Ru- and Fe-based N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-methyl-(1S,2S)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine complexes immobilised on mesoporous MCM-41: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic applications

Protected mesoporous MCM-41 phases were synthesized by grafting of the ligand, (1S,2S)-N,N′-bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (L₂Me), through the reactive 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (3-CPTMS) group and designated as L₂Me-MCM-41. Subsequently, RuCl₃ and Fe(BF₄)₂ or Fe(CF₃SO₃)₂ were added to the heterogenized L₂Me-MCM-41 for complexation and designated as M-L₂Me-MCM-41 (M = Ru and Fe). All samples were characterized in detail using XRD, N₂ sorption isotherm, FT-IR, TGA-DTA, XPS, UV–vis, solid state ¹³C NMR, EPR and elemental analysis, etc. The XRD and sorption measurements of the catalyst confirmed the structural integrity of the mesoporous hosts and the spectroscopic characterization techniques proved the successful anchoring of the metal complexes over the modified mesoporous support. The screening of catalyst M-L₂Me-MCM-41 was done for the oxidation reaction of thioanisole (methyl phenyl sulphide) using H₂O₂ as an oxidant. The Ru-L₂Me-MCM-41 and Fe-L₂Me-MCM-41 catalysts show higher activities and turnover numbers and exhibit enantiomeric excess comparable to the homogeneous catalysts, Ru-L₂(Me)₂ and Fe-L₂(Me)₂. Furthermore, Fe-L₂Me-MCM-41 and Fe-L₂(Me)₂ were also found active in the epoxidation of styrene. These results indicate that metal complexes are confined into the pore of the material which play a major role in the reaction.     

Mercury,arsenic and cadmium in the unfried and fried fish

Determination of mercury, arsenic and cadmium in unfried and fried fish samples has been carried out by neutron activation followed by chemical separation to remove the interfering activities of copper, zinc etc. This paper presents results of finding on losses of mercury, arsenic and cadmium in the unfried and fried fish.     

Dissociation of benzene dication [C6H6]2+: exploring the potential energy surface

The singlet potential energy surface for the dissociation of benzene dication has been explored, and its three major dissociation channels have been studied: C6H6(2+) --> C3H3(+) + C3H3(+), C4H3(+) + C2H3(+), and C5H3(+) + CH3(+). The calculated energetics suggest that the products will be formed with considerable translational energy because of the Coulomb repulsion between the charged fragments. The calculated energy release in the three channels shows a qualitative agreement with the experimentally observed kinetic energy release. The formation of certain intermediates is found to be common to the three dissociation channels.     

PET-SWNT nanocomposites through ultrasound assisted dissolution-evaporation

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) based nanocomposites have been prepared with single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) through an ultrasound assisted dissolution-evaporation method. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed that SWNTs nucleate crystallization in PET at weight fractions as low as 0.3%, as the nanocomposite melt crystallized during cooling at temperature 24 °C higher than neat PET of identical molecular weight. Isothermal crystallization studies also revealed that SWNTs significantly accelerate the crystallization process. Mechanical properties of the PET-SWNT nanocomposites improved as compared to neat PET indicating the effective reinforcement provided by nanotubes in the polymer matrix. Electrical conductivity measurements on the nanocomposite films showed that SWNTs at concentrations exceeding 1 wt% in the PET matrix result in electrical percolation. Comparison of crystallization, conductivity and transmission electron microscopy studies revealed that ultrasound assisted dissolution-evaporation method enables more effective dispersion of SWNTs in the PET matrix as compared to the melt compounding method.     

An application of thermogravimetry to quantitative studies of feldspar alteration in soils

Thermogravimetry is a fast, accurate and highly sensitive method for the quantitative determination of halloysite, kaolinite and gibbsite in 10 mg altered feldspar grains from lateritic saprolite materials. A wide range in composition occurs between grains, and is evidence of the existence of various geochemical microenvironments within lateritic saprolite. Variations in dehydroxylation temperature of gibbsite and halloysite/kaolinite between the altered feldspar grains are an analytical artefact. The dehydroxylation temperature of gibbsite and halloysite/kaolinite increased from 242 °C to 302 °C and 454 °C to 491 °C respectively with the increase in the concentration of these minerals in the altered feldspar grains.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Thermogravimetrie ist eine schnelle, genaue und hochempfindliche Methode zur quantitativen Bestimmung von Halloysit, Kaolinit und Gibbsit in Feldspatkörnern von lateritischen Saproplit-Materialien. Die Zusammensetzung der Körner schwankt in weiten Grenzen, was auf die Existenz von verschiedenen geochemischen Mikroumgebungen innerhalb des lateritischen Saprolits hinweist. Unterschiede in der Dehydroxylierungstemperatur von Gibbsit und Halloysit/Kaolinit haben sich als Artifakte herausgestellt. Die Dehydroxylierungstemperatur von Gibbsit bzw. Halloysit/Kaolinit stieg mit zunehmender Konzentration dieser Minerale in den Feldspatkörnern von 242 auf 302 °C bzw. von 454 auf 491 °C.

