Biomolecular docking,antimicrobial and cytotoxic studies on new bidentate schiff base ligand derived metal (II) complexes

Three new metal complexes [Cu(L)₂] (1), [Co(L)₂] (2) and [Zn(L)₂] (3) have been prepared by the reaction of hydrated salts of metal (II) acetate with new Schiff base ligand HL, [2‐((4‐(dimethylamino)phenylimino)methyl)‐4,6‐di‐t‐butylphenol] and characterized by different physico‐chemical analyses such as elemental analysis, single XRD, ¹H NMR, FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopic techniques. Their biomolecular docking, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity studies have also been demonstrated. The proposed structure of Schiff base ligand HL and complex 2 are confirmed by Single crystal X‐ray crystallography study. This analysis revealed that metal (II) complexes remain in distorted tetrahedral coordination environments. The electronic properties such as HOMO and LUMO energies are carried out by gaseous phase DFT/B3LYP calculations using Gaussian 09 program. Complex 1 showed a good binding propensity to the DNA and HSA, during the assessment of docking studies. Schiff base ligand HL and its metal (II) complexes, 1–3 screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities using the disc diffusion method against selected microbes. Complex 1 shows higher antimicrobial activity than complexes 2, 3 and Schiff base ligand HL. According to the results obtained from the cytotoxic studies, Schiff base ligand HL and its metal (II) complexes 1–3 have better cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cell lines with potency higher than the currently used chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide.     

Graphene oxide‐catalyzed CSp3–H activation of methylarenes in aqueous medium: A unified metal‐free access to amides and benzimidazoles

Graphene oxide (GO)‐catalyzed selective synthesis of amides via C_Sp3–H activation of methylarenes and consequent C–N bond formation with anilines under aqueous medium has been described. Oxygen functionality allied with GO surface played a dual role both as acid catalyst and oxidizing agent to some extent. However, GO has a copious effect on the reaction, shown by a high TOF value with TBHP as co‐oxidant. The decisive role of carboxylic acid functional groups on GO nanosheets in this metal‐free strategy has been confirmed and was monitored by various analytic techniques viz. Fourier transform‐infrared, UV–Vis, Raman and XPS. A plausible mechanism was proposed by control experiments and by the isolation of the intermediate. Over‐oxidation of methylarenes was not detected, and high recyclability of the carbocatalyst with its heterogeneous behavior facilitated the isolation and purification of the desired products. We have further explored the utility of this process for the chemoselective synthesis of benzimidazoles.     

Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy: A Powerful Technique to Directly Study Small Gas Molecules Adsorbed in Metal–Organic Frameworks

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great potential in gas separation and storage, and the design of MOFs for these purposes is an on-going field of research. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopy is a valuable technique for characterizing these functional materials. It can provide a wide range of structural and motional insights that are complementary to and/or difficult to access with alternative methods. In this Concept article, the recent advances made in SSNMR investigations of small gas molecules (i.e., carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen gas and light hydrocarbons) adsorbed in MOFs are discussed. These studies demonstrate the breadth of information that can be obtained by SSNMR spectroscopy, such as the number and location of guest adsorption sites, host–guest binding strengths and guest mobility. The knowledge acquired from these experiments yields a powerful tool for progress in MOF development.     

Bridging the Green Gap: Metal–Organic Framework Heteromultilayers Assembled from Porphyrinic Linkers Identified by Using Computational Screening

In organic photovoltaics, porphyrins (PPs) are among the most promising compounds owing to their large absorption cross-section, wide spectral range, and stability. Nevertheless, a precise adjustment of absorption band positions to reach a full coverage of the so-called green gap has not been achieved yet. We demonstrate that a tuning of the PP Q- and Soret bands can be carried out by using a computational approach for which substitution patterns are optimized in silico. The most promising candidate structures were then synthesized. The experimental UV/Vis data for the solvated compounds were in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. By attaching further functionalities, which allow the use of PP chromophores as linkers for the assembly of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), we were able to exploit packing effects resulting in pronounced redshifts, which allowed further optimization of the photophysical properties of PP assemblies. Finally, we use a layer-by-layer method to assemble the PP linkers into surface-mounted MOFs (SURMOFs), thus obtaining high optical quality, homogeneous and crystalline multilayer films. Experimental results are in full accord with the calculations, demonstrating the huge potential of computational screening methods in tailoring MOF and SURMOF photophysical properties.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,DNA/bovine serum albumin binding and antitumor activity of two transition metal complexes with 4‐acylpyrazolone derivative

Two new complexes, namely [Cu₆L₆] ( 1 ) and [Zn(HL)₂] ( 2 ) (H₂L = N‐(1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐propenylidene‐5‐pyrazolone)‐2‐furancarboxylic acid hydrazide), have been synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X‐ray analysis indicates that complex 1 has a hexanuclear structure and complex 2 exhibits a mononuclear structure. The DNA/bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding properties of complexes 1 and 2 were investigated by absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence quenching. Both complexes could effectively intercalate to DNA with calculated quenching constants of 2.6 × 10⁵ and 1.25 × 10⁵ M^?1, respectively. The quenching mechanism of the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA by the complexes was found to be a static one. The cytotoxicities of 1 and 2 were investigated in two human tumor cell lines, human esophageal cancer cells (Eca‐109) and cervical cancer cells (HeLa). Complex 1 exhibits higher antitumor activity than 2 . Furthermore, 1 can inhibit HeLa cells by inducing apoptosis and G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest. All results demonstrate that 1 and 2 both have DNA/BSA binding capacity and antitumor activity.     

