Aromatic rigid chain copolymers. I. Synthesis,structure, and solubility of phenyl-substituted para-linked aromatic random copolyamides

Four 2,5-biphenylene based difunctional condensation monomers, such as 2,5-diphenyldicar-boxylic acid or phenylterephthalic acid (PTA), 2,5-bis(carbonylimino-4-benzoic acid)biphenyl (2,5-BCIBABP), 2,5-diaminobiphenyl hydrochloride (2,5-DABP.HCl) and 2,5-bis(iminocarbonyl-4-benzoic acid)biphenyl (2,5-BICBABP), have been synthesized and characterized. These monomers were polymerized in combination with terephthalic acid (TA) and p-phenylenediamine (PPD) via the phosphorylation reaction to prepare a series of phenyl-substituted random copolyamides having all amide groups attached to para-positions of the benzene rings. All the copolyamides have been characterized by solubility, solution viscosity, and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Some of these copolyamides have unusual solubility in organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) containing dissolved lithium chloride. A few copolyamides were tested for lyotropic behavior and found to form anisotropic solutions at critical concentrations in organic solvents. A randomly distributed unsymmetrical phenyl substituent on the benzene ring of para-oriented wholly aromatic polyamides dramatically changes the solubility and melting point. The phenyl substituent on a terephthalic acid unit is more efficient in decreasing melting point and increasing solubility in organic solvents of aromatic polyamides than the one on a p-phenylenediamine unit. However, the former also introduces a more flexible link in the extended polyamide chain.     

Elastic,impedance spectroscopic and dielectric properties of TiO2 doped nanocrystalline NiCuZn spinel ferrites

ABSTRACT

Nanocrystalline Ni_0.4Cu_0.3Zn_0.3Fe₂O₄ ferrites doped with TiO₂ (0–10?wt %) were prepared by the sol-gel method. Elastic properties of synthesized samples were studied with the help of ultrasonic pulse transmission method. The elastic constants initially increase with an increase in TiO₂ up to 1?wt % and then decline. LCR-Q meter was used to study the dielectric properties within 50?Hz to 5?MHz range of the frequency. The dielectric constant (?′) and dielectric loss tangents were decreased continuously with increased frequency for all the selected samples at room temperature revealing normal dielectric behavior of ferrites. Also, the AC conductivity was increased with an increase in the frequency for all the selected samples. Cole-Cole plots were obtained for all investigated samples and showed single semicircle which indicates that the electrical conduction process appears only due to grain boundaries.     

Structural phase transition in substituted La2CuO4 and Pr2CuO4−y

The structural phase transition from orthorhombic (T) phase to tetragonal (T′) phase in substituted La_2−x R _x CuO₄ (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd) and T′ to T-phase in Pr_2−x M _x CuO_4−y (M = Sr, Ca) has been studied by X-ray diffraction technique. The T-phase of La₂CuO₄ is transferred to T′ phase abruptly atx=0.8, 0.4, 0.4, 0.3 and 0.4 respectively for substitution of Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd for La in La₂CuO₄ without evidence of the T* phase. The T′ structure of Pr₂CuO₄ (x = 0.0) gets transformed to the T* structure at 30% Ca doping (x=0.6) and then to the T structure at 50% Ca doping (x=1.0), while for Sr-contentx=0.0, 0.4 and 1.0 it shows T′, T* and T structure respectively.     

Application of ionic liquid doped solid polymer electrolyte

The electrical, structural, and photoelectrochemical properties of the polymer electrolyte PEO:NaI/I₂ doped with an ionic liquid 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide (EMImDCN) have been reported. Incorporation of the ionic liquid (IL) increases the membrane homogeneity, decreased surface roughness, and enhances the short current (J _sc). Additionally, the doping of IL provides more charge carriers which enhances overall ionic conductivity (σ). The optimized σ was found at 40 wt.% IL composition. The fabricated DSSC using this new solid electrolyte showed 1.43% efficiency at 100 mW cm⁻².     

