Solvent-Free Esterification of Carboxylic Acids and Alcohols in the Presence of Silphos [PCl3-n(SiO2)n] as a Heterogeneous Phosphine Reagent

An efficient solvent-free method for the preparation of esters from various aromatic and aliphatic acids with primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols using a heterogeneous phosphine reagent, silphos [PCl_3-n(SiO₂)_n], in good yields is reported.     

Water mediated deprotective intramolecular hydroamination of N-propargylaminopyridines: synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

Metal-free synthesis of substituted imidazole [1,2-a]pyridines from deprotective N-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)pyridin-2-amines in water is elucidated. Electron releasing substituents on pyridine ring provided pure products in quantitative yields without separation by column chromatography.     

Synthesis,Properties, and Applications of Amino Acids Based Surfactants: A Review

Amino acids based surfactants belong to the class of surfactants with high biodegradability, low toxicity and excellent surface active properties. They possess excellent emulsifying, detergency properties and form fine lather. These surfactants are environment friendly, mild to skin and eyes, and have hard water tolerance. This article reviews types, synthesis, various surface properties such as cmc (critical micelle concentration), surface tension, phase behavior, Krafft temperature, and interfacial adsorption of these surfactants. The biological properties such as antimicrobial activity, aquatic toxicity, biodegradability and hemolytic activity have also been focused. The various applications of amino acid based surfactants in the area of life sciences such as gene transfection, formation of liposomes, and drug delivery systems have also been reviewed.     

Synthesis, characterization and ion transport properties of hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes (1−x) PEO:x KI

Synthesis and ion transport properties of hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), (1-x) PEO: x KI, where x is the content of KI in wt%, are reported. A hot-press technique has been used for the formation of the polymeric membranes in place of the usual solution cast method. The composition (80PEO:20KI) was identified as the highest conducting polymer electrolyte on the basis of compositional dependent conductivity studies of PEO:KI films. A conductivity enhancement of more than two orders of magnitude from that of the pure PEO was achieved. Materials characterization and ion transport mechanism were explained by using various experimental techniques.     

Computer modelling of the director configuration in a supertwist nematic liquid crystal cell

Abstract

The director distribution in a supertwist nematic cell, containing La-Roche liquid crystal mixture 3010, has been studied extensively using Berreman's computer simulation approach. It is seen that the director distribution in the cell depends critically on the total twist angle θ_t, the surface tilt angle θ_o and the ratio of the cell thickness to the pitch d/p. The values of θ_o and φ_t have been optimized to yield a small bistability (ΔV = 0.06 V) and a relatively large change in the midplane tilt angle (Δθ_m = 51°) in an unstrained cell with ?_t = (d/p) × 360°. The optimum values of θ_o and Ø_t were found to be 15° and 240°, respectively. The effect of varying d/p on the director distribution has also been studied in great detail in supertwist cells with θ_o = 30° and Ø_t = 270°. Some interesting features in understrained and overstrained cells have been observed.     

Blue phase III widening in CE6-dispersed surface-functionalised CdSe nanoparticles

The phase transition behaviour of the chiral liquid crystal CE6 doped with spherical surface-functionalised CdSe nanoparticles has been examined by means of high-resolution adiabatic scanning calorimetry and polarising microscopy. The addition of nanoparticles results in an essentially stabilised blue phase III. The phase diagram is displayed upon heating and cooling and the enthalpy changes involved in the conversion between the blue phases are determined. The dispersion of functionalised nanoparticles is prominent for the stabilisation of blue phase III, which is potentially useful for applications, especially if applied on liquid crystals that exhibit blue phases close to room temperature.     

Cobalt(III) complexes of unsaturated carboxylic acids: synthesis, characterization, and photochemical studies in aqueous medium

Cobalt(III) ammine complexes coordinated to carboxylic acids are classic examples showing photoredox reactions originating from the ligand to metal charge transfer excited states. Cobalt(III) pentaammine complexes coordinated to unsaturated carboxylic acids as ligands were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The photolysis of these complexes produces a carboxylate free radical. This free radical undergoes further transformation to form organic photoproducts. The organic photoproducts were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The nature of the decomposition products from the organic photoproduct was examined in detail. The quantum yields were also determined. The photochemical reactions have the potential to produce novel compounds from the decarboxylation of unsaturated acids, which shows interesting reaction pathways.     

Novel Tripod Amphiphiles for Membrane Protein Analysis

Integral membrane proteins play central roles in controlling the flow of information and molecules across membranes. Our understanding of membrane protein structures and functions, however, is seriously limited, mainly due to difficulties in handling and analysing these proteins in aqueous solution. The use of a detergent or other amphipathic agents is required to overcome the intrinsic incompatibility between the large lipophilic surfaces displayed by the membrane proteins in their native forms and the polar solvent molecules. Here, we introduce new tripod amphiphiles displaying favourable behaviours toward several membrane protein systems, leading to an enhanced protein solubilisation and stabilisation compared to both conventional detergents and previously described tripod amphiphiles.