Structural improvement of ZnO electrodes through solution-processed routes for enhancing open-circuit voltage in dye-sensitized solar cells

We report herein one of our recent studies on nanostructured ZnO electrodes for application in dye-sensitized solar cells, focusing on achieving a higher open-circuit voltage (V_OC). ZnO films were obtained through solution-processed routes including pyrolytic conversion of layered hydroxide zinc acetate (LHZA) films deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated conducting glass substrate by a chemical bath deposition method. The morphology of the initial LHZA and the converted ZnO films was tuned from a thick (approximately 12 μm) flower bed-/lawn-like bilayer structure to a thin (1.2 μm) lawn-like quasi-monolayer structure by decreasing the Zn source concentration in the chemical bath. V_OC was found to be enhanced with this morphological change from 0.692 (the bilayer structure) to 0.735 V (the quasi-monolayer structure). Fine tuning of the quasi-monolayer structure by introducing the grain growth effect led to V_OC of the cell as high as 0.807 V, although a short-circuit photocurrent density (J_SC) remained low. Further attempts were then made to increase J_SC while maintaining the high V_OC. When the thickness of the lawn-like monolayer film was increased up to approximately 5 μm, the resultant cell showed V_OC?=?0.750 V, J_SC?=?6.20 mA cm^?2 and a conversion efficiency (η) of 2.83%. The film with a modified flower bed-/lawn-like bilayer structure approximately 11 μm in thickness finally yielded V_OC?=?0.741 V, J_SC?=?13.6 mA cm^?2, and η?=?5.44%.     

Synthesis,SAR and in vitro therapeutic potentials of thiazolidine-2,4-diones

Background

Thiazolidinedione is a pentacyclic moiety having five membered unsaturated ring system composed with carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur molecules at 1 and 3 position of the thiazole ring and widely found throughout nature in various form. They favourably alter concentration of the hormones secreted by adipocytes, particularly adiponectin. They also increase total body fat and have mixed effects on circulating lipids. Thiazolidinedione nucleus is present in numerous biological moieties and has different pharmacological activities likes, e.g. antimalarial, antimicrobial, antimycobacterial, anticonvulsant, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and antituberculosis.

Results and discussion

The synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against Gram (positive and negative) bacterial and fungal strains by tube dilution technique. In this series, compound 10 exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus with MIC?=?4.2?×?10^?2 µM/ml, compound 15 showed significant activity against K. pneumonia with MIC?=?2.60?×?10^?2 µM/ml and compound 4 displayed potent antibacterial activity against E. coli with MIC?=?4.5?×?10^?2 µM/ml. Compound 10 had most potent antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger with MIC?=?4.2?×?10^?2 µM/ml. Compounds 12 and 15 were found as most active antidiabetic agents having IC₅₀?=?27.63 μg/ml and 22.35 μg/ml, respectively, using DPPH assay. Antioxidant activity results indicated that compounds 3 and 9 displayed good antioxidant agent with IC₅₀?=?29.04 μg/ml and 27.66 μg/ml respectively, using α amylase assay.

Conclusion

All the synthesized derivatives exhibited good antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antioxidant activities using specific methods then compared with mentioned standard drugs. Especially, compounds 3, 4, 9, 10, 12 and 15 displayed highest activity. Structure activity relationship demonstrated that presence of electron withdrawing group (o-NO₂, p-Cl, p-Br) enhanced the antibacterial activity against E. coli as well as increased the antioxidant activity while the presence of electron releasing group (o/p-OCH₃, 3,4,5-trimethoxy) enhanced the antibacterial activity against S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. typhi, K. pneumonia, C. albicans and A. niger as well as the antidiabetic activity.

