Stearate as a green corrosion inhibitor of magnesium alloy ZE41 in sulfate medium

The efficiency of stearate as a corrosion inhibitor for magnesium alloy ZE41 has been studied in sodium sulfate medium, employing electrochemical techniques like potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results of polarization study imply that stearate functions as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor with a predominant anodic control. The adsorption of stearate on alloy surface is found to obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The proposed inhibition mechanism involved adsorption of stearate onto metal surface, followed by precipitation of magnesium stearate within the microdefects of Mg(OH)₂ surface film which enhanced the barrier effect of an otherwise porous partially protective film.     

Computer-aided molecular design of (E)-N-Aryl-2-ethene-sulfonamide analogues as microtubule targeted agents in prostate cancer

Microtubules are tube-shaped, filamentous and cytoskeletal proteins that are essential in all eukaryotic cells. Microtubule is an attractive and promising target for anticancer agents. In this study, three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationships (3D-QSAR) including comparative molecular field analysis, CoMFA, and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis, CoMSIA, were performed on a set of 45 (E)-N-Aryl-2-ethene-sulfonamide analogues as microtubule-targeted anti-prostate cancer agents. Automated grid potential analysis, AutoGPA module in Molecular Operating Environment 2009.10 (MOE) as a new 3D-QSAR approach with the pharmacophore-based alignment was carried out on the same dataset. AutoGPA-based 3D-QSAR model yielded better prediction parameters than CoMFA and CoMSIA. Based on the contour maps generated from the models, some key features were identified in (E)-N-Aryl-2-arylethene-sulfonamide analogues that were responsible for the anti-cancer activity. Virtual screening was performed based on pharmacophore modeling and molecular docking to identify the new inhibitors from ZINC database. Seven top ranked compounds were found based on Gold score fitness function. In silico ADMET studies were performed on compounds retrieved from virtual screening in compliance with the standard ranges.     

A simple,rapid and sensitive method based on modified multiwalled carbon nanotube for preconcentration and determination of lead ions in aqueous media in natural pHs

In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was modified by the pyridine group using a silane agent and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and elemental analysis (CHN) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The application of this sorbent was investigated in determination of lead ions in aqueous samples, using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Through this study, different parameters such as pH and sample flow rate on adsorption process and eluent concentration, volume and flow rate were optimized. The limit of detection (LOD), the relative standard deviation and the recovery of the method were 2 ng mL^?1, 1.3% and 99.7%, respectively. Two standard reference materials (NIST 1571 and NIST 1572) were used to verify accuracy of this method. Finally, the sorbent was successfully applied for extraction and determination of low levels of Pb(II) ions in aqueous samples.     

Synthesis of novel rhodanine based functionalized furans from the reaction of tert-butyl isocyanide with acetylenic esters in the presence of rhodanine acetic acid derivatives

The reactive 1:1 intermediate produced from the reaction of tert-butyl isocyanide and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates was trapped by rhodanine-N-acetic acid derivatives to generate polyfunctionalized furan rings in fairly good yields.     

Synthesis,spectral, crystal structural,antimicrobial, DNA interaction and thermal behavior of some new zinc halide complexes: 3D supramolecular structure of zinc bromide complex

Three new four coordinated zinc(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by IR, UV, elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and X-ray single crystal analysis. The elemental analyses of the complexes are in agreement with the general formula of ZnLX₂ wherein L = Schiff base ligand and X = Cl^?, Br^? and I^?. Low molar conductivities in DMF indicated non-electrolyte character of all complexes. Spectroscopic studies well confirmed the coordination via azomethine nitrogens of the ligand to zinc ion. The single crystal X-ray analysis shows that ZnLBr₂ crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system with space group $\mathit{P}\overline{1}$. It contains two crystallographically independent molecules noted as A and B, with both Zn1A and Zn1B being almost in perfect tetrahedral environments (τ₄ = 0.94 for Zn1A and τ₄ = 0.93 for Zn1B). A detailed structural analysis shows that there are three non-classical hydrogen bondings of C–H…Br in the structure. Various C–H…π and C–H…Br interactions play an important role in stabilizing the molecular structure and then give rise to a 3D supramolecular structure of the ZnLBr₂ complex. After characterization, the Schiff base and its complexes were screened in vitro for their antibacterial and antifungal activities by disk diffusion technique. Also the ability of the complexes for DNA cleavage was studied by agarose gel electrophoresis method. Finally, thermal behavior of the complexes has been studied by thermo-gravimetry and then some activation kinetics parameters of decomposition steps were evaluated based on TG/DTG plots.     

