Synthesis of cetyltrimethylammonium tribromide (CTMATB) and its application in the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides

The bright yellow crystalline cetyltrimethylammonium tribromide (CTMATB) reagent has been synthesized from the reaction of CTMAB and KBr with H₂MoO₄·H₂O, H₂O₂ and H₂SO₄ in the molar ratio 1:2:0.01:4:0.93. CTMATB selectively oxidizes a variety of dialkyl and alkyl aryl sulfides to the corresponding sulfoxides in high yields under mild conditions.     

Conjugate base catalysed one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles from β-formyl enamides

A novel one-pot synthesis of pyrazoles has been accomplished by the reaction of β-formyl enamides with hydroxylamine hydrochloride catalysed by potassium dihydrogenphosphate in acid medium.     

A comparison of the effect of nanotube chirality and electronic properties on the π–π interaction of single‐wall carbon nanotubes with pyrazinamide antitubercular drug

Theoretical investigation on local electronic structure and stability of the π–π stacking interaction of pyrazinamide (PZA) with armchair (5,5) and zigzag (9,0) single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is performed using density functional theory (DFT). PZA is physisorbed onto nanotube sidewall through interaction of π orbitals of PZA and SWCNT and the enhanced structural stability of PZA/SWCNT systems is due to weak side‐on rather than the head‐on π‐interactions. The physisorption of PZA onto SWCNT sidewall is thermodynamically favored; as a consequence, it modulates the electronic properties of pristine nanotube in the vicinity of Fermi region and π–π stacked interactions is stronger in (9,0) SWCNT compared to (5,5) SWCNT. The density of states (DOS) analysis show that PZA contributes toward the enhancement of electronic states. Projected DOS and frontier orbital analysis in the vicinity of Fermi level region suggest the electronic states to be contributed from SWCNT rather than PZA. In addition, hybrid DFT calculation which includes the dispersion correction is employed to explain the non‐covalent π–π stacking interaction between PZA and SWCNT. The local density approximation and GGA results are compared with DFT‐D to explain near about accurately the weak nonbonded van der Waals interactions between PZA and SWCNTs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ab initio study on the noncovalent adsorption of camptothecin anticancer drug onto graphene, defect modified graphene and graphene oxide

The application of graphene and related nanomaterials like boron nitride (BN) nanosheets, BN-graphene hybrid nanomaterials, and graphene oxide (GO) for adsorption of anticancer chemotherapeutic camptothecin (CPT) along with the effect on electronic properties prior to functionalization and after functionalization has been reported using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The inclusion of dispersion correction to DFT is instrumental in accounting for van der Waals π–π stacking between CPT and the nanomaterial. The adsorption of CPT exhibits significant strain within the nanosheets and noncovalent adsorption of CPT is thermodynamically favoured onto the nanosheets. In case of GO, surface incorporation of functional groups result in significant crumpling along the basal plane and the interaction is basically mediated by H-bonding rather than π–π stacking. Docking studies predict the plausible binding of CPT, CPT functionalized graphene and GO with topoisomerase I (top 1) signifying that CPT interacts through π stacking with AT and GC base pairs of DNA and in presence of nano support, DNA bases preferentially gets bound to the basal plane of graphene and GO rather than the edges. At a theoretical level of understanding, our studies point out the noncovalent interaction of CPT with graphene based nanomaterials and GO for loading and delivery of anticancer chemotherapeutic along with active binding to Top1 protein.     

A facile microwave assisted synthesis of spiro-1,3-oxazines from N-(2-(cyclohex-1-en-1-yl)ethyl)amides

A mild and efficient methodology has been developed for the synthesis of spiro-1,3-oxazine derivatives by the microwave assisted cyclization of N-2-(1′-cyclohexenyl)ethyl-acetamides/benzamides. The reaction was catalyzed by in situ generated trimethylsilyl iodide and featured by its very short reaction time. The starting materials were easily obtained by the condensation of substituted acetic/benzoic acids with 2-(1′-cyclohexenyl)ethyl amine.     

