Na3[BN2] and Na2K[BN2]: A Known and a Novel Alkali Metal Dinitridoborate Obtained via Mild Thermal Dehydrogenation

Na₃[BN₂] and Na₂K[BN₂] were obtained as white polycrystalline powders from the reaction of the respective binary mixtures NaNH₂:NaBH₄ and NaNH₂:KBH₄ in molar ratio 2:1 at 873 K and 683 K, respectively, in an argon stream. According to the results of thermal analysis measurements, both compounds are thermally stable only up to 954 K (Na₃[BN₂]) and 712 K (Na₂K[BN₂]), respectively, decomposing under evolution of alkali metal and nitrogen to yield hexagonal BN as final residue, which was identified from powder patterns. The crystal structure of Na₃[BN₂] {β‐Li₃[BN₂] type; P2₁/c (No. 14); Z = 4} was confirmed and the unit cell parameters redetermined: a = 5.724(1) Å, b = 7.944(1) Å, c = 7.893(1) Å, β = 111.31(1)°. According to X‐ray powder data, Na₂K[BN₂] crystallizes isotypic to Na₂KCuO₂ in the tetragonal space group I4/mmm (No. 139) with a = 4.2359(1) Å, c = 10.3014(2) Å and Z = 2. The crystal structure of Na₂K[BN₂] is composed of linear [N–B–N]^3– anions centering elongated M₁₄ rhombic dodecahedra, which are formed by 8 sodium and 6 potassium atoms. The [BN₂]@Na_8/4K_6/6 polyhedra are stacked along [001] and condensed via common tetragonal faces to generate a space‐filling 3D arrangement. The B–N bond lengths for the strictly linear [N–B–N]^3– units are 1.357(4) Å. Vibrational spectra of the title compounds were measured and analyzed based on D_∞h symmetry of the relevant [N–B–N]^3– groups taking into account the site symmetry effects for Na₃[BN₂]. Both the wavenumbers, as well as the calculated valence force constants f(B–N) = 7.29 N · cm^–1 (Na₃[BN₂]) and 7.33 N · cm^–1 (Na₂K[BN₂]), respectively, are in good agreement with those of the known alkali and alkaline earth dinitridoborates.     

Synthesis,characterization, and antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of pyrazolo derivatives

Twenty-four pyrazolo derivatives (1–4)(a-f) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), and elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were also investigated for their antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities. The compounds (3–4)(a-f) carrying morpholine ring were more active than the piperidinyl containing compounds (1–2)(a-f) in both activities. The compound 4f showed higher activity in both assays as compared with the others. Additionally, the anticholinesterase activity test provided higher values than the galantamine in the BChE assay. Therefore, compound 4f can be used as anticholinesterase agent and/or anticholinesterase assay standard.     

Isolation,Characterization, and Medicinal Potential of Polysaccharides of Morchella esculenta

Mushroom polysaccharides are active medicinal compounds that possess immune-modulatory and anticancer properties. Currently, the mushroom polysaccharides krestin, lentinan, and polysaccharopeptides are used as anticancer drugs. They are an unexplored source of natural products with huge potential in both the medicinal and nutraceutical industries. The northern parts of Pakistan have a rich biodiversity of mushrooms that grow during different seasons of the year. Here we selected an edible Morchella esculenta (true morels) of the Ascomycota group for polysaccharide isolation and characterization. Polysaccharopeptides and polysaccharides from this mushroom were isolated using the green chemistry, hot water treatment method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the sugar nature and possible beta-glucan type structure of these polysaccharides. Antioxidant assays showed that the deproteinized polysaccharides have moderate free radical scavenging activity. These isolated polysaccharides exhibited good acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) inhibition activities. Therefore, these polysaccharides may be valuable for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Further bioassays are needed to discover the true potential of M. esculenta polysaccharides for medicinal purposes.     

Electrochemical technologies coupled with biological treatments

When possible, the bioprocesses should be implemented to treat wastewater for their cost-effectiveness. However, many effluents are composed of biorecalcitrant organic pollutants, especially in industrial wastewaters. Advanced physico-chemical treatments are therefore needed to deal with these pollution levels. Electrochemical processes could be cost-effective solutions. However, the energy required to reach complete mineralization is often high. One promising combination would be to combine electrochemical processes that can remove xenobiotic compounds from effluent with biotechnologies that are able to mineralize the biodegradable fraction. Therefore, this review presents the most recent articles dealing with this combination, by mainly focusing on electrochemical advanced oxidation processes that demonstrated to have high removal efficiency for organic biorecalcitrant compounds. Additional and imperative information about the treatment strategy and the engineering aspects for the upscaling approach are also given.     

Synthesis,structure and in vitro anticancer activity of ruthenium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with chiral aminophosphine ligands

Transition Metal Chemistry - (R)-[Ru(η6-p-MeC6H4iPr)Cl2{Ph2PNHCH(CH3)(C6H4-4-F)}] (1) and cis-(R,R)-[PtCl2{Ph2PNHCH(CH3)(C6H4-4-F)}2] (2) have been obtained by the reaction of the chiral...     

