Self-assembly of chromotropic acid – a plausible explanation for monodisperse oligomer formation

The sodium salt of 4,5-dihydroxy-2,7-naphthalene disulphonic acid (chromotropic acid, DCA) self-assembles in aqueous media above its critical aggregate concentration (above 11 mM) to form organized aggregates as confirmed by conductometric, pH-metric and densitometric techniques. The molecular size of the aggregate was determined from gel filtration chromatographic studies. The molecular weight obtained in the postaggregate concentration region (100 mM) is about 1,660. The molecular weight of the aggregate indicates that four molecules of DCA constitute the aggregate. The results suggest that aggregate formation at high concentrations could explain the monodisperse spontaneous oligomerization in phenolic compounds.     

Quinoline-Proline,Triazole Hybrids: Design,Synthesis, Antituberculosis,Molecular Docking,and ADMET Studies

A series of novel quinoline-proline hybrids ( 11a-g ) and quinoline-proline-1,2,3-triazole hybrids ( 12-14 ) were synthesized by click chemistry based on molecular hybridization concept and were characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. All the titled target compounds were tested for antitubercular activity by MABA and LORA methods by in vitro. Interestingly, two compounds (2R,4S)-1-((2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl)-methyl)-4-(4-nitrobenzamido)-N-phenylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamide ( 11b ) and (2R,4S)-1-((2-cyclopropyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-quinolin-3-yl)-methyl)-4-(4-fluorobenzamido)-N-phenylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamide ( 11c ) exhibited significant activity against the tested Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Further, the cytotoxicity ( CC ₅₀ ) profile of the titled compounds against the Vero cell was performed and discussed. A molecular docking study of the hit compounds ( 11b and 11c ) was also performed to find their putative binding interaction with the active site of the target proteins. Finally, in silico ADMET properties were also predicted for all the synthesized molecules to evaluate their drug-likeness behavior.     

Emitter near an arbitrary body: Purcell effect,optical theorem and the Wheeler–Feynman absorber

The altered spontaneous emission of an emitter near an arbitrary body can be elucidated using an energy balance of the electromagnetic field. From a classical point of view it is trivial to show that the field scattered back from any body should alter the emission of the source. But it is not at all apparent that the total radiative and non-radiative decay in an arbitrary body can add to the vacuum decay rate of the emitter (i.e.) an increase of emission that is just as much as the body absorbs and radiates in all directions. This gives us an opportunity to revisit two other elegant classical ideas of the past, the optical theorem and the Wheeler–Feynman absorber theory of radiation. It also provides us alternative perspectives of Purcell effect and generalizes many of its manifestations, both enhancement and inhibition of emission. When the optical density of states of a body or a material is difficult to resolve (in a complex geometry or a highly inhomogeneous volume) such a generalization offers new directions to solutions.     

Effect of thermo‐solutal stratification on recirculation flow patterns in a backward‐facing step channel flow

This paper presents results on the combined effect of thermo‐solutal buoyancy forces on the recirculatory flow behavior in a horizontal channel with backward‐facing step and the ensuing impact on heat and mass transfer phenomena. The governing equations for double diffusive mixed convection are represented in velocity–vorticity form of momentum equations, velocity Poisson equations, energy and concentration equations. Galerkin's finite‐element method has been employed to solve the governing equations. Recirculatory flow fields with heat and mass transfer are simulated for opposing and aiding thermo‐solutal buoyancy forces by assuming suitable boundary conditions for energy and concentration equations. The effect of Richardson number (0.1?Ri?10) and buoyancy ratio (?10?N?10) on the recirculation bubble and Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are studied in detail. For Richardson number greater than unity, distinct variations in the gradients of Nusselt number and Sherwood number with buoyancy ratio are observed for flow regimes with opposing and aiding buoyancy forces. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile ionic liquid-mediated,three-component sequential reactions for the green,regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of furocoumarins

An environmentally friendly approach to the diastereoselective synthesis of trans-4-oxo-3-aryl-3,4-dihydro-2H-furo[3,2-c]coumarin-2-carbonitriles, trans-2-benzoyl-3-(aryl)-2H-furo[3,2-c]chromen-4(3H)-ones and trans-ethyl-4-oxo-3-(aryl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-furo[3,2-c]chromene-2-carboxylates in good yields is described. The method is based on the sequential multicomponent reactions of 4-hydroxycoumarin, aromatic aldehydes and in situ generated cyanomethylpyridinium, phenacylpyridinium/(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)pyridinium ylides, in the presence of the ionic liquid [BMIm]OH, which functions both as a catalyst and the reaction medium.     

