Density functional theory study of nitrogen‐14 nuclear quadrupole coupling parameters of L‐histidine: hydrogen‐bonded system

The calculations of nitrogen‐14 nuclear quadrupole parameters, nuclear quadrupole coupling constant, χ, and asymmetry parameter, η, of L‐His were done in two distinct environments: one as a free fully optimized molecule, an isolated molecule with the geometrical parameters taken from X‐ray, and the other in the orthorhombic and monoclinic solid states. The most probable interacting molecules with the central molecule in the crystalline phase were considered in the hexameric clusters to include hydrogen‐bonding effects in the calculations. The computations were performed with PW91P86/6‐31++G** and B3LYP6‐31++G** methods using the Gaussian 98 program. The good agreement between the nitrogen‐14 quadrupole parameters of the free His and imidazole molecules with their microwave available data demonstrates that the applied level of theory and the 6‐31++G** basis set are suitable to obtain reliable electric field gradient values. In the solid state, the shifts of quadrupole coupling parameters from the monomer to the solid phase are reasonably well reproduced for the amino and imino sites of imidazole ring in a hexameric cluster. That implies the fact that the hexameric cluster worked effectively to generate the results which are compatible with the experiment. The quadrupole coupling constant values of –N⁺H₃ group are in fair agreement with the experiment. This discrepancy is due to the absences of vibrational effects and the rotation of –N⁺H₃ group around N–C(α) bond. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An efficient Stille cross‐coupling reaction catalyzed by ortho‐palladated complex of tribenzylamine under microwave irradiation

The catalytic activity of [Pd{C₆H₄(CH₂N(CH₂Ph)₂)}(μ‐Br)]₂ complex as an efficient, stable and catalyst that is non‐sensitive to air and moisture was investigated in the Stille cross‐coupling reaction of various aryl halides with phenyltributyltins under microwave irradiation. The substituted biaryls were produced in excellent yield in short reaction times using a catalytic amount of this complex in DMF at 100 C. The combination of dimeric complex as homogeneous catalyst and microwave irradiation and also DMF as microwave‐active polar solvent gave higher yields in shorter reaction times. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Review on Cs-Based Pb-Free Double Halide Perovskites: From Theoretical and Experimental Studies to Doping and Applications

Despite the progressive enhancement in the flexibility of Pb-based perovskites for optoelectronic applications, regrettably, they are facing two main challenges; (1) instability, which originates from using organic components in the perovskite structure, and (2) toxicity due to Pb. Therefore, new, stable non-toxic perovskite materials are demanded to overcome these drawbacks. The research community has been working on a wide variety of Pb-free perovskites with different molecular formulas and dimensionality. A variety of Pb-free halide double perovskites have been widely explored by different research groups in search for stable, non-toxic double perovskite material. Especially, Cs-based Pb-free halide double perovskite has been in focus recently. Herein, we present a review of theoretical and experimental research on Cs-based Pb-free double halide perovskites of structural formulas Cs₂M⁺M³⁺X6 (M⁺ = Ag⁺, Na⁺, In⁺ etc.; M³⁺= Bi³⁺, In³⁺, Sb³⁺; X = Cl⁻, Br⁻, I¯) and Cs₂M⁴⁺X₆ (M⁴⁺ = Ti⁴⁺, Sn⁴⁺, Au⁴⁺ etc.). We also present the challenges faced by these perovskite compounds and their current applications especially in photovoltaics alongside the effect of metal dopants on their performance.     

Efficient synthesis of chromeno[4,3-b]pyrano[3,4-e]pyridine-6,8-dione derivatives via multicomponent one-pot reaction under mild reaction conditions in water

10-Methyl-7-aryl-7,12-dihydro-6H,8H-chromeno[4,3-b]pyrano[3,4-e]pyridine-6,8-dione derivatives are significant class of compounds and this is critical to develop methods in water using commercially available and non-toxic catalysts. In this paper, an efficient method is introduced for the synthesis of 10-methyl-7-aryl-7,12-dihydro-6H,8H-chromeno[4,3-b]pyrano[3,4-e]pyridine-6,8-dione derivatives. For the synthesis of the desired products, a multicomponent reaction was designed and performed between 4-hydroxycoumarin, an aldehyde, 6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione, and ammonium acetate. The products are obtained under green conditions in water in the presence of a catalytic amount of L-proline (10 mol%). The advantage of this method is no need to any toxic solvent, which is critical from the environmental viewpoint. A possible mechanism was suggested, which confirms the role of L-proline in the reaction as the catalyst.

