Pd(II)-Catalyzed Benzimidazole-Assisted Annulation of 3-(1H-Benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2-one: Access to Imidazo[1,2-a]chromeno[3,4-c]pyridine

Palladium-catalyzed [4+2] oxidative annulation of coumarin-benzimidazoles with olefins for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been achieved. This synthetic protocol gives access to a wide range of structurally distinct imidazo[1,2-a]chromeno[3,4-c]pyridines in moderate to good yield with wide functional group tolerance. Further, photophysical properties of annulated scaffolds have been examined, which discloses their interesting solvatochromic emission behaviors.     

Incorporation of liquid crystalline triphenylene derivative in bulk heterojunction solar cell with molybdenum oxide as buffer layer for improved efficiency

We report efficient bulk heterojunction solar cells fabricated by inserting a discotic triphenylene derivative into poly (3-hexylthiophene): [6, 6]- phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester. A layer of molybdenum oxide was inserted between anode and active layer. Power conversion efficiency of 2.0% was achieved for these photovoltaic solar cells containing self-organised discotic liquid crystals in the active layer under one sun condition. The influence of varying the thickness of liquid crystal layer and annealing on these solar cells was also studied. Post annealing the bulk heterojunction devices with discotic liquid crystal layer of thickness 20 nm in them yielded an open circuit voltage of 0.41 V, short circuit current density of 17.0 mA cm^?2, a Fill factor of 0.35 and power conversion efficiency of 2.5%.     

One-pot synthetic approach to isolate a single isomer of bis(diethylenetriamine)cobalt(III) cation in bulk using benzoates and the isomeric effects of the cation on ion association with anions

Using a one-pot synthetic approach, a single isomer of bis(diethylenetriamine)cobalt(III) cation, [Co(dien)₂]³⁺ is obtained in bulk from the isomeric mixture (s-fac : u-fac : mer is 7 : 28 : 65) using sodium salts of benzoates (BBz-bromobenzoate, DNBz-dinitrobenzoate, MBz-methylbenzoate) in aqueous medium. Herein, we report the syntheses and characterization of three complexes of composition mer-[Co(dien)₂]Cl(p-BBz)₂·H₂O (1), s-fac-[Co(dien)₂](o,p-DNBz)₃·H₂O (2) and mer-[Co(dien)₂]Cl(p-MBz)₂·4H₂O (3) in the continuation of our earlier work, where benzoate (Bz), p-chlorobenzoate (CBz), p-nitrobenzoate (NBz) and p-aminobenzoate (ABz) were used. The isomeric identification of complex cation was initially made on the basis of spectroscopic characterization (UV–visible, IR and NMR). The binding properties of [Co(dien)₂]³⁺ with benzoates (p-BBz, o,p-DNBz, p-MBz, Bz, CBz, NBz or ABz) have been studied using standard UV–visible spectroscopic titrations in aqueous medium and comparison indicate ion association constants of s-fac > mer. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure analysis of 3 reveals the presence of discrete ions ([Co(dien)₂]³⁺, chloride, p-MBz) along with four lattice water molecules. The structure of 3, with formula [Co(dien)₂](p-MBz)₂Cl·4H₂O, consists of alternating layers made of benzoate ions and layers made of [Co(dien)₂]³⁺, chloride and water molecules. These layers result in the formation of their respective columns and intermolecular cohesion of p-MBz within the columns of [Co(dien)₂]³⁺ is achieved via electrostatic and H-bonding interactions.     

Quantum chemical and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral studies on molecular properties and electronic structure of berberine and berberrubine

The structural and electronic properties of berberine and berberrubine have been studied extensively using density functional theory (DFT) employing B3LYP exchange correlation. The geometries of these molecules have been fully optimized at the B3LYP/6-311G** level. The chemical shift of 1H and 13C resonances in NMR spectra of these molecules have been calculated using the gauge invariant atomic model (GIAO) method as implemented in Gaussian 98. One- and two-dimensional HSQC (1H-13C), HMBC (1H-13C) and ROESY (1H-1H) spectra were recorded at 500 MHz for the berberine molecule in D(2)O solution. All proton and carbon resonances were unambiguously assigned, and inter-proton distances obtained from ten observed NOE contacts. A restrained molecular dynamics (RMD) approach was used to get the optimized solution structure of berberine. The structure of berberine and berberrubine molecules was also obtained using the ROESY data available in literature. Comparison of the calculated NMR chemical shifts with the experimental values revealed that DFT methods produce very good results for both proton and carbon chemical shifts. The importance of the basis sets to the calculated NMR parameters is discussed. It has been found that calculated structure and chemical shifts in the gas phase predicted with B3LYP/6-311G** are in very good agreement with the present experimental data and the measured values reported earlier.     

