Variable‐Temperature Powder X‐ray Diffraction of Aromatic Carboxylic Acid and Carboxamide Cocrystals

The effect of temperature on the cocrystallization of benzoic acid (BA), pentafluorobenzoic acid (FBA), benzamide (BAm), and pentafluorobenzamide (FBAm) is examined in the solid state. BA and FBA formed a 1:1 complex 1 at ambient temperature by grinding with a mortar and pestle. Grinding FBA and BAm together resulted in partial conversion into the 1:1 adduct 2 at 28 °C and complete transformation into the product cocrystal at 78 °C. Further heating (80–100 °C) and then cooling to room temperature gave a different powder pattern from that of 2 . BAm and FBAm hardly reacted at ambient temperature, but they afforded the 1:1 cocrystal 3 by melt cocrystallization at 110–115 °C. Both BA+FBAm ( 4 ) and BA+BAm ( 5 ) reacted to give new crystalline phases upon heating, but the structures of these products could not be determined owing to a lack of diffraction‐quality single crystals. The stronger COOH and CONH₂ hydrogen‐bonding groups of FBA and FBAm yielded the equimolar cocrystal 6 at room temperature, and heating of these solids to 90–100 °C gave a new crystalline phase. The X‐ray crystal structures of 1 , 2 , 3 , and 6 are sustained by the acid–acid/amide–amide homosynthons or acid–amide heterosynthon, with additional stabilization from phenyl–perfluorophenyl stacking in 1 and 3 . The temperature required for complete transformation into the cocrystal was monitored by in situ variable‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction (VT‐PXRD), and formation of the cocrystal was confirmed by matching the experimental peak profile with the simulated diffraction pattern. The reactivity of H‐bonding groups and the temperature for cocrystallization are in good agreement with the donor and acceptor strengths of the COOH and CONH₂ groups. It was necessary to determine the exact temperature range for quantitative cocrystallization in each case because excessive heating caused undesirable phase transitions.     

Macrocyclic divalent transition metal complexes of acetylacetone buckled with two different diamines

Metal-mediated condensation of o-phenylenediamine with bisacetylacetone-ethylenediimine yields 14-membered tetraaza macrocyclic six-coordinate complexes of the type [M(mac)Cl₂],[M(mac)SO₄·H₂O] (where M = Fe^II, Co^II and Cu^II; MAC = macrocyclic ligand formed in the template reaction). The metal ions are coordinated by four azomethine nitrogen atoms bridged by acetylacetone moieties. The electrical conductance magnetic moments, electronic and IR spectral data of all complexes are discussed.     

Applications of Baylis-Hillman adducts: a simple, convenient, and one-pot synthesis of 3-benzoylquinolines

A simple and convenient synthesis of 3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)quinoline derivatives via the treatment of 3-[hydroxy(2-nitroaryl)methyl]-4H-chromen-4-ones, derived from chromones and various 2-nitrobenzaldehydes, with Fe/AcOH, in a one-pot operation, is described.     

Application of capillary zone electrophoresis in the separation and determination of the principal gum opium alkaloids

We describe the use of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) for the qualitative and quantitative determination of major alkaloids (i.e., thebaine, codeine, morphine, papavarine and narcotine) in gum opium involving the analysis of alkaloids without derivatization or purification. Three extractions with 2.5% w/v aqueous acetic acid quantitatively extracted major alkaloids. The separation was carried out by CZE using a 7:3 mixture of methanol and sodium acetate (100 mM, pH 3.1) at a potential of 15 kV, with UV detection at 224 nm. Spiking of pure reference alkaloid standards in the opium extract was used for peak identification. The influences of buffer composition, pH and voltage on the separation of alkaloids were studied. The detection limit of each alkaloid dissolved in methanol was found to be 850 ng/mL (morphine), 450 ng/mL (thebaine), 500 ng/mL (codeine), 550 ng/mL (papaverine), and 500 ng/mL (narcotine) at an injection pressure of 300 mbar (injection volume, 4 nL) with a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. The external standard method was used for the quantification of alkaloids. The calibration plot was based on linear regression analysis. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for peak area and migration time was in the range of 1.03-3.56% and 0.34-0.69%, respectively. Percentage compositions (g%) of opium alkaloids in five gum opium samples were found to be in the range of 14.45-15.95 (morphine), 2.0-3.45 (codeine), 1.32-2.73 (thebaine), 0.92-2.37 (papavarine), and 3.85-5.77 (narcotine). The method developed is suitable for the routine analysis of major gum opium alkaloids in samples of forensic importance.     

