Preparation and applications of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomers/calcium carbonate nanocomposites

Calcium chloride reacted with sodium carbonate in the presence of a variety of self-assembled molecular aggregates formed by fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethane sulfonic acid, dimethylacrylamide, and acryloylmorpholine oligomers in aqueous solutions to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomers/calcium carbonate composites in excellent to moderate isolated yields. These fluorinated calcium carbonate composites thus obtained were shown to have a good dispersibility not only in water but also in traditional organic media including fluorinated solvents. Dynamic light scattering measurements (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that these fluorinated composites are nanometer-size-controlled particles and well dispersed in these media. Cross-linked fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid co-oligomer containing poly(oxyethylene) units was also applied to the preparation of new cross-linked fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites under similar conditions. The obtained cross-linked fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites were found to have an extremely higher dispersibility in aqueous and organic media including fluorinated solvents, compared to that of the corresponding fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomer nanocomposites. In particular, it was verified that these fluorinated calcium carbonate nanocomposites are applicable to the dispersion above poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film surface. Interestingly, field-emission SEM (FE-SEM) images of the cross-section of the modified PMMA films showed that calcium carbonate particles dispersed into these PMMA films could be arranged regularly above the modified film surface. More interestingly, cross-linked fluorinated oligomeric aggregates were able to provide suitable host moieties for the crystallization of calcium carbonate.     

Preparation and applications of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylamide oligomers/polythiophene nanocomposites

Thiophene monomer reacted with ferric chloride in the presence of a variety of fluoroalkyl end-capped N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomers [R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F] to afford nanometer size-controlled R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F oligomers-polythiophene composites [R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F/PTh]. R_F-(DOBAA)_x-R_F/PTh nanocomposites thus obtained were demonstrated to have a good dispersibility and stability in methanol to give a transparent brown solution. In addition, these fluorinated nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of common organic polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate), and were dispersed regularly above the polymer surface.     

Solubilization and applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes into aqueous and organic media by the use of nanometer size-controlled fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomeric aggregates

We have studied on the solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SW-CNTs) into aqueous and organic media by the use of a variety of nanometer size-controlled fluorinated self-assemblies, which were formed by the aggregations of end-capped fluoroalkyl segments in fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid oligomers [R_F-(ACA)_n-R_F], N,N-dimethylacrylamide oligomers [R_F-(DMAA)_n-R_F], acryloylmorpholine oligomers [R_F-(ACMO)_n-R_F], and N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomers [R_F-(DOBAA)_n-R_F]. Fluorinated self assemblies formed in organic media (colorless solutions) could solubilize SW-CNTs into organic media to afford the transparent pale yellow solutions. The dynamic light scattering measurements showed that the size of fluorinated self-assemblies increased after the solubilization of SW-CNTs into organic media. It was suggested that the solubilization of SW-CNTs into organic media is due to the encapsulation of SW-CNTs into fluorinated assemblies. Fluorinated assemblies were also able to solubilize SW-CNTs into water to give the transparent gray solutions. Among a variety of fluorinated assemblies, fluorinated assemblies formed by R_F-(ACMO)_n-R_F [R_F = CF(CF₃)OC₆F₁₃] oligomer was more effective for the solubilization of SW-CNTs into both aqueous and organic media. Contact angle measurements of dodecane and the fluorescence spectra for poly(methyl methacrylate) cast film modified by fluorinated self-assemblies—SW-CNTs complexes showed that SW-CNTs are dispersed above the PMMA surface.     

Preparation of fluoroalkyl end-capped cooligomers/silica nanoparticles: A new approach to fluorinated nanoparticle inhibitors of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIVmac)

Fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid and sulfonic acid cooligomers reacted with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and silica/nanoparticles under alkaline conditions to afford the corresponding cooligomers/silica nanoparticles (mean diameters: 32-173 nm) with a good dispersibility and stability in aqueous and organic media. Interestingly, fluorinated nanoparticles containing carboxy groups were found to exhibit a potent and selective anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro. In contrast, fluorinated cooligomers containing sulfo groups were shown to have a potent and selective anti-SIV_mac activity in vitro.     

Investigation of structures and properties of cyclic peptide nanotubes by experiment and molecular dynamics

In order to investigate the structures and properties of cyclic peptide nanotubes of cyclo[(-D: -Phe-L: -Ala)( n = 3,4,5,6)-], cyclo[(-D: -Phe-L: -Ala)( n = 4)-] was synthesized and self-assembled to nanotubes, and its structure and morphology of the nanotube were characterized by mass spectrometry (MS), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On the basis of these experimental results, the structures of cyclo[(-D: -Phe-L: -Ala)( n = 3,4,5,6)-] were characterized by molecular dynamics. In addition, the motion behaviors of H(2)O molecules in nanotubes were investigated by molecular dynamics using a COMPASS force field. Experimental results show that cyclo[(-D: -Phe-L: -Ala)( n = 4)-] peptides self-assemble into nanotube bundles. Molecular modeling results indicate that cyclic peptide nanotubes with n = 3, 4, 5 and 6 are very stable; these nanotubes have internal diameters of 5.9 A, 8.1 A, 10.8 A and 13.1 A and outer diameters of 18.2 A, 21.7 A, 23.4 A and 25.9 A respectively. Modeling results demonstrate that H(2)O molecules move in cooperation in single nanotube and they diffuse in one dimension, but they did not diffuse unilaterally due to the antiparallel ring stacking arrangement.     

