New Cu(II) complexes with polydentate chelating Schiff base ligands: Synthesis, structures, characterisations and biochemical activity studies

We have reported herein the synthesis of three new Cu(II) complexes of tri- and tetradentate Schiff base ligands containing N₃ or N₄ donor set along with terminal NNN⁻ or SCN⁻ ligands: [L¹Cu(NCS)]ClO₄ (1), [L²Cu(NCS)₂] (2) and [L³Cu(NNN)]ClO₄ (3) [L¹ = NC₅H₄C(CH₃)=N(CH₂)₃N=C(CH₃)C₅H₄N, L²= Me₂N–(CH₂)₃–N=C(CH₃)C₅H₄N and L³ = NC₅H₄CH=N–(CH₂)₄–N=CHC₅H₄N]. The complexes have been systematically characterised by elemental, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Antimicrobial activities of the Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes have been studied using the disc diffusion method on the strains of Candida tropicalis and Bacillus megaterium. Structures of all the complexes have been unequivocally established from single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses that show the monomeric units containing a five-coordinated copper center in highly distorted square pyramidal geometry with thiocyanate or azide anion coordinated as terminal ligand. The complexes 1 and 3 crystallise in monoclinic (P2₁/c) and 2 in triclinic (P-1) space group, respectively.     

QM/MM study of the interaction between zigzag SnC nanotube and small toxic gas molecules

Adsorptions of small toxic molecules such as CO, N₂, HCN, SO₂, H₂CO, and NH₃ on a single‐walled (6,0) SnC nanotube (SnCNT) are investigated using Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) methodology. The calculations are carried out at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p)//LANL2DZ:UFF level of theory. The high layer of the model consists of a pyrene‐type ring on the nanotube surface as the adsorption site, where one gas molecule is allowed to interact. Conversely, for the adsorption of the two molecules, a larger site like a coronene ring is used for the high layer. Adsorption energy, Gibbs free energy change, Mulliken charge transfer, and total electron‐density maps are computed in each case. The adsorption strength of the gas molecule on the SnCNT surface is also analyzed from the density of states projected to different atoms (PDOS) of the nanotube–adsorbate complexes. The adsorptions of CO and N₂ on the (6,0) SnCNT surface require to cross potential barriers, and the corresponding transition structures are identified by ONIOM‐IRC calculations. For the remaining four molecules, the processes of adsorption are predicted to be barrier‐less. The calculations for the adsorption of H₂CO on (5,0) and (7,0) SnCNT surfaces are extended to study the effect of the size of the nanotube. Results for the adsorption of a single molecule on (6,0) SnCNT using B3LYP functional are compared with those obtained from a dispersion corrected functional such as M06‐2X. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Electrochemical oxidation of sulphapyridine at a pyrolytic graphite electrode

The electrochemical oxidation of sulphapyridine at a pyrolytic graphite electrode was studied over a wide pH range. Sulphapyridine is oxidized in an irreversible reaction involving two electrons and two protons to give an electroactive product. On the basis of voltammetric, spectral and coulometric studies and product identification, a tentative mechanism is suggested.     

Studies on metal — protein interactions: Inter-comparison among various approaches

Binding ability of mercury, thallium, lead and bismuth with Erythrina variegata seed protein have been investigated using tracer packet technique. Due to the lack of standard methods, inter-comparisons have been made among three different approaches, like trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitation, isoelectric precipitation and dialysis of protein after incubation with the metals. Good agreement was observed for all the cases except that of lead.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of alpha-hydroxy phosphonates

Tertiary alpha-hydroxy phosphonates have been synthesized in good yields and high enantiomeric purity (up to 99% ee) through a novel l-proline-catalyzed cross aldol reaction of alpha-keto phosphonates and ketones.     

Chemical characterization of soda-lime glass samples by in situ current normalised PIGE and conventional INAA methods for forensic applications

Nuclear analytical methods namely in situ current normalised Particle Induced Gamma Ray Emission (PIGE) and conventional Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) were utilized for determining major, minor and trace concentrations of eighteen elements in five soda-lime (automobile) glass samples. Concentration of four major elements (Si, Na, Mg and Al) by PIGE and fourteen elements including ten trace elements by INAA were determined. For forensic application, major elements were used for confirming the class of glass samples, whereas concentration results of trace elements like transition and rare earth elements were utilized for finding similarity or differences among the glass samples.

     

Extracellular pH influences the mode of cell death in human colon adenocarcinoma cells subjected to photodynamic treatment with chlorin p6

Effect of varying extracellular pH on mode of cell death induced by photodynamic action of chlorin p6 was investigated in human colon carcinoma (Colo-205) cells. At an extracellular pH of 7.4, compared to cells treated with chlorin p6 in dark, the photodynamically treated cells showed reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, an increase in ADP/ATP ratio (1:2) and a large percentage of cells with chromatin condensation. In contrast, when photodynamic treatment and post irradiation incubation was carried out in acidic medium (pH 6.5), total loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, a marked increase in ADP/ATP ratio (1:33) and increased damage to plasma membrane were observed. Further, cells subjected to photodynamic treatment in a medium of pH 7.4 showed twofold increase in caspase-3 activity as compared to photodynamic treatment at pH 6.5. These results suggest that chlorin p6 mediated photodynamic action induces apoptotic cell death when extracellular pH is 7.4 whereas necrosis is more predominant under condition when extracellular pH is 6.5.     

Density, ultrasonic velocity, surface tension, excess volume and viscosity of quaternary fluid solutions

Density, ultrasonic velocity, surface tension, excess volume and viscosity of quaternary non-electrolyte solution n-pentane+tolune+n-heptane+cyclohexane has been experimentally determined at 25 °C over a wide range of composition. Assuming a quaternary fluid solution to be made of six binaries, a statistical approach of Prigogine–Flory–Patterson (PFP) theory has been extended to develop the expressions for dynamic viscosity, surface tension excess volume and ultrasonic velocity of quaternary fluid system. A reasonable agreement has been achieved between theory and experiment. An attempt has also bee made to explain the nature of molecular interactions involved in the light of excess thermodynamic functions whose sign and magnitude depend upon the chain length and size of the component fluids and also studied the role of order breakers (toluene and cyclohexane) on these properties.     

Synthesis and Properties of Mixed Ligand Complexes of Diorganotin(IV): Part(VII) – Synthesis and Characterisation of Some Antibacterial Dibenzoylmethane Diorganotin(IV)‐O‐alkyl Trithiophosphates

A series of some new mixed ligand complexes have been synthesized with an objective for evaluation as antimicrobials. Reactions of diorganotin(IV) dichloride with dibenzoyl methane and O‐alkyl trithiophosphates in a 1:1:1 molar ratio in refluxing benzene yield products of the type [PhCOCHCOPh]R₂Sn‐[SSH(S)POR'] [where R = Me, Bu, Ph; R' = Me, Et, Prⁱ, Buⁱ, Ph]. The newly synthesized complexes are light yellow colored crystalline solids, non‐volatile, soluble in common organic solvents, monomeric in nature and highly sensitive towards atmospheric moisture. These complexes are characterized by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ³¹P and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectral studies. Spectral studies of these complexes indicate that dibenzoyl methane and O‐alkyl trithiophosphate moieties are bidentate and the central tin atom is hexacoordinated in nature. A few of these compounds were tested for their antibacterial activity using standard drugs.