     

Thermodynamic Study on the Protonation and Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-Complexation of a Biodegradable Chelant (HEIDA) at Different Ionic Strengths and Temperatures

A potentiometric method has been used for the determination of the protonation constants of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (HEIDA or L) at various temperatures 283.15?≤?T/K?≤?383.15 and different ionic strengths of NaCl_(aq), 0.12?≤?I/mol·kg^?1?≤?4.84. Ionic strength dependence parameters were calculated using a Debye–Hückel type equation, Specific Ion Interaction Theory and Pitzer equations. Protonation constants at infinite dilution calculated by the SIT model are \( \log_{10} \left( {{}^{T}K_{1}^{\text{H}} } \right) = 8.998 \pm 0.008 \) (amino group), \( \log_{10} \left( {{}^{T}K_{2}^{\text{H}} } \right) = 2.515 \pm 0.009 \) and \( \log_{10} \left( {{}^{T}K_{3}^{\text{H}} } \right) = 1.06 \pm 0.002 \) (carboxylic groups). The formation constants of HEIDA complexes with sodium, calcium and magnesium were determined. In the first case, the formation of a weak complex species, NaL, was found and the stability constant value at infinite dilution is log₁₀K_NaL?=?0.78?±?0.23. For Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, the CaL, CaHL, CaL₂ and MgL species were found, respectively. The calculated stability constants for the calcium complexes at T?=?298.15 K and I?=?0.150 mol·dm^?3 are: log₁₀β_CaL?=?4.92?±?0.01, log₁₀β_CaHL?=?11.11?±?0.02 and \( \log_{10} \beta_{\text{Ca{L}}_{2}} \)?=?7.84?±?0.03, while for the magnesium complex (at I?=?0.176 mol·dm^?3): log₁₀β_MgL?=?2.928?±?0.006. Protonation thermodynamic functions have also been calculated and interpreted.     

Highly sensitive electrocatalytic determination of pyrazinamide using a modified poly(glycine) glassy carbon electrode by square-wave voltammetry

A new voltammetric sensor based on electropolymerization of glycine at glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed and applied to determine of pyrazinamide (PZA) by square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The initial cyclic voltammetric studies showed an electrocatalytic activity of poly(Gly)/GCE on redox system of pyrazinamide in 0.1 mol L^?1 phosphate buffer solution pH 7.5, with E _Pc and E _Pa in ?0.85 and ?0.8 V (versus E _Ag/AgCl), respectively. Studies at different scan rates suggest that the redox system of pyrazinamide at poly(Gly)/GCE is a process controlled by diffusion in the interval from 10 to 100 mV s^?1. Square-wave voltammetry-optimized conditions showed a linear response of PZA concentrations in the range from 0.47 to 6.15 μmol L^?1 (R?=?0.998) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.035 μmol L^?1 and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.12 μmol L^?1. The developed SWV-poly(Gly)/GCE method provided a good intra-day (RSD?=?3.75 %) and inter-day repeatability (RSD?=?4.96 %) at 4.06 μmol L^?1 PZA (n?=?10). No interference of matrix of real samples was observed in the voltammetric response of PZA, and the method was considered to be highly selective for the compound. In the accuracy test, the recovery was found in the range of 98.2 and 104.0 % for human urine samples and pharmaceutical formulation (tablets). The PZA quantification results in pharmaceutical tablets obtained by the proposed SWV-poly(Gly)/GCE method were comparable to those found by official analytical protocols.     

Theoretical and experimental study of the catalytic cathodic stripping square-wave voltammetry of chromium species

