Synthesis of O,O Ethane Bridged Bis-copper(II) Macrocycles. Selective Enzyme Model for Catecholase Activity

New mononuclear and dinuclear complexes [3-hydroxyethyl-1,3,5,8,11pentaazacyclotridecane]copper(II) (1)/nickel(II) (2) perchlorate and O,O ethane bridged bis-copper(II) (3)/nickel(II) (4) macrocycles have been synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, viz. i.r., n.m.r., e.p.r., u.v.–vis. and conductance measurements. Spectral data and conductance measurements reveal that all the complexes are consistent with square-planar geometry and are ionic in nature. The catalytic activity of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex (3) in the presence of pyrocatechol was determined spectrometrically by monitoring the increase of the o-benzoquinone characteristic absorption band at 25,000 cm⁻¹ with respect to time in DMF saturated with molecular oxygen. The kinetic parameters V_max (2.8×10⁻³ M s⁻¹) and K_M (1.4×10⁻³ mm) have been determined by Michaelis–Menten method. Electrochemistry of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex has been studied in the presence of molecular oxygen with pyrocatechol and without pyrocatechol at a scan rate of 0.1 V s⁻¹ by cyclic voltammetry. On addition of pyrocatechol, complex shows a shift in E_pc, E_pa and E_1/2 values indicating the oxidation of substrate (pyrocatechol).     

Electrophoretic migration of proteins in semidilute polymer solutions

We present a systematic study of the electrophoretic migration of 10-200 kDa protein fragments in dilute-polymer solutions using microfluidic chips. The electrophoretic mobility and dispersion of protein samples were measured in a series of monodisperse polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) polymers of different molecular masses (243, 443, and 764 kDa, polydispersivity index <2) of varying concentration. The polymer solutions were characterized using rheometry. Prior to loading onto the microchip, the polymer solution was mixed with known concentrations of SDS (SDS) surfactant and a staining dye. SDS-denatured protein samples were electrokinetically injected, separated, and detected in the microchip using electric fields ranging from 100 to 300 V/cm. Our results show that the electrophoretic mobility of protein fragments decreases exponentially with the concentration c of the polymer solution. The mobility was found to decrease logarithmically with the molecular weight of the protein fragment. In addition, the mobility was found to be independent of the electric field in the separation channel. The dispersion is relatively independent of polymer concentration and it first increases with protein size and then decreases with a maximum at about 45 kDa. The resolution power of the device decreases with concentration of the PDMA solution but it is always better than 10% of the protein size. The protein migration does not seem to correspond to the Ogston or the reptation models. A semiempirical expression for mobility given by van Winkle fits the data very well.     

Use of graphite oxide and graphene oxide as catalysts in the synthesis of dipyrromethane and calix[4]pyrrole

Graphite oxide and graphene oxides have been used as solid catalysts for the synthesis of 5,5-dialkyldipyrromethanes and calix[4]pyrroles in organic and aqueous solutions at room temperature.     

Sequestration of amitriptyline by liposomes

We study the uptake of amitriptyline, which is a common cause of overdose-related fatalities, in aqueous solutions by 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) liposomes and liposomes composed of a mixture of DMPC and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac(1-glycerol)] (DOPG) lipids. The effect of drug concentration, liposomal charge, pH, salt, and protein presence on the drug uptake is investigated using two different methodologies, a precipitation and a centrifugation method. Furthermore, the time scale of the drug uptake is studied through qualitative observations at high pH and through conductivity measurements at neutral pH and found to be <5 s. The results of the quantitative studies show that the fractional drug uptake decreases with increasing drug concentration, and for a given concentration it increases with the pH and decreases in the presence of salt. We find that a larger amount of drug is sequestered by negatively charged liposomes (those containing DOPG) than liposomes with no net charge (DMPC). We speculate that the mechanism of drug uptake is due to both electrostatic interactions as well as hydrophobic effects. The fractional uptake by DMPC:DOPG in a 70:30 ratio is as high as 95% in water and about 90% in physiological buffer. The fractional uptake is also measured in presence of 2% (w/w) bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is approximately the protein concentration in the intercellular fluid. In presence of protein the fractional uptakes by 70:30 DMPC:DOPG liposomes and 50:50 DMPC:DOPG liposomes are 82 and 90%, respectively, at 125 muM drug amitriptyline. In the absence of liposomes, 67% of the drug is taken up by the protein in a 2% (w/w) BSA, 125 muM amitriptyline solution. Thus, addition of 50:50 DMPC:DOPG liposomes reduces the free drug concentration by a factor of about 3.5, making them attractive candidates for drug detoxification.     

