Bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS) in ionic liquid: a mild and efficient catalyst for Beckmann rearrangement

Bromodimethylsulfonium bromide (BDMS)-catalyzed Beckmann rearrangement of a variety of ketoximes has been carried out in the imidazolium-based ionic liquid [bmim]PF₆ under mild conditions without using any additional cocatalyst or solvent to afford excellent conversion and selectivity. The ionic liquid is recovered and reused for up to three runs without any loss of efficiency.     

A concise α-amino acid-based synthetic approach to [1,4]oxazepin-2-ones from Baylis-Hillman adducts

An original two-step process for the synthesis of [1,4]oxazepin-2-ones starting from Baylis-Hillman (BH) adducts is reported. The protocol involves a nucleophilic substitution of the acetates of BH adducts with renewable natural α-amino esters followed by base-catalyzed intramolecular Michael addition. These sequential reactions are operationally simple, performed under ambient conditions, and give 81-93% yields of the target [1,4]oxazepin-2-ones. Thus, the present invention opens up a new aspect for the synthetic utility of BH adducts.     

A novel series of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-thiadiazoles as potential anticonvulsant agent

<正>In pursuit for better antiepileptic drug and the importance of semicarbazones and 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-thiadiazoles as anticonvulsant pharmacophore,a series of novel N-({5-[(6-methyl-1-benzofuran-3-y1)methyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl}carbamothioyl) -2/3/4-substitutedbenzamide were designed,synthesized and evaluated for their anticonvulsant activity.The findings of the present studies confirmed that the pharmacophore model with four binding sites is crucial for anticonvulsant activity. Structure-activity relationships among synthesized compounds were also established.     

Ten marker compounds-based comparative study of green tea and guava leaf by HPTLC densitometry methods: antioxidant activity profiling

High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for the separation and quantitative determination of ten markers (catechins, flavonoids, and phenolics) in different extracts of green tea and guava leaf has been developed and the antioxidant activity profiles of the two plant extracts have been determined. Ten marker compounds have been resolved using silica gel 60 F(254) plates, toluene/acetone/formic acid (5:4:1 v/v/v) for markers 1-6, and toluene/ethyl acetate/formic acid/methanol (3:3:0.8:0.2 v/v/v/v) for markers 7-10 as the mobile phases. The high-performance thin layer chromatography densitometry was performed at wavelengths of 282 and 285 nm for the markers 1-6 and 7-10, respectively. Potent antioxidant activity and the presence of phenolics and flavan-3-ols has been observed for the guava leaf extracts suggestive of its use as an alternate economical source of antioxidants over green tea--the well-established food additive/nutraceutical agent.     

Diversity oriented synthesis of fused-ring 1,3-oxazines from carbohydrates as biorenewable feedstocks

Microwave enhanced diversity oriented synthesis (MEDOS) of various N- and O-heterocyclic systems fused with 1,3-oxazine ring is reported. The synthesis represents a new montmorillonite K-10 clay-catalyzed green protocol, which utilizes d-glucose/d-xylose as biorenewable feedstocks. d-Glucose/d-xylose-derived 1,3-oxazin-2-ones(thiones) either directly undergo K-10 clay-catalyzed cyclization to yield pyrano-/furo-1,3-oxazine systems under solvent-free microwave irradiation conditions or afford azolo-/azino-1,3-oxazines when subjected to Malaprade reaction followed by cyclization with appropriate reagents, viz. phenylhydrazine, hydroxylamine, acetamidine, phenylurea and semi(thiosemi)carbazide.     

Phase diagrams and morphology of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals: An analysis

Thermal and morphological studies of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) for various compositions of liquid crystalline material 4-undecyloxybenzoic acid (UDBA) in two polymer matrices, polyvinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene P(VdF–HFP) or polyethylene oxide (PEO), have been carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising optical microscopy (POM). Phase diagrams for different series of PDLCs have been analysed using the Flory–Huggins theory of isotropic mixing and the Maier–Saupe–McMillan theory, to include the anisotropic contributions. Mesogenic transitions of UDBA are observed to be greatly influenced when dispersed in these polymers. The morphologies and miscibility studies of these PDLCs suggest that UDBA is highly miscible in PEO, only partially miscible in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), but almost immiscible in P(VdF–HFP).     

Influence of low concentration silver nanoparticles on the electrical and electro-optical parameters of nematic liquid crystals

Thermodynamical, optical, dielectric and electro-optical characterisation of nematic liquid crystals (LCs) and silver nanoparticle (NP) composites have been carried out. Transition temperatures of pure and composites systems have been measured. Thermodynamical studies suggest increase of clearing temperature of the composite material as compared to the pure material. Threshold voltage for switching from bright to dark state and splay elastic constant of the pure and composite materials have been determined. From frequency dependence of dielectric measurements, permittivity, loss, relaxation frequency and dielectric strength of flip-flop mechanism of LC molecules in the nematic phase have been calculated. Dielectric properties of composites have been explained in reference of Maier and Meier theory. The effects of doping of NPs on dielectric and electro-optic properties of LC-NP composites have been discussed.     

Dielectric and electro-optical response of a room temperature tri-component antiferroelectric mixture

Frequency- and temperature-dependent dielectric and switching parameters of a room temperature tri-component antiferroelectric liquid crystal mixture W-287 have been determined. Dielectric, optical texture and thermodynamic studies show wide room temperature range antiferroelectric SmC*_a (?91.1°C to <–25°C) phase in addition to high temperature paraelectric SmA* (?2.6°C) and ferroelectric SmC* (?4.4°C) phases. The dielectric studies carried out in the frequency range of 1–35 MHz under planar anchoring condition of the molecules show five different relaxation modes appearing in the SmA*, SmC* and SmC*_a phases. Using Curie–Weiss law fit, ferroelectric SmC* to paraelectric SmA* transition temperature has been found to be 91.8°C. The dielectric response of SmC*_a phase exhibits unusually three relaxation modes due to collective as well as individual molecular processes in addition to phason mode in the SmC* phase and amplitudon mode in the SmA* phase. Spontaneous polarisation, switching time and rotational viscosity have also been determined. The maximum value of P_S is ?300 nC/cm², whereas viscosity is moderate. Switching time is of the order of few milli seconds.     

Dye-sensitised solar cells with iodine-free discotic electrolytes

Discotic mesogenic molecules viz., hexahexylthiotriphenylene (HHTT) and hexahexyloxytriphenylene were applied, for the first time, as iodine-free redox electrolyte in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). The cell shows open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.95 V, short circuit current density (J_sc) of 0.534 mA/cm², fill factor 88.24% and overall power conversion efficiency (η) 0.45% in a typical fluorine doped tin oxide/TiO₂/N719/HHTT/Pt DSSC configuration. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study surface profile of electrolytes while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to understand the electrochemical behaviour of electrolytes. The photovoltaic parameters were measured under standard conditions using Oriel solar simulator class AAA. These first results demonstrate the potential of the discotic molecules as charge transporter and mediator and show promise to be used in iodine-free DSSCs.