A Novel Method for the Synthesis of MOF-199 for Sensing and Photocatalytic Applications

Multifunctional Cu (II)-based Metal Organic Framework (MOF) [Cu₃(BTC)₂] has been synthesized by a facile electrochemical method. Crystallographic and morphological characterizations of synthesized MOF have been done using Powder X-ray Diffractometer and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), respectively, whereas Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), UV–Vis Absorption Spectroscopy and Energy Resolved Luminescence Spectroscopic studies have been used for the detailed qualitative, quantitative as well as optical analyses. Sharp PXRD peaks indicate the formation of highly crystalline MOF with face centered cubic (fcc) structure. Flakes (average length?=?0.71 µm and width?=?0.10 µm) and rods (average aspect ratio?=?((0.1:8.3) µm) like morphologies have been observed in SEM micrographs. The presence of C, O and Cu has been confirmed by EDS analysis. Photocatalytic activity potential of the synthesized MOF has been tested using methylene blue dye (MB) as a test contaminant in aqueous media under sunlight irradiation. Selective and sensitive fluorescent sensing of different Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) like 4-Nitroaniline (4-NA), 2-Nitroaniline (2-NA), 3-Nitroaniline (3-NA), 4-Nitrotoulene (4-NT), 2,4-Dinitrotoulene (2,4-DNT), 1,3-Dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB), 2,6- Dinitrotoulene (2,6-DNT) has been done by exploring the photoluminescent behaviour of chemically stable Cu₃(BTC)₂. Synthesized MOF is extremely sensitive towards 4-NA, which is having PL quenching efficiency of 82.61% with highest quenching rate till reported. Indeed, a large quenching coefficient KSV?=?34.02?×?10^–7 M^?1 and correlation coefficient R²?=?0.9962 in K_SV plot have been elucidated with limit of detection (LOD)?=?0.7544 ppb. The possible ways of luminescence quenching are successfully explained by the combination of Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) and Resonance Energy Transfer (RET) mechanisms. Additionally, the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations have been employed to support the experimental results. Cu₃(BTC)₂ fully demonstrates the power of a multi component MOF, which provides a feasible pathway for the design of novel material towards fast responding luminescence sensing and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants.

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Facile Reduction of Chalcones to Dihydrochalcones with NaBH4/Ni2+ System

Chalcones have been found to undergo facile reduction on treatment with sodium borohydride-nickel chloride system in dioxan-methanol medium to afford dihydrochalcones.     

Graphene oxide: A carbocatalyst for the one-pot multicomponent synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydropyridines

A simple, straightforward and efficient methodology is described for the synthesis of polysubstituted tetrahydropyridine via one-pot multicomponent reaction of β-ketoester, aldehyde and aniline in presence of catalytic amount of graphene oxide in acetonitrile. Graphene oxide is a versatile carbocatalyst and this is the first report on its application in a five component reaction. Good yield, usage of readily available starting material, operational simplicity, easy work-up and eco-friendly re-usable catalyst are the key features of this protocol.     

Mass Spectrum of Naturally Abundant Tetragermane

A complete mass spectral fragmentation pattern of naturally abundant tetragermane is presented. The mass spectrum shows a fragmentation pattern of the four different types of ions with the following relative order of intensities: M₂ > M₃ > M₄ > M₁. The base peak lies at m/e 148 in the Ge₂H_x ⁺=0→6 region and not in the parent region.     

