Re-visiting of 5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]-quinolin-8-ol with tweaking of Sn-Ph groups: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and X-ray crystallography

Reactions of sodium 5-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]quinolin-8-olates (LH, where the aryl group is an R-substituted phenyl ring such that for L¹H: R = H; L²H: R = 2′-CH₃; L³H: R = 3′-CH₃; L⁴H: R = 4′-CH₃; L⁵H: R = 4′-OCH₃ and L⁶H: R = 4′-OC₂H₅) with Ph₃SnCl in a 1:1 molar ratio yielded complexes of composition Ph₃SnL. The complexes have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, IR and ^119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques in combination with elemental analyses. The crystal structures of Ph₃SnL¹ · 0.5C₆H₆ (1), Ph₃SnL² (2), Ph₃SnL⁵ · C₆H₆ (5) and Ph₃SnL⁶ · 0.5C₆H₆ (6) were determined. The results of the X-ray studies indicated that the benzene solvated compounds 1, 5 and 6 are distorted square pyramid, with one of the phenyl C atoms in the apex while the ligand arrangement around central Sn atom in 2 is distorted trigonal-bipyramidal, with a phenyl C and the oxinato N atoms in axial positions.     

Chemically modified oximato complexes of titanium(IV) isopropoxide as new precursors for the sol-gel preparation of nano-sized titania: Crystal and molecular structure of [Ti{ONC10H16}4·2CH2Cl2]

Reactions of [Ti(OPrⁱ)₄] with various oximes, in anhydrous refluxing benzene yielded complexes of the type [Ti{OPrⁱ}_4−n{L}_n], where, n = 1-4 and LH = (CH₃)₂CNOH (1-4), C₉H₁₆CNOH (5-8) and C₉H₁₈CNOH (9-12). The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements, FAB-mass, FT-IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}) spectral studies. The FAB-mass spectra of mono- (1), and di- (2), (6), (10) substituted products indicate their dimeric nature and that of tri- (3) and tetra- (4), (8) substituted derivatives suggest their monomeric nature. Crystal and molecular structure of [Ti{ONC₁₀H₁₆}₄·2CH₂Cl₂] (8A) suggests that the oximato ligands bind the metal in a dihapto η²-(N, O) manner, leading to the formation of an eight coordinated species. Thermogravimetric curves of (3), (6) and (10) exhibit multi-step decomposition with the formation of TiO₂ as the final product in each case, at 900 °C. Low temperature (∼600 °C) sol-gel transformations of (2), (3), (4), (6), (7) and (8) yielded nano-sized titania (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), respectively. Formation of anatase phase in all the titania samples was confirmed by powder XRD patterns, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. SEM images of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) exhibit formation of nano-grains with agglomer like surface morphologies. Compositions of all the titania samples were investigated by EDX analyses. The absorption spectra of the two representative samples, (a) and (f) indicate an energy band gap of 3.17 eV and 3.75 eV, respectively.     

Hydrogen bond assisted activation of a dinitrile towards nucleophilic attack

The possibility of tunable regioselective activation of a dinitrile towards nucleophilic attack was demonstrated. For that, a sulfo-arylhydrazone unit was introduced into malononitrile and the thus formed intramolecular hydrogen bond systems assisted specific nucleophilic attacks to the cyano moieties leading to a variety of amidines, carboxamides and iminoesters depending on the nucleophiles and conditions used.     

Gas chromatographic determination of nitrite in water by precolumn formation of 2-phenylphenol with flame ionization detection

Nitrite can be determined by its reaction with 2-aminobiphenyl in acidic medium to produce 2-phenylphenol which is quantified by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection using biphenyl as an internal standard. The hydrolysis of the intermediate diazonium ion avoids many of the problems encountered in the conventional determination of nitrite by the diazotization of an aromatic amine (usually sulphanilamide) and coupling with N-(1-napthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride to yield an azo dye followed by spectrophotometry. Unlike this method, the proposed reaction is rapid and does not suffer from interferences by copper(II), iron(III) and lead(II). The calibration graph was linear over the range 5–1000 μg/l NO₂-N and the limit of detection found to be 0.5 μg/l NO₂-N. A single analysis can be completed within 20 min. The method was not affected by coloured or turbid analyte solutions and has been used to determine nitrite in natural waters.     

A ligand-free Pd-catalyzed cascade reaction: an access to the highly diverse isoquinolin-1(2H)-one derivatives via isocyanide and Ugi-MCR synthesized amide precursors

A novel ligand-free palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction for the synthesis of highly diverse isoquinolin-1(2H)-one derivatives from isocyanide and amide precursors synthesized by Ugi-MCR has been developed. A broad variety of acids, amines, and isocyanides were used as starting materials for Ugi-MCR leading to various amide precursors, which in turn provided entry into diverse isoquinolin-1(2H)-one derivatives. The reaction proceeds through tandem isocyanide insertion with intramolecular cyclization followed by a Mazurciewitcz-Ganesan type sequence to provide isoquinoline-1(2H)-one derivatives in moderate to good yields.     