---

, , 10 - . . /, , . / , , 242 302° 454° 491° .

     

Synthesis of peptidylglycophospholipids,novel derivatives of muramyl-dipeptide

Synthesis of 6-deoxy-6-L-α-dipalmitoyphosphatidylethanolamino-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine-λ-methyl ester is described.     

Zr-TUD-1: A novel heterogeneous catalyst for the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reaction

A series of Schiff-base complexes has been synthesized by the condensation of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane with salicylaldehyde, 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, followed by the metallation with manganese (1, 2, 3a), cobalt (3b), copper (3c) and iron (3d) salts. These Schiff-base ligands L₁–L₃ and complexes 1, 2, 3a–d were then characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV–vis spectra, and DSC measurement. Schiff-base Mn complex (3a) resulting from N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthalidene)cyclohexanediamine (L₃) ligand was considerably active for the catalytic epoxidation of styrene under mild conditions, in which the highest yield of styrene oxide reached 91.2 mol%, notably higher than those achieved from simple salt catalysts Mn(Ac)₂·4H₂O and MnSO₄·H₂O. However, another two salen–Mn complexes 1 and 2 derived from ligands N,N′-bis(salicylidene)cyclohexanediamine (L₁) and N,N′-bis(2-pyridine carboxalidene)cyclohexanediamine (L₂) exhibited relatively poor activity under identical experimental conditions.     

Thermal decomposition of zinc and cadmium zirconyl oxalates

The enthalpy of formation at 298.15 K of the polymer Al₁₃O₄(OH)₂₈(H₂O)³⁺₈ and an amorphous aluminium trihydroxide gel was studied using an original differential calorimetric method, already developed for adsorption experiments, and aluminium-27 NMR spectroscopy data. ΔH_f “Al₁₃” (298.15 K) = ? 602 ± 60.2 kJ mole^?1 and ΔH_f Al(OH)₃ (298.15 K) = ? 51 ± 5 kJ mole^?1. Using theoretical values of ΔG_R “Al₁₃” and ΔG_R Al(OH)₃, we calculated ΔG_f “Al₁₃” (298.15 K) = ? 13282 kJ mole^?1; ΔS_f “Al₁₃” (298.15 K) = + 42.2 kJ mole^?1; ΔG_f Al(OH)₃ (298.15 K) = ? 782.5 kJ mole^?1; and ΔS_f Al(OH)₃ (298.15 K) = + 2.4 kJ mole^?1.     

A family of main-chain polymeric Lewis acids: synthesis and fluorescent sensing properties of boron-modified polythiophenes

A new family of main-chain organoborane polymeric Lewis acids (PTh-BAr) that contain Lewis acidic boron groups embedded into a polythiophene backbone has been prepared under mild conditions through tin-boron exchange reaction. When phenyl and pentafluorophenyl groups are attached to boron, blue and green luminescence is observed, respectively, while the attachment of ferrocenyl substituents leads to a characteristic red color. The incorporation of readily accessible highly Lewis acidic groups into the conjugated polymer backbone provides an opportunity for sensing of Lewis basic substrates. For instance, treatment of the polymer containing phenyl substituents on boron with pyridine leads to efficient quenching of the fluorescence, while the polymer containing ferrocenyl groups changes color from dark red to light orange.     

Analyte-receptor binding kinetics for different types of biosensors

A fractal analysis is presented for analyte-receptor binding kinetics for different types of biosensor applications. Data taken from the literature may be modeled using a single-fractal analysis, a single- and a dual-fractal analysis, or a dual-fractal analysis. The latter two methods represent a change in the binding mechanism as the reaction progresses on the surface. Predictive relationships developed for the binding rate coefficient as a function of the analyte concentration are of particular value since they provide a means by which the binding rate coefficients may be manipulated. Relationships are presented for the binding rate coefficients as a function of the fractal dimension D _f or the degree of heterogeneity that exists on the surface. When analyte-receptor binding is involved, an increase in the heterogeneity on the surface (increase in D _f ) leads to an increase in the binding rate coefficient. It is suggested that an increase in the degree of heterogeneity on the surface leads to an increase in the turbulence on the surface owing to the irregularities on the surface. This turbulence promotes mixing, minimizes diffusional limitations, and leads subsequently to an increase in the binding rate coefficient. The binding rate coefficient is rather sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity, D _f , that exists on the biosensor surface. For example, the order of dependence on D _f1 is 7.25 for the binding rate coefficient k ₁ for the binding of a Fab fragment of an antiparaquat monoclonal antibody in solution to an antigen in the form of a paraquat analog immobilized on a sensor surface. The predictive relationships presented for the binding rate coefficient and the fractal dimension as a function of the analyte concentration in solution provide further physical insights into the binding reactions on the surface, and should assist in enhancing biosensor performance. In general, the technique is applicable to other reactions occurring on different types of surfaces, such as cell-surface reactions.