Cyanoacetanilides Intermediates in Heterocyclic Synthesis,Part 3: Novel Syntheses of Thiazolinone and Thiazolo[3,2-a]Pyridine Derivatives

Thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridines 6a–c , 10 , 13 , and 14 have been synthesized via simple methods from the readily accessible 2-[N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-acetamide-2-yl]-4,5-dihydro-4-thiazolinone 2. The structure of the synthesized compounds was established by analytical and spectral data.     

Au/MXene based ultrafast all-optical switching

All-optical switches have arisen great attention due to their ultrafast speed as compared with electric switches. However, the excellent optical properties and strong interaction of two-dimensional (2D) material MXene show great potentials in next-generation all-optical switching. As a solution, we propose all-optical switching used Au/MXene with switching full width at half maximum (FWHM) operating at 290 fs. Compared with pure MXene, the Au/MXene behaves outstanding performances due to local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), including broadband differential transmission, strong near-infrared on/off ratio enhancement. Remarkably, this study enhances understanding of Au/MXene based ultrafast all-optical switching red-shifted about 34 nm in comparison to MXene, validating all optical properties of Au/MXene opening the way to the implementation of optical interconnection and optical switching.     

Electronic, optical, and charge transfer properties of donor–bridge–acceptor hydrazone sensitizers

The ground state geometries have been computed by using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6-31G*, B3LYP/6-31G**, and PCM-B3LYP/6-31G* level of theories. The highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) are delocalized on whole of the molecule and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) are localized on the tricarbonitrile. The lowest HOMO and LUMO energies have been observed for Dye1 while highest for Dye4. The LUMO energies of Dye1–Dye4 are above the conduction band of TiO₂ and HOMOs are below the redox couple. The absorption spectra have been computed in solvent (methanol) and without solvent by using time-dependant DFT at TD-B3LYP/6-31G*, TD-B3LYP/6-31G**, and PCM-TD-B3LYP/6-31G* level of theories. The calculated maximum absorption wavelengths of the spectra in methanol are in good agreement with experimental evidences. The maximum absorption wavelengths of new designed sensitizers are red shifted compared to parent molecule. The electronic coupling constant and electron injection have been computed by first principle investigations. The improved electronic coupling constant and electron injection revealed that new modeled systems would be efficient sensitizers.     

Photochromic properties of 1,3,3-trimethylspiro[indoline-2,3′-[3H]naphtho[2,1-b][1,4]oxazine] doped in PMMA and epoxy resin thin films

Irradiation of colorless 1,3,3-trimethylspiro[indoline-2,3′-[3H]naphtho[2,1-b][1,4]oxazine] SO doped in PMMA and epoxy resin with UV light (at 366 nm) results in the formation of an intensely colored zwitterionic photomerocyanine PMC. The reverse reaction was photochemically induced by irradiation with white light. Photocoloration and photobleaching reactions follow a first-order rate equation. It was found that photocoloration rate constant of SO in PMMA film is greater than that in epoxy resin. On the other hand, the photobleaching rate constant is almost identical in both matrices. Spirooxazine doped in epoxy resin shows much better fatigue resistance than that doped in PMMA.     

Tailoring the donor moieties in TPA-based organic dyes for efficient photovoltaic,optical and nonlinear optical response properties

The current study reports tailoring the electronic donor structures of organic dyes to modify their optical and nonlinear optical (NLO) response properties. Five (5) tri-phenyl amine (TPA) based Donor-π-Acceptor (D-π-A) organic dyes with the codes ICAA1 , ICAA2 , ICAA3 , ICAA4 , and ICAA5 were designed and investigated for their optical and NLO properties using quantum chemical methods. Optical and NLO properties of these dyes were studied by CAM-B3LYP method and 6-311G* basis set. The focus has been on the impact of adding secondary donors and shifting their substitutions at ortho (o), meta (m) and para (p) positions. Among all designed compounds, ICAA4 showed the highest amplitude of average third-order NLO polarizability <γ>, which is calculated to be 1316 × 10⁻³⁶ esu. Time-dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) method was used to determine how a change in the position of the donor affected the excitation energy (E_g) and NLO response properties. The findings showed that changing the position of the secondary donor results in a red shift among absorption spectra as well as the increase in their NLO responses. Complete process of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) has been investigated in terms of different optical parameters such as frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), molecular electrostatic potentials (MEPs), transition density matrix (TDMs), density of states (DOS), electron density difference (EDD), and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Our calculations for study of ICT process indicate that p-position of methoxy group performs better among all other positions and even it has better NLO response properties than the compound with three collective methoxy groups. The calculated V_oc values of all designed molecules range from 1.09 to 1.30, all of them are positive while their ΔG_inject is found to be in the range of −0.87 to −1.79 eV indicating their decent potential for photovoltaic applications. The studied optical, NLO and photovoltaic parameters illustrated that ICAA1 to ICAA5 are appropriate molecules not only for NLO applications but also for efficient photovoltaic purposes.     

A comparative study of key properties of glycine glycinium picrate (GGP) and glycinium picrate (GP): A combined experimental and quantum chemical approach

Using experimental and computational techniques, a comparative study of electro-optical properties for glycine glycinium picrate (GGP) and glycinium picrate (GP) compounds has been performed. The single crystal of GGP has been grown using slow evaporation technique that was further subjected to experimental characterization of its electro-optical properties. The good optical transparency and mechanical strength at micro level was confirmed from optical and nanoindentation measurements using the Oliver–Pharr method of the grown single crystals. Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis was done to probe the thermal stability of the grown single crystals. Using the density functional theory (DFT) methods, we have not only investigated the GGP but also proposed GP molecule. Additionally, we have shed light on the molecular geometries, infrared and Raman spectra, linear and nonlinear optical properties of both GGP and GP at molecular level. The time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach was adopted to calculate the excitation energies of the molecules in different phases including gas, water, acetone, cyclohexane and chloroform as well. For GGP, its wavelength of maximum absorption is calculated to be ～390 nm at B3LYP/6-31G¹ level of theory. The calculated amplitudes of first hyperpolarizability (β_tot) for GGP and GP are found to be 712 and 970 a. u., respectively, which are about 16 and 23 times larger than that of the urea molecule (a prototype NLO molecule). Thus the present study not only brings to limelight the optical and nonlinear optical properties of GGP but also sheds light on the possible potential of GP as new NLO molecule.     

