Low-temperature nematic phase in asymmetrical 1,3,4-oxadiazole bent-core liquid crystals possessing lateral methoxy group

Asymmetrical bent-core molecules based on 1,3,4-oxadiazole bent-core unit have been synthesised as a new design with a lateral methoxy group at outer phenyl ring of the molecule. These new asymmetrical bent-core molecules resemble hockey-stick shaped due to the presence of two different arms of different lengths. One arm of these molecules is elongated having two phenyl rings and possesses a 4-n-alkyloxy chain of a different number of carbon atoms (n = 4, 8, 12 and 18) and other arm is short and has one phenyl ring with fixed 4-n-octyloxy chain. The bent-core molecules possess a lateral polar methoxy group at the elongated arm of the molecule. These bent-core compounds exhibited fluorescence emission in the UV wavelength region (~377–386 nm) whereas in acetonitrile and dimethylformamide, solvent displays blue emission peak with a large stoke shift.The bent-core molecules with the number of carbon atoms (n = 4, 8 and 12) at the elongated arm exhibited monotropic nematic phase at low temperature, while the 4-n-octadecyloxy chain at the elongated arm displayed smectic A phase. Dielectric studies were performed in the nematic phase of the bent-core mesogens confirm the formation of the cybotactic cluster in the nematic mesophases.     

SURFACE PROPERTIES OF SOME LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT PROTEINS

Surface properties of four proteins having molecular weights less than 5,000 are reported at air/water and alumina/water interface at pH 7.0. Reversibility in the adsorption of these proteins at the alumina/water interface is tested. The adsorption on alumina/water interface has been found to be controlled by electrostatic interaction. Positive adsorption was obtained when protein and alumina surface had opposite charges and negative adsorption was obtained when both protein and surface had same charges. Of the four proteins reversibility in adsorption was observed with the one having the lowest molecular weight of 3100. The adsorption behavior apparently had no correlation with their surface hydrophobic!ty. Time dependent changes in air/water interfacial tension was observed for all the four proteins indicating time dependent loosening of compact protein structure and surface unfolding.     

Simultaneous Presence of Both Open Metal Sites and Free Functional Organic Sites in a Noncentrosymmetric Dynamic Metal–Organic Framework with Bimodal Catalytic and Sensing Activities

Assimilation of open metal sites (OMSs) and free functional organic sites (FOSs) with a framework strut has opened up a new route for the fabrication of novel metal–organic materials, thereby providing a unique opportunity to explore their multiple functionalities. A new metal–organic framework (MOF), {[Cu(ina)₂(H₂O)][Cu(ina)₂(bipy)]?2 H₂O}_n ( 1 ) (ina=isonicotinate, bipy=4,4′‐bipyridine), has been synthesized and characterized. Complex 1 is crystallized in the orthorhombic noncentrosymmetric space group Aba2 and consists of two different 2D coordination polymers, [Cu(ina)₂(H₂O)]_n and [Cu(ina)₂(bipy)]_n, with entrapped solvent water molecules. Hydrogen‐bonding interactions assemble these two different 2D coordination layers in a single‐crystal structure with interdigitation of pendant 4,4′‐bipy from one layer into the groove of another. Upon removal of guest molecules, 1 undergoes a structural transformation in single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal fashion with expansion of the effective void space. Each metal center is five‐coordinated and thus can potentially behave as an OMS, and the free pyridyl groups of pendant 4,4′‐bipy moieties and free ? C?O groups can act as free FOSs. Thus, owing to presence of both OMSs and free FOSs, the framework exhibits multifunctional properties. Owing to the presence of OMSs, the framework can act as a Lewis acid catalyst as well as a small‐molecule sensor material, and in a similar way, owing to the presence of free FOSs, it performs as a Lewis base catalyst and a cation sensor material. Furthermore, owing to noncentrosymmetry with large polarity along a particular direction, it shows strong second‐harmonic generation/nonlinear optical (SHG‐NLO) activity.     

