A synthesis of spirofuran-indenoquinoxalines via isocyanid-based one-pot four-component reaction

A simple and versatile procedure for the combinatorial synthesis of (Z)-dialkyl-5-(alkylimino)-5Hspiro[ furan-2,11'-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline]-3,4-dicarboxylates via the catalyst-free one-pot fourcomponent reaction of ninhydrin, benzene-1,2-diamines, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and isocyanides is described.     

Synthesis,Thermal Behavior,and Antimicrobial Activity of a Novel Macrocycle and its Transition Metal Complexes Derived from Thiosemicarbazide

The present study reports the synthesis of Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes with a new macrocyclic ligand (L₂)- 1,2,8,9,11,14-hexaazacyclopentadeca-12,13-dioxo-10,15-dithione-2,7-diene. The macrocycle was derived from thiosemicabazone (L₁) and diethyloxalate that were prepared by the reaction of thiosemicarbazide and glutaraldehyde in the ratio of 2:1. The synthesized complexes and ligands were characterized by elemental analysis and molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, ¹HNMR, IR, electronic, and thermogravimetric analyses. The molar conductance values confirmed that the Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes were 1:2 electrolytes. On the basis of electronic spectral studies and molar conductance measurements, the authors proposed an octahedral structure for Ni(II), Mn(II), and Co(II) complexes, tetrahedral geometry for Zn(II) complex, and square planar geometry for Cu(II) complex. The thermal behavior of the compounds was studied by TGA in a nitrogen atmosphere up to 750°C at the rate of 20°C/min. The TGA results revealed that the complexes had higher thermal stability than the macrocycle. All the synthesized compounds were screened against 4 bacteria (i.e., Streptococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtillis, Salmonella typhimurium) and 2 fungi (i.e., Fusarium oryzae, Candida albicans). The results showed that the metal complexes inhibited the growth of bacteria to a greater extent as compared to the ligand.     

Comparison of ultrasound-assisted emulsification and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction methods for the speciation of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples using low density extraction solvents

Herein, ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction (USAEME) and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) methods based on applying low-density organic solvents have been critically compared for the speciation of inorganic selenium, Se(IV) (selenite) and Se(VI) (selenate) in environmental water samples by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). At pH 2 and T = 75 °C for 7 min, only Se(IV) was able to form the piazselenol complex with 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine. Piazselenol was extracted using an extraction solvent and was injected into a GC-FID instrument for the determination of Se(IV). Conveniently, Se(VI) remained in the aqueous phase. Total inorganic selenium was determined after the reduction of Se(VI) to Se(IV) and prior to the above procedures. The Se(VI) concentration was calculated as the difference between the measured total inorganic selenium and Se(IV) content. The effect of various experimental parameters on the efficiencies of the two methods and their optimum values were studied with the aid of response surface methodology and experimental design. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detections (LODs) for Se(IV) obtained by USAEME-GC-FID and DLLME-GC-FID were 0.05 and 0.11 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 6) for the measurement 10 ng mL⁻¹ of Se(IV) were 5.32% and 4.57% with the enrichment factors of 2491 and 1129 for USAEME-GC-FID and DLLME-GC-FID, respectively. Both methods were successfully applied to the analysis of inorganic selenium in different environmental water samples and certified reference material (NIST SRM 1643e).     

Two polymorphs of tetraethylammonium [hydrogen tris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)borato]di‐μ2‐sulfido‐disulfido(η2‐tetrasulfido)ditungsten(V) with Z′ = 1 and 2

Two polymorphs of the title compound, (C₈H₂₀N)[W₂S₄(S₄)(C₁₅H₂₂BN₆)], have been obtained unexpectedly by attempted recrystallization of a mixed‐metal–sulfur cluster complex from different solvents. The dinuclear complex anion contains W^V in two different coordination environments, one of them distorted octahedral with a tris(pyrazolyl)borate anion, a terminal sulfide and two bridging sulfide ligands, the other distorted square‐pyramidal with a terminal sulfide, two bridging sulfide and a chelating tetrasulfide ligand. The three independent anions in the two polymorphs have essentially the same geometry. The central W₂S₂ ring is a slightly folded rhombus with acute angles at the S atoms, and the WS₄ chelate ring is an envelope with one noncoordinating S atom as the flap. The second polymorph, with Z′ = 2 and pseudo‐inversion symmetry relating the anions of the asymmetric unit, also displays pseudo‐translation features in its layer structure, and all examined crystals were found to be twinned, possibly as a consequence of this structural feature.     