Estimation of trans-resveratrol in herbal extracts and dosage forms by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

A simple, sensitive and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method of analysis of trans-resveratrol in Polygonum cuspidatum root extracts and in dosage forms was developed and validated. The separation was carried out on a TLC aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F-254 as the stationary phase, eluted with chloroform-ethylacetate-formic acid (2.5 : 1 : 0.1) as mobile phase. Densitometric analysis of trans-resveratrol was carried out in the absorbance mode at 313 nm. This system was found to give compact spot for trans-resveratrol (Rf value of 0.40+/-0.03). A good linear regression relationship between peak areas and the concentrations was obtained over the range of 0.5-3.0 microg/spot with correlation coefficient 0.9989. The limit of detection and quantification was found to be 9 and 27 ng/spot. The method was validated for precision and recovery. The spike recoveries were within 99.85 to 100.70%. The RSD values of the precision in the range 0.37-1.84%. The proposed developed HPTLC method can be applied for identification and quantitative determination of trans-resveratrol in herbal extracts and dosage forms.     

Amberlyst-15-promoted efficient 2-halogenation of 1,3-keto-esters and cyclic ketones using N-halosuccinimides

A simple and rapid process has been developed for the α-monohalogenation of 1,3-keto-esters with N-halosuccinimides catalyzed by Amberlyst-15^® at room temperature to produce the corresponding 2-halo 1,3-keto-esters in high yields. This protocol also extended to α-halogenation of cyclic ketones.     

Optical absorption and photoluminescence properties of Er3+ doped mixed alkali borate glasses

An investigations of the optical absorption and fluorescence spectra of 0.2 mol% Er2O3 in mixed alkali borate glasses of the type 67.8B2O3 x xLi2O(32-x)Na2O, 67.8B2O3 x xLi2O(32-x)K2O and 67.8B2O3 x xNa2O(32-x)K2O (where x = 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24) are presented. The glasses were obtained by quenching melts consisting of H3BO3, Li2CO3, Na2CO3, K2CO3 and Er2O3 (950-1100 degrees C, 1.5-2 h) between two brass plates. Spectroscopic parameters like Racah (E1, E2 and E3), spin-orbit (xi(4f)) and configuration interaction (alpha) parameters are deduced as function of x. Using Judd-Ofelt theory, Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (omega2, omega4 and omega6) are obtained. Radiative and non-radiative transition rates (A(T) and W(MPR)), radiative lifetimes (tauR), branching ratios (beta) and integrated absorption cross-sections (sigma) have been computed for certain excited states of Er3+ in these mixed alkali borate glasses. Emission spectra have been studied for all the three Er3+ doped mixed alkali borate glasses. The present paper throws light on the trends observed in the intensity parameters, radiative lifetimes, branching ratios and emission cross-sections as a function of x in these borate glasses, keeping in view the effect of mixed alkalies in borate glasses.     

Catalytic degradation of polyolefins over hexagonal mesoporous silica: Effect of aluminum addition

Degradations of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) over pure hexagonal mesoporous silica and aluminum-containing hexagonal mesoporous silica catalysts were studied in a fixed bed catalytic reactor at 380 and 430 °C, respectively. The thermal and catalytic degradations of both PP and PE in liquid-phase-contact and vapor-phase-contact modes over pure hexagonal mesoporous silica had no significant effect on the product yields. The liquid products were widely distributed in hydrocarbons with boiling point ranges of 36–405 °C. By adding a small amount of aluminum to the hexagonal mesoporous material, aluminium-containing hexagonal mesoporous silica exhibited good performance in cracking heavy molecular weight hydrocarbons into light hydrocarbons. High liquid yields and less coke deposits were obtained in liquid-phase-contact reaction with increasing aluminum content. The liquid products were mainly composed of C₅–C₁₀ hydrocarbons with boiling points of 36–174 °C, and propene, butene, and butane were main components in gaseous products. The effect of degradation temperature was not observed on product yields though degradation rate of polyolefin into liquid products was faster. Conversely, in vapor-phase-contact reaction, an increase in gaseous yield was observed when increasing the amount of aluminum and temperature of the cracking reactor, while the residue yield remained constant.     

LiClO4-catalyzed highly diastereoselective synthesis of cis-aziridine carboxylates

Aldimines (generated in situ from aldehydes and amines) undergo ready addition with ethyl diazoacetate in the presence of a catalytic amount of lithium perchlorate in acetonitrile to afford the corresponding cis-aziridine carboxylates in high yields with high diastereoselectivity. 10 mol% LiClO₄ in acetonitrile provides a convenient catalytic media to perform the reactions under mild and neutral conditions.     

Nanosized magnesium oxide as catalyst for the rapid and green synthesis of substituted 2-amino-2-chromenes

A nanosized magnesium oxide catalyzed three-component condensation reaction of aldehyde, malononitrile, and α-naphthol proceeded rapidly in water-PEG to afford corresponding 2-amino-2-chromenes in high yields at room temperature. The greener protocol was found to be fairly general and the catalyst was reused in subsequent reactions with consistent activity.