Ultrasound promoted the synthesis of N-propargylic β-enaminones

The synthesis of 14 novel N-propargylic β-enaminones from the reaction of β-alkoxy vinyltrihalomethyl[carboxyethyl] ketones [R³C(O)CHC(R¹)OMe, where R³ = CF₃, CCl₃, CO₂Et and R¹ = Me, Et, Pr, Bu, i-Pent, CH₂CH₂CO₂Me] with propargyl amines [R²NHCH₂CCH, where R² = Pr, PhCH₂] is reported. Yields, solvents and reaction times needed for reaction completion, by microwave irradiation (MW), conventional thermal heating (TH) and under ultrasound irradiation (US) are compared. The best results were obtained under US irradiation in good to excellent yields (70-93%).     

An efficient and green reaction of isatins, 3-amino-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (3-amine-1H-pyrazole), and β-diketone in aqueous medium

Molecular Diversity - An efficient and green reaction of isatins, 3-amino-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one (3-amine-1H-pyrazole), and $$beta $$ -diketone in aqueous medium in the presence of $$hbox...     

Ultrasound promoted one-pot synthesis of 2-amino-4,8-dihydropyrano[3,2-b]pyran-3-carbonitrile scaffolds in aqueous media: A complementary ‘green chemistry’ tool to organic synthesis

A green and simple approach to assembling of 2-amino-4,8-dihydropyrano[3,2-b]pyran-3-carbonitrile scaffolds via three-component reaction of kojic acid, malononitrile, and aromatic aldehydes in aqueous media under ultrasound irradiation is described. The combinatorial synthesis was achieved for this methodology with applying ultrasound irradiation while making use of water as green solvent. In comparison to conventional methods, experimental simplicity, good functional group tolerance, excellent yields, short routine, and selectivity without the need for a transition metal or base catalyst are prominent features of this green procedure.     

Ultrafast laser based “green” synthesis of non-toxic nanoparticles in aqueous solutions

Inorganic nanoparticles offer novel promising properties for biological sensing and imaging, as well as in therapeutics. However, these applications are often complicated by the possible toxicity of conventional nanomaterials, arising as a result of inadequate purification procedures of nanoparticles obtained via synthetic pathways using toxic or non-biocompatible substances. We review novel femtosecond laser-assisted methods, which enable the preparation of metal nanomaterials in clean, biologically friendly aqueous environment (“green” synthesis) and thus completely solve the toxicity problem. The proposed methods, including laser ablation and fragmentation, make possible the production of stable metal colloids of extremely small size (∼2 nm) with a low coefficient of variation (15–25%). Those nanoparticles exhibit unique surface chemistry and can be used for bio-imaging, cancer treatment and nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.     

Diffusion coefficients of sodium dodecylsulfate in aqueous solutions and in aqueous solutions of β-cyclodextrin

Differential diffusion coefficients have been measured of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in aqueous solutions of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) at 298.15 K over the concentration range 0.001 M to 0.0817 M using a conductimetric cell and an automatic apparatus to follow the diffusion. The cell uses an open ended capillary method, while a conductimetric technique is used to follow the diffusion process by measuring the resistance of a solution inside the capillaries, at various recorded times. The β-CD is known to for strong 1:1 complexes with SDS, and the effect of this on the diffusion of this electrolyte was investigated. The presence of β-cyclodextrin can influence the diffusion coefficients of sodium dodecylsulfate both above and below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of this surfactant. For concentrations of β-cyclodextrin of 0.001 mol dm⁻³ the behaviour of the diffusion of SDS in aqueous solutions is the same in the absence or the presence of β-cyclodextrin. In contrast, when the β-CD concentration is 0.016 mol dm⁻³ we obtain diffusion coefficients higher than those obtained in aqueous solutions. Further, we do not observe the dramatic decrease in diffusion normally found at the cmc of the surfactant. These results are interpreted in terms of the effect of incorporation of dodecylsulfate chains inside the cyclodextrin cavities.     

Ultrasound assisted synthesis of polyacrylic acid–nanoclay nanocomposite and its application in sonosorption studies of malachite green dye

Synthesis of nanoclay nanocomposite has been undertaken by using polyacryalic acid (PAA) in aqueous medium and ultrasound environment and its application in dye removal has been investigated. The synthesized product was characterized by using FTIR and XRD techniques. The sonosorption capacity of the product namely PAA–nanoclay composite was determined by choosing malachite green (MG) dye as a model pollutant. The effects of various parameters such as nanocomposite loading, pH, various process conditions etc. have been studied. On comparing the results obtained with that of nanoclay as an adsorbent, it was found for an initial concentration of 500 mg/l, the PAA–nanoclay nanocomposite exhibited higher percentage of pollutant removal (68%) and for nanoclay it was 54%. The adsorption data has been correlated using Langmuir and Freundlich models. The fit of the Freundlich isotherm model was found to be good in the entire range of concentration for the experimental sorption data obtained on the nanoclay nanocomposite. A plausible reaction mechanism for use of PAA–nanoclay nanocomposite as an adsorbent is also proposed.     