The electrocatalytic mechanism of Cr(III) reduction in the presence of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and nitrate ions is studied theoretically and experimentally by using stripping square-wave voltammetry (SWV). Experimental curves are in excellent agreement with theoretical profiles corresponding to a catalytic reaction of second kind. This type of mechanism is equivalent to a CE mechanism, where the chemical reaction produces the electroactive species. Accordingly, the reaction of Cr(III)–H₂O–DTPA and \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-} \) would produce the electroactive species Cr(III)–NO₃–DTPA and this last species would release \( {\mathrm{NO}}_2^{-} \) to the solution during the electrochemical step. In this regard, the complex of Cr(III)–DTPA would work as the catalyzer that allows the reduction of \( {\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-} \) to \( {\mathrm{NO}}_2^{-} \). Furthermore, it was found that the electrochemical reaction is quite irreversible, with a constant of k _s?=?9.4?×?10^?5 cm s^?1, while the constant for the chemical step has been estimated to be k _chem?=?1.3?×?10⁴ s^?1. Considering that the equilibrium constant is K?=?0.01, it is possible to estimate the kinetic constants of the chemical reaction as k ₁?=?1?×?10² s^?1 and k _?1?=?1.29?×?10⁴ s^?1. These values of k ₁ and k _?1 indicate that the exchange of water molecules by nitrate is fast and that the equilibrium favors the complex with water. Also, a value for the formal potential E°’?≈??1.1 V was obtained. The model used for simulating experimental curves does not consider the adsorption of reactants yet. Accordingly, weak adsorption of reagents should be expected.     

Additional Aspects of Complexation of Gold(I) with Thiomalate

Some equilibria involving gold(I) thiomalate (mercaptosuccinate, TM) complexes have been studied in the aqueous solution at 25 °C and I?=?0.2 mol·L^?1 (NaCl). In the acidic region, the oxidation of TM by \( {\text{AuCl}}_{4}^{ - } \) proceeds with the formation of sulfinic acid, and gold(III) is reduced to gold(I). The interaction of gold(I) with TM at n_TM/n_Au?≤?1 leads to the formation of highly stable cyclic polymeric complexes \( {\text{Au}}_{m} \left( {\text{TM}} \right)_{m}^{*} \) with various degrees of protonation depending on pH. In general, the results agree with the tetrameric form of this complex proposed in the literature. At n_TM/n_Au?>?1, the processes of opening the cyclic structure, depolymerization and the formation of \( {\text{Au}}\left( {\text{TM}} \right)_{2}^{*} \) occur: \( {\text{Au}}_{4} ( {\text{TM)}}_{4}^{8 - } + {\text{TM}}^{3 - } \rightleftharpoons {\text{Au}}_{ 4} ( {\text{TM)}}_{5}^{11 - } \), log₁₀ K₄₅?=?10.1?±?0.5; 0.25 \( {\text{Au}}_{4} ( {\text{TM)}}_{4}^{8 - } + {\text{TM}}^{3 - } \rightleftharpoons {\text{Au(TM)}}_{2}^{5 - } \), log₁₀ K₁₂?=?4.9?±?0.2. The standard potential of \( {\text{Au(TM)}}_{2}^{5 - } \) is \( E_{1/0}^{ \circ } = -0. 2 5 5\pm 0.0 30{\text{ V}} \). The numerous protonation processes of complexes at pH?<?7 were described with the use of effective functions.     

Design,synthesis and therapeutic potential of 3-(2-(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]imidazol-2-ylthio)acetamido)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(substituted phenyl)benzamide analogues

Background

The emergence of bacterial resistance is a major public health problem. It is essential to develop and synthesize new therapeutic agents with better activity. The mode of actions of certain newly developed antimicrobial agents, however, exhibited very limited effect in treating life threatening systemic infections. Therefore, the advancement of multi-potent and efficient antimicrobial agents is crucial to overcome the increased multi-drug resistance of bacteria and fungi. Cancer, which remains as one of the primary causes of deaths and is commonly treated by chemotherapeutic agents, is also in need of novel and efficacious agents to treat resistant cases. As such, a sequence of novel substituted benzamides was designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

Methodology

All synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, NMR, Mass and elemental analysis followed by in vitro antimicrobial studies against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative (Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacterial and fungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) strains by the tube dilution method. The in vitro anticancer evaluation was carried out against the human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT116), using the Sulforhodamine B assay.

