Influence of different precursors and Mn doping concentrations on the structural,optical properties and photocatalytic activity of single-crystal manganese-doped ZnO

Mn-doped ZnO single-crystal micronuts were synthesized via hydrothermal method in an hexamethylenetetramine aqueous solution. These micronuts are of wurtzite crystal structure. The effects of Mn doping amount and precursor concentration on the structural, optical properties and photocatalytic activity have been investigated. The synthesized Mn-doped ZnO was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The structural analyses based on X-ray diffraction revealed the absence of Mn-related secondary phases. According to FESEM results, the length of ZnO micronuts was in the range of 5–8 μm. The band gap energy increased on increasing Mn doping concentration. The photocatalytic activity was studied by degradation of methyl orange aqueous solution, which showed that the Mn-doped ZnO micronuts prepared in precursor concentration of 0.1 M and 4% Mn doping had the highest photocatalytic activity. The effects of crystal defect and band gap energy on photocatalytic activity of Mn-doped ZnO samples were studied in different precursors and Mn doping amounts.     

Liquid‐phase microextraction based on two immiscible organic solvents followed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry as an efficient method for the preconcentration and determination of cocaine,ketamine, and lidocaine in human urine samples

A new type of liquid‐phase microextraction based on two immiscible organic solvents was optimized and validated for the quantification of lidocaine, ketamine, and cocaine in human urine samples. A hollow‐fiber based microextraction technique followed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection was used to reduce matrix interferences and improve limits of detection. The analytes were extracted from aqueous sample with pH 11.0, into a thin layer of organic solvent (n‐dodecane) sustained in the pores of a hollow fiber, and then into a second organic acceptor (acetonitrile) located inside the lumen of the hollow fiber. With the application of optimized values, good linearity was obtained in the range of 1–500 μg/L for lidocaine and ketamine and 2–500 μg/L for cocaine with the determination coefficient values (r²) >0.9943. The preconcentration factors and limits of detection (S/N > 3) were 250–350 and 0.01–0.05 μg/L, respectively. Intra and interassay precision values were <7.3 and 9.3%, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination and quantification of target analytes in human urine samples.     

Three‐component One‐pot Synthetic Route to Functionalized N‐Phenyl‐ and N,N‐(1,4‐phenylene)‐2‐alkylimino‐2,3‐dihydrothiazoles under Mild,Solvent‐ and Catalyst‐free Conditions

A simple and efficient one‐pot synthesis of alkyl‐2‐(alkylimino)‐4‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydrothiazole‐5‐carboxylate and dialkyl 3,3′‐(1,4‐phenylene)‐bis‐[2‐(alkylimino)‐4‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydrothiazole‐5‐carboxylate] derivatives from the reaction of phenylisothiocyanate (and also 1,4‐phenylene diisothiocyanate) and primary alkylamines in the presence of 2‐chloro‐1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds is described. This new protocol has several advantages such as lack of necessity of the catalyst and solvent, good yields,mild conditions and short times for reaction.     

Osmotic and activity coefficients in the binary solutions of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and bromide in methanol or ethanol at T = 298.15 K from isopiestic measurements

Osmotic coefficients of the binary solutions of two room-temperature ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and bromide) in methanol and ethanol have been measured at T = 298.15 K by the isopiestic method. The experimental osmotic coefficient data have been correlated using a forth-order polynomial in terms of (molality)^0.5, with both, ion interaction model of Pitzer and electrolyte non-random two liquid (e-NRTL) model of Chen. The values of vapor pressures of above-mentioned solutions have been calculated from the osmotic coefficients. The model parameters fitted to the experimental osmotic coefficients have been used for prediction of the mean ionic activity coefficients of those ionic liquids in methanol and ethanol.     

