Biogenic synthesis of Ag, Au and bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles using aqueous extract of mahogany (Swietenia mahogani JACQ.) leaves

In this paper, we have demonstrated for the first time, the superb efficiency of aqueous extract of dried leaves of mahogany (Swietenia mahogani JACQ.) in the rapid synthesis of stable monometallic Au and Ag nanoparticles and also Au/Ag bimetallic alloy nanoparticles having spectacular morphologies. Our method was clean, nontoxic and environment friendly. When exposed to aqueous mahogany leaf extract, competitive reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions present simultaneously in same solution leads to the production of bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor the kinetics of nanoparticles formation. UV-visible spectroscopic data and TEM images revealed the formation of bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles. Mahogany leaf extract contains various polyhydroxy limonoids which are responsible for the reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions leading to the formation and stabilization of Au and Ag nanopaticles.     

Redox Non‐Innocence of Coordinated 2‐(Arylazo) Pyridines in Iridium Complexes: Characterization of Redox Series and an Insight into Voltage‐Induced Current Characteristics

Two examples of a rare class of di‐radical azo‐anion complexes of 2‐(arylazo) pyridine with Ir^III carrier are introduced. Their electronic structures have been elucidated using a host of physical methods that include X‐ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and density functional theory. Room temperature magnetic moments of these are consistent with two nearly non‐interacting azo‐anion radicals. These displayed rich electrochemical properties consisting of six numbers of reversible and successive one electron CV‐waves. Redox processes occur entirely at the coordinated ligands without affecting metal redox state. Apart from reporting their chemical characterization, I‐V characteristics of these complexes in film state are investigated using sandwich‐type devices comprising of a thin film of 100–125 nm thickness placed between two gold‐plated ITO electrodes. These showed memory switching properties covering a useful voltage range with a reasonable ON/OFF ratio and also are suitable for RAM/ROM applications. I‐V characteristics of two similar complexes of Rh and Cr with identical ligand environment and electronic structure are also referred for developing an insight into the memory switching ability of Ir‐ and Rh‐ complexes on the basis of comparative analysis of responses of the respective systems. In a nutshell, thorough analysis of voltage driven redox dynamics and corresponding solid and solution state current responses of all the systems are attempted and there from an unexplored class of switching devices are systematically introduced.     

Diverse strategies for transition metal catalyzed distal C(sp3)–H functionalizations

Transition metal catalyzed C(sp³)–H functionalization is a rapidly growing field. Despite severe challenges, distal C–H functionalizations of aliphatic molecules by overriding proximal positions have witnessed tremendous progress. While usage of stoichiometric directing groups played a crucial role, reactions with catalytic transient directing groups or methods without any directing groups are gaining more attention due to their practicality. Various innovative strategies, slowly but steadily, circumvented issues related to remote functionalizations of aliphatic molecules. A systematic compilation has been presented here to provide insights into the recent developments and future challenges in the field. The Present perspective is expected to open up a new dimension and provide an avenue for deep insights into the distal C(sp³)–H functionalizations that could be applied routinely in various pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.

Transition metal catalyzed C(sp³)–H functionalization is a rapidly growing field.     

Recognition of a dicarboxylic acid with dipicolyl urea in solution and in solid phases: intramolecular hydrogen bond inhibiting both pyridine nitrogens from binding carboxyl groups

Recognition of a dicarboxylic acid in solution as well as in the solid phase by the pyridyl urea based pseudoditopic receptor 1 has been studied. The X-ray structures of both the receptor and its complex with 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid are also presented. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding inhibits both the pyridine ring nitrogens from forming hydrogen bonds with the carboxyl group and force the receptor to behave in a monotopic manner, using the syn urea amide moiety to bind carboxyl group of a dicarboxylic acid to form a 2:1 complex. Binding of receptor 1 with a monocarboxylic acid is also compared.     