Results, discussion and conclusion

Compound W6 (MIC_{sa, st, kp}?=?5.19 µM) emerged as a significant antibacterial agent against all tested bacterial strains i.e. Gram-positive (S. aureus), Gram-negative (S. typhi, K. pneumoniae) while compound W1 (MIC_{ca, an}?=?5.08 µM) was most potent against fungal strains (A. niger and C. albicans) and comparable to fluconazole (MIC?=?8.16 µM). The anticancer screening demonstrated that compound W17 (IC₅₀?=?4.12 µM) was most potent amongst the synthesized  compounds and also more potent than the standard drug 5-FU (IC₅₀?=?7.69 µM).

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Structure,bioactivity and theoretical study of 1-cyano-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-p-tolylcyclo-propanecarboxamide

A novel cyclopropane derivative, 1-cyano-N-p-tolylcyclopropanecarboxamide (C₁₂H₁₂N₂O, Mr = 200.24) was synthesized and its structure was studied by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectrum and MS. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2_1/c with a = 7.109 (4), b = 13.758 (7), c = 11.505 (6) Å, α = 90.00, β = 102.731 (8), γ = 90.00 °, V = 1097.6 (9) ų, Z = 4, F(000) = 312, D _c  = 1.212 g/cm³, μ = 0.0800 mm^?1, the final R = 0.0490 and wR = 0.1480 for 1,375 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). A total of 6,109 reflections were collected, of which 2,290 were independent (R _int = 0.0290). Theoretical calculation of the title compound was carried out with HF/6-31G (d,p), B3LYP/6-31G (d,p), MP2/6-31G (d,p). The full geometry optimization was carried out using 6-31G(d,p) basis set, and the frontier orbital energy. Atomic net charges were discussed, and the structure-activity relationship was also studied. The preliminary biological test showed that the synthesized compound is bioactive against the KARI of Escherichia coli.     

A novel silane coupling agent with peroxy groups used as an initiator in the graft polymerization of AN or MMA on nano-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A novel peroxy group-containing silane coupling agent was synthesized and anchored on the surface of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂) to form an immobilized-initiator-modified nano-TiO₂ species. In this study, the kinetic parameters of the peroxy group-containing silane were tested and assessed using DSC. The pre-exponential factor (A_d) was 8.973?×?10⁸ and the activation energy (E_a) was 80.736 kJ mol^?1. Moreover, the empirical Arrhenius equation was determined to be ln K_d?=???80.736/RT?+?ln(8.973?×?10⁸). To obtain continuous polymers, acrylonitrile (AN) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were polymerized using the novel peroxy group-containing silane and FeSO₄ as an initiator system. The number average molecular weights (M_n of PAN?=?3×10⁴ and M_n of PMMA?=?1.4?×?10⁵) and polydispersity indexes (PDI of PAN?=?2.76 and PDI of PMMA?=?1.65) were determined by GPC. It was suggested that the redox initiation system can generate highly reactive species on the surfaces of inorganic nanoparticles. The nano-TiO₂-grafted polymers were successfully obtained.     

Volumetric,Viscometric and Speed of Sound Studies of Binary Mixtures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tert</Emphasis>-butyl Acetate with Fluorobenzene,Chlorobenzene and Bromobenzene at (298.15 and 308.15) K and at Atmospheric Pressure 0.087 MPa

Volumetric, viscometric and speed of sound studies of binary mixtures of tert-butyl acetate with fluorobenzene, chlorobenzene and bromobenzene have been made over the entire range of composition, at (298.15 and 308.15) K and at atmospheric pressure (p?=?0.089 MPa). From the experimental values of density, viscosity, and speed of sound, the excess molar volumes V^E, deviations in viscosity ?η and deviation in isentropic compressibility ΔK _S have been calculated. The V^E and ΔK _S values are negative while the ?η the values are positive over the entire composition range for the binary mixtures. The derived parameters have been fitted with the Redlich–Kister polynomial equation. The interaction parameters of McAllister model are used to correlate the experimental values of density, viscosity and speed of sound.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and fungicidal activity of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(5-((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio)ethanone