     

Acceleration of osteogenic differentiation by sustained release of BMP2 in PLLA/graphene oxide nanofibrous scaffold

After about three decades of experience, tissue engineering has become one of the most important approaches in reconstructive medical research to treat non‐self‐healing bone injuries and lesions. Herein, nanofibrous composite scaffolds fabricated by electrospinning, which containing of poly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA), graphene oxide (GO), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) for bone tissue engineering applications. After structural evaluations, adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT‐MSCs) were applied to monitor scaffold's biological behavior and osteoinductivity properties. All fabricated scaffolds had nanofibrous structure with interconnected pores, bead free, and well mechanical properties. But the best biological behavior including cell attachment, protein adsorption, and support cells proliferation was detected by PLLA‐GO‐BMP2 nanofibrous scaffold compared to the PLLA and PLLA‐GO. Moreover, detected ALP activity, calcium content and expression level of bone‐related gene markers in AT‐MSCs grown on PLLA‐GO‐BMP2 nanofibrous scaffold was also significantly promoted in compression with the cells grown on other scaffolds. In fact, the simultaneous presence of two factors, GO and BMP2, in the PLLA nanofibrous scaffold structure has a synergistic effect and therefore has a promising potential for tissue engineering applications in the repair of bone lesions.     

Impact of modified electrodes on boosting power density of microbial fuel cell for effective domestic wastewater treatment:A case study of Tehran

Utilizing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is a promising technology for energy-efficient domestic wastewater treatment, but it still faces practical barriers such as low power generation. In this study, the LaMnO₃ perovskite-type oxide nanoparticles and nickel oxide/carbon nanotube/polyaniline (NCP) nanocomposite (the cathode and anode catalysts, respectively) have been prepared and used to enhance power density of MFC. The prepared La-based perovskite oxide catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopies (SEM). The electrocatalytic properties of the prepared catalysts were investigated through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Tafel plot at ambient temperature. Results show the exchange current densities of LaMnO₃/carbon cloth cathode and NCP nanocomposite/carbon cloth anode were 1.68 and 7 times more compared to carbon cloth cathode, respectively. In comparison to the bare carbon cloth anode, the MFC with the modified electrodes shows 11 times more enhancement in power density output which according to electrochemical results, it can be due to the enhancement of the electron transfer capability. These cathodic and anodic catalysts were examined in batch and semi-continuous modes to provide conditions close to industrial conditions. This study suggests that utilizing these low cost catalysts has promising potential for wastewater treatment in MFC with high power generation and good COD removal efficiency.     

Synthesis,characterization and in vitro DNA binding studies of a new copper(II) complex containing antioxidant ferulic acid

A mononuclear Cu(II) complex, [Cu(FA)₂(NO₃)₂], in which FA is ferulic acid ((E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)prop-2-enoic acid), was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The main structures of the ligand and its complexes with Cu²⁺ were optimized by QM calculations. The calculations on the structures of the [Cu(FA)₂(NO₃)₂] complexes forms and the intercalating with DNA profile were undertaken by UHF/PM6 and MMFF94 methods, respectively. In vitro studies (UV-vis spectroscopy, emission titration, circular dichroism techniques, and viscometry) under physiological conditions (Tris-HCl buffer solutions, pH 7.4) showed that the complex interacts with calf-thymus DNA (ct-DNA) via an intercalative binding mode. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS) showed that the acting forces between Cu(II) complex and ct-DNA mainly included van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds. Methylene blue (MB) displacement studies revealed that Cu(II) complex can substitute MB probe in the MB-DNA complex which was indicative of intercalative binding. The theoretical data confirm the experimental results with respect to the mechanism of binding.