First principle study of free and surface terminated CdTe nanoparticles

Density functional calculations of structural and electronic properties of stoichiometric and nonstoichiometric CdTe clusters, containing up to few tens of atoms, are carried out using projector augmented wave method. Molecular dynamics has been performed for Cd₁₂Te₁₂ and Cd₁₅Te₁₅ to predict the structure corresponding to global energy minimum. Cage type structures and bulk fragments, both in zinc blende and wurtzite structures, are used as starting geometries and conjugate gradient method is used to locate the local energy minima for other clusters. The aim of these calculations is to get the energetically favorable probable structures, to be compared with the experimentally known structures. Clusters are relaxed both in vacuum and in the presence of surface passivating ligands and the resulting structural rearrangement is analyzed. As expected, passivation increases the stability of an individual cluster, as indicated by specific properties like binding energy, vertical detachment energy, electron affinity etc. Passivation also locks the symmetry for three-dimensional structures but the small Cd_nTe_n (1 ≤ n ≤ 6) clusters, which are planar, attain higher symmetry structures on passivation. We observe `self-healing' mechanism viz., opening of optical gap on relaxation without the aid of passivating ligand, in CdTe clusters as observed in CdSe clusters [A. Puzder et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 217401 (2004)]. However, we note that 'self-healing' is a stoichiometry dependent phenomenon. Te atoms are found to achieve a total coordination of 4 on passivation, a fact useful in chemical synthesis of nanoclusters.     

Adsorption of molecular hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide on Au clusters

The authors present theoretical results describing the adsorption of H2 and H2S molecules on small neutral and cationic gold clusters (Au(n)((0/+1)), n=1-8) using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. Lowest energy structures of the gold clusters along with their isomers are considered in the optimization process for molecular adsorption. The adsorption energies of H2S molecule on the cationic clusters are generally greater than those on the corresponding neutral clusters. These are also greater than the H2 adsorption energies on the corresponding cationic and neutral clusters. The adsorption energies for cationic clusters decrease with increasing cluster size. This fact is reflected in the elongations of the Au-S and Au-H bonds indicating weak adsorption as the cluster grows. In most cases, the geometry of the lowest energy gold cluster remains planar even after the adsorption. In addition, the adsorbed molecule gets adjusted such that its center of mass lies on the plane of the gold cluster. Study of the orbital charge density of the gold adsorbed H2S molecule reveals that conduction is possible through molecular orbitals other than the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level. The dissociation of the cationic Au(n)SH2+ cluster into Au(n)S+ and H2 is preferred over the dissociation into Au(m)SH2+ and Au(n-m), where n=2-8 and m=1-(n-1). H2S adsorbed clusters with odd number of gold atoms are more stable than neighboring even n clusters.     

RP-HPLC analysis of seco-iridoid glycoside swertiamarin from different Swertia species

Genus Swertia is valued for its great medicinal potential; mainly Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex Fleming) H. Karst. is used in traditional medicine for a wide range of diseases. Seco-iridoid glycosides like swertiamarin is referred with enormous pharmacological potentials. The aim of the study was to identify a suitable substitute to S. chirayita by quantifying seco-iridoid swertiamarin from five different Swertia species endemic to the Western Ghats. The reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector analyses were performed and chromatographic separation was achieved on a Lichrospher 100, C18e (5 µm) column (250–4.6 mm). A mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (25:75) was used for separation. Results indicated that the concentration of the marker compound has been found to vary largely between and within the species from different localities. The content of swertiamarin was the highest in S. chirayita compared to the other species studied herein, advocating the use of Swertia minor as an alternate source to S. chirayita.     

Quantitative determination of three pentacyclic triterpenes from five Swertia L. species endemic to Western Ghats,India, using RP-HPLC analysis

Aim of this study was to identify pentacyclic triterpenoids betulinic acid (BA), oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) from five Swertia species endemic to Western Ghats, which are used as substitutes as well as adulterants to Swertia chirayita. Our results indicate that the concentration of active compound vary largely among and within the species from different localities. OA was found in a higher amount in all species compared to BA and UA. From the results, it was clear that BA, OA and UA are present in the endemic species collected from Western Ghats, thus advocating the use of these species as alternate sources to S. chirayita. This in due course may release pressure of exploitation from natural resources of S. chirayita and help to bring it out from an endangered category from conservation point of view.     