Crystal structure,electrochemical, and antibacterial activity of the sodium complex formed by o-vanillin salicylhydrazone

The mononuclear sodium(I) complex [NaL(HL)] (1) [where HL is (OH)C₆H₄–CO–HN–N=CC₆H₃(OMe)(OH) synthesized by condensation of o-vanillin and salicyloylhydrazine] has been prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that NaL(HL) is a neutral complex. Each six-coordinate Na(I) in the unit is linked through O bridges forming a ladder-like arrangement of the 1-D Na(I) double chain. The oxidation–reduction processes have been determined in CH₃CN by cyclic voltammetry. The complex displayed two quasi-reversible reduction couples and one oxidation response between +1.0 and ?0.6 V. The trend in the half wave potentials reflects the electronic nature of the hydrazone ligand. The antibacterial activity results show that the complex possesses strong inhibition activity against Staphyloccus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.     

Novel indan-1,3-dione derivatives: Design,green synthesis,effect against tomato damping-off disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum and in silico molecular docking study

An effective method for synthesizing series of twenty-two new compounds 1, 2a,b, 3, 4a,b, 5a-e, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13a-d, 15a,b was performed starting from reaction of 1,2,3-indenetrione thiourea, and ethyl cyanoacetate under microwave irradiation and / or 2-(1,3-dioxo-1H-inden-2(3H)-ylidene) hydrazine carbothioamide with acetic anhydride. Chemical structure of the obtained products has been established by spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT-135, and mass spectroscopy. The designed new compounds have been successfully examined in-vitro for their antifungal activities. The relation between the structure of the synthesized compounds and their activity against tomato damping-off disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum fungi was studied and favourable results were obtained. The antifungal studies indicated that compounds 1, 7, 4a and 5a-d exerted the highest antifungal activities, while 3 and 4b recorded the lowest effect. The obtained results confirmed the possibility of the application of ethyl 6′-amino-1,3-dioxo-2′-thioxo-1,2′,3,3′-tetrahydro-1′H-spiro[indene-2,4′-pyrimidine]-5′-carboxylate 1 as a new effective regulator of the vegetative growth of tomatoes. The molecular docking analysis was performed within succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) as a target enzyme in order to rationalize the promising findings obtained for the active compounds 1, 2a,b, 5a-d, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13a.     

Novel antibacterial fibers of quaternized chitosan and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) prepared by electrospinning

The preparation of continuous defect-free fibers from quaternized chitosan derivative (QCh) has been achieved by electrospinning of mixed aqueous solutions of QCh with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). The average fiber diameter significantly decreases from 2800 to 1500 nm on increasing the polyelectrolyte content. In order to impart to QCh/PVP electrospun fibers stability to water and water vapor, the fibers have been crosslinked by incorporation of photo-crosslinking additives into QCh/PVP spinning solutions and subsequent UV irradiation of the electrospun fibers. Photo-crosslinked QCh-containing electrospun mats show high antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli.     

Non-covalent synthesis of ionic and molecular complexes of benzoic acid and substituted 2-aminopyrimidines by varying aryl/alkyl substituents and their supramolecular chemistry

The non-covalent synthesis of ionic and molecular complexes of substituted 2-aminopyrimidines with benzoic acid in crystalline solid phase is reported. The nature of supramolecular architecture varied with the substituents in the 2-aminopyrimidine ring. Two complexes have been synthesised from two differently substituted 2-aminopyrimidines and benzoic acid. In one case, proton transfer takes place and an ionic organic salt is formed, whereas in the other, there is no proton transfer and a hydrogen-bonded molecular complex is formed.     

Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles by electrochemical method and their antibacterial application

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were successfully prepared by electrochemical method. The tetra propyl ammonium bromide salt was used as stabilizing agent in an organic medium viz. tetra hydro furan (THF) and acetonitrile (ACN) in 4:1 ratio by optimizing current density. The parameters such as current density, solvent polarity, distance between electrodes and concentration of stabilizers were used to control the size of nanoparticles. The synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles were characterized by using UV–Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis techniques. TEM analysis proved a nearly tetragonal structure with size of 25–30 nm which was in agreement with the result calculated from the XRD analysis. EDS analysis revealed the presence of Ti and O element. The nanoparticles were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against human pathogens such as gram negative Escherichia coli (E. coli), and gram positive Staphylococcus aureus strains and which proved excellent results.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization,molecular docking studies,biological activity of (E)-2-((E)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)allylidene) and (E)-N-phenyl 2-((E)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)allylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamides and their Cu(II) complexes

Two slightly distorted octahedral complexes of copper(II) with (E)-2-((E)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)allylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide (L1) common name 3,4,5-trimethoxy-cinnamaldehydethiosemicarbazone and (E)-N-phenyl-2-((E)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-allylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide (L2) common name 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamaldehyde-4-phenylthiosemicarbazone have been synthesized. The two free ligands and their copper(II) complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques like FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV, EPR, Powder X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry. The EPR spectra evidenced a rhombically distorted octahedron geometry for both the copper(II) complexes. The band gap calculations for the ligands L1, L2 and their complexes Cu(L1)₂Cl₂ and Cu(L2)₂Cl₂ were found to be 2.98, 2.61, 2.66 and 2.50 eV respectively. Cu(L1)₂Cl₂ and Cu(L2)₂Cl₂ have shown 50% of viability at 80 μg/ml and 60 μg/ml. The anti-oxidant activity study revealed that the compounds are good reductants of DPPH radical. Moderate to good anti-bacterial activity is shown by the compounds against the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Molecular docking studies have been carried out to predict the orientation and binding mode of analysis in the active site. The synthesized ligand and complex well occupy (catalytic triad and adenine-binding site) in the active site of β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III enzyme, and also well occupy in helix 11 (in the DCS complex) of human estrogen receptor. Moreover they form water mediated hydrogen bond and hydrogen bond with Cys530 residue.