Functional Groups Assisted Tunable Dielectric Permittivity of Guest-Free Zn-Based Coordination Polymers for Gate Dielectrics

The dielectric properties of coordination polymers has been a topic of recent interest, but the role of different functional groups on the dielectric properties of these polymers has not yet been fully addressed. Herein, the effects of electron-donating (R=NH₂) and electron-withdrawing (R=NO₂) groups on the dielectric behavior of such materials were investigated for two thermally stable and guest-free Zn-based coordination polymers, [Zn(L₁)(L₂)]_n ( 1 ) and [Zn(L₁)(L₃)]_n ( 2 ) [L₁=2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole (Pbim), L₂=5-aminoisophthalate (Aip), and L₃=5-nitroisophthalate (Nip)]. The results of dielectric studies of 1 revealed that it possesses a high dielectric constant (κ=65.5 at 1 kHz), while compound 2 displayed an even higher dielectric constant (κ=110.3 at 1 kHz). The electron donating and withdrawing effects of the NH₂ and NO₂ substituents induce changes in the polarity of the polymers, which is due to the inductive effect from the aryl ring for both NO₂ and NH₂. Theoretical results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which also support the experimental findings, show that both compounds have a distinct electronic behavior with diverse wide bandgaps. The significance of the current work is to provide information about the structure-dielectric property relationships. So, this study promises to pave the way for further research on the effects of different functional groups on coordination polymers on their dielectric properties.     

Development and Validation of LC-ESI-MS/MS Method for the Determination of Alfuzosin in Human Plasma

Journal of Analytical Chemistry - A new liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for alfuzosin quantification in...     

Lignin Biodegradation by a Cytochrome P450 Enzyme: A Computational Study into Syringol Activation by GcoA

A recently characterized cytochrome P450 isozyme GcoA activates lignin components through a selective O-demethylation or alternatively an acetal formation reaction. These are important reactions in biotechnology and, because lignin is readily available; it being the main component in plant cell walls. In this work we present a density functional theory study on a large active site model of GcoA to investigate syringol activation by an iron(IV)-oxo heme cation radical oxidant (Compound I) leading to hemiacetal and acetal products. Several substrate-binding positions were tested and full energy landscapes calculated. The study shows that substrate positioning determines the product distributions. Thus, with the phenol group pointing away from the heme, an O-demethylation is predicted, whereas an initial hydrogen-atom abstraction of the weak phenolic O-H group would trigger a pathway leading to ring-closure to form acetal products. Predictions on how to engineer P450 GcoA to get more selective product distributions are given.     

Synthesis and characterization studies of 3-formyl chromone Schiff base complexes and their application as antitumor,antioxidant and antimicrobial

A novel Schiff base namely (E)-3-((2,6-dihydroxypyrimidin-4-ylimino)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one and its Co (II), N (II)i, Cu (II) and Cd (II) complexes have been synthesized and proved by elemental analysis, molar conductance, thermal analysis (TGA), Inductive Coupled plasma (ICP), magnetic moment measurements, X-ray powder diffraction, IR, EI-mass,¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR,UV–Vis. and ESR spectral studies. On the basis of these data, it is evident that the Schiff base acts as bidentate via oxygen atom of carbonyl group and azomethine nitrogen atom for Co (II) complex; monobasic bidentate ligand for Ni (II), Cu (II) and Cd (II) complexes via oxygen atom of hydroxyl group and nitrogen atom of pyrimidine ring. The results showed all complexes have octahedral geometry. The average particle size of the ligand and its complexes were found to be 1.010–0.343 nm. The pharmacological action (antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer) of the prepared compounds is studied. The antitumor activity of the ligand and its metal complexes is evaluated against human liver carcinoma (HEPG2) cell. The data displayed the Co (II) complexes strong cytotoxicity where IC₅₀ values of Co (II) complex and 5-fluorouracil (stander drug) are 9.33 and 7.86 μg/ml respectively. The Co (II) and Cd (II) complexes have antibacterial activity more than ampicillin (stander drug). The interaction of the synthesized compounds with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been performed via absorption spectra and viscosity technique. The DNA- binding constants have been determined.     

