Bis(5,7‐dimethyl‐8‐hydroxyquinolinato)platinum(II) Complex for Efficient Organic Heterojunction Solar Cells

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells using metal(II) (Pt, Pd, Cu, and Ni) chelates of 8‐hydroxyquinoline (Hq) or 5,7‐dimethyl‐8‐hydroxy‐quinoline (HMe₂q) as an electron donor were fabricated by vacuum deposition. The bis(5,7‐dimethyl‐8‐hydroxyquinolinato)platinum(II) [Pt(Me₂q)₂]‐based OPVs showed the best performance with an open voltage (V_OC) of 0.42 V, a short circuit current density (J_SC) of 14.8 mA cm^?2, and a maximum power conversion efficiency (η_P) of 2.4 %. The X‐ray single‐crystal structures together with the grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction (GIXRD) data of thin film samples reveal that the peripheral methyl substituent(s) and platinum(II) ion are essential for the high degree of film crystallinity resulting in improved performance of the as‐fabricated field‐effect transistors (FETs) and OPV cells.     

Molecular self-modification: homolog of a manganese laundry bleach catalyst oxidatively transforms its tetradentate ligand into a novel hexadentate derivative

On the basis of mass spectral studies alone, the relatively new manganese complex, Mn(Et₂EBC)Cl₂ (Et₂EBC = 4,11-diethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane), a homolog of the well proven, peroxide-based laundry bleach, Mn(Me₂EBC)Cl₂, has been reported to undergo a sequence of 2-electron oxidation steps, ultimately converting its ethyl groups into chelated ethoxo and methylene carboxylato groups, [Mn^IV{(^?OCH₂CH₂)(^?O₂CCH₂)}EBC)](PF₆)₂. We report here the isolation and characterization of that unusual product, and provide insight into the remarkable catalytic pathway to its formation. At temperatures above 0 °C, oxidation by aqueous H₂O₂ reliably transforms Mn(Et₂EBC)Cl₂ into [Mn^IV{(^?OCH₂CH₂)(^?O₂CCH₂)}EBC)]²⁺. The experimental data for this intramolecular ethyl group transformation is consistent with oxygen insertion into a methyl C?CH moiety of the ethyl group, ?CNCH₂C(?CH)H₂, by the Mn^IV?COOH functional group.     

Patterning of sol gel thin films by capillary force assisted soft lithographic technique

Patterning of sol gel based silica and silica–titania films has been developed at room temperature by soft lithographic technique. Corresponding metal alkoxides have been utilized for the preparation of precursor sols. Elastomeric stamps of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are used to emboss patterns of a master grating on the as-prepared silica and silica–titania films obtained by sol gel process. Pressure-less capillary force lithography has been used to fabricate both 1-D and 2-D ordered structures of simple stripe patterns. A modified solvent assisted lithography and micro-molding in capillaries yielded stable and high fidelity 1-D structures for silica and silica–titania films over a large area.     

Genome Mining of Oxidation Modules in trans-Acyltransferase Polyketide Synthases Reveals a Culturable Source for Lobatamides

Bacterial trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases (trans-AT PKSs) are multimodular megaenzymes that biosynthesize many bioactive natural products. They contain a remarkable range of domains and module types that introduce different substituents into growing polyketide chains. As one such modification, we recently reported Baeyer–Villiger-type oxygen insertion into nascent polyketide backbones, thereby generating malonyl thioester intermediates. In this work, genome mining focusing on architecturally diverse oxidation modules in trans-AT PKSs led us to the culturable plant symbiont Gynuella sunshinyii, which harbors two distinct modules in one orphan PKS. The PKS product was revealed to be lobatamide A, a potent cytotoxin previously only known from a marine tunicate. Biochemical studies show that one module generates glycolyl thioester intermediates, while the other is proposed to be involved in oxime formation. The data suggest varied roles of oxygenation modules in the biosynthesis of polyketide scaffolds and support the importance of trans-AT PKSs in the specialized metabolism of symbiotic bacteria.     

A Chinese Lantern-like 2D Cu(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymer Constructed by Bis-imidazole and Dicarboxylate Co-ligands: Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Photocatalytic Activity

A new Cu(II) coordination polymer, {[Cu(1,3-BIP)(TFBDC)]·DMF}n(1,1,3-BIP is a 1,3-bis(imidazole)propane, and H2TFBDC is 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalic acid) was prepared under solvothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, thermogravimetric analyses and elemental analyses. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that metal coordination polymer 1(MCP 1) shows a two-dimensional sheet layer structure, which is further reinforced through strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding to form a 3 D supramolecular framework. Furthermore, the photocatalytic experiment result indicates the degradation ratios of methyl orange(MO) reach 83.4% within 180 minutes when MCP 1 acts as catalyst.     

