Enhanced activity and stability of Pt catalysts on functionalized graphene sheets for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction

Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction using Pt nanoparticles supported on functionalized graphene sheets (FGSs) was studied. FGSs were prepared by thermal expansion of graphite oxide. Pt nanoparticles with average diameter of 2 nm were uniformly loaded on FGSs by impregnation methods. Pt-FGS showed a higher electrochemical surface area and oxygen reduction activity with improved stability as compared with the commercial catalyst. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical characterization suggest that the improved performance of Pt-FGS can be attributed to smaller particle size and less aggregation of Pt nanoparticles on the functionalized graphene sheets.     

Theoretical studies and antibacterial activity for Schiff base complexes

New ligand 4‐((2‐Hydroxy1‐naphthyl) methylene amino)‐1.5‐dimethyl‐2‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐3(2H)‐one (HL) was synthesized from the reaction of 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde and 4‐aminophenaz one. A complexes of this ligand [VO(II)(HL)(SO₄)], [Pt(IV)(L)Cl₃], [Re(V)(L)Cl₃]Cl, and [M(II)(L)Cl] (M═Pd(II), Ni(II), Cu(II)) were synthesized. The resulted compounds were characterized by IR, NMR (¹H and ¹³C), mass spectrometry, element analysis, and UV‐Vis spectroscopy. Additionally, the spectroscopic studies revealed octahedral geometries for the Re(V), Pt(IV) complexes, and square pyramidal for VO(II), square planar for Pd(II) complex, and tetrahedral for the Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔE^*, ΔH^*, ΔS^*, ΔG^*, and K) were calculated using from the TGA curve Coats‐Red fern method. Therefore, hyper Chem‐8 program has been used to predict structural geometries of compounds in the gas phase. Finally, the synthesized Schiff base and its metal complexes were screened for their biological activity against bacterial species, 2 Gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and 2 Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).     

One‐Step Microfluidic Coating of Phospholipid Microbubbles with Natural Alginate Polymer as a Delivery System for Human Epithelial Lung Adenocarcinoma

In this study, the neoplastic drug frequently used in the treatment of lung cancer, carboplatin is loaded to microbubbles via a microfluidic platform. In order to increase the drug loading capacity of microbubbles, carboplatin is encapsulated into alginate polymer layer. The phospholipid microbubbles (MBs) are synthesized by MicroSphere Creator, which is connected with T‐junction and micromixer for the treatment with CaCl₂ solution to provide gelation of the alginate coated phospholipid microbubbles (AMBs). The carboplatin loaded alginate coated phospholipid microbubbles (CAMBs) result in 12.2 ± 0.21 µm mean size, obtained by mixing with 0.05% CaCl₂ using T‐junction. The cytotoxic activities of the synthesized MBs, AMBs, and CAMBs are also investigated with the 3‐(4,5‐Dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) and live/dead fluorescent dying assays in the A549 and BEAS‐2B cell lines. The one‐step microfluidic coating of lipid microbubbles with natural alginate polymer appears to be a promising strategy for enhanced drug reservoir properties.     

Preparation, spectroscopic properties and thermal stabilities of organomercury compounds containing the bulky ligand (Me3Si)3C or (PhMe2Si)3C

Mercury compounds of the types HgR¹R (R¹ = C(SiMe₃)₃; R = Me, ⁱPr, Bu, ^tBu or Ph) and HgR²R(R² = C(SiMe₂Ph)₃; R = Me, Bu, CH₂Ph or Ph) have been prepared. Those containing R¹ were made by reactions of the bromides HgR¹Br with the Grignard reagents MgRX, and those containing R² by reaction of HgR²Cl with LiR or, for R = CH₂Ph, with Mg(CH₂Ph)Cl. Replacement of one R group in HgR₂ by the bulky R¹ or R² group leads to a large increase in thermal stability, a marked shift in the ¹⁹⁹Hg resonance to lower frequency and an increase in the coupling constant ¹J(¹³C---¹⁹⁹Hg) for the Hg---R bond. The compound HgR²Cl does not react further with LiR² in tetrahydrofuran, but with LiR¹ gives HgR¹R²; the arrangement of the SiMe₂Ph groups in the latter in solution in CH₂C12 at low temperature appears to be different from that in the solid.     

Recognition-mediated assembly of nanoparticles into micellar structures with diblock copolymers

Polystyrene-based diblock copolymers, featuring diaminotriazine functionality on one of the blocks were used to assemble complementary uracil-functionalized nanoparticles into micellar aggregates. The size of these self-assembled aggregates was controlled by block length, as determined in solution (using dynamic light scattering), and in thin films (using transmission electron microscopy).     

Some observations on an indirect atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for the microdetermination of chlorine or bromine in organic compounds

An atomic absorption spectrophotometric method for the microdetermination of chlorine or bromine in organic compounds is described; it is based on oxygen flask combustion to yield chloride or bromide, which is then reacted with an excess of solid silver chromate, followed by collection of the combined unreacted silver chromate and chloride or bromide preipitate and AAS determination of the free chromate (equivalent of the chloride or bromide originally present) at 358.2 nm. The method was applied satisfactorily to a wide range of chlorine or bromine containing organic compounds with an average absolute error of ± 0.23 and a coefficient of variation (seven determinations) of better than 2%.     

Synthesis and spectral characterization of macrocyclic Schiff base by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,4- bis (2-carboxyaldehydephenoxy)butane and its CuII, NiII, PbII, CoIII and LaIII complexes

A new macrocyclic ligand, 1,3,5-triaza-2,4:7,8:15,16-tribenzo-9,15-dioxacycloheptadeca-1,5-diene (L) was synthesized by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine with 1,4-bis(2-carboxyaldehydephenoxy)butane. Then, its Cu^II, Ni^II, Pb^II, Co^III and La^III complexes were synthesized by the template effect by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,4-bis (2-carboxyaldehydephenoxy)butane and Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, Pb(NO₃)₂, Co(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, La (NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O, respectively. The ligand and its metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r., UV-vis spectra, magnetic susceptibility, thermal gravimetric analysis, conductivity measurements and mass spectra. All complexes are diamagnetic and the Cu^II complex is binuclear. The Co^II complex was oxidised to Co^III.     

Evaluation of two-center overlap integrals using slater type orbitals in terms of bessel type orbitals

Using the definition of STOs in terms of BTOs, we have presented analytical formula for two-center overlap integrals. The obtained formula contains generalized binomial coefficients and Mulliken integrals A_k and B_k. Taking into account the recent advances on the efficient calculation of Mulliken integrals (Harris, Int. J. Quantum Chem., 100 (2004) 142), we have obtained many more satisfactory results for two-center overlap integrals, for arbitrary quantum numbers, scaling parameters, and location of atomic orbitals.PACS No: 31.15.+qAMS Subject Classification: 81V55, 81–08     

Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Studies of Transition Metal Complexes with N,N′-Bis(2-aminothiophenol)-1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane and Structure Effects on Extractability of Ligand towards some Divalent Cations

Summary. La(III), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) metal complexes with a novel quadridentate Schiff base derived from 1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane and 2-aminothiophenol were synthesized and characterized by microanalytical data, elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV-Vis, IR, mass spectra, cyclic voltammetric and conductance measurements. The extractability of divalent cations was evaluated as a function of relationship between distribution ratio of the metal and pH or ligand concentration. The highest extraction percentage of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ showed pH 7.0 and 6.4. It was concluded that the ligand can effectively be used in solvent extraction of copper(II) and nickel(II) from the aqueous phase to the organic phase.