Virtual screening is becoming a ground-breaking tool for molecular discovery due to the exponential growth of available computer time and constant improvement of simulation and machine learning techniques. We report an integrated organic functional material design process that incorporates theoretical insight, quantum chemistry, cheminformatics, machine learning, industrial expertise, organic synthesis, molecular characterization, device fabrication and optoelectronic testing. After exploring a search space of 1.6 million molecules and screening over 400,000 of them using time-dependent density functional theory, we identified thousands of promising novel organic light-emitting diode molecules across the visible spectrum. Our team collaboratively selected the best candidates from this set. The experimentally determined external quantum efficiencies for these synthesized candidates were as large as 22%.
Prostate cancer is characterized by elevated serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA gene expression is controlled by an androgen-responsive transcriptional enhancer. Our study suggests that formation of a nucleoprotein complex, encompassing 170 base pairs of enhancer DNA, mediates androgen-responsive PSA enhancer activity. The complex is assembled by cooperative binding of androgen receptor to at least four tandem, nonconsensus androgen response elements (AREs). Systematic mutagenesis of the AREs demonstrated that they act synergistically to stimulate androgen receptor-responsive gene expression. We discuss a mechanism whereby a combination of high androgen receptor levels in the prostate and low affinity AREs contribute to the cell type specificity and activity of the enhancer.
The synthesis and characterization of the first scandium arene inverted-sandwich complexes supported by a ferrocene diamide ligand (NN(fc)) are reported. Through the use of (NN(fc))ScI(THF)(2) as a precursor and potassium graphite (KC(8)) as a reducing agent, the naphthalene and anthracene complexes [(NN(fc))Sc](2)(μ-C(10)H(8)) and [(NN(fc))Sc](2)(μ-C(14)H(10)), respectively, were synthesized and isolated in moderate to high yields. Both molecular structures feature an inverted-sandwich geometry and exhibit short Fe-Sc distances. DFT calculations were employed to gain understanding of the electronic structures of these new scandium arene complexes. A variable-temperature NMR spectroscopic study of [(NN(fc))Sc](2)(μ-C(14)H(10)) indicated that two different structures are accessible in solution. Reactivity studies showed that the naphthalene complex [(NN(fc))Sc](2)(μ-C(10)H(8)) can be converted to the corresponding anthracene species [(NN(fc))Sc](2)(μ-C(14)H(10)) and that [(NN(fc))Sc](2)(μ-C(10)H(8)) can act as either a reductant or a proton acceptor. The reaction of [(NN(fc))Sc](2)(μ-C(10)H(8)) with excess pyridine led to a rare example of C-C bond formation between two pyridine rings at the para position.
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