Development,stability-indicating assessment,and evaluation of influential method conditions using a full factorial design for the determination of Nintedanib esylate-related impurities

The design of an appropriate analytical method for assessing the quality of pharmaceuticals requires a deep understanding of science, and risk evaluation approaches are appreciated. The current study discusses how a related substance method was developed for Nintedanib esylate. The best possible separation between the critical peak pairs was achieved using an X-Select charged surface hybrid Phenyl Hexyl (150 × 4.6) mm, 3.5 μm column. A mixture of water, acetonitrile, and methanol in mobile phase-A (70:20:10) and mobile phase-B (20:70:10), with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and 0.05% formic acid in both eluents. The set flow rate, wavelength, and injection volumes were 1.0 ml/min, 285 nm, and 5 μl, respectively, with gradient elution. The method conditions were validated as per regulatory requirements and United States Pharmacopeia general chapter < 1225 >. The correlation coefficient for all impurities from the linearity experiment was found to be > 0.999. The % relative standard deviation from the precision experiments ranged from 0.4 to 3.6. The mean %recovery from the accuracy study ranged from 92.5 to 106.5. Demonstrated the power of the stability-indicating method through degradation studies; the active drug component is more vulnerable to oxidation than other conditions. Final method conditions were further evaluated using a full-factorial design. The robust method conditions were identified using the graphical optimization from the design space.     

Supramolecular Subphthalocyanine Cage as Catalytic Container for the Functionalization of Fullerenes in Water

Herein we report the first example of a supramolecular cage that works as a catalytic molecular reactor to perform transformations over fullerenes in aqueous medium. Taking advantage of the ability of metallo–organic Pd(II)-subphthalocyanine (SubPc) capsules to form stable host:guest complexes with C₆₀, we have prepared a water-soluble cage that provides a hydrophobic environment for conducting cycloadditions over encapsulated C₆₀, namely, Diels–Alder reactions with anthracene. Indeed, the presence of catalytic amounts of SubPc cage dissolved in water promotes co-encapsulation of insoluble C₆₀ and anthracene substrates, allowing the reaction to occur inside the cavity under mild conditions. The lower stability of the host:guest complex with the resulting C₆₀ cycloadduct facilitates its displacement by pristine C₆₀, which grants catalytic turnover. Moreover, bis-addition compounds are regioselectively formed inside the cage when using excess anthracene.     

Wurtzite CuGaS2 with an In-Situ-Formed CuO Layer Photocatalyzes CO2 Conversion to Ethylene with High Selectivity

We present surface reconstruction-induced C−C coupling whereby CO₂ is converted into ethylene. The wurtzite phase of CuGaS_2. undergoes in situ surface reconstruction, leading to the formation of a thin CuO layer over the pristine catalyst, which facilitates selective conversion of CO₂ to ethylene (C₂H₄). Upon illumination, the catalyst efficiently converts CO₂ to C₂H₄ with 75.1 % selectivity (92.7 % selectivity in terms of R_electron) and a 20.6 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ evolution rate. Subsequent spectroscopic and microscopic studies supported by theoretical analysis revealed operando-generated Cu²⁺, with the assistance of existing Cu⁺, functioning as an anchor for the generated *CO and thereby facilitating C−C coupling. This study demonstrates strain-induced in situ surface reconstruction leading to heterojunction formation, which finetunes the oxidation state of Cu and modulates the CO₂ reduction reaction pathway to selective formation of ethylene.     

Advancing MXene Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion Reactions: Surface,Stoichiometry, and Stability

MXenes, due to their tailorable chemistry and favourable physical properties, have great promise in electrocatalytic energy conversion reactions. To exploit fully their enormous potential, further advances specific to electrocatalysis revolving around their performance, stability, compositional discovery and synthesis are required. The most recent advances in these aspects are discussed in detail: surface functional and stoichiometric modifications which can improve performance, Pourbaix stability related to their electrocatalytic operating conditions, density functional theory and advances in machine learning for their discovery, and prospects in large scale synthesis and solution processing techniques to produce membrane electrode assemblies and integrated electrodes. This Review provides a perspective that is complemented by new density functional theory calculations which show how these recent advances in MXene material design are paving the way for effective electrocatalysts required for the transition to integrated renewable energy systems.     

