Spectral,crystallographic, theoretical and antibacterial studies of palladium(II)/platinum(II) complexes with unsymmetric diphosphine ylides

The reaction of α‐keto‐stabilized diphosphine ylides [Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂═C(H)C(O)C₆H₄‐p‐CN] (n = 1 (Y¹); n = 2 (Y²)) with dibromo(1,5‐cyclooctadiene) palladium(II)/platinum(II) complexes, [Pd/PtBr₂(cod)], in equimolar ratio gave the new cyclometalated Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes [Br₂Pd(κ²‐Y¹)] ( 1 ), [Br₂Pt(κ²‐Y¹)] ( 2 ), [Br₂Pd(κ²‐Y²)] ( 3 ) and [Br₂Pt(κ²‐Y²)] ( 4 ). These compounds were screened in a search for novel antibacterial agents and characterized successfully using Fourier transfer infrared and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) spectroscopic methods. Also, the structures of complexes 1 and 2 were characterized using X‐ray crystallography. The results showed that the P,C‐chelated complexes 1 and 2 have structures consisting of five‐membered rings, while 3 and 4 have six‐membered rings, formed by coordination of the ligand through the phosphine group and the ylidic carbon atom to the metal centre. Also, a theoretical study of the structures of complexes 1 – 4 was conducted at the BP86/def2‐SVP level of theory. The nature of metal–ligand bonds in the complexes was investigated using energy decomposition analyses (EDA) and extended transition state combined with natural orbitals for chemical valence analyses. The results of EDA confirmed that the main portions of ΔE_int, about 57–58%, in the complexes are allocated to ΔE_elstat.     

Biosynthesis of Pd/MnO2 nanocomposite using Solanum melongena plant extract and its application for the one‐pot synthesis of 5‐substituted 1H‐tetrazoles from aryl halides

In this work, for the first time, Solanum melongena plant extract was used for the green synthesis of Pd/MnO₂ nanocomposite via reduction osf Pd(II) ions to Pd(0) and their immobilization on the surface of manganese dioxide (MnO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) as an effective support. The synthesized nanocomposite were characterized by various analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of Pd/MnO₂ nanocomposite was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the one‐pot synthesis of 5‐substituted 1H‐tetrazoles from aryl halides containing various electron‐donating or electron‐withdrawing groups in the presence of K ₄ [Fe (CN) ₆ ] as non‐toxic cyanide source and sodium azide. The products were obtained in good yields via a simple methodology and easy work‐up. The nanocatalyst can be recycled and reused several times with no remarkable loss of activity.     

Highly Efficient, Four Component, One-pot Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Imidazoles Using a Catalytic Amount of FeCl3 · 6H2O

An efficient and improved procedure for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted imidazoles by FeCl₃ · 6H₂O catalyzed four-component one-pot synthesis in refluxing ethanol is described.     

Density and viscosity of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate with ethanol, 1-propanol, or 1-butanol at several temperatures

Densities and viscosities of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium nitrate [Bmim][NO₃], and its binaries with alcohol (ethanol, 1-propanol, or 1-butanol) were measured at different temperatures. The densities and viscosities of pure ionic liquid were correlated successfully by empirical equations. The Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equations can fit the experimental data of viscosities for pure IL. Excess molar volume and viscosity deviations were calculated for the binaries. The excess molar volumes have negative deviations from the ideal solution.     

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry for distinguishing potential hoax materials from bioterror agents

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) was investigated as a rapid tool to distinguish potential bioterror hoax materials from samples containing pathogenic bacteria. A pyrolysis time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer equipped with an alternative ionization technique, metastable atom bombardment (MAB), was used to produce sample spectra. These spectra were analyzed by principal component and discriminant analysis for pattern recognition. Materials investigated were two strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, one of which produced the tdh toxin, two Salmonella enterica serotypes, a biological mosquito control product containing spores of Bacillus thuringiensis, and several white to off-white powders (which could be used as hoax materials), such as flour, corn starch, methyl cellulose, and xanthan gum. PyMS distinguished bacterial samples from hoax materials. Furthermore, pattern analysis differentiated Vibrios from Salmonellae, Salmonella enterica Anatum from S. enterica Heidelberg, and the two V. parahaemolyticus strains from each other. The B. thuringiensis mixture was distinguished from other bacteria and powders, suggesting that PyMS with pattern recognition may differentiate samples containing pathogens, including Bacillus spp., from nonbiological agents and that it can be a rapid method for detection of bacteria. MS data acquisition took only 7 min for each sample.     

