Syntheses and crystal structures of mixed-ligand copper(II)–imidazole–carboxylate complexes

The syntheses, characterization, and crystal structures of the reaction products of Cu²⁺ with imidazole (Himz) and different aromatic carboxylates, viz.: [Cu(Himz)₂(cinn)₂(H₂O)] (1), [Cu(Himz)₂(paba)₂] (2) and [Cu(Himz)₂(clba)₂] (3) (cinn^– = C₉H₇O₂^–, paba^– = C₇H₆NO₂^–, clba^– = C₇H₄ClO₂^–) are described and studied by spectroscopic (UV–visible, FTIR) measurements. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses indicate that each complex is monomeric. The metal ion in 1 adopts square-pyramidal coordination geometry arising from two imidazole nitrogens, two cinnamate oxygens, and an apical aqua. The metal ions of 2 and 3, however, assume a square planar configuration, which is realized by coordination of two nitrogens of two imidazoles and two oxygens; in both complexes, the imidazole moieties are trans to each other. TGA results indicate that upon heating, these complexes lose their carboxylate anions first, followed by removal of the imidazole molecules.     

Cu(II) immobilized on guanidinated epibromohydrin‐functionalized γ‐Fe2O3@TiO2 (γ‐Fe2O3@TiO2‐EG‐Cu(II)): A highly efficient magnetically separable heterogeneous nanocatalyst for one‐pot synthesis of highly substituted imidazoles

A simple, efficient and eco‐friendly procedure has been developed using Cu(II) immobilized on guanidinated epibromohydrin‐functionalized γ‐Fe₂O₃@TiO₂ (γ‐Fe₂O₃@TiO₂‐EG‐Cu(II)) for the synthesis of 2,4,5‐trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5‐tetrasubstituted imidazoles, via the condensation reactions of various aldehydes with benzil and ammonium acetate or ammonium acetate and amines, under solvent‐free conditions. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis of this catalyst clearly affirmed the formation of a γ‐Fe₂O₃ core and a TiO₂ shell, with mean sizes of about 10–20 and 5–10 nm, respectively. These data were in very good agreement with X‐ray crystallographic measurements (13 and 7 nm). Moreover, magnetization measurements revealed that both γ‐Fe₂O₃@TiO₂ and γ‐Fe₂O₃@TiO₂‐EG‐Cu(II) had superparamagnetic behaviour with saturation magnetization of 23.79 and 22.12 emu g^?1, respectively. γ‐Fe₂O₃@TiO₂‐EG‐Cu(II) was found to be a green and highly efficient nanocatalyst, which could be easily handled, recovered and reused several times without significant loss of its activity. The scope of the presented methodology is quite broad; a variety of aldehydes as well as amines have been shown to be viable substrates. A mechanism for the cyclocondensation reaction has also been proposed.     

Novel sepiolite reinforced emerging composite polymer electrolyte membranes for high-performance direct methanol fuel cells

Methanol permeation is the main issue of Nafion membranes when they are used as a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). In the current study, novel nanocomposite polymer membranes are prepared by the integration of surface-modified sepiolite (MS) in polyvinylidene fluoride grafted polystyrene (PVDF-g-PS) copolymer as PEM in DMFCs. Sepiolite (SP) surface is chemically modified using vinyltriethoxysilane and analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nanocomposite PVDF-g-PS/MS membranes are prepared by phase inversion technique and subsequently treated with chlorosulfonic acid to induce sulfonic acid (SO₃H) active sites at the membrane surface. The prepared nanocomposite membranes (S-PPMS) are analyzed for their physicochemical characteristics in terms of water uptake percentage, cation exchange capacity, proton conductivity (σ), and methanol permeability. MS dispersion in the copolymer matrix is proved through morphological SEM examination. The S-PPMS membranes exhibit increased proton conductivity due to the presence of well-dispersed MS and surface functional –SO₃H groups. A peak power density of 210 mWcm^?2 is recorded for S-PPMS10 at 110 °C, which is higher than the output obtained from Nafion-117. These promising results indicate the potential utilization of prepared nanocomposite PEMs for DMFC application.     

An Efficient Method for Chemoselective Reduction of Nitro Compounds Using Bimetallic Fe‐Ni NPs/H3PW12O40.×H2O System

The selective reduction of nitro compounds by treatment with bimetallic Fe‐Ni nanoparticles (NPs) and tungestophosphoric acid hydrate (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀.×H₂O) in H₂O is reported. The method has been applied to a broad range of nitro compounds with different sensitive functionalities, including halides, carbonyl, hydroxyl, aldehyde, methyl, acetyl, nitrile, and ester substituents with excellent yields. The reaction yielded single product in all cases with very high yield. The simple experimental procedure and easy purification make the protocol advantageous.     

Highly regioselective synthesis of dicyano-8a,10,11-trihydropyrrolo[1,2-a][1,10]phenanthrolines via a domino-Knoevenagel-cyclization

1,10-Phenanthrolinium N-ylides,can react with malonitrile and aromatic aldehydes via a domino-Knoevenagel cyclization to afford a new class of trihydropyrrolo[1,2-a][l,10]phenanthroline derivatives as stable helical compounds in a simple,mild,and efficient protocol in excellent yields.     