A novel bis-heterocyclic compound was synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of the title compound (C₂₂H₂₀ClN₅OS, Mr = 437.94) has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal is of triclinic, space group P-1 with a = 8.646 (2), b = 9.148 (3), c = 14.540 (4) Å, α = 94.422 (4), β = 98.500 (4), γ = 102.823 (4)°, V = 1101.8 (5) Å³, Z = 2, F(000) = 312, Dc = 1.320 g/cm³, μ = 0.2900 mm^?1, the final R ₁ = 0.041000 and wR ₂ = 0.1160 for 2675 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). A total of 5623 reflections were collected, of which 3866 were independent (R _int = 0.019000). The fungicidal activity of title compound was determined, the results showed the title compound displayed moderate fungicidal activity against G. zeae Petch, Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, Botryosphaeria berengeriana f. sp. piricola (Nose) koganezawa et Sakuma, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum, and Cercospora arachidicola.     

Crystal structure of dimethylgold(III) 8-hydroxyquinolinate and 8-mercaptoquinolinate

A crystal-chemical study of dimethylgold(III) complexes with 8-hydroxyquinoline (CH₃)₂Au(OR) and 8-mercaptoquinoline (CH₃)₂Au(SR) (R = C₉H₆N) was performed. Crystal data for (CH₃)₂Au(OR): a = 8.7133(17) Å, b = 27.875(6) Å, c = 8.6688(17) Å, β = 102.76(3)°, Z = 8, ρ(calc) = 2.401 g/cm³, space group P2₁/c, R = 0.0909; for (CH₃)₂Au(SR): a = 3.5401(7) Å, b = 15.689(3) Å, c = 19.910(4) Å, β = 99.81(3)°, Z = 4, ρ(calc) = 2.361 g/cm³, space group P2₁/c, R = 0.0712. Both structures are molecular and involve neutral (CH₃)₂Au(L) molecules, L = C₉H₆NO or C₉H₆NS. In the structures, the molecules are arranged in stacks joined by van der Waals interactions. The average Au…Au intrastack distances are 3.57 Å and 4.34 Å for (CH₃)₂Au(OR) and 3.5 Å for (CH₃)₂Au(SR).     

Electrochemical gating of single osmium molecules tethered to Au surfaces

The electrochemical study of electron transport between Au electrodes and the redox molecule Os[(bpy)₂(PyCH₂ NH₂CO-]ClO₄ tethered to molecular linkers of different length (1.3 to 2.9 nm) to Au surfaces has shown an exponential decay of the rate constant k _ET ⁰ with a slope β = 0.53 consistent with through bond tunneling to the redox center. Electrochemical gating of single osmium molecules in an asymmetric tunneling nano-gap between a Au(111) substrate electrode modified with the redox molecules and a Pt-Ir tip of a scanning tunneling microscope was achieved by independent control of the reference electrode potential in the electrolyte, E _ref ? E _s, and the tip-substrate bias potential, E _bias. Enhanced tunneling current at the osmium complex redox potential was observed as compared to the off resonance set point tunneling current with a linear dependence of the overpotential at maximum current vs. the E _bias. This corresponds to a sequential two-step electron transfer with partial vibration relaxation from the substrate Au(111) to the redox molecule in the nano-gap and from this redox state to the Pt-Ir tip according to the model of Kuznetsov and Ulstrup (J Phys Chem A 104: 11531, 2000). Comparison of short and long linkers of the osmium complex has shown the same two-step ET (electron transfer) behavior due to the long time scale in the complete reduction-oxidation cycle in the electrochemical tunneling spectroscopy (EC-STS) experiment as compared to the time constants for electron transfer for all linker distances, k _ET ⁰.     

