Syntheses of substituted 2-(l-methyl-2-imidazolyl)quinolines

Reaction of methyllithium with 1-methy1-2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde afforded the corresponding alcohol 2. Oxidation of compound 2 with manganese dioxide gave 2-acety1-1-methylimidazole ( 3 ). Using compound 3 and substituted isatins 4 , the corresponding quinoline-4-carboxylic acids ( 5 ) were prepared. The reaction of acid imidazolides of 5 with appropriate amines yielded the amides 6 . Carbamic acid esters 10 were prepared by the Curtius rearrangement in good yield. Substituted quinolin-4-amines 13 were obtained by the acid hydrolysis of compound 10 (R₁ = t-Bu). Alkylation of amines 13 with diakylaminoalkyl chlorides gave compounds 14 .     

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction for alizarin and purpurin in Rubiaceae plants and its comparison with conventional extraction methods

A simple and rapid microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure was developed and optimized for two common color pigments, alizarin and purpurin, in various samples of Rubiaceae plants. Several variables that can potentially affect the extraction efficiency, namely temperature, methanol concentration in the extractant mixture, time, and solvent volume were optimized by means of a central composite design approach. The results suggest that temperature and methanol concentration in the solvent mixture are statistically the most significant factors. The separation and quantitative determination of the pigments was carried out in less than 6 min by a developed high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection at 250 nm. Under optimum operating conditions, MAE showed significantly higher recoveries than those obtained by the conventional extraction methods (ultrasonic and reflux extraction), ranging from 84 to 94%. In addition, a drastic reduction of the extraction time (20 min versus 6 h) and solvent consumption (20 versus 100 mL) was achieved with a reproducibility (RSDs < 10%) comparable with that provided by the reflux extraction as a reference method.     

Alum (KAl(SO4)2 · 12H2O) Catalyzed One-Pot Synthesis of Coumarins under Solvent-Free Conditions

Alum (KAl(SO₄)₂ · 12H₂O) is used as an efficient catalyst in the Pechmann condensation of phenol derivatives with β-keto esters leading to the formation of coumarins in excellent yields under solvent-free conditions. This methodology offers significant improvements for the synthesis of coumarins with regard to the yield of products, simplicity in operation, and green aspects by avoiding toxic catalysts and solvents.     

A new and efficient one-pot procedure for the synthesis of 2-styrylquinolines

A one-pot combination of a modified Friedländer annulation and a Knoevenagel condensation provides 2-styrylquinolines in good to excellent yields. A variety of substrates are reacted in one-pot in the presence of 1-methylimidazolium trifluoroacetate ([Hmim]TFA).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Heterocyclic carbene–copper complex supported on ionic liquid-modified graphene oxide: versatile catalyst for synthesis of (i) 1,2,3-triazole and (ii) propargylamine derivatives

A N-heterocyclic carbene–copper complex grafted on graphene oxide with an ionic liquid framework was prepared. The synthesis of (i) 1,2,3-triazole derivatives by ‘Click reaction’ and (ii) propargylamine derivatives by ‘A³ coupling reaction’ in aqueous media by this new catalyst were all successfully accomplished. The catalyst is characterized using infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. The catalyst is reused in the ten reaction cycles without considerable loss of catalytic activity.

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Molecular design of three-dimensional artificial extracellular matrix: Photosensitive polymers containing cell adhesive peptide

A photodimerizable monomer, methacrylic acid-(7-coumaroxy) ethyl ester, was synthesized and was copolymerized with a hydrophilic monomer (N,N-dimethylacrylamide) to obtain a water-soluble photosensitive polymer. Irradiation of the copolymer film and aqueous solution with a high-pressure mercury lamp resulted in highly hydrated gel. The gel yield was enhanced with the content of the photodimerizable group in the copolymer and the irradiation time. The degree of swelling of the gels decreased concomitantly. Incorporation of the well-known cell adhesive peptidyl ligand Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser(RGDS) into photosensitive copolymers attained a biologically active hydrophilic gel matrix upon UV light irradiation. Irradiation of a buffer solution of the latter copolymer premixed with smooth muscle cells entrapped the cells throughout the gel matrix. This indicates that the designed polymer and the resulting cell-incorporated hydrogel are biomimic to an extracellular matrix and to the media of the vascular wall, respectively. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activities of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanohybrids immobilized on cement-based materials for dye degradation