Chemically modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes as efficient and selective sorbent for separation and preconcentration of trace amount of Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II)

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were chemically functionalized by glutaric dihydrazide (GDH) and characterized with FT-IR technique. This new sorbent was used for enrichment and preconcentration of Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II) ions. The adsorption was achieved quantitatively on MWCNTs at pH 4.0, and then the retained metal ions on the adsorbent were eluted with 1.5 mol L^?1 HNO₃. The effects of analytical parameters including pH of the solution, eluent type, sample volume, and matrix ions were investigated for optimization of the presented procedure. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent at optimum conditions was found to be 33.6, 29.2, 22.1, and 36.0 mg g^?1 for Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II), respectively. The LOD values of the method were 0.16, 0.19, 0.17, and 0.12 ng mL^?1 (3Sb, n = 10) for Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II), respectively. The RSDs values of the method were 0.75, 0.85, 1.16, and 1.30 ng mL^?1 for Co(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Pd(II), respectively. The method was applied for the determination of analytes in soil, well water, and wastewater samples with satisfactory results.     

Combination of CuBr2 and multi-functional ligand bearing a bidentate nitrogen unit,a phenol group and a TEMPO moiety as catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols

A novel ligand (L) bearing a bidentate nitrogen ligand unit, a phenol group and a TEMPO moiety has been synthesized. The ligand has been used as a catalyst precursor for the copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes, in the presence of K₂CO₃. The complex obtained in-situ from the ligand with copper(II) bromide (CuBr₂) in a 2:1 acetonitrile/water mixture, selectively catalyzes the aerobic oxidation of primary benzylic and allylic alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes, and no over-oxidation products are detected.     

TiO2/clay as a heterogeneous catalyst in photocatalytic/photochemical oxidation of anionic reactive blue 19

A TiO₂-coated Tunisian clay (TiO₂–clay) was synthesized by a typical impregnation method. The physicochemical characterization points to a successful impregnation of titania on the clay surface. The activity of this structured catalyst was studied in the photocatalytic/photochemical oxidation of anionic reactive blue 19 (RB 19). The effect of UVA and solar irradiation (UV-solar) was studied at room temperature. TiO₂–clay demonstrated an effective degradation of RB 19 under both types of irradiation. Moreover, in this study, the effects of various oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), potassium peroxodisulfate (K₂S₂O₈) and sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) were thoroughly investigated. H₂O₂ was a promising oxidant for promoting RB 19 degradation under UV_A. The kinetics of discoloration of RB 19 followed a pseudo-first-order rate law. We can remark that 20 min of UV irradiation was enough to achieve 100% discoloration of the aqueous solution. However, under UV–Vis, HPLC and chemical oxygen demand measurements indicated, that a longer reaction time (of around 45 min) was required for achieving the complete dye mineralization. The findings clearly demonstrated the applicability of this TiO₂/clay catalyst for the photocatalytic oxidation of RB 19.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of 2-(4-(substituted benzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide derivatives as a new class of falcipain-2 inhibitors

The cysteine protease, falcipain-2 is an important drug target in human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. A new series of 2-(4-(substituted benzoyl)-1,4-diazepan-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide derivatives 5(a–t) were designed as per pharmacophoric requirements of falcipain-2 inhibitors using ligand-based approach. The target compounds were synthesized from the key intermediate, 2-(1,4-Diazepan-1-yl)-N-phenylacetamide, by coupling it with appropriate carboxylic acids using carbodiimide chemistry. Structural features of target compounds were characterized by spectral data (¹H NMR, and mass) and elemental analyses. The purity of the final compounds was confirmed by HPLC. The compounds were tested for their in vitro falcipain-2 inhibitor activity on recombinant falcipain-2 enzyme. Five compounds 5b, 5g, 5h, 5j, 5k showed good inhibitory activity (>60%), against falcipain-2 at 10 μM concentration, and fifteen compounds showed weak to moderate inhibitor activity. Compound 5g, the most potent compound from this series showed 72% inhibition at 10 μM concentrations.