Synthesis of Metal‐Free Phthalocyanines in Functionalized Ammonium Ionic Liquids

A convenient, fast, efficient, and ecofriendly synthesis of metal‐free phthalocyanines from various substituted phthalonitriles in different hydroxyalkylammonium ionic liquids in the presence of 1,8‐diazabicyclo‐[5,4,0]‐undec‐7‐ene (DBU) is reported in moderate yields. The effect of concentration of DBU and temperature on the synthesis of phthalocyanine in N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐N,N‐dimethylbutylammonium bromide ionic liquid has been examined, and the ionic liquid has been recovered and reused conveniently.     

Synthesis and anion binding of 2-arylazo-meso-octamethylcalix[4]pyrroles

2-Arylazo-5,5,10,10,15,15,20,20-octamethylcalix[4]pyrroles (azo-OMCPs) have been synthesised by the reaction of calix[4]pyrrole with aryldiazonium chloride in 15–45% yields. The solution-state binding studies of the synthesised hosts were investigated by absorption spectroscopy and ¹H NMR in DMSO and CDCl₃, respectively. These receptors, appended with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups, displayed enhanced affinity and selectivity for fluoride anion. Well-defined colour change in the visible region of the spectrum was observed upon addition of fluoride ion in DMSO solution of azo-OMCPs. Detailed NMR studies in CDCl₃ revealed that azo-OMCPs with nitro and chloro groups have higher binding affinity for fluoride ion.

     

Enhancement of dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture by dispersing nano-sized copper oxide

ABSTRACT

Here, we present the effect of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) on dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture, namely W302. The FLC mixture, comprising of pyrimidine compounds, was characterised through dielectric spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarising optical microscopy (POM) and other electro-optical methods. The material parameters such as spontaneous polarisation, rotational viscosity, response time and tilt angle of W302 were found to be 14 nC/cm², 240 mPa.s, 150 µs and 28^?, respectively. The phase transition temperatures of W302 were observed through DSC and further confirmed by the dependence of dielectric loss factor in homogeneously aligned FLC sample with temperature. We also demonstrate the observance of a low-frequency dielectric relaxation mode due to the unwinding of the helix, called as partially unwound helical mode (p-UHM) along with Goldstone mode. The behaviour of p-UHM has been systematically studied with temperature and applied bias field. Further, dispersion of nCuO into host W302 has shown a significant increase in dielectric permittivity. Also, the p-UHM relaxation peak in the dielectric regime has disappeared with the incorporation of nCuO. These studies would be useful to fabricate better electro-optical devices for display, switching and beam steering applications. The formulation and characterization of a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) mixture W302 composed of pyrimidine compounds is presented. Then, we observed the effect of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (nCuO) on dielectric and electro-optical parameters of a newly prepared and characterized FLC mixture.     

Drug and surfactant transport in Cyclosporine A and Brij 98 laden p-HEMA hydrogels

Surfactants are commonly incorporated into hydrogels to increase solute loading and attenuate the release rates. In this paper we focus on understanding and modeling the mechanisms of both surfactant and drug transport in hydrogels. Specifically, we focus on Brij 98 as the surfactant, Cyclosporine A (CyA) as the hydrophobic drug, and poly-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (p-HEMA) as the polymer. The models developed here are validated by experiments conducted with gels of different thicknesses and surfactant loadings. Also the model is compared with prior experimental studies in literature. The model predicts that the percentage surfactant as well as drug release scales as 1/(surfactant loading)(0.5), and thus a four fold increase in surfactant loading leads to a two fold reduction in percentage release for both drug and surfactant at a given time. The models for the surfactant and drug release are fitted to the experimental data to obtain values of 1.44 x 10(-14) m(2)/s for CyA diffusivity and 414.4 for the partition coefficient between drug concentration inside the micelle and that in the gel. These models can be very helpful in tuning the drug release rates from hydrogels by controlling the surfactant concentration. The results also show that Brij 98 loaded p-HEMA exhibit an extended release of CyA and so contact lenses made with this material can be used for extended ocular delivery of CyA, which is an immunosuppressant drug commonly used for treatment of various ocular ailments.     

Crystallographic evidence of hexacoordination at phosphorus via intramolecular coordination of donor groups on phosphane and phosphane sulphide

The X-ray structure analysis of bis(8-dimethylamino-l-naphthyl)phenylphosphane (3) and of the corresponding sulphide 4 has revealed hexacoordination at phosphorus in both cases, the N … P separations being less than the sum of the van der Waal radii. Furthermore, in both cases the overall geometry corresponds to a distorted bicapped tetrahedron. The optimum geometry calculated for 4 via the program developed by Autodesk (MM + method) suggests that the structure of the molecule is a function not only of steric requirements but also of electronic effects.