Photoreflectance spectroscopy of GaAs---AlxGa1−xAs quantum wells under hydrostatic pressure

We report the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the photoreflectance spectra derived from the Γ, X and L bands of a GaAs---Al_xGa_1−xAs heterostructure. The pressure dependence of the quantum well transitions and the valence band-offsets are accurately determined.     

Synthesis of the C10–C24 fragment of (+)-cannabisativine

The stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C24 fragment of (+)-cannabisativine has been achieved. The key steps involved in this strategy are the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, the diastereoselective allylation of an imine, and the ring closing metathesis (RCM).     

Exhibition of low hyperfine coupling constant for copper(II) in magnesium rubidium sulphate hexahydrate

Single crystal EPR studies of Cu(II) incorporated in magnesium rubidium sulphate hexahydrate are carried out at RT and 77 K. Since the hyperfine lines are not resolved at RT, single crystal rotations have been carried out at 77 K. The spin Hamiltonian parameters calculated from the 77 K spectra are: g₁₁=2.133, g₂₂=2.137, g₃₃=2.327, A₁₁=0.01, A₂₂=1.44 and . The impurity ion occupies an interstitial position in this crystal lattice, which is not very common for copper ion. In addition, the low hyperfine coupling constant is explained by considering an admixture of dx²-y² ground state with dz² excited state. Bonding parameters, κ=0.254, , α²=0.706, α=0.8406 have also been calculated. The present study has helped to understand the static nature of JT, for which the present system is an example.     

Click reaction on in situ generated β-azidostyrenes from cinnamic acid using CAN-NaN3: synthesis of N-styryl triazoles

N-Styryl triazoles are synthesized in one-pot starting with azido styrene obtained in situ from cinnamic acids and various acetylenes.     

Assembly of a dinuclear silver complex containing an Ag2S2 motif from a phosphorus-supported trishydrazone ligand. P=S→Ag(I) coordination

The reaction of the phosphorus trihydrazide, (S)P[N(Me)-NH(2)](3) (1) with quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (C(9)H(6)N-2-CHO) in a 1:3 ratio afforded a trishydrazone, (S)P[N(Me)-N=CH-2-C(9)H(6)N](3) (2). Crystals of 2 were grown in three different solvent media affording an unsolvated (2, monoclinic, P2(1)/n) and two solvated (2·3H(2)O, trigonal, R3 and 2·2CH(3)OH, triclinic, P ?1) crystal forms. Each of these, while possessing an essentially similar molecular structure, adopt different crystal packing giving rise to supramolecular structures mediated by a variety of weak interactions: O-H-N, O-H-O, C-H-N, C-H-O, C-H-S, C-H-π, π-π, N-π and S-π. The reaction of 2 with Ag(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O in methanol afforded a dinuclear cationic cage [Ag{(S)P[N(Me)-N=CH-2-C(9)H(6)N](3)}·ClO(4)](2) (3). The molecular structure of 3 reveals a dimeric structure consisting of two Ag(I) ions that are held together by two ligands. Only two arms of the tris hydrazone ligand are involved in coordination while an unprecedented P=S→Ag(I) coordination is seen. This results in the formation of an Ag(2)S(2) dimer that is encapsulated by two trishydrazone ligands. Both compounds 2 and 3 are photoluminescent.     

Phytochemical investigation and antifeedant activity of Premna latifolia leaves

The essential oil of Premna latifolia Roxb. was obtained by hydrodistillation of fresh leaves of the plant having an oil yield of 0.05%, both non-polar and essential oil were analysed by GC and GC-MS. Hexane fraction of the leaves of P. latifolia was transesterified and analysed by GC and GC-MS, 40 non-polar components were identified comprising 89.3%. The most abundant fatty acid constituents were hexadecanoic acid (25.04%), 8,11,14-docosatrienoic acid (13.62%), octadecanoic acid (6.82%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (4.19%) and 29 components were investigated in the essential oil which comprises 78.1%. The most abundant oil constituents were 1-octen-3-ol (35.69%), terpendiol II (7.19%), δ-guaiene (7.49%) 2-undecanone (4.80%) and α-pinene (3.27%). Different extracts were also tested against polyphagous crop pest Spodoptera litura for antifeedant activity. Essential oil showed maximum growth reduction of 56.83% followed by chloroform extract of 43.93%.     