Optical and dielectric properties of isothermally crystallized nano-KNbO3 in Er3+-doped K2O–Nb2O5–SiO2 glasses

Precursor glass of composition 25K₂O–25Nb₂O₅–50SiO₂ (mol%) doped with Er₂O₃ (0.5 wt% in excess) was isothermally crystallized at 800 °C for 0–100 h to obtain transparent KNbO₃ nanostructured glass–ceramics. XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIRRS, dielectric constant, refractive index, absorption and fluorescence measurements were carried out to analyze the morphology, dielectric, structure and optical properties of the glass–ceramics. The crystallite size of KNbO₃ estimated from XRD and TEM is found to vary in the range 7–23 nm. A steep rise in the dielectric constant of glass–ceramics with heat-treatment time reveals the formation of ferroelectric nanocrystalline KNbO₃ phase. The measured visible photoluminescence spectra have exhibited green emission transitions of ²H_11/2, ⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2 upon excitation at 377 nm (⁴I_15/2 → ⁴G_11/2) absorption band of Er³⁺ ions. The near infrared (NIR) emission transition ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 is detected around 1550 nm on excitation at 980 nm (⁴I_15/2 → ⁴I_11/2) of absorption bands of Er³⁺ ions. It is observed that photoluminescent intensity at 526 nm (²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2), 550 nm (⁴S_3/2 → ⁴I_15/2) and 1550 nm (⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2) initially decrease and then gradually increase with increase in heat-treatment time. The measured lifetime (τ_f) of the ⁴I_13/2 → ⁴I_15/2 transition also possesses a similar trend. The measured absorption and fluorescence spectra reveal that the Er³⁺ ions gradually enter into the KNbO₃ nanocrystals.     

Synthesis of Cu–Cr diketo,sublimable, eutectic composite complex,rod crystals from LDH as suitable MOCVD precursor of CuCr2O4 catalysts upon ceramic preforms for N2O decomposition

Metal-acteylacetonates are important sublimable metal-organic precursors for metal-oxide thin film formation over solid preforms by MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition) technique. Mixed-metal-acetylacetonates (MMAA) are suitable starting materials for mixed metal nano-oxidic thin film formation through such facile routes. Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) of suitable metal ion combination can perform as appropriate starting base for neutralisation by enol form of 2,4-pentanedione or acteylacetonate tautomer ligands to obtain such MMAA. In this paper synthesis of composite crystals of Cu(II)/Cr(III) acetylacetonates (CCAA) is reported by the reaction of Cu–Cr-LDH with acetylacetone. The products were characterized by various different techniques. The surface area and pore volume analysis of the crystals showed the formation of nanopores in the compound. TEM analysis confirmed that the inner core of the nanoporous crystals of Cu(acac)₂ was covered by coating of poorly crystallised Cr(acac)₃ and they together form the composite crystals, and they together form the composite crystals. Due to eutectic mixture formation the melting point of CCAA lies in between the melting points of individual components Cu(acac)₂ and Cr(acac)₃ and shows sublimability, a property important for the formation of MOCVD films. The composite was used for CuCr₂O₄ spinel mixed oxide films formation over solid ceramic honeycomb monolithic substrates. Application prospects of the route in the field of catalysis is high as it can directly combine the benefits of mixed metal oxide catalysis and structured supports without the involvement of a third component. In this work the performance of such a catalytic device has been tested for low temperature decomposition of high Global Warming Potential (GWP) gas N₂O to N₂ and O₂.     

A facile synthesis of benzo[b][1,4]thiazepine derivatives by palladium acetate catalyzed reaction

The preparation of steroid/nonsteroid fused benzo[b][1,4]thiazepines and 2-arylsubstituted benzo[b][1,4]thiazepines is described from Pd(OAc)₂ catalyzed reaction of steroidal/nonsteroidal β-halovinyl aldehydes and 2-aminothiophenols in DMF under heating condition.     

A novel microwave-mediated one-pot synthesis of indolizines via a three-component reaction

[reaction: see text] The microwave-mediated three-component reaction of acyl bromide, pyridine, and acetylene is catalyzed by basic alumina to give corresponding indolizines in excellent yields in a one-pot reaction.     

Influence of Sn on the hydration of tricalcium aluminate, Ca3Al2O6

Tricalcium aluminate (Ca₃Al₂O₆, C₃A) containing 0?C5% of Sn was synthesized by solid-state method, and the products were characterized by XRD technique. Differential thermo-analytical technique (DTA) along with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied to study the hydration behaviour of different C₃A samples with and without the presence of gypsum. Results indicate that C₃A can accommodate small amount of Sn in its structure and remaining amount forms SnO₂. Hydration studies of the synthesized C₃A shows that the additions of 0.5 and 1% Sn increase and 2% Sn decrease the reactivity of C₃A at the initial period (<3?h) of hydration. Increasing additions of Sn also increase the amounts of amorphous phases and hexagonal calcium aluminate hydrates in the cement pastes. The stabilities of these hydration products also increase with increasing content of Sn in C₃A at the experimental conditions. The presence of Sn significantly changes the hydration of C₃A and gypsum solid mixture at the initial period of hydration by enhancing the formation of more amounts of AFt and AFm phases. However, at the later stage of hydration (on or after 3?days), the hydration products in C₃A and gypsum pastes with and without the presence of Sn are almost similar.