Excitation and emission spectra of jet-cooled naphthylmethyl radicals

Gas phase excitation and emission spectra of three naphthylmethyl radical chromophores are presented. These resonance-stabilized species, 1-naphthylmethyl, 2-naphthylmethyl, and α-acenaphthenyl, each possessing an sp(2) carbon adjacent to a naphthalene moiety, are studied by resonant two-color two-photon ionization, laser induced fluorescence, and dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy. Identification of the radicals is made through a combination of dispersed fluorescence and density functional theory calculations. All three species possess spectra in the 580 nm region. The possible relevance to unidentified spectroscopic features such as the diffuse interstellar bands and emission from the Red Rectangle nebula is discussed.     

A new method to solve the fully connected Reserve Network Design Problem

In selecting sites for conservation purposes connectivity of habitat is important for allowing species to move freely within a protected area. The aim of the Reserve Network Design Problem is to choose a network of contiguous sites which maximises some conservation objective subject to various constraints. The problem has been solved using both heuristic and exact methods. Heuristic methods can handle much larger problems than exact methods but cannot guarantee an optimal solution. Improvements in both computer power and optimisation algorithms have increased the attractiveness of exact methods. The aim of this work is to formulate an improved algorithm for solving the Reserve Network Design Problem.     

A three-component,intramolecular Ugi reaction toward unique indoloketopiperazines

2-(3-Chloro-2-formyl-1H-indol-1-yl) acetic acid, as a bifunctional formyl-acid, is prepared in three steps. This compound undergoes a one-pot, four-center, three-component Ugi reaction with primary amines and alkyl isocyanides. A series of novel substituted indoloketopiperazine derivatives are obtained in moderate to high yields.     

On the symmetry and topology of plasmonic eigenmodes in heptamer and hexamer nanocavities

Plasmonics is expected to play a key role in nanotechnology, leading to intriguing routes in many engineering and biological applications. Recently, it has been realized that toroidal resonances could be an alternative to electric and magnetic resonances, which have governed the innovation of plasmonic applications so far. In a previous contribution, we proved the existence of toroidal moments in an oligomeric void-plasmonic structure [1]. In this article, we investigate the role of topology and symmetry in decomposing the various dipolar, quadrupolar, and toroidal moments, using energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy supported by three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method simulations. The consequences of changing the topology on the toroidal character are discussed by comparing results obtained from nanoholes forming heptamer and hexamer nanocavity systems that were drilled into a thin silver film.     

Photoluminescence in the characterization and early detection of biomimetic bone-like apatite formation on the surface of alkaline-treated titanium implant: state of the art

Photoluminescence (PL) property is particularly important in the characterization of materials that contain significant proportions of noncrystalline components, multiple phases, or low concentrations of mineral phases. In this research, the ability of biomimetic bone-like apatite deposition on the surface of titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) substrates in simulated body fluid (SBF) right after alkaline-treatment and subsequent heat-treatment was studied by the inherent luminescence properties of apatite. For this purpose, the metallic substrates were treated in 5 M NaOH solution at 60 °C. Subsequently, the substrates were heat-treated at 600 °C for 1 h for consolidation of the sodium titanate hydrogel layer. Then, they were soaked in SBF for different periods of time. Finally, the possibility to use of PL monitoring as an effective method and early detection tool is discussed. According to the obtained results, it was concluded that the PL emission peak did not have any significant shift to the shorter or higher wavelengths, and the PL intensity increased as the exposure time increased. This research proved that the observed inherent PL of the newly formed apatite coatings might be of specific interest for histological probing and bone remodelling monitoring.     

Headspace hollow fiber protected liquid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for speciation and determination of volatile organic compounds of selenium in environmental and biological samples

A simple and novel speciation method for the determination of volatile organic compounds of selenium (dimethylselenide (DMSe) and dimethyldiselenide (DMDSe) has been developed using a headspace hollow fiber protected liquid-phase microextraction (HS-HF-LPME) combined with capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The organic solvent impregnated in the pores and filled inside the porous hollow fiber membrane was used as an extraction interface in the HS-HF-LPME of the compounds. The effect of different variables on the extraction efficiency was studied simultaneously using an experimental design. The variables of interest in the HS-HF-LPME were sample volume, extraction time, temperature of sample solution, ionic strength, stirring rate and dwelling time. A Plackett-Burman design was performed for screening in order to determine the significant variables affecting the extraction efficiency. Then, the significant factors were optimized by a Box-Behnken design (BBD) and the response surface equations were derived. Under optimum conditions, preconcentration factors up to 1250 and 1170 were achieved for DMSe and DMDSe respectively. The detection limit and relative standard deviation (RSD) (n=5, c=50 μg L(-1)) for DMSe were 65 ng L(-1) and 4.8%, respectively. They were also obtained for DMDSe as 57 ng L(-1) and 3.9%, respectively. The developed technique was found to be applicable to spiked environmental and biological samples.