Practical synthesis of 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactononulosonic acid (KDN)

Reaction of propargylmagnesium bromide with 2,3;5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannonolactone followed by highly stereoselective reduction of the so-formed lactol with sodium borohydride gives a syn-diol from which practical syntheses of 2-keto-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galactononulosonic acid (KDN) and various partially protected derivatives have been achieved all of which feature the oxidative unmasking of the α-keto acid moiety from the alkyne.     

A high-throughput microfluidic assay to study neurite response to growth factor gradients

Studying neurite guidance by diffusible or substrate bound gradients is challenging with current techniques. In this study, we present the design, fabrication and utility of a microfluidic device to study neurite guidance under chemogradients. Experimental and computational studies demonstrated the establishment of a steep gradient of guidance cue within 30 min and stable for up to 48 h. The gradient was found to be insensitive to external perturbations such as media change and movement of device. The effects of netrin-1 (0.1-10 μg mL(-1)) and brain pulp (0.1 μL mL(-1)) were evaluated for their chemoattractive potential on neurite turning, while slit-2 (62.5 or 250 ng mL(-1)) was studied for its chemorepellant properties. Hippocampal or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were seeded into a micro-channel and packed onto the surface of a 3D collagen gel. Neurites grew into the matrix in three dimensions, and a gradient of guidance cue was created orthogonal to the direction of neurite growth to impact guidance. The average turning angle of each neurite was measured and averaged across multiple devices cultured under similar conditions to quantify the effect of guidance cue gradient. Significant positive turning towards gradient was measured in the presence of brain pulp and netrin-1 (1 μg mL(-1)), relative to control cultures which received no external guidance cue (p < 0.001). Netrin-1 released from transfected fibroblasts had the most positive turning effect of all the chemoattractive cues tested (p < 0.001). Slit-2 exhibited strong chemorepellant characteristics on both hippocampal and DRG neurite guidance at 250 ng mL(-1) concentration. Slit-2 also showed similar behavior on DRG neuron invasion into 3D collagen gel (p < 0.01 relative to control cultures). Taken together, the results suggest the utility of this microfluidic device to generate stable chemogradients for studying neurobiology, cell migration and proliferation, matrix remodeling and co-cultures with other cell lines, with potential applications in cancer biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.     

Structural characteristics of some metallo-organic discogens

We have recently analysed the crystal and molecular structures of six metalloorganic discogens with substituted β-diketone ligands. The molecules consist of a rigid 11 atom core and a fringe made up of four phenyl rings substituted with alkyl/alkoxy chains. In complex (i), with four octyloxy chains, there are four oxygen atoms around the core. Complex (ii) is asymmetrically substituted with two heptyloxy and two heptyl chains and therefore has two oxygen atoms and complexes (iii) to (vi) have only alkyl chains and hence no oxygen atoms around the core. The metal atom used for coordination has been chosen as Cu/Pd/Ni. Determination of the crystal and molecular structures of these discogens has led to the identification of the following similarities: (1) All the six discogens crystallize in the triclinic space group P1. The recurrence of the space group may be correlated with the structural requirements for efficient packing of the molecules in the crystal lattice. (2) The coordination around the metal atom is square planar. (3) The 11 atom core is only nearly planar. (4) The phenyl rings and the chains are tilted with respect to the core. (5) The molecular conformation in the crystal confers a nearly rectangular shape to these discogens. (6) The chains are fully extended in an all trans conformation. (7) The molecular arrangement is tilted columnar except for the crystal structure of complex (ii).

In addition to the similarities, distinct differences in the crystal structural characteristics have also been observed. For example, when oxygen atoms are present in the fringe, the molecules have no crystallographic symmetry and they tend to pair. In the crystal structure of (i) where the repeat unit along the column is a molecular pair, the metal atoms are distributed in a zig-zag fashion. In the other crystals with columnar arrangement, the metal atoms are stacked one over another. Complex (ii) has a layer-like molecular arrangement in the crystalline phase.