Recent Advances and Future Perspectives of Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Overall Electrochemical Water Splitting

Recently, the growing demand for a renewable and sustainable fuel alternative is contingent on fuel cell technologies. Even though it is regarded as an environmentally sustainable method of generating fuel for immediate concerns, it must be enhanced to make it extraordinarily affordable, and environmentally sustainable. Hydrogen (H₂) synthesis by electrochemical water splitting (ECWS) is considered one of the foremost potential prospective methods for renewable energy output and H₂ society implementation. Existing massive H₂ output is mostly reliant on the steaming reformation of carbon fuels that yield CO₂ together with H₂ and is a finite resource. ECWS is a viable, efficient, and contamination-free method for H₂ evolution. Consequently, developing reliable and cost-effective technology for ECWS was a top priority for scientists around the globe. Utilizing renewable technologies to decrease total fuel utilization is crucial for H₂ evolution. Capturing and transforming the fuel from the ambient through various renewable solutions for water splitting (WS) could effectively reduce the need for additional electricity. ECWS is among the foremost potential prospective methods for renewable energy output and the achievement of a H₂-based economy. For the overall water splitting (OWS), several transition-metal-based polyfunctional metal catalysts for both cathode and anode have been synthesized. Furthermore, the essential to the widespread adoption of such technology is the development of reduced-price, super functional electrocatalysts to substitute those, depending on metals. Many metal-premised electrocatalysts for both the anode and cathode have been designed for the WS process. The attributes of H₂ and oxygen (O₂) dynamics interactions on the electrodes of water electrolysis cells and the fundamental techniques for evaluating the achievement of electrocatalysts are outlined in this paper. Special emphasis is paid to their fabrication, electrocatalytic performance, durability, and measures for enhancing their efficiency. In addition, prospective ideas on metal-based WS electrocatalysts based on existing problems are presented. It is anticipated that this review will offer a straight direction toward the engineering and construction of novel polyfunctional electrocatalysts encompassing superior efficiency in a suitable WS technique.     

Structural,spectroscopic and first‐principles studies of new aminocoumarin derivatives

The new aminocoumarin derivatives 3‐[1‐(3‐hydroxyanilino)ethylidene]‐3H‐chromene‐2,4‐dione, ( 1 ), 3‐[1‐(4‐hydroxyanilino)ethylidene]‐3H‐chromene‐2,4‐dione, ( 2 ), and 3‐[1‐(2‐hydroxyanilino)ethylidene]‐3H‐chromene‐2,4‐dione, ( 3 ), all C₁₇H₁₃NO₄, were synthesized by reacting an equimolar amount of 3‐acetyl‐4‐hydroxycoumarin and the corresponding aminophenol in absolute ethanol. Structural and spectroscopic analysis of these phases revealed that derivatives ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) are isomers of previously reported ( 3 ) [Brahmia et al. (2013). Acta Cryst. E 69 , o1296]. The crystal structures of meta derivative ( 1 ) and para derivative ( 2 ) were ab initio determined from powder X‐ray diffraction data using the direct‐space approach. Both ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) adopt the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁. These isomers show hydrogen bonds and rich π–π stacking, together with π…H interactions, which are built by conjugated systems of coumarin and phenol rings. In the crystalline lattice, the packing of ( 1 ) and ( 3 ) are mainly stabilized through O—H…O hydrogen bonding between neighbouring coumarin molecules, while hydrogen bonds between coumarin and water molecules build the stable crystal structure of derivative ( 2 ). A big similarity in the skeletons of the IR spectra of these isomers was noticed. Derivative ( 2 ) exhibits two weak bands which were not present in the spectra of the other two derivatives, at 2370 and 2948 cm^?1, which can be assigned to the O—H vibrations of the solvent (H₂O) trapped in the structure of ( 2 ). These aminocoumarin derivatives display absorption maxima in the visible region, attributed to π–π delocalization involving the whole electronic system of the compounds with a considerable charge‐transfer character originating from the aminophenyl ring and pointing towards the coumarin system which is characterized by a high electron‐accepting character. Additionally, the isolated molecular ground‐state geometries were optimized at the PBE0/TZP level and the electronic properties, molecular electrostatic potential and Hirshfeld charges were determined.     

Colorimetric Sensing of Toxic Metal and Antibacterial Studies by Using Bioextract Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles

Here, we report the simple and cost effective colorimetric technique for the determination of toxic metals (Hg²⁺) in aqueous sample by using bioextract silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The indigenous AgNPs were synthesised by green and ecologically friendly style using extract of fig (Ficus carica) leaf. The synthesized AgNPs were confirmed by UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy methods. The synthesis of AgNPs was observed by its colour changing from light yellow to dark brownish. The existence of furanocoumarins bioactive materials in the fig leaf extract, which act as bio-reducing and capping agent, help in the formation of stabilized silver nanoparticles. In addition, the bacterial activity of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was tested against gram-negative (Klebsiella oxytocam, Pseudomonas aeruginosam, Shigella flexneri and Proteus mirabilis), gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus) and one Candida (Candida albicans) human pathogen and the results showed moderate activity.