Studies towards the total synthesis of hygrocins A and B

The western segment of hygrocins A–B has been synthesized through the coupling of a chiral C5–C13 synthon with the sterically demanding hexasubstituted naphthalenic core. The C5–C13 chiral fragment has been assembled via a stereoselective Johnson orthoester rearrangement of an optically pure allylic alcohol derived from d-glucose. Our studies lay the platform for the determination of the absolute configuration of the unassigned C8-stereocenter of the title compounds in addition to the completion of the total synthesis of the unique ansamacrolides hygrocins A and B.     

A simple, nontoxic iron system for the allylation of zinc enolates

Diiron nonacarbonyl in combination with triphenylphosphine has been identified as a low-cost and environmentally benign catalyst system for the allylation of zinc enolates generated in situ from copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition reactions. The catalyst system provides the allylated product in modest to good yields at room temperature with unprecedented diastereoselectivity in cyclic enone systems. While triphenylphosphine was uniquely effective among the investigated ligands, the exact nature of the active catalytic species remains unknown.     

Flow field studies on a micro-air-vehicle-scale cycloidal rotor in forward flight

This paper examines the flow physics and principles of force production on a cycloidal rotor (cyclorotor) in forward flight. The cyclorotor considered here consists of two blades rotating about a horizontal axis, with cyclic pitch angle variation about the blade quarter-chord. The flow field at the rotor mid-span is analyzed using smoke flow visualization and particle image velocimeV are compared with flow fields predicted using 2D CFD and time-averaged force measurements acquired in an open-jet wind tunnel at three advance ratios. It is shown that the experimental flow field is nearly two dimensional at μ = 0.73 allowing for qualitative comparisons to be made with CFD. The incoming flow velocity decreases in magnitude as the flow passes through the retreating (upper) half of the rotor and is attributed to power extraction by the blades. A significant increase in flow velocity is observed across the advancing (lower) half of the rotor. The aerodynamic analysis demonstrates that the blades accelerate the flow through the lower aft region of the rotor, where they operate in a high dynamic pressure environment. This is consistent with CFD-predicted values of instantaneous aerodynamic forces which reveal that the aft section of the rotor is the primary region of force production. Phase-averaged flow field measurements showed two blade wakes in the flow, formed by each of the two blades. Analysis of the blades at several azimuthal positions revealed two significant blade-wake interactions. The locations of these blade-wake interactions are correlated with force peaks in the CFD-predicted instantaneous blade forces and highlight their importance to the generation of lift and propulsive force of the cyclorotor.     

A rate equation method for the sequential double ionisation, including autoionising state excitation, of a noble gas

A set of rate equations have been tested against a more robust set of Time-Dependent Density Matrix (TDDM) equations [D. P. W. Middleton, L. A. A. Nikolopoulos, J. Mod. Opti. 59, 1650 (2012)] by using them to determine the populations of ion species and autoionising states (AIS) in noble gas atoms when interacting with a strong external field. Two field shapes were tested here — sinusoidal and square — and a variety of pulse characteristics were examined, i.e. intensity, duration and photon energy, for the neon atomic system. It was found that the rate equations were sufficiently accurate only when the external field is way off-resonant with the AIS. Moreover, analytical solutions of the rate equations in the square pulse case agree with the numerical solutions for a time-dependent pulse containing many cycles. An attempt to model a stochastic field was also made and it was found that the use of such a field diminished and broadened the ion yield ratio due to the presence of an added bandwidth.     

Characterisation and mesomorphic behaviour of liquid crystals with dispersed PdCl2 nanoparticles

The synthesis and characterisation are carried on liquid crystalline (LC) p-dodecyloxy benzoic acid (12OBA) with 1 and 2 wt% for PdCl₂ nanoparticles dispersion. Further, characterizations are carried out by different spectroscopic techniques like X-ray diffraction spectrometric studies, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Textural determinations of the synthesised compounds are recorded by using polarising optical microscope (POM) attached with a hot stage and camera. The results show that the dispersion of PdCl₂ nanoparticles in 12OBA exhibits Nematic phases as same as the pure 12OBA with reduced clearing temperature as expected. Further, the nematic thermal ranges are quenched and the smectic C thermal range has been increased while performing both DSC and POM with the dispersion of 1 wt% PdCl₂ nanoparticles. Size dependence on bonding nature with LC compounds is established.     

Understanding the extraction mechanism,radiolytic stability and stripping behavior of thorium by ionic liquid based solvent systems: evidence of ‘ion-exchange’ and ‘solvation’ mechanism

The extraction efficiency for thorium followed the trend: Cyanex-923 > Cyanex-272 > DHOA > TBP. In case of TBP and DHOA the extraction proceeded via ‘solvation mechanism’ through Th(NO₃)₄·2L, while for Cyanex-923 and Cyanex-272 it proceeded via ‘ion exchange’ mechanism through (Th(NO₃)₂·2L)²⁺. The extraction process followed slower kinetics while change in Gibb’s energy revealed the spontaneity of the process. These ionic liquid based systems were found to be radiolytically stable, highly efficient and selective for Th. Oxalic acid was found to be suitable for almost quantitative stripping of Th from extracted ionic liquid phase.     

DNA Binding,Cleavage and Antibacterial Activity of Mononuclear Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) Complexes Derived from Novel Benzothiazole Schiff Bases

A series of novel bivalent metal complexes M(L₁)₂ and M(L₂)₂ where M = Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and L₁ = 2-((benzo [d] thiazol-6-ylimino)methyl)-4-bromophenol [BTEMBP], L₂ = 1-((benzo [d] thiazol-6-ylimino)methyl) naphthalen-2-ol [BTEMNAPP] were synthesized. All the compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, SEM, Mass, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV–Vis, IR, ESR, spectral data and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Based on the analytical and spectral data four-coordinated square planar geometry is assigned to all the complexes. DNA binding properties of these complexes have been investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence and viscosity measurements. It is observed that these binary complexes strongly bind to calf thymus DNA by an intercalation mode. DNA cleavage efficacy of these complexes was tested in presence of H₂O₂ and UV light by gel electrophoresis and found that all the complexes showed better nuclease activity. Finally the compounds were screened for antibacterial activity against few pathogens and found that the complexes have potent biocidal activity than their free ligands.