Liquid-Repellent Metal Oxide Photocatalysts

Metal oxide photocatalysts (MOPCs) decompose organic molecules under illumination. However, the application of MOPCs in industry and research is currently limited by their intrinsic hydrophilicity because MOPCs can be wetted by most liquids. To achieve liquid repellency, the surface needs to possess a low surface energy, but most organic molecules with low surface energy are degraded by photocatalytic activity. Herein, current methods to achieve liquid repellency on MOPCs, while preventing degradation of hydrophobic coatings, are reviewed. Classically, composite materials containing MOPCs and hydrophobic organic compounds possess good liquid repellency. However, composites normally form irregular coatings and are hard to prepare on surfaces such as those that are mesoporous or nanostructured. In addition, the adhesion of composites to substrates is often weak, resulting in delamination. Recent studies have shown that the direct grafting reaction of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) from silicone oil (methyl-terminated PDMS) under illumination results in a stable polymer brush. This easy and simple grafting method allows us to create stable liquid-repellent surfaces on MOPCs of various types, structures, and sizes. In particular, super-liquid-repellent drops with an underlying air layer can be created on PDMS-grafted nano-/microstructured MOPCs. Potential applications of surfaces combining liquid repellency and photocatalytic activity are also discussed; thus offering new ways of using MOPCs in a wider range of applications.     

Nucleation of Hematite: A Nonclassical Mechanism

Hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) is thermodynamically stable under ambient conditions, of vast geological importance, and widely used in applications, for example, as corrosion protection and as a pigment. It forms at elevated temperatures, whereas room-temperature reactions typically yield metastable akaganéite or ferrihydrite. The mechanistic key changes underlying this observation were explored in the present study. The entropic contribution to the prenucleation hydrolysis reaction categorically implies the presence of prenucleation clusters (PNCs) as fundamental precursors. The formation of hematite is then due to a change in the reaction mechanism above approximately 50 °C, whereby the reaction limitation towards oxolation in phase-separated clusters is overcome. A model that rationalizes the occurrence of hematite, akaganéite, and ferrihydrite based on the chemistry of olation PNCs is proposed. Supersaturation and the temperature dependence of olation and oxolation rates from monomeric precursors are irrelevant in this nonclassical mechanism.     

A Self-Healing Metal–Organic Hydrogel for an All-Solid Flexible Supercapacitor

A zinc containing metal–organic gel (Zn-MOG) with embedded free ions, which exhibits self-healing properties, has been synthesized for application in supercapacitors. The activated carbon-based flexible supercapacitor device with the MOG electrolyte has a broad potential window of 2.1 V, with high retention of specific capacitance compared to the traditional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based gel. The Zn-MOG does not require an additional electrolyte. The sodium and sulphate ions embedded in the MOG are sufficient enough for the charge storage.     

Engineering Multifunctional Gold Decorated Dendritic Mesoporous Silica/Tantalum Oxide Nanoparticles for Intraperitoneal Tumor‐Specific Delivery

Nonspecific high‐energy radiation for treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer is limited by damage to healthy organs, which can be mitigated by the use of radiosensitizers and image‐guided radiotherapy. Gold (Au) and tantalum oxide (TaO_x) nanoparticles (NPs), by virtue of their high atomic numbers, find utility in the design of bimetallic NP systems capable of high‐contrast computed tomography (CT) imaging as well as a potential radiosensitizing effect. These two radio‐dense metals are integrated into dendritic mesoporous silica NPs (dMSNs) with radial porous channels for high surface‐area loading of therapeutic agents. This approach results in stable, monodispersed dMSNs with a uniform distribution of Au on the surface and TaO_x in the core that exhibits CT attenuation up to seven times greater than iodine or monometallic dMSNs without either TaO_x or Au. Tumor targeting is assessed in a metastatic ovarian cancer mouse model. Ex vivo micro‐CT imaging of collected tumors shows that these NPs not only accumulate at tumor sites but also penetrate inside tumor tissues. This study demonstrates that after intraperitoneal administration, rationally designed bimetallic NPs can simultaneously serve as targeted contrast agents for imaging tumors and to enhance radiation therapy in metastatic ovarian cancer.     

Reduced magnetic disorder at low temperature in Ca3Co2O6 via zinc substitution

ABSTRACT

The compound Ca₃Co₂O₆ undergoes a transition into a spin-density wave (SDW) state near 24?K. Below ～10?K, this unstable SDW state coexists with a nearly- degenerate commensurate antiferromagnetic state as well as short-range magnetic order. Clear signatures of this strong magnetic disorder have been observed in the response of entropy to changing magnetic field and temperature. We performed a calorimetry study of Ca₃Co₂O₆ and Ca₃Co_1.9Zn_0.1O₆ in order to compare their entropic responses at low temperature. Our results for Ca₃Co₂O₆ reveal that ΔS(T, H)?≡?S(T, H)?S(T, H?=?0) increases as either temperature or magnetic field increase. In contrast, ΔS data for Ca₃Co_1.9Zn_0.1O₆ were relatively unresponsive to changes in temperature or field, suggesting that Zn substitution may reduce the low-temperature magnetic disorder observed in Ca₃Co₂O₆. These results are discussed within the context of two cases (Ca₃Co₂O₆ under applied pressure and Ca_2.75R_0.25Co₂O₆ (R?=?Dy, Lu)) in which a single magnetic ground state is stabilised.