Thermotropic polyesters. 1: Synthesis, characterization and thermal transition of poly[4,4-bis(ω-alkoxy)biphenyl isophthalate]

A new homologous series of thermotropic polyesters has been synthesized by polycondensation reaction between isophthaloyl chloride and mesogenic diols 4,4^′-bis(ω-hydroxyalkoxy)biphenyl in which the spacer length is varied from 3 to 6 methylene units. The thermal behavior of the polymers has been characterized using polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The odd members exhibit a smectic C (S_C) phase in a narrow temperature interval, while the even members form a smectic A (S_A) phase in a broader temperature range. All of the obtained compounds were characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods.     

The preparation and characterization of mono- and bis-chelated cadmium(II) complexes of the di-2-pyridylketone Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate (Hdpksme) and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Cd(dpksme)2] · 0.5 MeOH complex

New cadmium(II) complexes of empirical formulae, [Cd(dpksme)X] (dpksme = anionic form of the Schiff base; X = NCS^–, Cl^–, I^–) and [Cd(dpksme)₂] · 0.5MeOH, respectively have been prepared and characterized. The mono-ligated cadmium(II) complexes, [Cd(dpksme)X] are four-coordinate and tetrahedral but the bis-ligand complex, [Cd(dpksme)₂] · 0.5MeOH is six-coordinate and octahedral. The crystal and molecular structure of [Cd(dpksme)₂] · 0.5MeOH has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a distorted mer-octahedral structure in which the ligands are coordinated as uninegatively charged tridentate chelating agents via the pyridine nitrogen atoms, the azomethine nitrogen atoms and the thiolate sulfur atoms. The distortion from regular octahedral geometry is ascribed to the restricted bite angles of the ligands. The Schiff base and its cadmium(II) complexes exhibit mild antibacterial activities against Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. They are also mildly fungitoxic against the phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria alternata and Macrophomina phaseolina.     

Regioselective Synthesis of New Bibracchial Lariat Ethers

A practical and regioselective synthetic method for the synthesis of cis‐diastereomers of bibracchial lariat ethers (BiBLEs) bearing ester and amide groups is reported. The novel BiBLEs 3a and 4a–e with neutral side arms were prepared by reaction of the corresponding aza‐crown macrocycles 1a – c with ethylchlroacetate and chloroacetamide. The structures of the new compounds have been confirmed by FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, and MS spectroscopy.     

DC-Pulsed Plasma for Dry Reforming of Methane to Synthesis Gas

The carbon dioxide reforming of methane to synthesis gas under DC-pulsed plasma was investigated. The effects of specific input energy and feed ratio on the product distribution and also feed conversion was studied. At the input energy of about 11 eV/molecule per methane and/or carbon dioxide the feed conversion of 38% for CH₄ and 28% for CO₂ and product selectivity of 74% has been attained for H₂ and CO at feed flow rate of 90 ml/min. The energy consumption in this work displays potential to further study and optimization of the process. The importance of the electron impact reactions in the process was discussed. The results show that by prudent tuning of system variables, the process be able to run in the way of synthesis gas, instead of hydrocarbon production.     

Protic ionic liquid [TMG][Ac] as an efficient,homogeneous and recyclable catalyst for Boc protection of amines

An efficient and practical protocol for the chemoselective N-Boc protection of various structurally different aryl, aliphatic and heterocyclic amines was carried out with (Boc)₂O using protic 1, 1, 3, 3-tetra-methylguanidinium acetate (10 mol%) as recyclable catalyst under solvent free condition at ambient temperature. No competitive side reactions (isocyanate, urea and N, N-di-Boc) were observed. α-Amino alcohols afforded the N-Boc-derivative without oxazolidinone formation.     

Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> &amp; Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>) and their applications in urea biosensing

Nanobiotechnology has opened a new and exciting opportunities for exploring urea biosensor based on magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) mainly Fe₃O₄ and Co₃O₄. These NPs have been extensively exploited to develop biosensors with stability, selectivity, reproducibility and fast response time. This review gives an overview of the development of urea biosensor based on Fe₃O₄ and Co₃O₄ for in vitro diagnostic applications along with significant improvements over the last few decades. Additionally, effort has been made to elaborate properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in biosensing aspects. It also gives details of recent developments in hybrid nanobiocomposite based urea biosensor.     

New heteroleptic palladium(II) dithiocarbamates: synthesis,characterization, packing and anticancer activity against five different cancer cell lines

Two new heteroleptic palladium(II) complexes have been synthesized by reacting equimolar quantities of palladium(II) chloride, sodium 4‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)piperazine‐1‐carbodithioate and diphenyl‐p‐tolylphosphine ( 1 ) or tri‐p‐tolylphosphine ( 2 ). Complexes 1 and 2 have been characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The latter technique confirms a pseudo square‐planar geometry in which two adjacent positions are occupied by bidentate dithiocarbamate while chloro and substituted triphenylphosphine are present at the remaining two positions. The anticancer activity of both complexes against five different cancer cell lines (LU – human lung carcinoma, established at UIC, Department of Surgical Oncology; MCF7 – human breast adenocarcinoma, ATCC number HTB‐22?; MDA‐MB‐231 – human breast adenocarcinoma, ATCC number HTB‐26?; Hepa‐1c1c7 – mouse liver hepatoma, ATCC number CRL‐2026?; PC‐3 – human prostate adenocarcinoma, ATCC number CRL‐1435?) was determined by MTT assay, revealing 2 has higher activity than 1 . A drug–calf thymus DNA binding study with UV–visible spectroscopy reveals a higher DNA binding affinity of 2 (3.511 × 10⁴ M^?1) than 1 (4.213 × 10³ M^?1). Density functional theory studies confirm the relatively more stable nature of 2 than 1 . Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of 1-oxa-2-silacyclopentane derivatives via intramolecular nucleophilic attack at silicon

Metalation of (HSiMe₂)₃CH with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in THF gives (HSiMe₂)₃CLi, which reacts with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, 1,2-epoxy butane, 1,2-epoxy pentane, 1,2-epoxy hexane, and epichlorohydrin to give the corresponding 1-oxa-2-silacyclopentane derivatives. Then, glycidylmethacrylate (GM) random copolymers with styrene (St) (in a 1:1 and 1:3 mol ratio) were synthesized by solution free radical polymerization at 70(±1) °C using α,α′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as an initiator. Both types of copolymers were treated with (HSiMe₂)₃CLi to give new modified copolymers. The reaction of (HSiMe₂)₃CLi with epoxides on the side chains of the copolymers does not lead to intramolecular nucleophilic attack contrary to simple epoxides. All the products have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques.