Dinuclear gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic application for hydrohydrazidation of terminal alkynes

Dinuclear gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes were developed for the hydrohydrazidation of terminal alkynes. The gold(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes 2a-2b were synthesized in good yields from silver complexes synthesized in situ, which in turn were obtained from the corresponding imidazolium salts with Ag₂O in dichloromethane as a solvent. The new air-stable gold(I)-NHC complexes, 2a - 2b, were characterized using NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, infrared, and mass spectroscopy studies. The gold(I) complex 2a was characterized using X-ray crystallography. Bis-N-heterocyclic carbene–based gold(I) complexes 2a - 2b exhibited excellent catalytic activities for hydrohydrazidation of terminal alkynes yielding acylhydrazone derivatives. The working catalytic system can be used in gram-scale synthesis. In addition, the catalytic reaction mechanism of the hydrohydrazidation of terminal alkynes by gold(I)-NHC complex was studied in detail using density functional theory.     

Molecular structure,vibrational spectroscopic and chemical reactivity of nematogenic p-n-alkylbenzoic acids: A comparative computational analysis

Molecular structure and vibrational spectroscopic studies of higher homologous series nematogenic p-n-alkylbenzoic acids (nBAC) that have 6 (6BAC) and 7 (7BAC) carbon atoms in the alkyl chain have been investigated using the Density Functional Becke3-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) level with the basis set 6-31++G (d.p) and Hartree Fock (HF) with the same basis set. The observed vibrational spectra has been resolved and assigned in detail for comparision with both the molecules. These results indicate that DFT and HF values are slightly different at both the levels. A comparision of chemical reactivity such as HOMO (E_H), LUMO (E_L) energies, energy gap (E_g), ionization energy (I), electron affinity (A), electro negativity (χ), chemical hardness (η), electronic chemical potential (μ), electrophilicity index (ω), and softness (S) has been made. It has been observed that the decrement has occurred in the energy band gap value of isolated molecule with increment in alkyl chain length. This provides valuable information regarding enhancing the stability of liquid crystal materials by maintaining the conductivity.     

Self‐Organization of Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies with 3D Spatial Order and Their External Stimuli Responsiveness

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) with pyridyl end‐capped polystyrenes (PS‐4VP) as “quasi‐monodentate” ligands self‐assemble into ordered PS‐4VP/AuNP nanostructures with 3D hexagonal spatial order in the dried solid state. The key for the formation of these ordered structures is the modulation of the ratio AuNP versus ligands, which proves the importance of ligand design and quantity for the preparation of novel ordered polymer/metal nanoparticle conjugates. Although the assemblies of PS‐4VP/AuNP in dispersion lack in high dimensional order, strong plasmonic interactions are observed due to close contact of AuNP. Applying temperature as an external stimulus allows the reversible distortion of plasmonic interactions within the AuNP nanocomposite structures, which can be observed directly by naked eye. The modulation of the macroscopic optical properties accompanied by this structural distortion of plasmonic interaction opens up very interesting sensoric applications.

     

Structural designing,spectral and computational studies of bioactive Schiff's base ligand and its transition metal complexes

Transition metal complexes of Mn(II) and Ni(II) have been synthesized with novel bioactive Schiff's base ligand. Schiff's base ligand i.e. benzoylacetone‐bis(2‐amino‐4‐methylbenzothioazole) has been synthesized via condensation reaction between 2‐amino‐4‐methylbenzothioazole and benzoylacetone in 2:1 ratio, respectively. Synthesized ligand has been characterized using elemental analysis, infra‐red, ¹H–NMR and mass spectroscopy techniques. Characterization of complexes was based on magnetic moment, molar conductance, elemental analysis, electronic spectra, infra‐red and EPR spectroscopic techniques. Molar conductance data suggest that metal complexes are non‐electrolytic in nature. Therefore, these complexes are formulated as [M(L)X₂], where M = Mn(II), Ni(II), L = Schiff's base ligand, X = Cl^?, CH₃COO^?, NO₃^?. Data of characterization study suggest octahedral geometry for Mn(II) and Ni(II) complexes. Geometry of metal complexes was also optimized with the help of computational study i.e. molecular modelling. Computational study also suggests octahedral geometry for complexes. Free ligand as well as its all metal complexes have been screened against the growth of pathogenic bacteria (E.coli, S.aureus) and fungi (C.albicans, C.krusei, C.parapsilosis, C.tropicalis) to assess their inhibition potential. The inhibition data revealed that metal complexes exhibit higher inhibition potential against the growth of bacteria and fungi microorganisms than free ligand.     

Studies on 1,10-Phenanthroline Complexes of Some Hydroxyaryltellurium Trihalides

The synthesis and structural features of some newly synthesized 1,10-phenanthroline complexes of p-hydroxyphenyl-and 3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyltellurium trihalides (chlorides, bromides, and iodides) are reported. The resulting complexes have been subjected to elemental analyses, conductance and cryoscopic measurements, infra-red and proton magnetic resonance spectral studies. Solution studies reveal the weak to 1:1 electrolyte type behavior of these complexes in solution. Spectral studies indicate the linkage of phenanthroline to the tellurium atom through the nitrogen atoms. Central tellurium atom in these complexes is hexa-coordinated in an octahedral way.     

Carrageenan as an elicitor of induced secondary metabolites and its effects on various growth characters of chickpea and maize plants

The effects of polysaccharide elicitor k-carrageenan obtained from Hypnea musciformis, red algae on the production of Induced Secondary Metabolites, ISMs (the disease resistance compounds) and on various growth characters of chickpea and maize plants were studied. Experiments were conducted in the field of PCSIR Laboratories Complex Karachi during December 2008–April 2009 in randomized complete block design with three replications. Three elicitor treatments were used, a solid preparation in which the elicitor was mixed with soil (T₂ 1 mg/g) and applied around the seeds in the soil. The two other preparations were liquid, T₁ and T₃ at a concentration of 100 μg glc eq ml⁻¹ and were applied around the sowing seeds and as a foliar spray on the plants, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that these treatments significantly enhanced all the growth characters of chickpea except T₂ that gave the nonsignificant difference in the plant height. Maximum plant height (80.3 cm), number of pods plant⁻¹ (76.2), number of branches plant⁻¹ (25.0), number of leaves plant⁻¹ (125.6), earlier flowering and high ISMs contents in leaves, stem and grains of chickpea were recorded in T₁ treated chickpea plants. In maize plants only T₁ and T₃ treatments (with minor exceptions) had significant effects on few characters like plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves plant⁻¹ and on ISMs contents in leaves while number of cobs plant⁻¹ and flowering time were nonsignificantly affected by these treatments. These results suggested that k-carrageenan elicitor can be used as a potent plant protectant as well as growth promoting agent especially for chickpea plants.