Magnetic structure of the compound DyNi

From the magnetization measurements at 1.6 K we observe that the DyNi compound exhibits narrow domain walls frozen by the anisotropy. The non-colinear magnetic structure of this compound has been studied by neutron diffraction techniques. Its magnetic structure is isomorphous to that of HoNi belonging to the space group Pnm′a′.     

"Green"-enzymatic synthesis of pegylated phenolic macromer and polymer

Environmentally benign synthesis of novel pegylated polyphenolics, by combining the extraordinary selectivities of a lipase and an oxidase to develop polymeric electrolytes for applications in dye sensitised solar cells.     

Template‐Assisted Synthesis of Self‐Doped Polyaniline: Morphological Effects of Templates on the Conductivity

Self‐doped sulfonated polyaniline (PSA) has been synthesized on the surface of micellar nanoparticles made from positively charged surfactants by biocatalysis. The conformation forced by the electrostatic charge interactions between the positively charged micelle and the negatively charged PSA increases the conductivity of the PSA by three orders of magnitude. The pure PSA recovered from ion exchange, however, shows quite similar electrical properties compared with sulfonated polyanilines reported earlier. The increased conductivity of PSA complexes is as a result of the increased charge carrier concentration caused by a certain conformational locking.

     

Intricate packing in the hydrophobic core of barstar through a CH–π interaction

Identification of specific packing interactions within in the hydrophobic core of proteins is important for understanding the integrity of protein structure. Finding such interactions is challenging because few tools allow monitoring of a specific interaction in the presence of several non‐specific forces that hold proteins together. It is important to understand how and when such interactions develop during protein folding. In this study, we have used the intrinsic tryptophan residue, Trp53, as an ultraviolet resonance Raman probe to elucidate the packing interactions in the hydrophobic core of the protein barstar. Barstar is extensively studied for its folding, unfolding and aggregation properties. The Trp53 residue is known to be completely buried in the hydrophobic core of the protein and is used extensively as an intrinsic probe to monitor the folding and unfolding reactions of barstar. A comparison of the resonance Raman cross sections of some bands of Trp53 with those observed for N‐acetyl‐tryptophanoamide in water suggests that Trp53 in barstar is indeed isolated from water. Intensity ratio of the Fermi doublet suggests that Trp53 is surrounded by several aliphatic amino acid residues in corroboration with the crystal structure of barstar. Importantly, we show that the side chain of Trp53 is involved in a unique CH–π interaction with CH groups of Phe56 as well as a steric interaction with the methyl group of Ile5. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A green,multicomponent, regio- and stereo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azides and azomethine ylides generated in situ with bifunctional dipolarophiles using PEG-400

A series of novel dispiropyrrolidine-linked 1,2,3-triazole derivatives have been prepared by one-pot, four-component protocol that employed 5-arylidene-3-(prop-2-ynyl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione, isatin, sarcosine and substituted azides using Cu(I) generated in situ as catalyst in PEG-400 as a highly efficient and green media. This is the first report of a four-component reaction involving a classical Huisgen reaction, in which the two dipolar moieties (substituted azides and in situ generated azomethine ylides) react with acetylenic and olefinic dipolarophiles, respectively. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition proceeds in a highly regio- and stereo-selective manner. This methodology can be an ideal tool for the preparation of biologically important five-membered heterocyclic compounds in one pot.     

Photosensitized Solid-state Polymerization of Diacetylenes in Nanoporous TiO2 Structures

In situ topochemical polymerization of two diacetylene monomers within nanoporous TiO₂ thin films was carried out under visible light irradiation. One of the monomers used contains a carboxylic acid group, which could help to link the monomer onto the TiO₂ surface covalently. UV-Vis absorption and Raman studies showed that both monomers were successfully photopolymerized. These results suggest that the covalent linkage of the diacetylene to the nanoparticle through the carboxylic acid group is not needed. Since photopolymerization of diacetylene is typically induced by excitation of the monomer at λ< 300 nm, the observed red shift of the photopolymerization wavelength is attributed to the photosensitization effect of TiO₂. The morphological study of the polydiacetylene/TiO₂ nanocomposite revealed that the diacetylene monomers were polymerized in the vicinity of the TiO₂ nanoparticles. This is attributed to the fact that the electron-transfer process occurs at the interface of nanocrystalline TiO₂ (nc-TiO₂) and the diacetylene monomer and the polymerization is expected to be initiated near the nc-TiO₂ surface. Photopolymerization of the carboxylated diacetylene monomer with other oxides nanoparticles, such as ZnO and SiO₂ was also investigated.     

Controlled Release of Covalently Bound Organic Molecules by Slow Hydrolysis for Potential Biocide Applications†

A study of the slow hydrolysis of labile acetal groups by low concentrations of lactic acid to release the active molecules is reported. A prototype molecule containing cyclic acetal groups, dimethyl‐2,3‐O‐benzylidene‐L‐tartrate (DMTAc) and the same molecule incorporated as a pendant group in a polyamide were studied for their hydrolysis by low concentrations of lactic acid. The release of benzaldehyde during slow hydrolysis is monitored by UV‐vis and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. This study is very useful to ultimately design and synthesize a polymer with covalently bound insecticidal/anti‐microbial/anti‐fungal materials for the development of controlled release formulations.     

Fabrication of TiO2 Grating with Composites of Azobenzene Polymer and TiO2 Nanoparticles

We have used the formation of surface relief gratings (SRG) on azobenzene polymers to manipulate TiO₂ nanoparticles and to fabricate TiO₂ nanoparticle gratings. Suspensions of an azobenzene polymer (PDO3) and TiO₂ were used to spin coat thin films on glass slide substrates. By interfering coherent light from an Argon laser on the surface of the PDO3‐TiO₂ composite films, SRGs were fabricated. Atomic force microscopic images of the SRGs show TiO₂ nanoparticles dispersed throughout the sample, and in particular, at the peaks of the SRG after oxygen plasma treatment. The lateral forces acting on the azobenzene polymer during the SRG fabrication drag the TiO₂ nanoparticles. These results indicated that it is feasible to create TiO₂ nanoparticle gratings with the composites.     

Efficient Synthesis of Spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones Catalyzed by PEG-OSO3H-H2O and [NMP]H2PO4

One-pot, three-component synthesis of spiro[diindenopyridine-indoline]triones has been reported via the reaction of 1,3-indandione, aromatic amines, and isatins with (PEG-OSO₃H) as an efficient, polymeric acid surfactant–based catalyst in water and also in presence of acidic ionic liquid [NMP]H₂PO₄, which acts both as a medium and catalyst under conventional heating and ultrasonic irradiation. The reactions were complete in short reaction times with excellent yield of products. Surfactant-based PEG-OSO₃H could be recycled and reused several times without any significant loss of activity. The compounds exhibit fluorescence in methanol with large Stokes shift.