A polystyrene based membrane electrode for cadmium(II) ions

A polystyrene based membrane of 3,4:12,13-dibenzo-2,5,11,14-tetraoxo- 1,6,10,15-tetraazacyclooctade-cane shows a Nernstian response to Cd(II) ions over a wide concentration range (3.16 x 10(-6) - 1.00 x 10(-1) mol L(-1) with a Nernstian slope of 29.8 mV/decade of concentration, between pH 2.0 and 6.0. This electrode has been found to be chemically inert and of adequate stability with a response time of 20s. The electrode gives reproducible results with a lifetime of 130 days. The membrane works satisfactorily in a partially non-aqueous medium up to a maximum 35% (v/v) content of methanol and ethanol. The practical utility of the proposed chemical sensor has been observed by using it as end-point indicator in the titration of Cd(II) ions with EDTA. The potentiometric selectivity coefficient values indicate that the membrane sensor is highly selective for Cd(II) ions over a number of cations. Small amounts of surfactants do not disturb the functioning of the sensor. This electrode has also been used to estimate cadmium ions in real samples.     

Electrocatalytic treatment of waste: studies on discoloration of an industrial azo dye effluent

A textile dye effluent containing chiefly reactive azo dyes has been treated electrochemically for discoloration and COD (chemical oxygen demand) reduction at different current densities, flow rates and dilution. Experiments have been carried out in a thin electrochemical reactor under single pass conditions using a dimensionally stable catalytic anode (DSA) and a stainless steel cathode.     

Synthesis of natural triisopentenylated flavanone, euchrenone a2

Euchrenone a₂ (7) isolated from the roots ofEuchresta japonica has been synthesised from 3-prenylphloroacetophenone (1) by other workers. We carried out its cyclodehydrogenation with dichloro dicyano quinone (DDQ) to obtain 6-acetyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethylchromene (2) which was ethoxymethylated in the 7-position to give 6-acetyl-7-ethoxymethoxy-5-hydroxychromene (3). Chalcone condensation of3 and 4-ethoxymethoxy-3-C-prenylbenzaldehyde (4) gave 4,6′-bisethoxymethoxy-2′-hydroxy-6″, 6″-dimethyl-3-C-prenylpyrano (2″, 3″–4,3) chalcone (5) which cyclised with methanolic sodium acetate to give protected 5,4′-bisethoxymethoxy-6″, 6″-dimethyl-3′-C-prenylpyrano (2″, 3″–7,8) flavanone (6). Deprotection of6 with 4% methanolic HCl yielded (7) with melting point and spectral data identical to that of the natural compound.     

Comparative Studies of Tridentate Sulfur and Nitrogen‐Containing Ligands as Ionophores for Construction of Cadmium Ion‐Selective Membrane Sensors

New polymeric membrane cadmium‐ion selective sensors have been prepared by incorporating nitrogen and sulfur containing tridentate ligands as the ionophores into the plasticized PVC membranes. Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) based membranes of potassium hydrotris[N‐(2,6‐xylyl)thioimdazolyl) borate] (KTt^2,6‐xylyl) and potassium hydrotris(3‐phenyl‐5‐methylpyrazolyl) borate (KTp^Ph,Me) with sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as an anionic excluder and dibutylphthalate (DBP), tributylphthalate (TBP), dioctylsebacate (DOS), and o‐nitrophenyloctyl ether (o‐NPOE) as plasticizing solvent mediators were investigated in different compositions. KTt^2,6‐xylyl was found to be a selective and sensitive ion carrier for Cd(II) membrane sensor. A membrane composed of KTt^2,6‐xylyl:NaTPB:PVC:DBP with the % mole ratio 2.3 : 1.1 : 34.8 : 61.8 (w/w) works well over a very wide concentration range (7.8×10^?8–1.0×10^?2 M) with a Nernstian slope of 29.4±0.2 mV/decades of activity between pH values of 3.5 to 9.0 with a detection limit of 4.37×10^?8 M. The sensor displays very good discrimination toward Cd(II) ions with regard to most common cations. The proposed sensor shows a short response time for whole concentration range (ca. 8 s). The effects of the cationic (tetrabutylammonium chloride, TBC), anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and nonionic (Triton X‐100) surfactants were investigated on the potentiometric properties of proposed cadmium‐selective sensor. The proposed sensor based on KTt^2,6‐xylyl ionophore has also been used for the direct determination of cadmium ions in different water samples and human urine samples.     