Effects of passage of 200 MeV Ag9+ ions in indium phosphide at different depths

Indium phosphide sample was irradiated with 200?MeV Ag⁹⁺ ions for the fluence of 2?×?10¹³?ions?cm^?2. The sample was chemically etched down up to 240?nm depth to investigate the distribution of defects at different regions. Raman scattering and glancing incidence X-ray diffraction spectra were recorded at different depths. The stress estimated from Raman shift was found to increase with depth up to 160?nm and thereafter it decreased and at a depth of 224?nm sample did not show any stress. Phonon coherence length estimated from the Phonon Confinement Model was found to vary between 43 and 18?nm with respect to depth. Glancing incidence X-ray diffraction results revealed the decrease in crystallite size from 16.12 to 1.00?nm in different depth regions.     

Micron Particles of AlN/Al: Efficient,Novel, and Reusable Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)methanes

The present work introduces for the first time the catalytic utility of micron particulate aluminium nitride (AlN/Al) as a novel and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes involving the electrophilic substitution of indoles on aldehydes. The catalyst is recyclable and works without any significant change in its catalytic activity.     

Microbial Leaching of Waste Solder for Recovery of Metal

This study proposes an environment-friendly bioleaching process for recovery of metals from solders. Tin-copper (Sn-Cu), tin-copper-silver (Sn-Cu-Ag), and tin-lead (Sn-Pb) solders were used in the current study. The culture supernatant of Aspergillus niger removed metals faster than the culture supernatant of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Also, the metal removal by A. niger culture supernatant is faster for Sn-Cu-Ag solder as compared to other solder types. The effect of various process parameters such as shaking speed, temperature, volume of culture supernatant, and increased solder weight on bioleaching of metals was studied. About 99 (±1.75)?% metal dissolution was achieved in 60 h, at 200-rpm shaking speed, 30 °C temperature, and by using 100-ml A. niger culture supernatant. An optimum solder weight for bioleaching was found to be 5 g/l. Addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium chloride (NaCl) in the bioleached solution from Sn-Cu-Ag precipitated tin (85?±?0.35 %) and silver (80?±?0.08 %), respectively. Passing of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas at pH 8.1 selectively precipitated lead (57.18?±?0.13 %) from the Sn-Pb bioleached solution. The proposed innovative bioleaching process provides an alternative technology for recycling waste solders to conserve resources and protect environment.     

Structural insight into exosite binding and discovery of novel exosite inhibitors of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A through in silico screening

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is the most lethal toxin among the Tier 1 Select Agents. Development of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors against BoNT/A zinc metalloprotease remains a challenging problem due to its exceptionally large substrate binding surface and conformational plasticity. The exosites of the catalytic domain of BoNT/A are intriguing alternative sites for small molecule intervention, but their suitability for inhibitor design remains largely unexplored. In this study, we employed two recently identified exosite inhibitors, D-chicoric acid and lomofungin, to probe the structural features of the exosites and molecular mechanisms of synergistic inhibition. The results showed that D-chicoric acid favors binding at the α-exosite, whereas lomofungin preferentially binds at the β-exosite by mimicking the substrate β-sheet binding interaction. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding interaction analysis of the exosite inhibitors with BoNT/A revealed key elements and hotspots that likely contribute to the inhibitor binding and synergistic inhibition. Finally, we performed database virtual screening for novel inhibitors of BoNT/A targeting the exosites. Hits C1 and C2 showed non-competitive inhibition and likely target the α- and β-exosites, respectively. The identified exosite inhibitors may provide novel candidates for structure-based development of therapeutics against BoNT/A intoxication.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological activity of mixed ligands complexes of quinolin-8-ol and substituted chromones with Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal ions

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The mixed ligand complexes were synthesized using quinolin-8-ol and substituted chromone derivative with transition metals like Mn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and...