Picolinimidoamide-Cu(II) complex anchored on Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell magnetic nanoparticles: an efficient reusable catalyst for click reaction

A Cu(II) complex supported on Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core–shell magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was prepared and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, VSM, TGA, and AAS analysis. The load of Cu on picolinimidoamide ligand anchored on Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ core–shell MNPs was determined as 1.22, 1.54, and 1.70 wt% using AAS, EDX and TGA analyses, respectively. Synthesized Cu(II) complex on Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ MNPs efficiently catalyzed a click reaction between alkyl halides, alkynes, and sodium azide to synthesize corresponding triazoles in high to excellent yields. The catalyst was recovered using an external magnetic field, and recycled for subsequent reactions without substantial loss of efficiency.     

Synthesis of 3-(quinolin-2-yl)indolizines through iodine-mediated sp3C–H functionalization of azaarenes

An efficient approach toward C–H bond activation using iodine-mediated sp³C–H bond functionalization for the synthesis of dialkyl 3-(quinolin-2-yl)indolizine-1,2-dicarboxylates and dialkyl 3-(quinolin-2-yl)pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-1,2-dicarboxylates through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of nitrogen ylides with acetylenic esters is described.     

Nonadiabatic coupling and diabatic electronic population dynamics on 11A2 and 11B1 states of ozone molecule

In this work, we examine nonadiabatic population dynamics for 1¹B₁ and 1¹A₂ states of ozone molecule (O₃). In O₃, two lowest singlet excited states, ¹A₂ and ¹B₁, can be coupled. Thus, population transfer between them occurs through the seam involving these two states. At any point of the seam (conical intersection), the Born-Oppenheimer approximation breaks down, and it is necessary to investigate nonadiabatic dynamics. We consider a linear vibronic coupling Hamiltonian model and evaluate vibronic coupling constant, diabatic frequencies for three modes of O₃, bilinear and quadratic coupling constants for diabatic potentials, displacements, and Huang-Rhys coupling constants using ab initio calculations. The electronic structure calculations have been performed at the multireference configuration interaction and complete active space with second-order perturbation theory with a full-valence complete active space self-consistent field methods and augmented Dunning's standard correlation-consistent-polarized quadruple zeta basis set to determine ab initio potential energy surfaces for the ground state and first two excited states of O₃, respectively. We have chosen active space comprising 18 electrons distributed over 12 active orbitals. Our calculations predict the linear vibronic coupling constant 0.123 eV. We have obtained the population on the 1¹B₁ and 1¹A₂ excited electronic states for the first 500 fs after photoexcitation.     

Investigation of the Effect of Various Substituents on the Density of Tetrazolium Nitrate Salts as Green Energetic Materials

The substitution effect of various functional groups such as –NO₂, –CN, –N₃, –NF₂, and –NH₂ on the density of tetrazolium nitrate salts is investigated through multiple linear regression method. The methodology of this work introduces a new model, which related density of tetrazolium nitrate salts to the number of fluorine and nitrogen atoms, the presence of NF₂ groups, NO₂ groups, as well as CH₃ groups in the structural formula. The new reliable correlation shows that the NF₂ and NO₂ group can cause increasing the density of tetrazolium nitrate salts, especially NO₂, whereas the CH₃ group can decrease their density. The new proposed relationship has good reliability and predictability, so it can be used to design new rich nitrogen compounds based on tetrazolium nitrate salts as green energetic materials. These results are also tested for N,N′‐azo‐1,2,4‐triazolium nitrate salts, which is caused to derive another correlation. This correlation shows that the presence of NF₂ functional groups increases the density of N,N′‐azo‐1,2,4‐triazolium nitrate salts as well as the value of n_O/n_C.     

Smectic A mesophases from luminescent sandic platinum(II) mesogens

Square planar platinum(II) thienyl pyridyl complexes with board-shaped structures assemble into lamellar (SmA) liquid crystal phases at elevated temperatures. Liquid crystals of this type are expected to have stronger biaxial correlations than typical calamitic mesogens. The mesophase stability improves with decreasing alkyl chain lengths with C₈H₁₇ having the widest range of stability. All complexes are luminescent in solution.