Dimeric cyclopalladated azobenzenes: structural differences between 2-hydroxypyridine and 2-mercaptopyridine bridged complexes

Binuclear chloro-bridged cyclopalladated azobenzenes [Pd(A)Cl]₂ (A=ortho-metallated azobenzene or its derivatives) have been reacted with aqueous (aq.) AgNO₃ followed by the addition of 2-hydroxypyridine (2-PyOH; donor centres of deprotonated form abbreviated N,O)/2-mercaptopyridine (2-PySH; donor centres of deprotonated form abbreviated N,S) in presence of Et₃N to synthesise bridged dinuclear compound [Pd(A)(μ-N,O)]₂–[Pd(A)(μ-N,S)]₂. The compositions of the complexes have been established by elemental analyses, IR, UV–vis, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectral data. The structural confirmation has been carried out by X-ray crystallography. The structures show anti-symmetric metallacycle in the dimer and N,O/N,S bridging arrangement. The dimer [Pd(A₁)(μ-N,X)]₂ shows strong PdPd interaction (A₁=2-(phenylazo)benzene). The coordination mode in [Pd(A₁)(μ-N,O)]₂ shows trans pyridine-N to Pd---N(azo) bond while in [Pd(A₁)(μ-N,S)]₂ pyridine-N is trans to the Pd---C bond. The square planes are convergent towards heterocyclic bridging side.     

Comparative effects of different triazole compounds on growth, photosynthetic pigments and carbohydrate metabolism of Solenostemon rotundifolius

The effects of two triazole compounds, triadimefon and hexaconazole, on the growth and carbohydrate metabolism were studied in Solenostemon rotundifolius Poir., Morton plants under pot culture. Plants were treated with triadimefon at 15mg l(-1) and hexaconazole at 10mg l(-1) separately by soil drenching on 80, 110 and 140 days after planting (DAP). The plants were harvested randomly and growth parameters were studied on 90, 120 and 150 DAP for determining the effect of both the triazole on growth and chlorophyll pigments. These triazole compounds increased the chlorophyll pigments. However, both the treatments decreased the fresh and dry weights of shoot and leaf area. Both these triazole resulted in a marginal increase in starch content and decreased the sugar contents. The carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes alpha- and beta-amylase activities were reduced and invertase activity increased in S. rotundifolius under triadimefon and hexaconazole treatments.     

Water deficit stress effects on reactive oxygen metabolism in Catharanthus roseus; impacts on ajmalicine accumulation

In the present work, we have analysed the changes in the reactive oxygen metabolism of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. plants in terms of H(2)O(2) content, lipid peroxidation and the free radical quenching systems (non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants) under drought stress. In addition to this, the root alkaloid ajmalicine was extracted and quantified from both control and drought stressed plants. The H(2)O(2) content was analysed from both stressed and unstressed control plants. Lipid peroxidation was estimated as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The non-enzymatic antioxidants viz., ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and reduced glutathione contents, antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were extracted and estimated from the samples. The alkaloid ajmalicine was extracted and quantified from shade dried root samples and found significantly increased over control. From the results of this investigation, it can be concluded that the water deficit areas may be well used for the cultivation of medicinal plants like C. roseus and the economically important alkaloid production can be enhanced in the plant level.     

Protection of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. plants from salt stress by paclobutrazol

A pot culture experiment was conducted to estimate the stress ameliorating ability of paclobutrazol, a triazole fungicide in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. plants. Treatments were given as 80 mM NaCl, 80 mM NaCl + 15 mg l⁻¹ paclobutrazol and 15 mg l⁻¹ paclobutrazol alone. The samples were collected on 60 and 80 days after sowing (DAS). NaCl stress inhibited the root and stem length, total leaf area, fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW) and activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX). Plants treated with NaCl with paclobutrazol increased these parameters to a larger extent when compared to NaCl stressed plants. The results showed that the paclobutrazol significantly ameliorated the adverse effects of NaCl stress in V. unguiculata plants.     

Alterations in morphological parameters and photosynthetic pigment responses of Catharanthus roseus under soil water deficits

An experiment was conducted in two varieties, rosea and alba, of Catharanthus roseus plants with two watering treatments viz., 100 and 60% of field capacity, to understand the effects of water deficit on early growth, biomass allocation and photosynthetic pigment responses. We found that there were significant differences in early growth, dry matter accumulation and pigment variations between the two varieties. The root length, shoot length, total leaf area, fresh and dry weights were significantly reduced under water stress treatments. There was a significant reduction in the photosynthetic pigment contents in both the varieties. The rosea variety was more affected due to water deficit when compared to alba variety.     

Ligand influence on the formation of P/Se semiconductor materials from metal-organic complexes

The complexes [Ni{(SeP(i)Pr(2))(2)N}(2)] (), [Ni(Se(2)P(i)Pr(2))(2)] (), and [Co(Se(2)P(i)Pr(2))(2)] () were synthesised and the X-ray single crystal structures of () and () were determined. Thin films of nickel selenide, cobalt selenide and cobalt phosphide have been deposited by the chemical vapour deposition method using imidodiselenophosphinato-nickel(ii) (), -cobalt(ii) [Co{(SeP(i)Pr(2))(2)N}(2)] (), diselenophosphinato-nickel(ii) (), -cobalt(ii) () and diselenocarbamato-nickel(ii) [Ni(Se(2)CNEt(2))(2)] (), and -cobalt(iii) [Co(Se(2)CNEt(2))(3)] () precursors.