The effects of annealing temperature on structural and optical properties of S-doped ZnO nanobelts

In this study, the effects of thermal annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of S-doped ZnO nanobelts were investigated. The XRD pattern shows that the crystallinity of S-doped ZnO nanobelts improves with increased annealing temperature. Room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy of the as-grown S-doped ZnO nanobelts shows no detectable ultraviolet peak with the broad peaks in the visible emission region at 480, 505, and 518 nm. A weak peak in the ultraviolet region at 383 nm appears after annealing at 400 and 600 °C. Raman spectroscopy of the sample also shows a significant change with an increase in the annealing temperature.     

Neuromagnetic brain responses to words from semantic sub- and supercategories

Background  

We explored spatio-temporal patterns of cortical activity evoked by written words from super-ordinate and sub-ordinate semantic categories and hoped to find a differential cortical and/or temporal distribution of the brain response depending on the level of the categories. Twenty-three subjects saw 360 words belonging to six sub-ordinate categories (mammals, birds, fish, fruit, flowers, trees) within two super-ordinate categories (fauna, flora). Visually evoked magnetic fields were determined from whole-head (148-sensor) magnetoencephalography and analyzed in the source space (Minimum Norm Estimate).     

Enantioselective organocatalytic α-sulfenylation of substituted diketopiperazines

The asymmetric organocatalytic α-sulfenylation of substituted piperazine-2,5-diones is reported, with cinchona alkaloids as chiral Lewis bases and electrophilic sulfur transfer reagents. Catalyst loadings, the type of sulfur transfer reagent, temperature, and solvent were investigated in order to optimize the reaction conditions. The effects of ring substitution and the type of catalyst on the yield and enantioselectivity of the reaction are reported.     

KF‐Melamine Formaldehyde Resin (KF‐MFR) as a Versatile and Efficient Heterogeneous Reagent for Aldol Condensation of Aldehydes and Ketones under Microwave Irradiation

KF‐Melamine formaldehyde resin (KF‐MFR) was demonstrated to be a highly efficient heterogenious catalyst for cross‐aldol condensation under microwave irradiation. In this synthesis, various aldehydes and ketones were condensed together in the presence of supported KF on melamine‐formaldehyde resin to afford different chalcone derivatives in good to excellent yields. KF‐MFR proved to have unique termal and chemical resistance and can be reused for many consecutive runs without remarkable loss in catalytic activity.     

Iron Oxychloride/Bovine Serum Albumin Nanosheets as Chemodynamic Therapy Agents

Iron oxychloride (FeOCl) is known for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation through Fenton chemistry. The activity of FeOCl is preserved in the slightly acidic pH value of the tumor microenvironment (pH 6.5−6.9). Such property can be advantageous in biobased systems, where ROS generation can be modulated in slightly acidic conditions, which is characteristic of the solid tumor microenvironment. In the present study, BSA-stabilized FeOCl nanosheets (NSs) are synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, dynamic light scattering, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The morphology of the nanoparticles is flake-like, and their hydrodynamic diameter is around 200 nm. MTT, apoptosis assay, and trypan blue staining evaluate the toxicity of FeOCl NSs toward the 4T1 cell line. It is found that the toxicity of the NSs is higher in physiological conditions of solid tumors (pH 6.5, H₂O₂ 100 × 10⁻⁶ m ) than in the conditions of healthy organs (pH 7.4). Specifically, cancer cells are in their late apoptotic stage by more than eight times higher at pH 6.5 than pH 7.4. The toxicity results are in agreement with the in vitro catalytic assay of the NSs. Therefore, the FeOCl NSs can be the building blocks for constructing chemodynamic therapy agents.     

Application of N,N'-Diiodo-N,N'-1,2-ethandiylbis(p-toluene sulfonamide)as a New Reagent for Synthesis of2-Arylbenzimidazoles and 2-Arylbenzothiazoles under Solvent-free Conditions

N,N′‐Diiodo‐N,N′‐1,2‐ethandiylbis(p‐toluene sulfonamide) (NIBTS) is a good and new reagent for synthesis of 2‐arylbenzimidazoles and 2‐arylbenzothiazoles at room temperature under solvent‐free condition with good to high yield. Absence of solvent, short reaction times, non‐corrosive, operational simplicity and environmentally friendliness are the main advantages of this procedure.     

Grindstone chemistry: one-pot synthesis of spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones and spiro[acenaphthylene-diindenopyridine]triones

A one-pot, pseudo four-component, and simple synthesis of spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones and spiro[acenaphthylene-diindenopyridine]triones via the reaction of 1,3-indandione, aromatic amines and isatins or acenaphthylene-1,2-dione using a ‘Grindstone Chemistry’ method is reported.     

Efficient and solvent-free synthesis of 1-amidoalkyl-2-naphthols using <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N,N’,N’</Emphasis>-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide

N,N,N,’N’-Tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide [TBBDA] is found to be a reusable catalyst for efficient synthesis of various amidoalkyl naphthols from β-naphthol, aromatic aldehydes and urea in good to high yields under solvent-free conditions.