Myoglobin/arylhydroxylamine film modified electrode: Direct electrochemistry and electrochemical catalysis

The adsorption processes and electrochemical behavior of 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) adsorbed onto glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) have been investigated in aqueous 0.1 M nitric acid (HNO₃) electrolyte solutions using cyclic voltammetry (CV). 4-NA adsorbs onto GCE surfaces, and upon potential cycling past −0.2 V, is transformed into the arylhydroxylamine (ArHA) derivative which exhibits a well-behaved pH dependent redox couple centered at 0.32 V at pH 1.5. It is noted as arylhydroxylamine modified glassy carbon electrodes (HAGCE). This modified electrode can be readily used as an immobilization matrix to entrap proteins and enzymes. In our studies, myoglobin (Mb) was used as a model protein for investigation. A pair of well-defined reversible redox peaks of Mb (Fe(III)-Fe(II)) was obtained at the Mb/arylhydroxylamine modified glassy carbon electrode (Mb/HAGC) by direct electron transfer between the protein and the GCE. The formal potential (E^0′), the apparent coverage (Γ^*) and the electron-transfer rate constant (k_s) were calculated as −0.317 V, 8.26 × 10⁻¹² mol/cm² and 51 ± 5 s⁻¹, respectively. Dramatically enhanced biocatalytic activity was exemplified at the Mb/HAGC electrode by the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and oxygen (O₂). The Mb/arylhydroxylamine film was also characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicating excellent stability and good biocompatibility of the protein in the arylhydroxylamine modified electrode. This new Mb/HAGC electrode exhibited rapid electrochemical response (2 s) for H₂O₂ and had good stability in physiological condition, showing the potential applicability of the films in the preparation of third generation biosensors or bioreactors based on direct electrochemistry of the proteins.     

Site-selective C–H nitration of N-aryl-7-azaindoles under palladium(II) catalysis

The site-selective C–H nitration reaction of 7-azaindoles with t-butyl nitrite under palladium catalysis is described. This protocol provides an efficient method for the construction of ortho-nitrated N-aryl-7-azaindoles with excellent site-selectivity and functional group compatibility. The formed 7-azaindole derivatives can be readily transformed into 7-azaindoles containing an aniline functional group under palladium-catalyzed hydrogenation conditions.     

Synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of eugenol hybrids obtained by Mannich and 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition reactions

Design, synthesis, and bioactivity evaluation of novel mannich bases ( 2a-2j ) and triazole-chalcone derivatives ( 7a-7k ) of Eugenol 1 were reported. Among all the derivatives tested for antiproliferative activity, di-amine manich derivative 2b (32.92 μM), and 4-methoxy chalcone triazole derivative 7d (33.05 μM) significantly inhibited HepG2 cell lines when compared to the standard doxorubicin (37.29 μM). Whereas most of the compounds such as diethylamine 2a (17.75 μM), (aminomethyl) methane diamine 2b (17.02 μM), and bis (chloromethyl) amine 2c (20.12 μM) showed moderate to better inhibition towards MCF-7 cell lines. The synthesized analogues were also tested for antidiabetic and antiobesity potentials. Compounds 2f (55.50%), 2c (54.34%), 7g (55.5%), and 2a (55.5%) have shown moderate inhibitory potentials toward intestinal α-glucosidase enzyme when compared to the standard Acarbose (72.86%). Likewise, compounds 7d (82.95%), 7f (76.19%), 7g (74.81%), 7e (74.81%), and 2g (72.50%) have shown significant to moderate inhibitory potentials toward Pancreatic lipase enzyme when compared to the standard orlistat (91.10%). ROS induces life-threatening diseases like diabetes, cancer, etc., and antioxidants play a major role in controlling their production. Compounds 2c (99.81%), 2i (99.80%), 2d (99.26%), 2g (98.79%), and 2f (98.42%) have shown significant antioxidant profiles in ABTS assay when compared to the standard Trolox (99.07%). Further, In silico Molecular docking and pharmacokinetic screening of the eugenol derivatives complemented the in vitro results indicating the drug likeness of the obtained active compounds.     

Inductive effect for the phase stability in hydrogen bonded liquid crystals,x-(p/m)BA:9OBAs

A new series of hydrogen bonded liquid crystal (HBLC) complexes, made up with substituted benzoic acids (BAs) and nonyloxy benzoic acid, viz., x-(p/m)BA:9OBAs are reported for x = F, Cl, Br and –CH₃ substituted at para (p) or meta (m) positions of BA moiety. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectrum confirms the HBLC complex. Infra red (IR) spectrum confirms linear, double and complementary type of hydrogen bonding (HB) between x-(p/m)BAs and 9OBA. The liquid crystal (LC) phases are characterised by polarisation optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. x-(p/m)BA:9OBA exhibit N, C and G LC phase variance. HB induces tilted phases and enhances LC phase stability. The influence of configuration, size, electronegativity, electron directing capacity and inductive nature of substituent (x) is investigated for the stability of LC phases. An overview of the LC phase data indicates predominant ‘negative inductive effect’ in HBLCs with electron withdrawing substituents. Inductive effect operates effectively for para substitutions. Results are discussed in the wake of reports in other HBLCs.