New hybrids of clozapine and haloperidol and their isosteric analogues: synthesis,X-ray crystallography,conformational analysis and preliminary pharmacological evaluation

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder which affects approximately 1% of the world’s population. Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic showing unmatched effectiveness in the control of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Unlike typical antipsychotics, clozapine does not induce extrapyramidal side effects (EPS), tardive dyskinesia or elevate prolactin levels. However, clozapine can induce a potentially fatal blood disorder, agranulocytosis, in 1–2% of patients, severely limiting its clinical use. The model for antipsychotic activity under investigation is based on obtaining a clozapine-like profile with preferential dopamine D₄ and serotonin 5-HT_2A receptor affinity. Profiled herein are three unique members of a series of prospective antipsychotic agents. Compound (I) originated from the structural hybridization of the commercial therapeutics, clozapine and haloperidol, whilst compounds (II) and (III) possess an alternative tricyclic nucleus derived from JL13; a clozapine-like atypical antipsychotic developed by Liégeois et al. These compounds have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, MS and X-ray diffraction. Compound (I) crystallizes in space group P(?1) with a = 10.5032(1), b = 10.6261(2), c = 12.6214(3) Å, α = 81.432(1)°, β = 83.292(1)°, γ = 61.604(1)°, Z = 2, V = 1223.62(4) Å³, C₂₈H₂₉ClN₄O, M _r = 473.00, D _c = 1.284 Mg/m³, μ = 0.185 mm^?1, F(000) = 500, R = 0.0506 and wR = 0.1304. Compound (II) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 10.8212(2), b = 9.3592(2), c = 22.9494(5) Å, β = 106.471(1)°, Z = 4, V = 2228.88(8) Å³, C₂₅H₂₅ClN₄O₂, M _r = 448.94, D _c = 1.338 Mg/m³, μ = 0.202 mm^?1, F(000) = 944, R = 0.0529 and wR = 0.1129. Compound (III) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 10.5174(2), b = 9.3112(2), c = 24.2949(5) Å, β = 98.666(1)°, Z = 4, V = 2352.03(8) Å³, C₂₅H₂₄Cl₂N₄O₂, M _r = 483.38, D _c = 1.365 Mg/m³, μ = 0.306 mm^?1, F(000) = 1008, R = 0.0478 and wR = 0.1067. The solid state conformations of (I), (II) and (III) exhibit the characteristic V-shaped buckled nature of the respective dibenzodiazepine and pyridobenzoxazepine nuclei with the central seven-membered heterocycle in a boat conformation. The molecules of (I) form a head-to-tail dimeric motif stabilized by hydrogen bonding. The results of a conformational analysis of compounds (I)–(III) investigating the effect of environment (in vacuo and aqueous solution) are presented. These analogues were tested for in vitro affinity for the dopamine D₄ and serotonin 5-HT_2A receptors and their comparative receptor binding profiles to clozapine and JL13 are reported.     

Computational Studies on the Mo-Doped Gold Nanoclusters Au<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>Mo(<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1–10): Structures,Stabilities and Magnetic Properties

The geometric structures, relative stabilities, magnetic properties of Mo-doped gold clusters Au _n Mo(n = 1–10) have been investigated at the PBE1PBE/def2TZVP level of theory. The results show that molybdenum doping has a significant effect on the geometric structures and electronic properties of Au _n Mo(n = 1–10) clusters. For the lowest energy structures of Au _n Mo(n = 1–10), the two dimensional to three dimensional transition occurs at cluster size n ≥ 8, and their relative stabilities exhibit odd–even oscillation with the change of Au atom number. It is found that charge in corresponding Au _n Mo clusters transfers from Mo atom to Au _n host in the size range n = 1–7, whereas the charge in opposition direction in the size range n = 8–10. In addition, the magnetic properties of Au _n Mo clusters are enhanced after doping single Mo atom into the corresponding gold clusters. Our results are valuable for the design of magnetic material.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-Dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes of sterically encumbered phenol-based tetradentate N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> ligands: Structural,spectroscopic, and electrochemical studies