Ceramic fuel cells using novel proton-conducting BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.1Yb0.05Zn0.05O3-δ electrolyte

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Protonic ceramic fuel cells have become extremely interesting due to their high power output at the intermediate temperature range...     

Organometallic assembling of chitosan‐Iron oxide nanoparticles with their antifungal evaluation against Rhizopus oryzae

The ever‐increasing resistance of plant microbes towards fungicides and bactericides has been causing serious threat to plant production in recent years. For the development of an effective antifungal agent, we introduce a novel hydrothermal protocol for synthesis of chitosan iron oxide nanoparticles (CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs) using acetate buffer of low pH 5.0 for intermolecular interaction of Fe₂O₃ NPs and CH. The composite structure and elemental elucidation were carried out by using X‐ray power diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X‐ray (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet Visible Absorption Spectroscopy (UV–vis spectroscopy). Additionally, antifungal activity was evaluated both In vitro and In vivo against Rhizopus oryzae which is causing fruit rot disease of strawberry. We compared different concentrations (0.25%, 0.50%, 075% and 1%) of CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs and 50% synthetic fungicide (Matalyxal Mancozab) to figure out suitable concentration for application in the field. XRD analysis showed a high crystalline nature of the NPs with average size of 52 nanometer (nm). SEM images revealed spherical shape with size range of 50–70 nm, whereas, TEM also revealed spherical shape, size ranging from 0 nm to 80 nm. EDX and FTIR results revealed presence of CH on surface of Fe₂O₃ NPs. The band gap measurement showed peak 317–318 nm for bare Fe₂O₃ NPs and CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs respectively. Antifungal activity in both In vitro and In vivo significantly increased with increase in concentration. The overall results revealed high synergetic antifungal potential of organometallic CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs against Rhizopus oryzae and suggest the use of CH‐Fe₂O₃ NPs against other Phyto‐pathological diseases due to biodegradable nature.     

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,Characterization, Structural Description,Micellization Behavior,DNA Binding Study and Antioxidant Activity of 4, 5 and 6-Coordinated Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes

Four mononuclear copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes were synthesized by the reaction of copper and zinc salts with 3,4-dichlorophenylactic acid, 2-bromophenylactic acid, biphenylacetic acid (O-donor ligand) and bipyridine (N-donor ligands) having the general formulae [(L)₂Cu(bp)(H₂O)] ( 1 ), [(BpA)₂Cu(bp)] ( 2 ), [(L)₂Zn(bp)(H₂O)] ( 3 ) and [(L*)₂Zn(bp)] ( 4 ) (L = 3,4-dichlorophenylacetate, L* = 2-bromophenylacetate bp = bipyridine, and BpA = biphenylacetate). Structures of all compounds were characterized through FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. FT-IR spectra of all complexes confirmed the binding mode of Cu-O and Zn-O. XRD data revealed that complexes 1 – 3 exhibited distorted octahedral arrangement, whereas complex 4 has a distorted tetrahedral environment. Micellization behavior was examined with anionic surfactant (SDS) by conductance measurement as well as absorption spectral analysis. DNA binding study was assessed through viscosity measurement and UV/Vis spectrophotometry. DPPH free radical scavenging assay was measured by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. The results showed nice biological potential of all the complexes.     

Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective [3+2]‐Cycloaddition Reaction of α‐Silylimines: A Facile Route to Quaternary‐Carbon‐Rich Scaffolds

A silver‐catalyzed highly enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction of α‐silylimines with pyrone‐based trisubstituted olefins was developed affording bi‐ and tricyclic α‐quaternary‐carbon‐rich pyrano‐pyrrolidines in excellent yields. The tricyclic benzopyrone adducts thus obtained were efficiently transformed into highly complex tetracyclic scaffolds supporting four consecutive stereogenic centers with three quaternary carbons.