Ultrasound promoted greener synthesis of spiro[indole-3,5′-[1,3]oxathiolanes in water

An aqueous mediated novel synthesis of substituted 2′amino-4′benzoyl-2′-methyl spiro[indole 3,5′-[1,3]oxathiolane]-2(1H)-ones (2a–f) was carried out from the reaction of spiro [indole-3,2′-oxiranes] (1a–f) with thioacetamide in the presence of LiBr as catalyst. The reaction was carried out under both microwaves and sonication and results were also compared with conventional method. In general, improvement in rate and yields observed when reaction was carried out under sonication as compared to microwave irradiation and conventional method.     

Fe(ClO4)3· 6H2O: a mild and efficient catalyst for one-pot three component synthesis of β-acetamido carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions

A one-pot multi-component reaction for the synthesis of β-acetamido carbonyl compounds is reported. The reaction uses a variety of aldehydes, acetophenone derivatives or methyl acetoacetate, acetonitrile, and acetyl chloride in the presence of ferric perchlorate, a mild, efficient and inexpensive catalyst effective under solvent free conditions.     

Ultrasound promoted Barbier reactions and Csp3–Csp2 Stille coupling for the synthesis of diarylmethanes and substituted benzophenones

Here we present the preparation of a variety of diarylmethanes obtained via ultrasound Stille coupling under palladium catalysis between some substituted aryl compounds and benzyltributyltin compounds generated through sonicated Barbier reaction in a very short time reaction and excellent yield. The study reported below compares different methods to optimize the synthesis of usually unstable benzyltin derivatives and is another contribution to the investigation of Csp³–Csp² coupling process involving benzyl–aryl reagents. Substituted carboxylated benzophenones were easily prepared in a very good yield by oxidation of some diarylmethanes.     

Transport properties of aqueous solutions of calcium lactate in the absence and presence of β-cyclodextrin

Mutual diffusion coefficients and electrical conductivity of a well-known food additive and supplement, or excipient in pharmaceutical formulations, calcium lactate, have been measured in the absence and presence of β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solutions, at 298.15 K. The dependence of conductivity on concentration has been analysed using the Fuoss-Edelson method. The values of the Nernst diffusion coefficients, for binary solutions, derived from conductance and from diffusion experiments are in good agreement. The presence of β-cyclodextrin leads to a non-expected effect on the transport properties of the aqueous solutions of calcium lactate. These data have been justified with help of ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The effect on the water structure, reducing the hydration shell of lactate, is argued. This leads to an increase of the effective concentration of calcium lactate in solution contributing to an increase in the diffusion coefficients and a decrease in the dependence of the electrical conductance on the concentration.     

A study of fluorescence properties of citrinin in β-cyclodextrin aqueous solution and different solvents

Citrinin (CIT) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin initially isolated from filamentous fungus Penicilliu citrinum. It was later isolated from several other species, such as Aspergillus and Monascus. It has a conjugated, planar structure that gives it a natural fluorescence ability, which can be used to develop sensitive methods for detecting CIT in food. In this paper, we used the spectro?uorescence technique to study the effects of pH value, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and organic solvents on the CIT fluorescence intensity. The results show that lower pH value, aceitc acid, β-CD and acetonitrile can induce a higher fluorescence intensity of CIT, but methanol or H₂O has a decreasing effect on the fluorescence intensity of CIT. Findings in this study provide a theoretical basis for development of a high sensitivity fluorescence-based trace analysis for CIT detection.     

Synthesis of α- and β-FeOOH iron oxide nanoparticles in non-ionic surfactant medium

Forced hydrolysis of Fe(III) ions in acidic media was performed under controlled synthetic conditions to produce α- and β-FeOOH iron oxides. The forced hydrolysis synthesis was carried out, separately, in an aqueous medium and the lamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline phase of a commercial non-ionic surfactant/water system. The FT-IR analyses confirmed formation of α- and β-FeOOH iron oxides in the aqueous and the surfactant media with slight formation of ferrihydrite and haematite. TEM micrographs have shown that particles formed in the lamellar lyotropic phase are smaller than those produced in the aqueous medium with their smallest size dimension being constrained in the nanometre scale with a size ranging between 5 and 100 nm. Particles produced in the nanoscale size appeared to have different optical properties compared to their counterparts produced in the microscale size.     

The role of machine learning method in the synthesis and biological ınvestigation of heterocyclic compounds

Molecular Diversity - Machine learning (ML) methods have attracted increasing interest in chemistry as in all fields of science in recent years. This method is of great importance for the design of...     

Absorption spectra and aqueous photochemistry of β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates of atmospheric interest

Molar absorption coefficients were measured for select alkyl nitrates and β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates in methanol. The presence of the β-hydroxyl group has a relatively minor effect on the absorption spectrum in the vicinity of the weak n → π* transition, which is responsible for photolysis of organic nitrates in the atmosphere. For both alkyl nitrates and β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates, there is an enhancement in the absorption coefficients in solution compared to the gas-phase values. The effect of the β-hydroxyl group on the spectra was modelled with molecular dynamics simulations using an OM2/GUGA-CI Hamiltonian for ethyl nitrate and β-hydroxyethyl nitrate. The simulation provided a qualitatively correct shape of the low energy tail of the absorption spectrum, which is important for atmospheric photochemistry. The role of direct aqueous photolysis in removal of β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates in cloud and fog water was modelled using a relative rate approach, and shown to be insignificant relative to gas-phase photochemical processes and aqueous OH oxidation under typical atmospheric conditions.     