Two cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes [MoO₂L] (L: L ¹, 2 and L: L ², 3) in a phenol-based sterically encumbered N₂O₂ ligand environment have been synthesized, and their crystallographic characterizations are reported. The orange crystals of 2 are monoclinic, space group P2₁/a with unit cell dimensions as a=16.2407(17) Å, b=7.2857(8) Å, c=18.400(2) Å, β=98.002(9)°, Z=4, and d _cal=1.486 g cm^?3. The light orange crystals of 3, however, are orthorhombic, space group, Pbcn, with unit cell dimensions a=8.3110(12) Å, b=12.637(3) Å, c=34.673(5) Å, Z=4, and d _cal=1.187 g cm^?3. The structures were refined by a full-matrix least-squares procedure on F ² to a final R=0.046 (0.055 for 3) using 4944 (3677) all independent data. In both the cases, the Mo atom exists in a distorted octahedral geometry defined by a N₂O₄ donor set, which features a cis-Mo(–O)₂ and a trans-Mo(OPh)₂ arrangement. Compound 2 undergoes a quasireversible one-electron reduction at ?1.3 V vs Ag/AgCl reference due to Mo^VIO₂/Mo^VO₂ electron transfer and thus providing a rare example of steric solution to the comproportionation–dimerization problem encountered frequently in the development of valid biomimetic models for the active sites of oxomolybdenum enzymes.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of dimethylgold(III) carboxylates

Three novel carboxylate complexes were synthesized: dimethylgold(III) trifluoroacetate [Me₂Au(Tfa)]₂ (I), trimethylacetate (pivalate) [Me₂Au(Piv)]₂ (II), and benzoate [Me₂Au(OBz)]₂ (III). The starting reagent was [Me₂AuI]₂. The procedure of its synthesis provides 60% product yield. Dimethylgold(III) carboxylates were identified from the IR and ¹H NMR data. The title compounds were studied by X-ray diffraction. The unit cell parameters for I, C₈H₁₂Au₂F₆O₄: a = 15.5522(13), b = 12.9398(11), c = 15.6555(14) Å, β = 104.308(2)°, Z = 8, ρ(calcd.) = 2.959 g/cm³, space group C2/c, R = 0.0779; for II, C₁₄H₃₀Au₂O₄: a = 10.3025(3), b = 15.5952(4), c = 12.6819(3) Å, β = 105.8270(10)°, Z = 4, ρ(calcd.) = 2.224 g/cm³, space group P2₁/c, R = 0.0229; for III, C₁₈H₂₂Au₂O₄: a = 12.8050(2), b = 19.7886(3), c = 7.60300(10) Å, Z = 4, ρ(calcd.) = 2.401 g/cm³, space group Pnma, R = 0.0144. Compounds I–III have the molecular structures; the structural units are the [(CH₃)₂Au(OOCR)]₂ dimers (Au…Au 2.984–3.080 Å), R = CF₃, tert-Bu, Ph. The gold atoms have the square coordination with two carbon atoms and two oxygen atoms (Au-O 2.120–2.173 Å). The molecules in compounds I–III are united into infinite unidimensional chains connected by van der Waals interactions.     

A new high-spin iron(III) bis(aqua) complex with the <Emphasis Type="Italic">meso</Emphasis>-tetra(para-chlorophenyl)porphyrin: X-ray crystallography,Hirshfeld surface analysis,magnetic, EPR and electrochemical properties

