Impact of the Chirality and Curvature of Carbon Nanostructures on Their Interaction with Aromatics and Amino Acids

Understanding noncovalent interactions on the surfaces of carbon nanostructures (CNSs) is of fundamental importance and also has implications in nano‐ and biotechnology. The interactions of aromatic compounds such as benzene, naphthalene, and aromatic amino acids with CNSs of varying diameter, chirality, and curvature were systematically explored by using density functional theory. Planar graphene exhibits stronger binding affinity than curved carbon nanotubes (CNTs), whereas zigzag CNTs appear to show stronger binding affinity than armchair CNTs. For hydrocarbons, there exist two competing modes, namely, π–π stacking interactions and CH ??? π interactions, which bring the aromatic motifs into parallel and perpendicular dispositions with respect to the CNSs, respectively. Our results reveal that π–π stacking interactions override CH ??? π interactions in such cases. However, in the case of aromatic amino acids, π–π interactions can exist simultaneously along with a range of other interactions, including CH ??? π. The polarizability and HOMO energy of the CNSs were found to be the key factors that determine the binding energies. The HOMO–LUMO energy gaps of the CNSs were found to be undisturbed by the noncovalent functionalization of the aromatic molecules.     

Oxidative amidation of benzyl alcohols with amino acid esters mediated by N-hydroxysuccinimide/phenyliodine diacetate

A simple protocol involving metal-free oxidative amidation of benzyl alcohols with amino acid esters has been presented. The amidation proceeds in a radical pathway unlike in conventional metal-mediated extrusion of dihydrogen. The method is advantageous in terms of metal-free conditions, nonexpensive commercial starting substrates. Also various substituents in the starting materials are tolerated and sterically hindered amino acid side chains could provide good yields of amide products.     

A short and concise route to total synthesis of Dendrodolide L

A short and efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of Dendrodolide L has been developed from inexpensive and commercially available starting material. This convergent synthesis utilizes Jacobsen kinetic resolution, regioselective ring-opening of epoxide and Yamaguchi macrolactonization as key steps.     

Evidence for superconductivity in fluorinated La2CuO4 at 35 K: Microwave investigations

In the fluorinated La₂CuO_4−x prepared using a solid state reaction with NH₄HF₂ as a fluorinating agent at 550 K at ambient pressure, superconductivity was detected by microwave and EPR techniques with aT _c of 35 K.     

Spectrophotometric determination of some antiamoebic and anthelmintic drugs with metol and chromium(VI)

A sensitive spectrophotometric method is reported for the determination of tinidazole (TZ), metronidazole (MZ), benzoyl metronidazole (BMZ) or niclosamide (NS) either in pure form or in formulations. This method is based on reduction with zinc dust and hydrochloric acid followed by reaction with metol and potassium dichromate at pH 3.0 +/- 0.2 to give a coloured product having maximum absorbance at 720 nm (for TZ, MZ and BMZ) or 530 nm (for NS).     

Application of p-N,N-dimethylphenylenediamine dihydrochloride for the determination of some diuretics

A spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of acetazolamide, frusemide, polythiazide, benzthiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, trichlormethiazide and amiloride hydrochloride (AML) either in pure form or in pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on the reaction with p-N,N-dimethylphenylenediamine dihydrochloride and chloramine-T, to give a coloured product having maximum absorbance at 660 nm (for AML) or at 540 nm for the others, and reproducible within +/- 1.0%.     

Electrothermal AAS studies of Sm, Eu, Dy, and Er separated from uranium

Summary Studies were conducted on the assay of Sm, Eu, Dy and Er separated from uranium using aqueous standards by electrothermal AAS with Massmann type graphite furnace. The working curves were found to be linear in the ranges Sm (1–10 g/ml), Eu (0.05–0.6 g/ml), Dy (0.1–0.8 g/ml) and Er (0.1–1.0 g/ml). The values obtained for synthetic samples agreed favourably with those obtained by emission spectrographic method. Experiments using pyrolytic carbon coated tubes with and without pretreatment by La, Ta and Y have shown an enhancement with treatment upto a maximum of 15% and improve the memory effect marginally. The effect of Ta treatment was found to be singularly useful in improving the general behaviour of Sm. The interference effects of lanthanides, other than the analyte, were found to be negligible. However, the presence of uranium was found to affect the absorbance. The absorbance of Eu was found to be nearly independent of uranium after an initial increase. On the other hand, the absorbance of other elements studied was found to drastically decrease after an initial enhancement. Detailed investigations of temperature dependence of absorbance were carried out using Eu, Dy and Er. The differences in the behaviour of these elements is attributed to probable differences in the modes of their atomization.

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Untersuchung von aus Uran abgetrenntem Samarium, Europium, Dysprosium und Erbium durch elektrothermische Atomabsorptions-Spektralphotometrie

Zusammenfassung Die Untersuchungen wurden mit Hilfe des Graphitrohrofens nach Maßmann durchgeführt. In folgenden Bereichen ergaben sich lineare Eichkurven: Sm 1–10 g/ml, Eu 0,05–0,6 g/ml, Dy 0,1–0,8 g/ml, Er 0,1-1,0 g/ml. Die aus synthetischen Proben erhaltenen Ergebnisse stimmten gut mit den durch Emissionsspektrographie erhaltenen überein. Versuche wurden mit Röhren mit pyrolytischen Kohlenstoffüberzug mit und ohne Vorbehandlung durch La, Ta und Y durchgeführt und ergaben eine bis 15%ige Steigerung durch die Behandlung sowie eine mäßige Besserung des Memoryeffektes. Eine Behandlung mit Ta war besonders für Sm vorteilhaft. Störungen durch andere Lanthanide waren vernachlässigbar. Uran beeinflußte jedoch die Absorption. Im Falle von Eu zeigte sich nach anfänglicher Zunahme fast eine Unabhängigkeit, während bei den anderen untersuchten Elementen nach anfänglicher Zunahme eine beträchtliche Abnahme auftrat. Mit Eu, Dy und Er wurde ebenfalls die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Absorption untersucht. Festgestellte Unterschiede im Verhalten werden auf unterschiedliche Atomisierung zurückgeführt.