Monodisperse Polypyrrole Nanoparticles Prepared via γ‐Ray Radiolysis of Water: An Efficient Near‐Infrared Photothermal Agent for Cancer Therapy

Biosafe nanoparticles with strong near‐infrared (NIR) light photothermal conversion effect can bring effective hyperthermia as one of the promising approaches in cancer therapy. In this work, a new facile and green preparation method of polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles based on ⁶⁰Co γ‐ray radiation on a simple air‐saturated strong acidic aqueous solution of pyrrole (pH ≤ 1) is studied. According to the MCAP‐FACSIMILE simulation on the concentrations of the radiolysis products of water at the presence of H⁺ and O₂, the main strong oxidative radiolysis products · OH and H₂O₂ rapidly induce the polymerization of pyrrole. The size of the prepared PPy nanoparticles is about several tens of nanometers and can be controlled by the pH, the concentration of the stabilizer poly(vinyl alcohol), and the absorbed dose rate (the amount of energy absorbed per unit mass of the irradiated material within per unit of time). The PPy nanoparticles show rapid and remarkable NIR (808 nm) photothermal conversion efficiency up to 40.1% in water. Furthermore, the in vitro and in vivo experiments confirm that the prepared PPy nanoparticles exhibit enough strong NIR photothermal effect in tumor cells (4T1 and HeLa) and show a promising prospect as the NIR photothermal agent for the future cancer therapy.     

Synthesis and properties of UV curable waterborne hyperbranched aliphatic polyester

The UV curable waterborne hyperbranched polyester (WBHP) consisting of a multi-hydroxy functional aliphatic polyester core, which is endcapped with methacrylic and salt-like groups in different ratios was synthesized. The core is second generation of hyperbranched aliphatic polyester Boltorn™ H20 with approximately 16 hydroxyl groups. The effects of different ratios of chemical structure of end groups were studied by evaluating various properties of WBHP such as solubility in water, dynamic viscosity, UV curing rate and final unsaturation conversion. A natural good control over the solubility of the samples was possible by salt-like functionality and raising the temperature. The investigation of solubility characteristics of the modified hyperbranched polyester illustrated that those with higher concentration of salt-like moiety were more soluble while those of having lower salt-like moiety were less soluble. The viscosity of the resin WBHP was reduced rapidly by dilution with water and raising temperature. Water showed a favorable viscosity reduction effect as compared to monomer and its blend with water. The polymerization rate of the resins under UV irradiation in the presence of a photoinitiator showed an increasing trend with higher concentration of methacrylate functionality.     

Fulleride-metal η5 sandwich and multi-decker sandwich complexes: A DFT prediction

The (C₆₀CN)⁻ formed by the reaction of CN⁻ with fullerene shows high electron rich character, very similar to C₆₀˙⁻, and it behaves as a large anion. Similar to Cp⁻, the bulky anion, (C₆₀CN)⁻, acts as a strong η⁵ ligand towards transition metal centers. Previous studies on η⁵ coordination of fullerene cage are reported for pseudo fullerenes whereas the present study deals with sandwich complexes of (C₆₀CN)⁻ with Fe(II), Ru(II), Cr(II), Mo(II), and Ni(II) and multi-decker sandwich complexes of CN–fullerides with Fe(II). The structural parameters of these complexes and the corresponding Cp⁻ complexes showed very close resemblance. Analysis of the metal-to-carbon bonding molecular orbitals showed that sandwich complex [Fe(η⁵-(C₆₀CN)⁻)₂] exhibit bonding features very similar to that of ferrocene. Also, a 6-fold decrease in the band gap energy is observed for [Fe(η⁵-(C₆₀CN)⁻)₂] compared to ferrocene. The energy of dissociation (ΔE) of the ligand (C₆₀CN)⁻ from [Fe(η⁵-(C₆₀CN)⁻)₂] is slightly lower than the ΔE of a Cp* ligand from a ferrocene derivative wherein each cyclopentadienyl unit is substituted with four tertiary butyl groups. The (C₆₀CN)⁻ ligand behaved as one of the bulkiest ligands in the chemistry of sandwich complexes. Further, the coordinating ability of the dianion, (C₆₀(CN)₂)²⁻ is evaluated which showed strong coordination ability simultaneously with two metal centers leading to the formation of multi-decker sandwich and pearl-necklace type polymeric structures.     

A visual photothermal paper sensor for H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S recognition through rational modulation LSPR wavelength of plasmonics

It is known that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelength of plasmonics is highly dependent on compositions and geometry of plasmonics as well as the surrounding environments. Here, monodispersed Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles (Au@Ag NPs) were prepared by carefully optimizing the shell thickness of Au@Ag NPs, and the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) would significantly alter the LSPR wavelength. On the basis of this, a photothermal paper sensor for on-site recognition of H₂S was constructed with a visual detection limit of 12.8 ng/L.     

Superacid-promoted synthesis of indolizidine derivatives

A series of amido-acetals were reacted with the Brønsted superacid, CF₃SO₃H, to provides indolizidine derives by a cyclization cascade. A mechanism is proposed involving formation of a vinylogous enol which undergoes a 6π-electrocyclization reaction with an adjacent N-acyl iminium ion group. With aryl substituents, there is a strong tendency for the N-acyl iminium ion group to undergo Friedel-Crafts type cyclizations with the aryl group. The synthetic methodology was used to prepare the alkaloid natural product, ipalbidine.     

Mehar’s methods for fuzzy assignment problems with restrictions

In this paper, limitations of existing methods [5, 11] for solving fuzzy assignment problems (FAPs) are pointed out. In order to overcome the limitations of existing methods, two new methods named Mehar’s methods are proposed. To show the advantages of Mehar’s methods over existing methods, some FAPs are solved. The Mehar’s methods can solve the problems solved by existing methods as well as those which cannot be solved by existing methods.     

Chemometric assessment of thermal oxidation of some edible oils

The effect of microwave heating was studied in six varieties of edible oil. Variations in physicochemical properties were observed and compared with the data obtained by hot plate heating. Fourier-transform infrared spectra of the oils showed substantial variations after both types of heating in the region of hydrogen’s stretching (C–H) vibration, region of double bond’s stretching (C=O), and fingerprint region. The visible spectra of mustard and olive oil showed the reduction in carotenoid, flavonoid, and chlorophyll pigments after heating. The oil samples were discriminated as saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats using chemometric techniques on physical and spectroscopic measurements.     

Superacid‐Promoted Cyclodehydration Leading to the Imidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline Ring System

A series of heterocycle‐substituted acetophenones were prepared and reacted with the Brønsted superacid CF₃SO₃H (triflic acid=trifluoromethanesulfonic acid). Cyclodehydration provided aryl‐substituted imidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinolines and related products (28–85%, seven examples). A mechanism is proposed involving dicationic intermediates.     

Protolytic defluorination of trifluoromethyl-substituted arenes

A series of trifluoromethyl-substituted arenes were studied in their reactions with Br?nsted superacids. The products from these reactions suggest the formation of reactive electrophiles, such as carbocations, acylium cations or equivalent electrophilic species. As such, Friedel-Crafts-type reactions occur between these species and arene nucleophiles. NMR studies were done, and the results suggest the formation of an acyl group from the trifluoromethyl groups in the superacid.