Chemical preparation of the bis(aqua) iron(III) metalloporphyrin [Fe^III(TClPP)(H₂O)₂](SO₃CF₃)·2(Pnz)·3/4(C₆H₁₂)·2H₂O (TClPP?=?TClPP?=?5,10,15,20-tetra(para-chlorophenyl)porphyrinato and Pnz?=?phenazine) coordination complex (I) was made. The crystal structure of (I) was determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and elucidated by Hirshfeld surface approach. Magnetic, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties were also reported and discussed. The mean equatorial distance (Fe–Np) between the iron(III) atom and porphyrin nitrogen atoms is appropriate to a high-spin (S?=?5/2) iron(III) complex. The high-spin state is also confirmed by both magnetic and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy data. The repetitive building unit of the crystal structure provides [Fe^III(TClPP)(H₂O)₂]⁺ ion complexes, two non-coordinated Pnz molecules and two water molecules which are interconnected by O–H···O/N/Cl, C–H···O/F/Cl hydrogen bonds, and by C–X···π, C–H···π and π–π stacking intermolecular contacts, forming a 3D supramolecular network. The role and nature of these intermolecular interactions were quantitatively analysed by 3D Hirshfeld surface analysis and associated 2D fingerprint plots. Cyclic voltammetry measurements indicate a one-electron reversible reduction wave with an E_1/2 (Fe(III)/Fe(II) half-potential value of ?0.24 V, which confirms the high-spin S?=?5/2 state of the studied complex.     

Validated LC Method for Determination of Enantiomeric Purity of Apremilast Using Polysaccharide-Type Stationary Phases in Polar Organic Mode

Enantioseparation of an anti-psoriatic agent, apremilast (APR), was performed by HPLC using polysaccharide-type chiral stationary phases in polar organic mode for the first time. The separation capability of six different chiral columns (Chiralpak AD, Chiralpak IA, Chiralpak AS, Lux Amylose-2, Chiralcel OD and Chiralcel OJ-H) was investigated using neat MeOH and ACN. During the preliminary experiments the best results were obtained on Chiralpak IA column with ACN (R_s?=?5.4). The effects of binary mobile phases on the resolutions and retention factors were also investigated containing different percentages of MeOH:ACN. U-shaped retention pattern was obtained when plotting the retention factors of the APR enantiomers versus the MeOH content of the binary mobile phases on Chiralpak IA column. For further method optimizations an L25 orthogonal array table was employed altering the concentration of MeOH in ACN, column temperature, and flow rate. The best result was achieved on Chiralpak IA column with 80/20 (v/v%) MeOH/ACN with 0.7 mL min^?1 flow rate at 25 °C (R_s?=?5.4, t₂?=?7.45 min). Thermodynamic analysis revealed an enthalpy-driven enantioseparation. The developed HPLC method was validated according to the ICH guideline Q2(R1) and proved to be reliable, linear, precise and accurate for the determination of 0.1% R-enantiomer as chiral impurity in S-APR as well as quantification of the S-enantiomer.

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Synthesis,characterization, antimicrobial activity and ultrastructure of the affected bacteria of new quinoline compounds

The reaction on 8-hydroxy quinoline-7-aldehyde azo compounds (HL _n ) (where n = 1–5) with 4-amino-1,2-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one to obtain HL _n (where n = 6–10) have been characterized by means of TLC, melting point and spectral data, such as IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectra and thermal studies. The X-ray diffraction patterns of two starting materials 8-hydroxy quinoline-7-aldehyde (start 1), 4-amino-1,2-dihydro-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrazol-5-one (start 2) and the ligands (HL_5,10) are investigated in powder form. All the ligands have been screened for their antimicrobial activity against four local bacterial species, two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) as well as against four local fungi; Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium italicum and Fusarium oxysporium. The results show that the azo ligands (HL _n ) (where n = 1–5) have no antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi while most azomethine ligands (HL _n ) (where n = 6–10) are good antibacterial agents against E. coli and K. pneumoniae as well as antifungal agents against P. italicum and A. alternata. The results were compared to standard substances (start 1) and (start 2). Among the azomethine ligands, HL₁₀ was the most effective against the most microorganisms tested. The size of clear zone was ordered as p-(OCH₃ < CH₃ < H < Cl < NO₂) as expected from Hammett’s constant (σ ^R ). Also, the ultrastructure study of the affected bacteria confirmed that HL₈ is good antibacterial agent against E. coli and S. aureus.