Preparation of PbO nanocrystals via decomposition of lead oxalate

The present study reports the preparation and characterization of PbO nanocrystals obtained via a thermal decomposition route. The PbO nanocrystals were synthesized using lead oxalate powder as a precursor. Nanostructured products were investigated by means of XRD, TEM, FT-IR and XPS. The XRD results indicate that tetragonal phase β-PbO with a particle size of about 30–45 nm was obtained when the intermediate precipitate was calcined at 500 °C.     

Sorption phenomena of organic solvents in polymers: Part I

In this work we use the vapor-sorption equilibrium data to show the degree of solvent upturn in each solvent-polymer system. For this purpose, 23 isothermal data sets for four polymer + solvent binaries, one block copolymer + solvent binary and for the corresponding polymer pairs have been used in the temperature range of 25-70 °C. Solvents studied are benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and pentane. Homopolymers studied are polyisobutylene, poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(ethylene oxide), n-heptadecane, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl methyl ether), and n-tetracosane.According to these data sets, solvent weight fraction in the polymer is plotted against solvent-vapor activity that is calculated assuming an ideal gas phase of pure solvent vapor neglecting the vapor pressure of the polymer. We use the Flory-Huggins theory to obtain dimensionless interaction parameter, χ. Also the Zimm-Lundberg clustering theory and non-ideality thermodynamic factor, Γ are used to interpret the equilibrium data.     

Column preconcentration and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of rhodium in some food and standard samples

In the present work, an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric method has been developed for the determination of ultra‐trace amounts of rhodium after adsorption of its 2‐(5‐bromo‐2‐pyridylazo)‐5‐diethylaminophenol/tetraphenylborate ion associated complex at the surface of alumina. Several factors affecting the extraction efficiency such as the pH, type of eluent, sample and eluent flow rates, sorption capacity of alumina and sample volume were investigated and optimized. The relative standard deviation for eight measurements of 0.1 ng/mL of rhodium was ±6.3%. In this method, the detection limit was 0.003 ng/mL in the original solution. The sorption capacity of alumina and the linear range for Rh(III) were evaluated as 0.8 mg/g and 0.015–0.45 ng/mL in the original solution, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the extraction and determination of rhodium content in some food and standard samples with high recovery values.     

Methyl Methacrylate–Ethyleneglycol Dimethacrylate–Acrylic Acid Surface as Stationary Phase for Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction

A novel poly(methyl methacrylate–ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate–acrylic acid) film has been introduced for coating on stir bars to sorptive extraction (SBSE). The effects of different contents of porogen, monomer, cross-linker, modifier and initiator during the solvent or bulk polymerization step on the mechanical property and solvent resistant of prepared sorptive stir bars were investigated. The evaluation of results were caused to obtain the four prepared sorptive stir bars with good mechanical stability and excellent resistance to organic solvents. The extraction efficiency of these prepared sorptive stir bars were investigated by liquid desorption-liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (LD-LC-UV) using N-Nitrosodiphenylamine as target analyte. SBSE assays showed the sorptive stir bar that prepared using solution polymerization method had the better recovery for N-Nitrosodiphenylamine in water samples. This sorptive stir bar showed good linearity and acceptable recoveries, as well as advantages such as sensitivity, simplicity, low cost and high feasibility. Based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) results, the average pore size of optimum prepared stir bar using solvent polymerization method was obtained ~9 nm. The thermal gravity (TG) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) results showed this polyacrylate film has high thermal stability.     

Application of phosphotungstic acid–nickel composite-modified carbon paste electrode for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in alkaline solution

Phosphotungstic acid (PWA) was used for accumulation of nickel ions at the carbon paste electrode for preparation of PWA-modified CPE (PWA/CPE). The PWA was evenly mixed with graphite powder and paraffin oil. Then, for preparation of Ni/PWA/CPE, Ni ions were included onto the PWA/CPE surface through immersion method at open circuit condition. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy and electrochemical methods were used to verify the prepared electrodes. The SEM images reveal that morphology of the CPE was influenced by PWA addition. Application of the Ni/PWA/CPE for methanol oxidation was explored by various electrochemical techniques. Electrochemical response of methanol oxidation at the surface of Ni/PWA/CPE was 2.5 times higher than that Ni/CPE. The obtained results indicated that the modified electrode exhibited high electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation. Then, catalytic rate constant was found to be 8.25 × 10⁴ cm³ mol ^?1 s^?1 using chronoamperometry method. Furthermore, the effects of several parameters, such as PWA loading, NiSO₄ concentration, accumulation time and methanol concentration toward methanol oxidation at the surface of this modified electrode as well as stability, have been investigated.