One‐Pot Synthesis of Highly Fluorescent Pyrido[1,2‐a]indole Derivatives through CH/NH Activation: Photophysical Investigations and Application in Cell Imaging

We describe a straightforward strategy for the synthesis of strongly fluorescent pyridoindoles by Pd‐catalyzed oxidative annulations of internal alkynes with C‐3 functionalized indoles through C?H/N?H bond activation in a one‐pot tandem process. Mechanistic investigations reveal the preferential activation of N?H indole followed by C?H activation during the cyclization process. Photophysical properties of pyridoindoles exhibited the highest fluorescence quantum yield of nearly 80 %, with emission color varying from blue to green to orange depending on the substructures. Quantum mechanical calculations provide insights into the observed photophysical properties. The strong fluorescence of the pyrido[1,2‐a]indole derivative has been employed in subcellular imaging, which demonstrates its localization in the cell nucleus.     

Synthesis and Antifungal Screening of 2‐(2‐Aryl‐4‐methyl‐thiazol‐5‐yl)‐5‐((2‐aryl/benzylthiazol‐4‐yl)methyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole Derivatives

A new series of synthesis and biological screening of 2‐(2‐aryl‐4‐methyl‐thiazol‐5‐yl)‐5‐((2‐aryl/benzylthiazol‐4‐yl)methyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i was achieved by condensation of 2‐(2‐aryl/benzylthiazol‐4‐yl)acetohydrazide 2a , 2b , 2c with 4‐methyl‐2‐arylthiazole‐5‐carbaldehyde 3a , 3b , 3c followed by oxidative cyclization of N'‐((4‐methyl‐2‐arylthiazol‐5‐yl)methylene)‐2‐(2‐aryl/benzylthiazol‐4‐yl)acetohydrazide 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i using iodobenzene diacetate as oxidizing agent. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus. Some of the synthesized compounds showed good antifungal activity.     

Criterion for amino acid composition of defensins and antimicrobial peptides based on geometry of membrane destabilization

Defensins comprise a potent class of membrane disruptive antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with well-characterized broad spectrum and selective microbicidal effects. By using high-resolution synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering to investigate interactions between heterogeneous membranes and members of the defensin subfamilies, α-defensins (Crp-4), β-defensins (HBD-2, HBD-3), and θ-defensins (RTD-1, BTD-7), we show how these peptides all permeabilize model bacterial membranes but not model eukaryotic membranes: defensins selectively generate saddle-splay ("negative Gaussian") membrane curvature in model membranes rich in negative curvature lipids such as those with phosphoethanolamine (PE) headgroups. These results are shown to be consistent with vesicle leakage assays. A mechanism of action based on saddle-splay membrane curvature generation is broadly enabling, because it is a necessary condition for processes such as pore formation, blebbing, budding, and vesicularization, all of which destabilize the barrier function of cell membranes. Importantly, saddle-splay membrane curvature generation places constraints on the amino acid composition of membrane disruptive peptides. For example, we show that the requirement for generating saddle-splay curvature implies that a decrease in arginine content in an AMP can be offset by an increase in both lysine and hydrophobic content. This "design rule" is consistent with the amino acid compositions of 1080 known cationic AMPs.     

Graphene oxide-modified polyaniline pigment for epoxy based anti-corrosion coatings

In the present work, a set of polyaniline–graphene oxide (PANI–GO) nanocomposites which exhibit superior properties in terms of shelf life, processability and conductivity due to the synergistic effect of GO and PANI, have been synthesized by varying the concentration of highly non-conducting GO with respect to aniline. The obtained materials were characterized by UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, Raman, TGA as well as FESEM, TEM analysis. The results reveal that nanocomposites show better dispersibility, crystallinity, thermal stability, and conductivity. Further, the synthesized composites have been tested for their anti-corrosion properties. The potentiodynamic results reveal that PANI nanocomposites with 1% GO exhibited long-term anti-corrosion behavior with a corrosion rate of 6.5 × 10^?5 mm year^?1, which is much lower than its individual components and commercial-grade red oxide. Also, it possesses highest impedance modulus ~33 kΩ cm² and real impedance ~32 kΩ cm², maximum coating resistance ~14.81 × 10³ Ω cm² and minimum coating capacitance after 96 h of immersion in 3.5% mass NaCl than those exhibited by all other coated samples. Higher concentration of GO could not retard the corrosion rate confirming that hydrophilicity of GO play an important role in the redox mechanism of PANI.     

Theoretical study of [Si,O,C,O] species: Prediction of new species on triplet potential energy surface

The intermediates [Si,O,C,O] of the Si + CO₂ reaction have been studied in detail using high level ab iniitio methods. Both singlet and triplet [Si,O,C,O] species are characterized structurally and energetically. On the singlet potential energy surface (PES), the vdw‐OSi–CO isomer and in the triplet PES, the bent‐SiOCO isomer is found to be thermodynamically as well as kinetically most stable species. All possible isomerization transition states (TS) are located on both singlet and triplet potential surfaces. On the triplet surface, the stability of the trans‐OSiCO isomer is comparable with that of the bent‐SiOCO isomer. A non‐planar cis‐SiOCO isomer is located on the triplet PES, which is predicted for the first time. Heats of formation at 0 K (Δ_fH°, 0 K) for all singlet and triplet species are computed using G3B3, G3MP2, and CBS‐Q theories. The discrepancy between G3B3 and the other two methods for the heat of formation value for triplet trans‐OSiCO is discussed. The PESs for singlet as well as triplet species with their dissociation asymptotes are explored at the CCSD(T)/6‐311G(d,p)//MP2/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Inverse theory of Schrödinger matrices

In this note we discuss the inverse spectral theory for Schrödinger matrices, in particular a conjecture of Gesztesy-Simon [1] on the number of distinct iso-spectral Schrödinger matrices. We consider 3 × 3 matrices and obtain counter examples to their conjecture.     

Resolution-enhanced Fourier transform method for the estimation of multiple phases in interferometry

A phase shifting method based on high-resolution frequency estimation and Fourier transform technique is introduced. This method, also referred to as the eigenvector method, draws on the complementary strengths of both these methods. The salient feature of the method lies in its ability to handle nonsinusoidal wave-forms, multiple piezoelectric transducers, and arbitrary phase steps in an optical configuration. The method does not need the addition of carrier fringes to separate the spectral contents in the intensity fringes. The proposed concept thus overcomes the limitations of methods based on Fourier transform techniques. The robustness of the proposed method is studied in the presence of noise.     

Synthesis and study of electroactive nanoparticles and their polymer composites for novel applications

Polymer ceramic composites using a polymer binder, nanosized BaTiO₃ and metal particles were developed for radiation shielding in the microwave region. From X-ray Diffraction (XRD) the crystallinity and nanosize of BaTiO₃ was confirmed in the composite. Interesting changes in Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were observed before and after ball milling of BaTiO₃. Shielding Efficiency (SE) of microwave radiation has been measured from transmitted fraction (TF) of electromagnetic waves (EM) at different frequencies. The changes in TF were assigned to reflection and absorption of EM waves in different composites.