Synthesis,electrical and thermal properties of Bi4V2−xMexO11 (Me=Nb,Zr, Y and Cu with x = 0.0 and 0.06) ceramics

Polycrystalline ceramic samples of Bi₄V_2?xMe_xO₁₁ (Me=Nb, Zr, Y and Cu and x = 0.0 and 0.06) have been synthesized by standard solid state reaction method using high purity oxides. The formation of the compounds have been analysed by X-ray diffraction method. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss and AC conductivity as a function of frequency and temperature have been measured. The dielectric studies indicate that the material is highly lossy, and hence, its AC conductivity increases with the increase of temperature. The DC conductivity of material has been measured as a function of temperature from room temperature to 723 K and its activation energy was calculated using the relation σ = σ ₀exp (?E _a/kT). The modulated differential scanning calorimetry has been used to investigate the effect of substitution on the phase transition (heat capacity and heat flow) of the compounds. The results are discussed in detail.     

A Tandem In Situ Peptide Cyclization through Trifluoroacetic Acid Cleavage

We present a new approach for peptide cyclization during solid phase synthesis under highly acidic conditions. Our approach involves simultaneous in situ deprotection, cyclization and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) cleavage of the peptide, which is achieved by forming an amide bond between a lysine side chain and a succinic acid linker at the peptide N‐terminus. The reaction proceeds via a highly active succinimide intermediate, which was isolated and characterized. The structure of a model cyclic peptide was solved by NMR spectroscopy. Theoretical calculations support the proposed mechanism of cyclization. Our new methodology is applicable for the formation of macrocycles in solid‐phase synthesis of peptides and organic molecules.     

Poly-hydroxamic acid (PHA) matrix for gadolinium pre-concentration and removal

A novel hydrophilic, three dimensionally cross-linked, aliphatic backbones with pendant hydroxamic acid (HA) group as functional moiety has been synthesized and utilized targeting removal of gadolinium [Gd(III)] from laboratory waste aqueous effluent. To understand the nature of sorption, gadolinium solution of various concentrations viz., 20, 10, 5.0, 1.0, 0.5 and 0.1 ppm has been contacted with a dose rate of 1 g/100 mL for 2 h. In this study, ICP-AES has been used for determination of concentration (ppm) of gadolinium in feed, filtrate and elute. EDXRF study also ensures the presence of gadolinium in the respective medium. Loaded gadolinium matrix was eluted with 1 N HCl for determining the elution factor (0.98).     

Transport of U(VI) from sulphuric acid medium across supported liquid membrane (SLM) containing di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA)/n-dodecane as a carrier

This paper reports on the supported liquid membrane (SLM) based transport studies of U(VI) from sulphate medium using di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid/n-dodecane as carrier. Polytetrafluoroethylene membrane was used as solid support and H₂SO₄ as receiver phase. The effects of various parameters such as receiver phase concentration, feed acidity, carrier concentration, U(VI) concentration, membrane thickness and membrane pore size on U(VI) transport had been investigated. With increase in H₂SO₄ concentrations and pH of feed solution there is an increase in U(VI) transport across the SLM. Similarly with increase in membrane thickness the U(VI) transport decrease whereas in case of pore size variation reverse results are obtained. The membrane thickness variation results showed that the U(VI) transport across the SLM is entirely diffusion controlled and the diffusion coefficient the D _(o) was calculated as 1.36 × 10^?7 cm² s^?1. Based on optimized condition, a scheme had been tested for selective recovery of U(VI) from ore leach solution containing a large number of other metal ions.     

Experimental designs characterizing seasonal variations and solvent effects on the quantities of coumarin and related metabolites from Mikania laevigata

Statistical design mixtures of acetone, chloroform, dichloromethane and ethanol were used to study the effects of different solvents and their mixtures on the quantities of coumarin and related metabolites extracted from Mikania laevigata samples harvested in each of the four seasons. RP-HPLC-DAD and both positive and negative modes of UPLC-MS analyses were used to determine relative quantities of coumarin, o-coumaric acid and melilotic acids in each season for all the mixture design extracts. The existence and measurement of the relative abundances of melilotic acid in Mikania laevigata have not been reported previously. Highest coumarin concentrations were encountered in the summer whereas its o-coumaric acid precursor and melilotic acid were most abundant in the spring. O-coumaric and melilotic acids concentrations were strongly correlated during the year. Also solvent effects were seen to be significant. Ethanol and 1:1 binary mixtures of ethanol and acetone extracted the largest quantities of coumarin whereas ethanolic binary and ternary mixtures with chloroform and dichloromethane provided the best yields of o-coumaric and melilotic acids. Statistical mixture models indicated that synergic binary interactions, especially those involving ethanol with acetone or chloroform, are important in the Mikania extraction process.