Synthesis and spectroscopy of CdS nanoparticles in amphiphilic diblock copolymer micelles

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers with the same hydrophilic but different hydrophobic blocks were used as stabilizing agents to prepare cadmium sulfide nanoparticles in aqueous solutions containing 5% of different nonaqueous solvents: methanol, THF, and acetone. Nearly spherical nanoparticles with a fair degree of monodispersity and quantum yields of 1.5%-2% were obtained. Optical absorption band edge of the CdS nanoparticles shows a >0.5 eV blueshift compared to that of bulk CdS, indicating a high degree of quantum confinement. The absorption spectra, while insensitive to the nature of the hydrophobic blocks, exhibited a clear dependence on the nature of the minor, nonaqueous solvents. The photoluminescence in all cases was broad and redshifted, indicating a predominance of surface trap-state emission. Time-resolved photoluminescence demonstrates that the trap states are populated within the first 500 fs, followed by decay with a broad range of time constants from 0.1 to >10 ns, low energy traps decaying at a slower rate than high-energy ones. Time-resolved photoluminescence anisotropy revealed that the nanoparticles experience a local microviscosity very similar to that of bulk water. The experimental observations suggest that nanoparticle formation takes place predominantly in the hydrophilic corona region of the micelles, around specific points with high local concentration of the Cd+2-coordinating basic amine groups of hydrophilic block and/or the minor, nonaqueous solvent component.     

Solvent effects on the anation ofcis-diaquo-bis-ethylenediamine cobalt(III) by L-proline

The anation kinetics of the title complex were investigated spectrophotometrically in aqueous methanol, ethanol, ipropanol, t-butanol and dioxane, and the following rate law was established:

Antibody modified Bovine Serum Albumin microspheres for targeted delivery of anticancer agent Gemcitabine

Inhibition of the EGFR signaling pathway is one of the attractive therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer as recent studies demonstrated that EGFR is over‐expressed in pancreatic cancer. In this article we have demonstrated the design of targeted drug delivery system containing Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) microspheres as delivery vehicle, gemcitabine as anticancer drug and anti‐EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) monoclonal antibody as targeting agent. The conjugated BSA microspheres were characterized by several physico‐chemical techniques such as scanning electron microscope, optical microscopy, fluorescent microscopy etc. Administration of these BSA microspheres containing gemcitabine and anti‐EGFR (BSA‐Gem‐EGFR) shows significant inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells (AsPC1) compared to the cells treated with only BSA microspheres, BSA with gemcitabine (BSA‐Gem), and free gemcitabine. This strategy could be used as a generalized approach for the treatment of pancreatic cancer along with other cancers which overexpress EGFR on cell surface. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cucurbit[7]uril Inhibits Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Aggregation by Targeting N Terminus Hot Segments and Attenuates Cytotoxicity

Two “hot segments” within an islet amyloid polypeptide are responsible for its self-assembly, which in turn is linked to the decline of β-cells in type 2 diabetes (T2D). A readily available water-soluble, macrocyclic host, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]), effectively inhibits islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) aggregation through ion–dipole and hydrophobic interactions with different residues of the monomeric peptide in its random-coil conformation. A HSQC NMR study shows that CB[7] likely modulates IAPP self-assembly by interacting with and masking major residues present in the “hot segments” at the N terminus. CB[7] also prevents the formation of toxic oligomers and inhibits seed-catalyzed fibril proliferation. Importantly, CB[7] recovers rat insulinoma cells (RIN-m) from IAPP-assembly associated cytotoxicity.     

Transition Metal Promoted Cascade Heterocycle Synthesis through C−H Functionalization

Sequential, domino and tandem reactions could be defined as a sequence of synthetic transformations that occur one after the other, in the same reaction flask. This Review highlights recent advances at the overlap of two worlds: transition-metal mediated C−H activation as a trigger of cascade reaction, for the heterocycles synthesis. To shed some light on this intricate “middle-earth”, focus was put on the reaction mechanism rather than the type of metal or the chronological order of the reaction. The aim is to separate, and then highlight, the true domino reactions initiated by C−H activation, compared to other examples of C−H functionalization for heterocycle syntheses.