Enhanced Four-Electron Selective Oxygen Reduction Reaction at Carbon-Nanotube-Supported Sulfonic-Acid-Functionalized Copper Phthalocyanine

In the present work, the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is explored in an acidic medium with two different catalytic supports (multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NMWCNTs)) and two different catalysts (copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and sulfonic acid functionalized CuPc (CuPc-SO₃⁻)). The composite, NMWCNTs-CuPc-SO₃⁻ exhibits high ORR activity (assessed based on the onset potential (0.57 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) and Tafel slope) in comparison to the other composites. Rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE) studies demonstrate a highly selective four-electron ORR (less than 2.5 % H₂O₂ formation) at the NMWCNTs-CuPc-SO₃⁻. The synergistic effect of the catalyst support (NMWCNTs) and sulfonic acid functionalization of the catalyst (in CuPc-SO₃⁻) increase the efficiency and selectivity of the ORR at the NMWCNTs-CuPc-SO₃⁻. The catalyst activity of NMWCNTs-CuPc-SO₃⁻ has been compared with many reported materials and found to be better than several catalysts. NMWCNTs-CuPc-SO₃⁻ shows high tolerance for methanol and very small deviation in the onset potential (10 mV) between the linear sweep voltammetry responses recorded before and after 3000 cyclic voltammetry cycles, demonstrating exceptional durability. The high durability is attributed to the stabilization of CuPc-SO₃⁻ by the additional coordination with nitrogen (Cu-N_x) present on the surface of NMWCNTs.     

Role of the Residue Q1919 in Increasing Kinase Activity of G2019S LRRK2 Kinase: A Computational Study

Mutations in multi-domain leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) have been an interest to researchers as these mutations are associated with Parkinson's disease. G2019S mutation in LRRK2 kinase domain leads to the formation of additional hydrogen bonds by S2019 which results in stabilization of the active state of the kinase, thereby increasing kinase activity. Two additional hydrogen bonds of S2019 are reported separately. Here, a mechanistic picture of the formation of additional hydrogen bonds of S2019 with Q1919 (also with E1920) is presented using ‘active’ Roco4 kinase as a homology model and its relationship with the stabilization of the ‘active’ G2019S LRRK2 kinase. A conformational flipping of residue Q1919 was found which helped to form stable hydrogen bond with S2019 and made ‘active’ state more stable in G2019S LRRK2. Two different states were found within the ‘active’ kinase with respect to the conformational change (flipping) in Q1919. Two doubly-mutated systems, G2019S/Q1919A and G2019S/E1920 K, were studied separately to check the effect of Q1919 and E1920. For both cases, the stable S2 state was not formed, leading to a decrease in kinase activity. These results indicate that both the additional hydrogen bonds of S2019 (with Q1919 and E1920) are necessary to stabilize the active G2019S LRRK2.     

Acetylene-Mediated Borophosphene Dirac Materials as Efficient Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Generally, graphynes have been generated by the insertion of acetylenic content (−C≡C−) in the graphene network in different ratios. Also, several aesthetically pleasing architectures of two-dimensional (2D) flatlands have been reported with the incorporation of acetylenic linkers between the heteroatomic constituents. Prompted by the experimental realization of boron phosphide, which has provided new insights on the boron-pnictogen family, we have modelled novel forms of acetylene-mediated borophosphene nanosheets by joining the orthorhombic borophosphene stripes with different widths and with different atomic constituents using acetylenic linkers. Structural stabilities and properties of these novel forms have been assessed using first-principles calculations. Investigation of electronic band structure elucidates that all the novel forms show the linear band crossing closer to the Fermi level at Dirac point with distorted Dirac cones. The linearity in the hole and electronic bands impose the high Fermi velocity to the charge carriers close to that of graphene. Finally, we have also unravelled the propitious features of acetylene-mediated borophosphene nanosheets as anodes in Li-ion batteries.     

Thermodynamics of molecular interactions in ethyl iodide+toluene mixtures

The excess Gibb's free energy of mixing, G^E, for ethyl iodide+toluene at 25°C have been obtained from the measured vapor pressuure data. The H^E and G^E values for ethyl iodide+toluene are positive throughout the ethyl iodide concentration range and G^E>H^E. The results have been analyzed in terms of Flory and ideal associated model theory of nonelectrolyte solutions. It has been observed that the ideal associated model approach which assumes the presence of AN and A₂B molecular species describes well (within±10 J-mol^–1 in the worst case) the general dependence of H^E on X_A (mole fraction of ethyl iodide) over the whole composition range for ethyl iodide+toluene mixtures. The equilibrium constants for A+A AB and 2A+BA₂B reactions along with the enthalpies of formation of AB and A₂B molecular species have been calculated.     

Synthetic reactions catalyzed by immobilized lipase from oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Lipase from rape (Brassica napus L., immobilized onto celite, catalyzes esterification and transesterification reactions in hexane. The activity of the lipase is stimulated up to 35 fold by the addition of water (1.3% w/v). The activity of the lipase in hydrolysis is about 8 times higher than in the esterification reactions in hexane. Interesteri-fication reactions between mono- and diacylglycerols and transesterification reactions of mono- and diacylglycerols with alcohols were also catalyzed at relatively high rates but transesterification/esterification of these acylglycerols with fatty acids was comparatively slow. In transesterification reactions, triacylglycerols reacted rather slowly.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of 2-furancarbox-aldehyde by thallium(III) in perchloric acid solutions

The kinetics of the oxidation of 2-furancarboxaldehyde by thallic perchlorate at 50°C obeys the rate law