Vibrational dynamics and heat capacity in poly(L‐lactic acid)

Poly(L ‐lactic acid) (PLLA) (? CH(CH₃) ? COO? )_n is a biodegradable polymer, which exhibits many applications in the biomedical field and where thermoplastics are employed. A comprehensive study of the normal modes and their dispersion in PLLA using Wilson′s GF matrix method as modified by Higgs is being reported. Assignments of calculated normal modes have been made and characteristic features of dispersion curves are discussed. Heat capacity has been calculated via density‐of‐states using Debye relation in the temperature range 10–250 K, which is in fairly good agreement with the experimental data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 175–182, 2010     

Exploring the Nature of Hydrogen Bonding between RNA and Proteins: A Comprehensive Analysis of RNA : Protein Complexes

A nonredundant dataset of ∼300 high (up to 2.5 Å) resolution X-ray structures of RNA : protein complexes were analyzed for hydrogen bonds between amino-acid residues and canonical ribonucleotides (rNs). The identified 17100 contacts were classified based on the identity (rA, rC, rG or rU) and interacting fragment (base, sugar, or ribose) of the rN, the nature (polar or nonpolar) and interacting moiety (main chain or side chain) of the amino-acid residue, as well as the rN and amino-acid atoms participating in the hydrogen bonding. 80 possible hydrogen-bonding combinations (4 (rNs)×20 (amino acids)) involve a wide variety of RNA and protein types and are present in multiple occurrences in almost all PDB files. Comparison with the analogously-selected DNA:protein complexes reveals that the absence of 2′-OH group in DNA mainly accounts for the differences in DNA:protein and RNA : protein hydrogen bonding. Search for intrinsically-stable base:amino acid pairs containing single or multiple hydrogen bonds reveals 37 unique pairs, which may act as well-defined RNA : protein interaction motifs. Overall, our work collectively analyzes the largest set of nucleic acid-protein hydrogen bonds to date, and therefore highlights several trends that may help frame structural rules governing the physiochemical characteristics of RNA : protein recognition.     

Study of Micellar Behavior of SDS and CTAB in Aqueous Media Containing Furosemide—A Cardiovascular Drug

Sound velocity and density measurements of aqueous solutions of the anionic surfactant SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and the cationic surfactant CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) with the drug furosemide (0.002 and 0.02 mol⋅dm⁻³) have been carried out in the temperature range 20–40 °C. From these measurements, the compressibility coefficient (β), apparent molar volume (φ _v ) and apparent molar compressibility (φ _κ ) have been computed. From electrical conductivity measurements, the critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of SDS and CTAB has been determined in the above aqueous furosemide solutions. From the CMC values as a function of temperature, various thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated: the standard enthalpy change (DH_m^o\Delta H_{\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{o}}), standard entropy change (DS_m^o\Delta S_{\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{o}}), and standard Gibbs energy change (DG_m^o\Delta G_{\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{o}}) for micellization. This work also included viscosity studies of aqueous solutions of SDS and CTAB with the drug in order to determine the relative viscosity (η _r). UV-Vis studies have also been carried for the ternary drug/surfactant/water system having SDS in the concentration range 0.002–0.014 mol⋅dm⁻³. All of these parameters are discussed in terms of drug–drug, drug–solvent and drug–surfactant interactions resulting from of various electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions.     

Measurement of imidazoleacetic acid in urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Imidazoleacetic acid (IAA), a histamine and histidine metabolite, was quantified in human urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The acid was separated by ion-exchange chromatography, derivatized as the n-butyl ester with boron trifluoride-butanol and the derivative extracted with chloroform. GC-MS analysis was carried out by selected-ion monitoring of ions m/z 81 and m/z 83 corresponding, respectively, to IAA and [15N,15N']IAA used as internal standard. The mean IAA content in urine was about 8.02 nmol/mg of creatinine. The specificity of measurement was rigorously established by GC retention time, peak shape, ion abundance ratios, and recovery experiments. The method is capable of quantifying IAA in 0.05 ml of urine and in amounts as low as 0.20 nmol.     

Electronic and infrared spectral studies of manganese(III) selenito complexes

Summary Selenito manganese(III) complexes of the type MMn(SeO₃)₂ · × H₂O (where M = H⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ , K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺) have been prepared, Magnetic measurements show all these complexes to be of high spin d⁴ type, On the basis of their i.r. and electronic spectral studies and other properties, a polymeric octahedral structure involving bridging oxygen atoms has been suggested.