Chemical synthesis of ZnO hexagonal thin nanodisks and dye‐sensitized solar cell performance

Well defined highly monodispersed single crystalline ZnO hexagonal thin nanodisks have been synthesized by a wet chemical route. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is used as an organic ligand in the chemical synthesis. Ultraviolet near band edge emission is predominant over the defect level emission in these ZnO nanodisks. The ZnO nanodisks have an average diameter of 150 nm and thickness of 40 nm. A dye‐sensitized solar cell is fabricated using ZnO nanodisks by spray pyrolysis deposition and it exhibits an efficiency of 2.63% with the ruthenium sensitizer N719 dye. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Distinguishing the early and late transition states and exploring the validity of sigma --> sigma*#, sigma# --> sigma*, and sigma --> pi*(C=O) concepts in diastereoselection from NBO analysis

Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of several early TSs does not support the sigma --> sigma*# hypothesis. The sigma --> pi*(C=O) interaction controls the carbonyl pyramidalization that, in turn, controls the pi-selectivity of a nucleophilic addition. In contrast, late TSs are devoid of sigma --> pi*(C=O) interactions, and they benefit from sigma --> sigma*# interactions that control pi-selectivity. The evidence in favor of Anh-Felkin's sigma# --> sigma* hypothesis is weak. The electron-withdrawing sigma(C-F) in the 2-fluoropropanal-LiCN TS did not align anti to the incipient bond even though there was complete conformational freedom. The initial guess for the TS in which sigma(C-F) was held anti to sigma# optimized to what had lost the said geometrical relationship. Furthermore, in the TS for axial addition of LiCN to 2-ax-F-cyclohexanone, the net sigma --> sigma*# interaction was considerably larger than the net sigma# --> sigma* interaction. The relative TS energies require that the equatorial addition of LiCN to 2-ax-F-cyclohexanone be favored over the axial addition in good compliance with the available experimental results.     

Magnetic force microscopic study of the magnetic field induced antiferro to ferrimagnetic transition in Mn1.85Co0.15Sb

Magnetic field induced first order antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferrimagnetic (FRI) transition in polycrystalline Mn_1.85Co_0.15Sb has been studied using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) at 60 K and up to 8 T magnetic fields. Our MFM studies provide real space visualization of AFM to FRI transition. It shows growth (decay) of FRI phase with increasing (decreasing) magnetic field. The hysteretic behavior and co-existing FRI and AFM phases across the critical field required for FRI-AFM transition in Mn_1.85Co_0.15Sb are highlighted. This study demonstrates the potential of MFM for studying phase co-existence at high field and low temperatures.     

Bulk modulus and thermodynamic properties of electron-doped calcium manganate—Ca1−xRExMnO3

We have investigated the thermodynamic properties of electron-doped perovskite manganite CaMnO₃ by incorporating the effect of lattice distortions. In this paper the functional relation between the MnO₆ distortions, charge and size mismatch and the thermal properties is determined. In the insulating state, distortions of the Mn-O environment are linear with calcium concentration. In the low-temperature spin-ordered ferromagnetic/anti-ferromagnetic state, at least 50% of the distortion is removed. The lattice contributions to the specific heat at constant volume (C_v(lattice)) of Ca_1−xRE_xMnO₃ (x=0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.20) with rare earth cation doping at the A-site has been studied as a function of temperature (10 K≤T≤500 K) by means of a Modified Rigid Ion Model (MRIM). In addition, the results on the bulk modulus (B), cohesive energy (φ), molecular force constant (f), Reststrahlen frequency (ν₀) and Gruneisen parameter (γ) are also presented. Findings indicate an anomalous behavior of some highly Jahn-Teller (JT) distorted Ca_1−xRE_xMnO₃.     

Phytochemical Investigation of Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. and Sheriff.—A Nutrient-Rich Leafy Vegetable from Western Ghats of India

Bidens biternata, belonging to the family Asteraceae, is an erect annual herb, up to 1 cm in height, and a widespread weed of cultivated areas. This plant is common, particularly in the Western Ghats regions of Kerala state in India. It is used as a leafy vegetable by the Paniya and Kattunaayika tribes of Waynadu Districts in Kerala and also to cure hepatitis, cold, cough, dysentery, etc. The multiplication and utilization of this leafy vegetable will help to overcome the nutritional deficiency problem and also to maintain the biodiversity. For effective biochemical analysis, plant extract was taken using different solvents. Various phytochemicals like reducing sugar, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids, coumarins, saponins, anthraquinones, phlobatannins and iridoids were estimated. Different nutritional factors like total carbohydrates, total proteins, total reducing sugar, different amino acids, free fatty acids, crude fibre, lipids, total moisture content, vitamins, etc. were tested by standard estimation methods. Anti-nutritional factors like phytic acid, total phenol, tannic acid, etc., were also estimated. Micronutrients and different pigments were quantified. The present studies revealed that this wild leafy plant has numerous nutritional factors with a low level of anti-nutritional factors. Therefore, this nutritive herb with diverse health-promoting compounds can be effectively utilized to overcome the nutritional deficiency problem around the globe.