductivity, flexibility, and light weight have led to new durable and flexible display screens, optoelectronics, quantum computing, and strength enhancer coating. The quest for new carbon allotropes and future application persists. Despite the advances in carbon-based technology, researchers have been limited to sp3 and sp2 hybridizations. While sp3 and sp2 hybridizations of carbon are well established and understood, the simplest sp1 hybridized carbon allotrope, carbyne, has been impossible to synthesize and remains elusive. This dissertation presents recent results in characterizing a new sp1 carbon material produced from using pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) to ablate a gold surface that is immersed in a carbon rich liquid. The PLAL technique provides access to extremely non-thermal environmental conditions where unexplored chemical reactions occur and can be explored to access the production of new materials. A combination of experimental and theoretical results suggests gold clusters can act as stabilizing agents as they react and adsorb onto the surface of one dimensional carbon chains to form a new class of materials termed “pseudocarbynes”. Data from several characterization techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, UV/VIS spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), provide evidence for the existence of pseudocarbyne. This completely new material may possess outstanding properties, a trend seen among carbon allotropes, that can further scientific advancements. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Chemical Engineering 2018

abstract: This thesis describes the studies for two groups of molecules in the gas-phase: (a) copper monofluoride (CuF) and copper hydroxide (CuOH); (b) thorium monoxide (ThO) and tungsten carbide (WC). Copper-containing molecules (Group a) are selected to investigate the ionic bonding in transition metal-containing molecules because they have a relatively simple electronic state distribution due to the nearly filled 3d-orbital. ThO and WC (Group b) are in support of particle physics for the determination of electron electric dipole moment (eEDM), de, the existence of which indicates new physics beyond the Standard Model. The determination of the tiny eEDM requires large electric fields applied to the electron. The 3(Delta)1 states for heavy polar molecules were proposed [E. R. Meyer, J. L. Bohn, and M. P. Deskevich, Phys. Rev. A 73, 062108 (2006)] to determine de with the following attractive features: (1) large electric dipole moments; (2) large internal electric fields, Eeff, experienced by valence electrons; (3) nearly degenerate omega-doublets; (4) extremely small magnetic dipole moments. The H3(Delta)1 state for ThO and the X3(Delta)1 state for WC are both good candidates. Spectroscopic parameters (i.e. molecular electric and magnetic dipole moments, omega-doubling parameters, etc) are required for the 3(Delta)1 states of ThO and WC. High resolution optical spectra (linewidth ~50 MHz) of CuF, CuOH, ThO and WC were recorded field-free and in the presence of a static electric field (or magnetic field) using laser ablation source/supersonic expansion and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. The spectra were modeled by a zero-field effective Hamiltonian operator and a Stark (or Zeeman) Hamiltonian operator with various molecular parameters. The determined molecular parameters are compared to theoretical predictions. The small omega-doubling parameter was well determined using the pump/probe microwave optical double resonance (PPMODR) technique with a much higher resolution (linewidth ~60 kHz) than optical spectroscopy. In addition to the above mentioned studies of the two groups of molecules, a resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI) combined with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) has been developed to identify the molecules responsible for observed LIF signals. The operation of this spectrometer has been tested by recording the mass spectrum of Ti/O2 and the REMPI spectrum for TiO using a two-color excitation scheme. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Chemistry 2012

Many of the bands in the vapor-phase far-ultraviolet absorption spectra of simple molecules can often be fit to mathematical progressions referred to as molecular Rydberg series. The name Rydberg arises from the similarity between the Rydberg formula for the atomic hydrogen spectrum and the formulae for the progressions found in molecular spectra. The theories of molecular Rydberg transitions and states are discussed in terms of the inferences that have been made in the past from the available spectral data. The dipole moment changes (ca. 0.4 Debye units) from the ground state to all of the Rydberg states studied were found to be smaller than changes typically found in transitions of charge-transfer nature (ca. 1 Debye unit). The implication is that the Rydberg transitions are fairly localized. The changes in polarizability are on the order of 6 x 10⁻²⁴ cm³ and are assumed to be increases over those of the ground state.

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abstract: This study aims to address the deficiencies of the Marcus model of electron transfer (ET) and then provide modifications to the model. A confirmation of the inverted energy gap law, which is the cleanest verification so far, is presented for donor-acceptor complexes. In addition to the macroscopic properties of the solvent, the physical properties of the solvent are incorporated in the model via the microscopic solvation model. For the molecules studied in this dissertation, the rate constant first increases with cooling, in contrast to the prediction of the Arrhenius law, and then decreases at lower temperatures. Additionally, the polarizability of solute, which was not considered in the original Marcus theory, is included by the Q-model of ET. Through accounting for the polarizability of the reactants, the Q-model offers an important design principle for achieving high performance solar energy conversion materials. By means of the analytical Q-model of ET, it is shown that including molecular polarizability of C60 affects the reorganization energy and the activation barrier of ET reaction. The theory and Electrochemistry of Ferredoxin and Cytochrome c are also investigated. By providing a new formulation for reaction reorganization energy, a long-standing disconnect between the results of atomistic simulations and cyclic voltametery experiments is resolved. The significant role of polarizability of enzymes in reducing the activation energy of ET is discussed. The binding/unbinding of waters to the active site of Ferredoxin leads to non-Gaussian statistics of energy gap and result in a smaller activation energy of ET. Furthermore, the dielectric constant of water at the interface of neutral and charged C60 is studied. The dielectric constant is found to be in the range of 10 to 22 which is remarkably smaller compared to bulk water( 80). Moreover, the interfacial structural crossover and hydration thermodynamic of charged C60 in water is studied. Increasing the charge of the C60 molecule result in a dramatic structural transition in the hydration shell, which lead to increase in the population of dangling O-H bonds at the interface. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry 2019

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