Binding of permanganate anion to pentaammineazidocobalt(III) cation in solution and solid phases: synthesis,characterization, X-ray structure,and genotoxic effects of [Co(NH3)5N3](MnO4)2⋅H2O

A pentaammineazidocobalt(III) complex, [Co(NH₃)₅N₃](MnO₄)₂XH₂O has been synthesized by an one-pot synthesis method. It was characterized by studies such as infrared (IR) and UV-visible spectroscopy. The single crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed that the title complex crystallizes in space group Cc. The cobalt center is six coordinated with slightly octahedral geometry. The supramolecular architecture is also formed by intermolecular N-H…O (anion and H₂O) and Mn-O…O-H hydrogen bonds. The binding property of the cation, [Co(NH₃)₅N₃]²⁺ with the anion, MnO₄^– has also been determined (in solution phase) with the help of UV-visible spectroscopic titrations. Further, the genotoxic effects of KMnO₄, [Co(NH₃)₅N₃]Cl₂ and [Co(NH₃)₅N₃](MnO₄)₂XH₂O were studied using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay and it revealed that the genotoxicity of the newly synthesized complex is 1.97–1.76 fold, which is less compared to KMnO₄. The order of genotoxic potential has been observed to be KMnO₄ > [Co(NH₃)₅N₃](MnO₄)₂XH₂O > [Co(NH₃)₅N₃]Cl₂.     

Complexation Studies of Pyridyl Sulfonamide Ligands for Sensing Zinc and Copper Ions

Ligand protonation and stepwise dissociation constants, formation constants and speciation of four pyridyl sulfonamide ligands (Congreeve et al., New J. Chem. 27:98–106, 2003) were assessed, using potentiometric and UV/Visible spectrophotometric pH titrations (in 80% MeOH − 20% H₂O). The suitability of these ligands as Cu(II) and Zn(II) sensors for physiological applications was assessed. Two ligands L¹ and L⁴ were p-toluenesulfonamide derivatives while L² and L³ were triflurosulfonamide derivatives. Additionally L³ and L⁴ were appended with α-methyl groups. The most stable complex was formed by L¹ with Cu(II) owing to the fact that this complex was square planar (log ₁₀  K ₁=12.15±0.004 and log ₁₀  β ₂=15.42±0.006). The rest of the complexes invariably formed distorted tetrahedron geometry and complexation was weaker. Speciation diagrams show the effect of ligand to metal concentration, revealing that the L² and L³ ligands are the most suitable for forming ML₂ complexes at physiological pH.     

Chelating and bridging diphosphinoamine (PPh2)2N(iPr) complexes of copper(I)

The ligand bis(diphenylphosphino)isopropylamine (dppipa) has been shown to be a versatile ligand sporting different coordination modes and geometries dictated by copper(I). Most of the molecular structures were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. It is found in a chelating mode, in a monomeric complex when the ligand to copper ratio is 2:1. A tetrameric complex is formed when low ratios of ligand to metal (1:2) were used. But with increasing ratios of ligand to metal (1:1 and 2:1), a trimer or a dimer was obtained depending on the crystallization conditions. Variable temperature ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra of these complexes in solution showed that the Cu–P bond was labile and the highly strained 4-membered structure chelate found in the solid state readily converted to a bridged structures. On the other hand, complexes with the ligand in a bridging mode in the solid state did not form chelated structures in solution. The effect of adding tetra-alkylammonium salts to solutions of various complexes of dppipa were probed by ³¹P{¹H} NMR and revealed the effect of counter ions on the stability of complexes in solution.     

Influence of temperature on the electric,dielectric and AC conductivity properties of nano-crystalline zinc substituted cobalt ferrite synthesized by solution combustion technique

Cobalt–zinc nanoferrites with formulae Co $_{1-x}$ Zn $_{x}$ Fe $_{2}$ O $_{4}$ , where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3, have been synthesized by solution combustion technique. The variation of DC resistivity with temperature shows the semiconducting behavior of all nanoferrites. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant ( $\varepsilon $ ’) and dielectric loss tangent (tan $\delta )$ are investigated as a function of temperature and frequency. Dielectric constant and loss tangent are found to be increasing with an increase in temperature while with an increase in frequency both, $\varepsilon $ ’ and tan $\delta $ , are found to be decreasing. The dielectric properties have been explained on the basis of space charge polarization according to Maxwell–Wagner’s two-layer model and the hopping of charge between Fe $^{2+}$ and Fe $^{3+}$ . Further, a very high value of dielectric constant and a low value of tan $\delta $ are the prime achievements of the present work. The AC electrical conductivity ( $\sigma _\mathrm{AC})$ is studied as a function of temperature as well as frequency and $\sigma _\mathrm{AC}$ is observed to be increasing with the increase in temperature and frequency.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activities of new bis-hydrazonothioxothiazolidinone derivatives

New bis-hydrazonothioxothiazolidinone derivatives based on 2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one were synthesized in good yields using a simplified experimental condition. The structure of synthesized compounds was established with the help of common physico-chemical analysis and various spectroscopic techniques like FT-IR, mass and ¹H NMR. The results of characterizations are in good agreement with the proposed structure of all the synthesized compounds. Further, the antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activities of all the synthesized derivatives were carried out against various species like Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Aspergillous niger and Aspergillous flavus by using agar-cup method. The results of antimicrobial screening showed that all the compounds have mild to moderate activity. However, some of the compounds (3a, 3b, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3i and 3j) have shown better activity than the other.