Using cement-based material as a matrix for photocatalytic hybrids is an important development for the large-scale application of photocatalytic technologies. In this work, photocatalytic activity of nanosized hybrids of TiO₂/SiO₂ (nano-TiO₂–SiO₂) for degradation of some organic dyes on cementitious materials was highlighted. For this purpose, an optimal inorganic sol–gel precursor was firstly applied to prepare the composites of nano-TiO₂–SiO₂ which was characterized by XRD, SEM and UV–Vis. Then, a thin layer was successfully coated on white Portland cement (WPC) blocks using a dipping process in a nano-TiO₂–SiO₂ solution. The effect of nano-TiO₂–SiO₂-coated WPC blocks on photocatalytic decomposition of three dyes, including Malachite green oxalate (MG), Methylene blue (MB) and Methyl orange (MO) were studied under UV irradiation and monitored by chemical oxygen demand tests. The results showed an increase in photocatalytic effects which depends on the structure and pH of the applied cement.     

Enhanced Catalytic Performance of Quasi-HKUST-1 for the Tandem Imine Formation

Copper-based metal-organic framework (Cu₃(BTC)₂(H₂O)₃]_n⋅nH₂OMeOH (HKUST-1) has been subjected to thermolysis under air atmosphere at different temperatures ranging from 100 to 300 °C. This treatment produces the partial removal of ligands, the generation of structural defects and additional porosity in a controlled way. The resulting defective materials denoted according to the literature as quasi-MOFs, were subsequently employed as heterogeneous catalysts in the one pot synthesis of N-benzylideneaniline from aniline and benzyl alcohol in open air as terminal oxidant at 70 °C under base- and dehydrating agent-free conditions. The Q-HKUST catalysts calcined at 240 °C (QH-240) was the most efficient in the series, promoting imine synthesis. Data from Knoevenagel condensation of malononitrile shows that in QH-240 the distances of Cu ions in HKUST-1 cavities are preserved, increasing the Knoevenagel activity, but a strong rearrangement takes place at 300 °C or above. The unsaturated copper active sites with simultaneous presence of micro- and mesopores in QH-240 are responsible for this excellent catalytic performance. The effective parameters on catalytic activity of QH-240 including deligandation temperature, the amount of catalyst, the ratio of reactants, and reaction temperature as well as the stability and recyclability of the catalyst were also investigated. The possible mechanism used by QH-240 follows alcohol aerobic oxidation and subsequent anaerobic condensation of aldehyde intermediate with aniline.     

Mechanical properties of two-dimensional graphyne sheet under hydrogen adsorption

In the present work, the mechanical properties of graphyne, a class of graphene allotropes with carbon triple bonds, subjected to the hydrogen chemisorption are studied using a first-principles density functional approach. Two configurations for the maximum of hydrogen adsorption are considered: (I) adsorption of hydrogen atoms on carbon atoms at the two opposite sides of graphyne sheet and (II) adsorption of hydrogen atoms on carbon atoms at the same side of graphyne sheet. Formation energy for hydrogenated graphyne (H-graphyne) corresponding to these states of adsorption is calculated and it is indicated that state (I) is more stable than state (II). Density functional calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) in the harmonic elastic deformation range are performed to obtain the elastic constants of graphyne and H-graphyne in state (I). This study shows that H-graphyne has an in-plane stiffness of 125 N/m and a Poisson's ratio of 0.23. It is observed that the in-plane stiffness of H-graphyne is lower than that of graphyne. This clearly reveals the destructive effect of hydrogen adsorption on the mechanical properties of graphyne. The results of this paper are helpful for the design of future nanodevices in which H-graphyne acts as their basic element.