Synthetic aspects, crystal structures and antibacterial activities of manganese(III) and cobalt(III) complexes containing a tetradentate Schiff base

Three new Schiff base complexes, namely [Mn(L)Cl] · H₂O (1), [Co(L)Cl]₂ · 2CH₃COCH₃ (2) and [Co(L)NCS]₂ (3), where H₂L = 2,2′-[propane-1,2-diylbis(nitriloeth-1-yl-1-ylidene)]diphenol, have been prepared and characterized. The syntheses of 1 and 2 have been achieved by reacting equimolar amounts of the respective metal chloride and the tetradentate Schiff base ligand (H₂L). While the mononuclear Mn(III) complex 1 was obtained with MnCl₂ in acetone medium, the same synthetic system yielded the binuclear Co(III) complex 2 in the presence of CoCl₂. Dissolution of 1 and 2 followed by crystallization with ammonium thiocyanate in methanol yielded two isostructural phenoxo-bridged binuclear complexes, namely [Mn(L)NCS]₂ (previously reported by us) and a new complex [Co(L)NCS]₂ (3), respectively. All the complexes 1–3 have been characterized by microanalytical, spectroscopic, single crystal X-ray diffraction and other physicochemical studies. Structural studies reveal that 1 adopts a distorted tetragonal pyramidal geometry while 2 and 3 comprise dimeric Co(III) units with bridging phenolate oxygen atoms. All the complex units in 1–3 and the respective solvent molecules are held together by weak intermolecular H-bonding to constitute a supramolecular network in the solid state. The antibacterial activity of the complexes has been tested against some Gram(+) and Gram(?) bacteria.     

Chromium removal technologies

Chromium can exist in different oxidation states (e.g. 0, III, VI). Chromium can be both beneficial and toxic to animals and humans depending on its oxidation state and concentration. At low concentration, Cr(III) is essential for animal and human health. Chromium(VI) compounds are highly soluble, mobile and bioavailable compared to trivalent chromium. Chromium(VI) is dangerous for humans due to its toxicity and carcinogenic properties. The presence of hexavalent chromium in waste water is a potential hazard to aquatic animals and humans. Various methods are adopted for the removal of hexavalent chromium from industrial effluents. Among these different techniques, biosorption is the most promising one. In this process, the various components present in biomaterial reduce the toxic hexavalent chromium to non-toxic trivalent chromium. Algae, fungi and bacteria have biosorption properties, and cell walls are responsible for biosorption of dead biomaterial. But this process removes chromium from waste water very slowly. So for chemical modification of biosorbents, optimization of biosorption parameters is required to increase the effectiveness of this process.     

Choice of a suitable hetero-aromatic nitrogen base as promoter for chromic acid oxidation of dl-mandelic acid in aqueous media at room temperature

Chromic acid oxidation of dl-mandelic acid in the presence and absence of different promoters has been studied in aqueous media under the kinetic conditions [mandelic acid]_T ? [Cr(VI)]_T and [promoter]_T ? [Cr(VI)]_T at 30 °C. The promoters used in this oxidation reaction, picolinic acid (PA), 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), are strong chelating ligands which form complexes with most transition metal ions. The reaction is first-order with regard to [H⁺], [mandelic acid]_T, and [Cr(VI)]_T and also has first-order dependence on [promoter]_T. HCrO₄ ^? was found to be kinetically active in the absence of promoters; in the presence of promoters the Cr(VI)–promoter complexes were believed to be the active oxidants. In this path the Cr(VI)-promoter complex in each case undergoes nucleophilic attack by the mandelic acid to form a ternary complex which subsequently undergoes redox decomposition involving 3e transfer as the rate-determining step. Among the three promoters oxidation is much faster with 1,10-phenanthroline.     

Reductive Amination with Zinc Borohydride. Efficient,Safe Route to Fluorinated Benzylamines

Abstract: Fluorinated benzylamines are synthesized in high yields by reductive alkylation of secondary amines with appropriate fluoroaldehydes using a combination of zinc chloride and zinc borohydride. The present method offers an alternative to toxic sodium cyanoborohydride and is adaptable to multigram-scale preparations.     

Brine-Mediated Efficient Benzoylation of Primary Amines and Amino Acids

Benzoylation of primary amines and amino acids is efficiently carried out in a brine solution using a stoichiometric amount of benzoyl chloride followed by trituration with aqueous saturated bicarbonate solution.