Elevated-temperature metathesis syntheses of structurally novel alkali-metal tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato)lanthanoidate(III) complexes: toluene-coordinated discrete bimetallic complexes and supramolecular chains

Sodium and potassium tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato)lanthanoidate(III) complexes [M[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]] have been prepared by reaction of anhydrous lanthanoid trihalides with alkali metal 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolates at 200-300 degrees C, and a 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene flux for M=K. On extraction with toluene (or occasionally directly from the reaction tube) the following complexes were isolated: [Na(PhMe)[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]] (1 Ln; 1 Ln=1 Tb, 1 Ho, 1 Er, 1 Yb), [K(PhMe)[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]].2 PhMe (2 Ln; 2 Ln=2 La, 2 Sm, 2 Tb, 2 Ho, 2 Yb, 2 Lu), [Na[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]](n) (3 Ln; 3 Ln=3 La, 3 Tb, 3 Ho, 3 Er, 3 Yb), [K[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]](n) (4 Ln; 4 Ln=4 La, 4 Nd, 4 Sm, 4 Tb, 4 Ho, 4 Er, 4 Yb, 4 Lu), with the last two classes generally being obtained by loss of toluene from 1 Ln or 2 Ln, and [Na(tBu(2)pzH)[Ln(tBu(2)pz)(4)]].PhMe (5 Ln; 5 Ln=5 Nd, 5 Er, 5 Yb). Extraction with 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) after isolation of 2 Ho yielded [K(dme)[Ho(tBu(2)pz)(4)]] (6 Ho). X-ray crystal structures of 1 Ln (=1 Tb, 1 Ho; P2(1)/c), 2 Ln (=2 La, 2 Sm, 2 Tb, 2 Yb, 2 Lu; Pnma), 3,4 Ln (=3 La, 3 Er, 4 Sm; P2(1)/m), and 5 Ln (=5 Nd, 5 Er, and 5 Yb; P1) show each group to be isomorphous regardless of the size of the Ln(3+) ion. All complexes contain eight-coordinate [Ln(eta(2)-tBu(2)pz)(4)] units. These are further linked to the alkali metal by bridging through two (1,2,5 Ln) or three (3,4 Ln) tBu(2)pz groups which show striking coordination versatility. Sodium is coordinated by an eta(4)-PhMe, a micro-eta(2):eta(2)-tBu(2)pz, and a micro-eta(4)(Na):eta(2)(Ln)-tBu(2)pz ligand in 1 Ln, and by one eta(1)-tBu(2)pzH and two micro-eta(3)(Na):eta(2)(Ln) ligands in 5 Ln. By contrast, potassium has one eta(6)-PhMe and two micro-eta(5)(K):eta(2)(Ln) ligands in 2 Ln. Classes 3,4 Ln form polymeric chains with the alkali metal bonded by two micro-eta(3)(NNC-M):eta(2)(Ln)-tBu(2)pz ligands within [MLn(tBu(2)pz)(4)] units which are joined together by eta(1)(C)-tBu(2)pz-Na, K linkages.     

Polyethylene glycol (PEG-400): An efficient one-pot green synthesis and anti-viral activity of novel α-diaminophosphonates

Abstract

An efficient and eco-friendly protocol has been accomplished for a series of novel α-diaminophosphonates by a one-pot, three-component system via Kabachnik-Fields reaction of 4,4′-methylenedianiline, a variety of aryl/heteroaryl aldehydes and diphenylphosphite employing polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as a green solvent at 80?°C. All products were obtained in good to excellent yields (80–95%). The identity of the new synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR, ¹H, 13C, and 31P NMR, LC-MS and elemental analysis. In vivo anti-viral activity was evaluated against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Compounds 4b, 4c, 4j and 4k exhibited the highest anti-viral activities against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) when compared with the standard drug ningnanmycin.     

Embryo viability indexing using Raman spectroscopy of spent culture media

ABSTRACT

Embryo viability quantification is an important topic for in vitro fertilization researchers. This study suggests Raman spectroscopy as a candidate method to find an objective measure of embryo viability. Raman spectra of 31 spent embryo culture samples (16 nonpregnant, 15 pregnant) from 31 patients were analyzed with band component analysis. The band area ratio of 902 to 943 cm^?1 was found to be the most discriminatory. These bands are related to glutamine, glycine, proline, aspartic acid, and valine. According to the pregnancy outcome the sensitivity and specificity of Raman analysis were found to be 93% and 77%, respectively.     