Chemical Elicitors-Induced Variation in Cellular Biomass,Biosynthesis of Secondary Cell Products,and Antioxidant System in Callus Cultures of Fagonia indica

Fagonia indica is a rich source of pharmacologically active compounds. The variation in the metabolites of interest is one of the major issues in wild plants due to different environmental factors. The addition of chemical elicitors is one of the effective strategies to trigger the biosynthetic pathways for the release of a higher quantity of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of chemical elicitors, aluminum chloride (AlCl₃) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, biomass, and the antioxidant system in callus cultures of F. indica. Among various treatments applied, AlCl₃ (0.1 mM concentration) improved the highest in biomass accumulation (fresh weight (FW): 404.72 g/L) as compared to the control (FW: 269.85 g/L). The exposure of cultures to AlCl₃ (0.01 mM) enhanced the accumulation of secondary metabolites, and the total phenolic contents (TPCs: 7.74 mg/g DW) and total flavonoid contents (TFCs: 1.07 mg/g DW) were higher than those of cultures exposed to CdCl₂ (0.01 mM) with content levels (TPC: 5.60 and TFC: 0.97 mg/g) as compared to the control (TPC: 4.16 and TFC: 0.42 mg/g DW). Likewise, AlCl₃ and CdCl₂ also promoted the free radical scavenging activity (FRSA; 89.4% and 90%, respectively) at a concentration of 0.01 mM, as compared to the control (65.48%). For instance, the quantification of metabolites via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed an optimum production of myricetin (1.20 mg/g), apigenin (0.83 mg/g), isorhamnetin (0.70 mg/g), and kaempferol (0.64 mg/g). Cultures grown in the presence of AlCl₃ triggered higher quantities of secondary metabolites than those grown in the presence of CdCl₂ (0.79, 0.74, 0.57, and 0.67 mg/g). Moreover, AlCl₃ at 0.1 mM enhanced the biosynthesis of superoxide dismutase (SOD: 0.08 nM/min/mg-FW) and peroxidase enzymes (POD: 2.37 nM/min/mg-FW), while CdCl₂ resulted in an SOD activity up to 0.06 nM/min/mg-FW and POD: 2.72 nM/min/mg-FW. From these results, it is clear that AlCl₃ is a better elicitor in terms of a higher and uniform productivity of biomass, secondary cell products, and antioxidant enzymes compared to CdCl₂ and the control. It is possible to scale the current strategy to a bioreactor for a higher productivity of metabolites of interest for various pharmaceutical industries.     

Crystal structure and spectroscopic characterization of a coordination polymer of Copper(II) chloride with ethylenediamine and the 2-hydroxybenzoate ion

A new mixed-ligand one-dimensional copper(II) coordination polymer [Cu(en)(sal)Cl] _n where en = ethylenediamine(C₂H₈N₂) and Hsal = 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid; C₇H₆O₃) is synthesized and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure contains Cu²⁺ ions in two different distorted octahedral coordination environments: an axially extended CuN₄Cl₂ moiety arising from a pair of bidentate en ligands and a CuO₄Cl₂ moiety arising from a pair of asymmetrically coordinated sal^– anions. The chloride ions bridge the copper ions into a zigzag chain propagating in [001]. The structure is consolidated by N–H???O and N–H???Cl hydrogen bonds which generate a layered network. Crystal data: C₉H₁₃ClCuN₂O₃, M _r = 296.20, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 13.9179(10) Å, b = 10.4900(8) Å, c = 8.5181(6) Å, β = 105.518(4)°, V = 1198.30(15) ų, Z = 4, R(F) = 0.026, w R(F ²) = 0.068.     

Novel and Highly Efficient Protection of Aliphatic Alcohols and Phenols with Hexamethyldisilazane in the Presence of La(NO3)3·6 H2O

Aliphatic alcohols and phenols are protected with hexamethyldisilazane in the presence of lanthanum nitrate hexahydrate (La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O) in excellent yields at room temperature.     

Copper immobilized on aminated ferrite nanoparticles by 2‐aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate (Fe3O4@AEPH2‐CuII) catalyses the conversion of aldoximes to nitriles

Cu^II immobilized on aminated ferrite nanoparticles by 2‐aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate (Fe₃O₄@AEPH₂‐Cu^II) was prepared and characterized using FT‐IR, TGA, TEM, EDX, VSM, XRD, CHN and ICP techniques. The easily prepared heterogeneous nanocatalyst demonstrated a significant catalytic performance for the transformation of aldoximes to nitriles that is far superior to previously reported methods. The reaction allows for the conversion of a wide variety of aldoximes including aromatic, aliphatic and heterocyclic aldoximes in good to excellent yields (50–98%). High efficiency, mild reaction conditions, easy work‐up, operational simplicity, simple purification of products and safe handling of the catalyst are important advantages of this method. In addition, the environmentally benign heterogeneous nanocatalyst can be easily recovered from reaction mixtures using an external magnet and reused several times without any loss of activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of extended Fan sub-equation method to $$\mathbf {}$$-dimensional nonlinear dispersive modified Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation with fractional evolution

The article studies the application of the extended Fan sub-equation method to \((1+1)\)-dimensional nonlinear dispersive modified Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation with fractional evolution. This equation describes the hydromagnetic waves in cold plasma, acoustic waves in inharmonic crystals and acoustic gravity waves in compressible fluids. The structure of the extended Fan sub-equation method on the basis of time-fractional derivative is presented. The main idea of the method is to take full advantage of the general elliptic equation involving five parameters. The fractional derivatives are taken as in the sense of Jumarie’s modified Riemann–Liouville derivative. The method is reliable and gives more general exact solutions than the existing methods.