HMO model of scalar field in medium and self-focusing

In this paper, the HMO model of scalar field in medium is presented using the general covariant classical theory of scalar field in medium, which is regarded as a curved space-time represented by optical metric model (OMM) and the case of self-focusing is discussed.     

Ultrasound and microwave assisted synthesis of high loading Fe-supported Fischer–Tropsch catalysts

Supported iron-based Fischer–Tropsch (FT) catalysts with high loading of active metal have been prepared using both traditional and innovative methods. In these latter the impregnation of silica support has been performed by adding a step involving an ultrasound (US) or a microwave (MW) treatment to improve the metal deposition and to increase the catalyst activity. FT results have indicated the catalysts prepared by US as the most efficient, particularly when sonication is performed in argon atmosphere. MW prepared samples have given results very similar to those obtained with the traditional method. In order to explain the different catalytic activity, all the samples have been characterized by BET, TPR, SEM, TEM, XRD and micro-Raman analyses.     

Room-temperature fluorescence of a charge-transfer complex of reserpine in aqueous and aqueous–ethanol media

The room-temperature fluorescence of a charge-transfer (CT) complex different from those of the component donor/acceptor in polar organic solvent is not very common. The phenomenon is even rarer in aqueous medium. The present work demonstrates that a CT complex formed between reserpine (Res) and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) in aqueous and aqueous–ethanol media exhibits fluorescence at room temperature that is entirely different from those of the components, Res and DDQ. With decreasing polarity of the medium on the addition of ethanol, the fluorescence intensity and also the fluorimetrically determined formation constant of the complex increase, but the fluorescence emission wavelength does not change significantly. The quantum yield of fluorescence of the CT complex systematically decreases with increasing ethanol content of the medium. That the observed fluorescence is due to the CT complex is established by the constancy of the assumed proportionality constant (β) between the fluorescence intensity and the complex concentration measured using different equilibrium concentrations of the complex and also by demonstrating the mirror image relationship between its excitation and emission spectra in aqueous medium. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the room-temperature fluorescence of a CT complex in aqueous solution.     

The development of the superconducting PbO-type β-FeSe and related compounds

An overview of the recent development of the superconducting FeSe_1?x and related compounds is presented. Methods to synthesize high purity polycrystalline samples, single crystals and thin films with preferred orientation are described. In addition to the synthesis of FeSe and FeSeTe, the effects of various partial chemical substitutions on Fe and Se/Te site are described. It was found that the effects of chemical doping to the Se-site or Fe-site are rather different. Ionic size of the dopant is found to play a critical role on the occurrence of superconductivity. We also review the physical properties, including transport, magnetic, and thermal properties. There exist interesting transport anomalies in the resistivity at low temperature, and it was found that a structural distortion at low temperature is critical to the occurrence of superconductivity in these materials. However, the exact origin of these observed anomalies is not clear, and the exact pairing symmetry in FeSe-based superconductors is also still in question.     

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of Pd–Pt/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites for enhanced electro-oxidation of ethanol and methanol in alkaline medium

Herein, a facile ultrasonic-assisted strategy was proposed to fabricate the Pd–Pt alloy/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Pd–Pt/CNTs) nanocomposites. A good number of Pd–Pt alloy nanoparticles with an average of 3.4 ± 0.5 nm were supported on sidewalls of CNTs with uniform distribution. The composition of the Pd–Pt/CNTs nanocomposites could also be easily controlled, which provided a possible approach for the preparation of other architectures with anticipated properties. The Pd–Pt/CNTs nanocomposites were extensively studied by electron microscopy, induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and applied for the ethanol and methanol electro-oxidation reaction in alkaline medium. The electrochemical results indicated that the nanocomposites had better electrocatalytic activities and stabilities, showing promising applications for fuel cells.     

Rapid and efficient synthesis of colloidal gold nanoparticles by?arc discharge method

The microstructural (XRD and SEM) and dielectric behavior of Pb(Zr_0.54Ti_0.46)O₃ (PZT 54/46) ceramic system with donor (La, Nb and La+Nb) doping was studied. For all Nb-doped PZT samples, only one (tetragonal) phase was found, which confirms the compositional shifts near the morphotropic phase boundary. For La- and La+Nb-doped samples, there are two (rhombohedral and tetragonal) phases. Dielectric characteristic behavior (1/ε) for La- and La+Nb-doped PZT was associated with two-phase transitions: Ferro–Ferro at low temperature and Ferro–Para at Curie temperature. For Nb-doped samples, only one phase transition is observed, which indicates the presence of a single ferroelectric phase.