Comparative studies on fire-rated and standard gypsum wallboard

The long-term goal of this research is to improve the fire resistance of gypsum wallboard (GWB). GWB consists mainly of gypsum, i.e., calcium sulfate dihydrate, CaSO₄·2H₂O. In buildings, the chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties of GWB play an important role in delaying the spread of fire. To build a fire resistant GWB, it is very important to study the thermal, mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of regular GWB and various types of fire resistant wallboards available commercially in the market. Various fire resistant GWBs have been compared and contrasted with reference to a standard wallboard in this study. Regardless of the type of wallboard, the main component is gypsum. The fire resistance property is mainly attributed to the absorption of energy related with the loss of hydrate water going from the dihydrate (CaSO₄·2H₂O) form to the hemihydrate (CaSO₄·½H₂O) and from the hemihydrate to the anhydrous form (CaSO₄) in a second decomposition. The present paper is a comparative study of commercially available standard, fire-rated Type X, and fire-rated Type C GWBs. Type X wallboards are typically reinforced with non-combustible fibers so as to protect the integrity of the wallboard during thermal shrinkage, while the Type C wallboards are incorporated with more glass fibers and an additive, usually a form of vermiculite. These Type C wallboards have a shrinkage adjusting element that expands when exposed to elevated temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction were used to characterize and compare the materials. Various properties, such as the heat flow, mass loss, dimensional changes, morphology, and crystalline structures of the GWBs were studied using these techniques.     

Design,green synthesis,anti-microbial,and anti-oxidant activities of novel α-aminophosphonates via Kabachnik-Fields reaction

An efficient and environmentally friendly protocol has been developed for the synthesis of novel α-aminophosphonates in good to excellent yields (76–92%) by a one-pot, three-component reaction of an amine, an aldehyde, and diphenyl phosphite using polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as a green solvent at 80°C via Kabachnik-Fields reaction. Their chemical structures were elucidated by IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The titled compounds displayed moderate to high anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activities.     

The effect of the oxidant used during polymerization on the solid-state decomposition kinetics of poly(4-methyl catechol)

Herein, the oxidative polymerization of 4-methyl catechol using different oxidants including NaOCl, H₂O₂, and air were reported. Potassium hydroxide solution was used as the reaction solvent and polymerization studies were carried out between 323 and 363 K. Optimum reaction conditions of the polymerization were established and NaOCl was found as the most active oxidant. The structure and characterization of the polymer using FT-IR, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, thermogravimetry and size exclusion chromatography were confirmed. In addition, the relationship between molar mass distribution of polymer and kinetics parameters such as activation energy, pre-exponential factor of decomposition process was investigated. For this purpose, methods based on multiple heating rates such as Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Friedman, Tang, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, and Kissinger were used. The results obtained show that activation energy increased with an increase of molar mass.     

Biological Response of Osteoblastic and Chondrogenic Cells to Graphene-Containing PCL/Bioactive Glass Bilayered Scaffolds for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering Applications

Graphene-containing 13-93 bioactive glass and poly(ε-caprolactone)-based bilayer, electrically conductive scaffolds were prepared for osteochondral tissue repair. Biological response of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 and chondrogenic ATDC5 cells to the composite scaffolds was assessed under mono-culture and co-culture conditions. Cytotoxicity was investigated using MTT assay, cartilage matrix production was evaluated by Alcian blue staining, and mineralization of both types of cells in the different culture systems was observed by Alizarin red S staining. Results showed that osteoblastic and chondrogenic cells utilized in the study did not show toxic response to the prepared scaffolds under mono-culture conditions and higher cell viability rates were obtained in co-culture conditions. Larger mineralized areas were determined under co-culture conditions and calcium deposition amount significantly increased compared with that in control group samples after 21 days. Additionally, the amount of glycosaminoglycans synthesized in co-culture was higher compared to mono-culture conditions. Electric stimulation applied under mono-culture conditions suppressed the viability of MC3T3-E1 cells whereas it enhanced the viability rates of ATDC5 cells. The study suggests that the designed bilayered osteochondral constructs have the potential for osteochondral defect repair.