Simultaneous X‐ray fluorescence and scanning X‐ray diffraction microscopy at the Australian Synchrotron XFM beamline

Owing to its extreme sensitivity, quantitative mapping of elemental distributions via X‐ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) has become a key microanalytical technique. The recent realisation of scanning X‐ray diffraction microscopy (SXDM) meanwhile provides an avenue for quantitative super‐resolved ultra‐structural visualization. The similarity of their experimental geometries indicates excellent prospects for simultaneous acquisition. Here, in both step‐ and fly‐scanning modes, robust, simultaneous XFM‐SXDM is demonstrated.     

Use of an isotactic‐propylene/hexene copolymer as a new,versatile, soluble support

The use of isotactic‐poly(propylene‐co‐hexene) (iPPH) as new polymeric scaffold for synthesis as well as a phase‐selective, soluble polymer support for homogeneous catalysis is described. It was possible to functionalize olefin‐terminated iPPH using standard organic transformations. Each derivative could be isolated and purified using typical precipitations into a minimum amount of polar solvent, negating the need for wasteful work up and chromatographic procedures. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that an iPPH‐supported DMAP could serve as a recoverable, recyclable catalyst. Published 2013. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 600–605     

Electrophilic aromatic substitution of a BN indole

We report the first examples of a "BN-fused" indole, and we demonstrate that this new family of unnatural indole derivatives undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reactions with the same regioselectivity as its organic analogue. Competition experiments reveal that N-t-Bu-BN-indole is more nucleophilic in EAS reactions than its carbonaceous counterpart. X-ray structural analysis between BN indole and classic indole highlights significant differences in bond distances, in particular for bonds associated with the boron atom.     

Highly luminescent water-dispersed silicon quantum dots for fluorometric determination of oxytetracycline in milk samples

A fluorescent probe based on silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) was developed for the selective and sensitive detection of oxytetracycline (OTC) via the inner filter effect (IFE). The water-soluble fluorescent SiQD was synthesized based on the reaction of 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and sodium citrate as precursors by the one-pot hydrothermal process. The strong fluorescence emission of quantum dots (QDs) was obtained at 440 nm when excited at 350 nm and OTC had a broad absorption band between 200 and 400 nm. The excitation spectrum of SiQDs was completely overlapped with the absorption spectrum of OTC. The light at an excitation wavelength of QDs absorbed by OTC caused a decrease in fluorescence intensity with an increase in the concentration of OTC. Under optimal conditions, the linear concentration range was 0.92–9.2 µg mL1 with a detection limit (LOD; S/N = 3) of 0.19 µg mL ^-1 . The proposed method was applied to the determination of OTC in milk samples and satisfactory recoveries (98.8–100.5%) with low RSD % values (0.93–2.31%) were achieved. This simple, selective, sensitive, rapid, and cheap method can be used as a promising tool for OTC analysis in food safety.     

Bis benzothiophene Schiff bases: synthesis and in silico-guided biological activity studies

Since benzo [ b ] thiophene scaffold is one of the privileged structures in drug discovery as this core exhibitsactivities for different biological problems, in this study bis (benzo[ b ]thiophene-2-yl) alkyl methanimine derivatives (1-9) were synthesized by reacting benzo[ b ]thiophene-2-carbaldehyde with diamines. All newly compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods. Synthesized compounds were investigated using binary QSARbased models on therapeutic activity prediction of synthesized compounds and they showed high predicted activities in following diseases: bacterial, angina, allergy, depression and obesity. Thus, they were then tested for their antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities as a result of this theoretical study. Compound 1(N, N’- (propane-1,3-diyl) bis (1-(benzo [ b ] thiophene-2-yl)) methanimine) was found the most active compound in both diseases. Thus, its molecular docking studies were also carried out.     

Steady vortical flow around a finite plate

An explicit solution for a layer of fluid with constant vorticitysurrounding a thin plate of finite length is obtained usingelementary conformal mapping methods. In the limit of largeplate length the behaviour of the solution near the ends ofthe plate tends to that of the previously known solution fora semi-infinite plate. Contour dynamics is used to investigatethe stability of the steady solutions.     

Boron in disguise: the parent "fused" BN indole

"Fused" BN indoles are an emerging class of boron-containing indole mimics, featuring geometric structure and electophilic aromatic substitution reactivity similar to those of indoles but exhibiting distinct electronic structure, leading to unique optoelectronic properties. Herein we report the synthesis of the parent N-H BN indole and provide a head-to-head comparison of the structural features, pK(a) values, and optoelectronic properties of this hybrid organic/inorganic indole with the classic natural indole.     

Combining rule for interaction energies of the (CO)2, (N2)2 and CO-N2 complexes

The relationship between interaction energies of the most stable structures of the (CO)₂, (N₂)₂ and CO-N₂ complexes is investigated using the supermolecule CCSD(T) and MP4 methods and aug-cc-pVXZ (X = D,T,Q) basis sets extended by a set of midbond functions centred in the middle of the intermolecular bond. A simple combining rule for interaction energies of this triad of clusters is proposed.     

Spin and Pseudospin Symmetries of Hellmann Potential with Three Tensor Interactions Using Nikiforov-Uvarov Method

The Dirac equation with Hellmann potential is presented in the presence of Coulomb-like tensor (CLT), Yukawa-like tensor (YLT), and Hulthen-type tensor (HLT) interactions by using Nikiforov-Uvarov method. The bound state energy spectra and the radial wave functions are obtained approximately within the framework of spin and pseu- dospin symmetries limit. We have also reported some numerical results and figures to show the effects of the tensor interactions. Special cases of the potential are also discussed.