Electrochemical deposition of germanium sulfide from room-temperature ionic liquids and subsequent Ag doping in an aqueous solution

A facile room-temperature electrochemical deposition process for germanium sulfide (GeS(x)) has been developed with the use of an ionic liquid as an electrolyte. The electrodeposition mechanism follows the induced codeposition of Ge and S precursors in ionic liquids generating GeS(x) films. The electrodeposited GeS(x) films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). An aqueous-based Ag doping method was used to dope electrochemically grown GeS(x) films with controlled doping compared to the conventional process, which can be used in next-generation solid-state memory devices.     

Control of Light‐Promoted [2+2] Cycloaddition Reactions by a Remote Ancillary Regulatory Group That Is Covalently Attached to Rhenium Rectangles

The high‐yielding self‐assembly of three neutral rhenium(I) rectangles, [Re₂(CO)₆(L)(bpe)]₂ ( 1 a , L=2,2′‐biimidazolate (biim); 1 b , L=2,2′‐bisbenzimidazolate (bbim); 1 c , L=2,2′‐bis(4,5‐dimethylimidazolate) (bdmim); bpe=trans‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene), under hydrothermal conditions is described. The rectangles were structurally characterized by spectroscopic techniques and further confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Upon irradiation with a Hg lamp at 365 nm, the bpe ligands of rectangles 1 a and 1 b underwent [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions to produce [{(Re(CO)₃)₂L}₂(4,4′‐tpcb)₂] ( 2 a , L=biim; 2 b , L=bbim; 4,4′‐tpcb=1,2,3,4‐tetrakis(4‐pyridyl)cyclobutane) through a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) transformation. However, rectangle 1 c , which contained methyl groups on the 2,2′‐biimidazolate ligand, failed to undergo cycloaddition, even after prolonged irradiation. This result indicates that the light‐induced cycloaddition reaction can be preferentially controlled by the remote regulatory substituents, which are attached onto the same backbone of the rectangle complex. This transformation is the first reported utilization of a remote ancillary regulatory ligand that is covalently attached onto a coordination compound to control the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction.     

Rapid Detection and Quantification of Patulin and Citrinin Contamination in Fruits

Patulin (PAT) and citrinin (CTN) are the most common mycotoxins produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus species and are often associated with fruits and fruit by-products. Hence, simple and reliable methods for monitoring these toxins in foodstuffs are required for regular quality assessment. In this study, we aimed to establish a cost-effective method for detection and quantification of PAT and CTN in pome fruits, such as apples and pears, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with spectroscopic detectors without the need for any clean-up steps. The method showed good performance in the analysis of these mycotoxins in apple and pear fruit samples with recovery ranges of 55–97% for PAT and 84–101% for CTN, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) of PAT and CTN in fruits were 0.006 µg/g and 0.001 µg/g, while their limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.018 µg/g and 0.003 µg/g, respectively. The present findings indicate that the newly developed HPLC method provides rapid and accurate detection of PAT and CTN in fruits.     

Biophysical evaluation of two red-shifted hypocrellin B derivatives as novel PDT agents

Two novel cyclohexane-1,2-diamino and N,N dimethyl amino-propyl substituted hypocrellin B derivatives, abbreviated as CHA2HB and DMAHB, respectively were synthesized. These derivatives exhibited enhanced absorption in phototherapeutic window. Photodynamic action of these derivatives, investigated using optical and electron spin resonance methods, depended on both Type I and Type II mechanisms. Gel electrophoresis indicated 1O2/O2(.-) mediated DNA damage. CHA2HB displayed 20 fold increase in light dependent cytotoxicity on colon cancer cell line (HCT 116) than the well-known hypocrellin B (HB). The light induced, LD(50) values for CHA2HB and DMAHB were found to be 0.1 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively. The singlet oxygen generating efficiency followed the order HB>CHA(2)HB>DMAHB. But, the enhanced red absorption as well as the hydrophilicity renders the CHA2HB a better photodynamic therapeutic agent.