An expedient and straightforward solvent-free synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthenes using eco-friendly aluminized polyborate catalyst

The present work deals with a catalytic application of aluminized polyborate as a mild solid acid catalyst for multicomponent synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthenes under solvent-free condition at 100°C-110°C. It involves selective domino Knoevenagel-Michael reaction of 1 mole of aromatic aldehyde with 2 moles dimedone. The aluminized polyborate is simply synthesized by using boric acid and aluminum trichloride and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and EDAX techniques. The mild Lewis acidity, crystalline solid nature, stability and recyclability are significant features of the catalyst. The solvent-free condition, clean reaction profile, inexpensive and non-toxic catalyst, operational simplicity, good to excellent product yields, reduced reaction time and applicability to wide range of substrate are crucial features of this protocol.     

Mg-Al Hydrotalcite as a First Heterogeneous Basic Catalyst for the Synthesis of 4H-Pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles Through a Four-Component Reaction

Mg/Al hydrotalcite acts as an efficient heterogeneous basic catalyst for the synthesis of 4H-pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles via a multicomponent reaction of aromatic hydrazine hydrate, ethyl acetoacetate, aldehydes, and malononitrile in ethanol at ambient temperature. The hydrotalcite catalyst was easily separated from the reaction mixture and can be reused.

Ligand-controlled iron-catalyzed coupling of α-substituted β-ketoesters with phenols

A chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective FeCl(3)/1,10-phenanthroline-catalyzed cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction between phenols and α-substituted β-ketoesters was developed. The reaction creates a new quaternary carbon center within a polycyclic hemiacetal or polycyclic spirolactone architecture. The applicability of the new method to the synthesis of natural products was demonstrated by a possible biomimetic synthesis of the lachnanthospirone core.     

How cationic gold clusters respond to a single sulfur atom

Results describing the interaction of a single sulfur atom with cationic gold clusters (Au(n) (+), n=1-8) using density functional theory are described. Stability of these clusters is studied through their binding energies, second order differences in the total energies, fragmentation behavior, and atom attachment energies. The lowest energy structures for these clusters appear to be three dimensional right from n=3. In most cases the sulfur atom in the structure of Au(n)S(+) is observed to displace the gold atom siting at the peripheral site of the Au(n) (+) cluster. The dissociation channels of Au(n)S(+) clusters follow the same trend as Au(n) (+) cluster, based on the even/odd number of gold atoms in the cluster, with the exception of Au(3)S(+). This cluster dissociates into Au and Au(2)S(+), signifying the relative stability of Au(2)S(+) cluster regardless of having an odd number of valence electrons. Clusters with an even number of gold atoms dissociate into Au and Au(n-1)(S)(+) and clusters with an odd number of gold atoms dissociate into Au(2) and Au(n-2)(S)(+) clusters. An empirical relation is found between the conduction molecular orbital and the number of atoms in the Au(n)S(+) cluster.     

The ν9 Band of Propyne-d3

A high-resolution Fourier transform spectrum of the ν₉ band of CD₃CCH has been recorded at an apodized resolution of 0.004 cm−1 and analyzed. More than 1700 lines in the spectrum have been assigned and the parameters of the ν₉ state derived. The standard deviation of the fit was 0.00034 cm⁻¹. In order to achieve this fit it was necessary to include l-type doubling interaction and Fermi resonance between ν₉ and the E component of 2ν₁₀.     

Raman scattering and short range order in amorphous germanium

Variations in short range order of amorphous Ge films are determined from a combination of depolarized Raman scattering, optical absorption, and previous radial distribution function studies. An estimated minimum value of the bond angle width of Δθ ? 9°, obtained for evaporated, anneal stable a-Ge differs significantly from a recent EXAFS estimate. The maximum disorder observed in dc sputtered films deposited at ～90K indicates that an ～20% variation in bond angle width is possible in a-Ge. Substantial modification of the Raman spectrum of the low temperature film annealed at 300K also demonstrates that lower temperature structural relaxation processes involve changes in short range order.