A Hafnium Oxide Based Voltammetric Platform for the Sensitive Determination of Octopamine

An electrochemical sensor was constructed by modification of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with nanoparticles of hafnium oxide (HfO₂) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for the sensitive determination of octopamine. The platform (HfO₂NPs/MWCNTs/GCE) presented an improved anodic peak for octopamine at 0.65 V. The combination of HfO₂ and MWCNTs resulted in outstanding catalytic activity and enhanced the magnitude of the peak response. Results suggest that a three-electron oxidation occurs for the process of octopamine. Voltammetry of octopamine exhibited a dynamic linear response in the concentration range of 1.6×10⁻⁶∼4.8×10⁻⁵ M with a detection limit of 5.4×10⁻⁷ M for octopamine.     

Ca3[BN2]I3: The First Halide‐Rich Alkaline Earth Nitrido­borate with Isolated [BN2]3– Units

The title compound Ca₃[BN₂]I₃ was obtained from reactions of mixtures of the starting materials Ca₃[BN₂]₂ and CaI₂ in a 1:4 ratio in sealed Nb tubes at 1223 K. The crystal structure was solved from powder synchrotron diffraction data. Ca₃[BN₂]I₃ is the first example of a halide‐rich nitridoborate crystallizing in the rhombohedral space group R32 [no. 155, Pearson code: hR96; Z = 12; a = 16.70491(2) Å, c = 12.41024(2) Å]. The crystal structure is built up by two interpenetrating networks of condensed edge‐sharing [BN₂]@Ca₆ and [□]@I₆ trigonal antiprisms (□ = void). In Ca₃[BN₂]I₃ two crystallograhically distinct [BN₂]^3– anions are present with d(B1–N) = 1.393(2) Å and d(B2–N) = 1.369(9) Å. Their bond angles are practically linear, varying only slightly: N–B1–N = 179(1)° and N–B2–N = 180°. Vibrational spectra were interpreted based on the D_∞h symmetry of the discrete linear [N–B–N]^3– moieties, considering the site symmetry reduction and the presence of two distinct [BN₂]^3– groups.     

Effects of anthropological factors on the metal accumulation profiles of sea cucumbers in near industrial and residential coastlines of İzmir,Turkey

This study details the metal and metalloid accumulation profiles of three species of sea cucumbers (Holothuriamammata, Holothuriapolii and Holothuriatubulosa) native to Alia?a and Ild?r (?zmir, Turkey), two regions that are representative of industrial and residential districts, respectively. A total of 11 elements were analysed (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cr, Co, V, Ni, Cd, Pb and As) from gut and body wall tissues of holothurians and in sediment samples. The Mann–Whitney U analysis revealed statistical difference between locations and tissues. Accumulations of Alia?a samples were significantly higher than Ild?r samples with respect to Zn, V, Mn, Cr, Fe and Co while accumulations were significantly higher in the gut than body wall regardless of the region for all elements tested. The correlation analysis showed more and stronger correlations in the gut than in the body wall. In addition, metal(loid) concentrations in the sediment were found to correlate strongly with these in the sea cucumber gut. The cluster analysis displayed totally different element accumulation pattern for Alia?a and Ild?r in the both tissues which indicate that anthropogenic effects start to alter the bioaccumulation of metal(loids). Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF) and metal contamination index were calculated to determine the extent of metal(loid) uptake and to compare total elemental accumulation at each region. Gut tissue elemental BSAF is higher than body wall for all elements at both areas. Cd has the highest value with 5.582 (gut tissue) and the lowest are Ni, V and Cr with 0.001 (body wall tissue). In addition, sediment results were compared with previous studies and sediment quality guidelines and found to exceed the lowest effect level (LEL) values for As and Ni.     

Preparation and characterisation of novel polysulfone membranes modified with Pluronic F-127 for reducing microalgal fouling

In this study, hydrophilic and fouling-resistant polysulfone (PS) membranes were fabricated using the phase inversion method to reduce membrane fouling caused by microalgal culture. The Pluronic F-127 polymer, which is used as a hydrophilic co-polymer, was added to the membranes to improve the membrane properties. Characteristic specifications of the fabricated membranes, such as morphology, surface roughness, chemical structures and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, were studied using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), attenuated total reflection-fourier infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and contact angle devices. According to the results obtained, it was observed that, with the increase of the Pluronic F-127 concentration in the membranes, the surface roughness of the membranes decreased and hydrophilicity and permeation fluxes increased notably. Furthermore, it was observed that the addition of the Pluronic F-127 polymer into the membranes reduced reversible/irreversible membrane fouling. Additionally, a characterisation of the fouled membranes was performed for the purpose of comprehensively understanding the membrane fouling mechanism caused by microalgal culture.