Silver(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes of bis‐imidazol‐2‐ylidenes having different aromatic‐spacers: synthesis,crystal structure,and in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer studies

A series of Ag(I) complexes ( 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) derived from imidazol‐2‐ylidenes was synthesized by reacting Ag₂O with an o‐, m‐, p‐xylyl or 1,3,5‐triazine‐linked imidazolium salts ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) and then characterizing these using various spectro‐analytical techniques. Additionally, triazine‐linked bis‐imidazolium salt 5 was characterized using the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method. Complexes 6–9 were formed from the N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors 1–3 as PF₆^‐ salts in good yields. Conversely, salt 5 does not form Ag(I) complex even under various reaction conditions. Using ampicillin as a standard, complexes 6–9 were tested against bacteria strains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, respectively, showing potent antimicrobial activities against the tested bacteria even at minimum inhibition concentration and bacterial concentration levels. Furthermore, the potential anticancer activities of the reported complexes were evaluated against the human colorectal cancer (HCT 116) cell lines, using 5‐fluorouracil as a standard drug. The highest anticancer activities were observed for complex 8 with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 μm , whereas the lowest was observed for complex 9 with an IC₅₀ value of 18.1 μm . Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Old Reagent,New Results: Aromatization of Hantzsch 1,4-Dihydropyridines with Supported Bismuth Nitrate under Microwave Irradiation in Solventless System

Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyriines were rapidly and efficiently oxidized using bismuth nitrate supported onto silica gel under microwave irradiation.     

Solvent Free Synthesis of Coumarins

An efficient synthesis of 3-substituted coumarins under solventless system is described.     

Chromium Trioxide Supported onto Wet Silica Gel: Rapid Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds Under Microwave Irradiation in Solventless System

In an environmentally benign system, alcohols are rapidly oxidized to carbonyl compounds using CrO 3 supported onto wet silica gel as an oxidant under microwave irradiation.     

Microwave Thermolysis: A Rapid and Selective Method for the Cleavage of THP Ethers Using CrO 3 Supported onto Zeolite in Solventless System

Oxidative deprotection of tetrahydropyranyl ethers (THP ethers) using chromium trioxide supported onto zeolite under microwave irradiation in solvent free condition is described.     

Synthesis of Bicyclic Compounds Derived from 1,2,4-Benzotriazines

The synthesis of bicyclic compounds derived from benzo[1,2,4]triazines is described.     

Composing local and global behaviors: Higher performance of spin glass based portfolio selection

The basic challenge in optimization is how to navigate through the many non-optimal and mediocre solutions toward the few globally optimal solutions, amidst the growing problem size and computation complexity. If the proximity to an optimal solution could be measured, a desirable technique could be one that navigates speedily, even if crudely, when an optimal solution is not likely to be next; and accurately, even if slowly, otherwise. In this paper, we propose a technique based on spin glass paradigm that uses the above heuristic to solve the classic portfolio selection problem. Study of spin glass paradigm reveals that limiting each spin's interactions to its local neighborhood increases the computational speed of the algorithm, but also introduces an error in performance measure. In contrast, extending each spin's reach globally provides an accurate measure of performance, but slows down the glass computations. Theoretical analysis reveals a decision threshold by which speedy versus accurate navigation, i.e. local versus global glass behavior, can be alternated. The resulting algorithm is then applied to five different world stock market portfolio selection problems consisting of Hang Seng, DAX 100, FTSE 100, S&P 100, and Nikkei. These results demonstrate utility of the hybrid local–global behavior and appropriateness of the proposed decision threshold. Specifically, the results of experiments show faster convergence without a significant loss of accuracy in reaching globally optimal solutions.     

Metamaterial absorber based on circular ring structure with and without copper lines

This paper presents the analysis of circular ring metamaterial absorber with the existing of copper lines. The structure is designed using lossy FR4 substrate with thin copper layers. The circular ring shape with copper lines is printed on the top surface of FR4 substrate, while at the bottom surface is printed with full copper ground plane. Parametric study is done to investigate the effect of copper lines on the resonance frequency. From the simulation, the circular ring metamaterial absorber with vertical copper lines can resonates at lower frequency, but this structure is polarized sensitive. This drawback can be improved by adding horizontal copper lines together with the vertical copper lines. The circular ring structure with vertical and horizontal copper lines is not only polarization insensitive, but it can works at wide operating angle of incident waves.