Surfactant tail length-dependent lipase activity profile in cationic water-in-oil microemulsions

The catalytic activity of Chromobacterium viscosum lipase (CV-lipase) was estimated across varying surfactant tail lengths (C-10-C-18) in water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions of cationic surfactants containing four different hydroxyethyl-substituted head groups. An attempt to find a correlation, if any, between the activity of interfacially solubilized lipase and the varying surfactant tails was made for the first time in micellar enzymology. The second-order rate constant, k2, in lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-n-hexanoate at pH 6.0 and 25 degrees C shows an improvement in enzyme activity (approximately 30-140%) across different head groups of amphiphiles with increasing tail lengths in varying solution compositions. Improvement of enzyme activity is prominent in ascending from C-10 to C-14/C-16, depending on the nature of polar head group. The hydrolytic activity of lipase in different surfactant (50 mM)/water/isooctane/n-hexanol with varying z= [alcohol]/[surfactant] (6.4 or 4.8) was amplified by 25-250% with increment in surfactant tail length in comparison with widely used cationic w/o microemulsions having solution compositions (z=16). As a notable outcome of this research, we found w/o microemulsions of 25 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide/water/isooctane/n-hexanol (z=8) producing the highest ever activity of lipase in any w/o microemulsions.     

End-to-end single cyanato and thiocyanato bridged Cu(II) polymers with a new tridentate Schiff base ligand: crystal structure and magnetic properties

A new tridentate Schiff base ligand HL (L = C14H19N2O), derived from the condensation of benzoylacetone and 2-dimethylaminoethylamine in a 1:1 ratio, reacts with copper(ii) acetate and cyanate, thiocyanate or azide, to give rise to several end-to-end polymeric complexes of formulae [CuL(mu(1,3)-NCO)]n 1, [CuL(mu(1,3)-NCS)]n 2 and the complex 3 has two crystallographically independent units of formula [CuL(N3)] in the asymmetric unit cell. Complex 3 exists in dimeric form rather than as a polymeric chain. Compound 1 is the first report of a singly end-to-end cyanate bridged polymeric chain of Cu(II) with a Schiff base as a co-ligand. There are many examples of double NCS bridged polymeric chains, but fewer singly bridged ones such as compound 2. We have characterized these complexes by analytical, spectroscopic, structural and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. The coordination geometry around the Cu(II) centers is distorted square pyramidal for 1 and 2 and square planar for complex 3. The magnetic susceptibility data show slight antiferromagnetic coupling for the polymers having J values -0.19 and -0.57 cm(-1) for complexes 1 and 2 respectively. The low values of J are consistent with the equatorial-axial disposition of the bridges in the polymers.     

Amino Acid based cationic surfactants in aqueous solution: physicochemical study and application of supramolecular chirality in ketone reduction

The present study provides a molecular understanding of the origin of the chirality in aqueous micelles and its correlation with the proficiency of stereoselective ketone reduction. The effects of varied headgroup architecture on the surface-active properties as well as on other microstructural parameters were studied and correlated to the structural differences of these naturally occurring amino acid containing surfactants (1-4). Micropolarity sensed by pyrene showed that the micelles prepared using 1-4 are mostly hydrated; particularly large headgroup size surfactant produces more polar environment. A theoretical study was done to quantify the varied spatial dissymmetry for all four surfactants. Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones was carried out at the aqueous micellar interface of these chiral amphiphiles by exploiting the supramolecular chirality as evidenced from a circular dichroism study. The enantioselectivity of the reduction process is rationally improved through increase in spatial dissymmetry and steric constraint imposed at the micellar interface by the polar head of surfactants.     

Photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate with the use of bromine as photoinitiator

Low concentrations of bromine (0.008–0.06M) were used to initiate photopolymerization of MMA in bulk and in diluted (near bulk) systems, the diluents or solvents used being benzene, toluene, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride, and methanol. Polymerization in bulk follows usual free-radical kinetics. Inert solvents (benzene, toluene) as well as the other solvents used enhance the rate of polymerization MMA even when used in the range of catalytic concentrations (0.04–0.4M). An initiation mechanism involving solvent molecules appears to be predominant in diluted systems.     

Nitrosyl rhenium complexes: Syntheses,properties, and structures of acetylacetonato derivatives

Some new complexes of rhenium containing monocoordinating acetylacetone viz. [Re(NO)(acac)₂(Cl)H₂O], Re(NO)(acac)₃(acacH)(H₂O)₂ have been synthesized by reacting acetylacetone with either Re(NO)Cl₃ · H₂O or Re(NO)(OH)₃ · H₂O. The preparation of [Re(NO)(py)(acac)₂(Cl) · H₂O], [Re(NO)(acac)(OH)(Cl) · H₂O], [Re₂(NO)₂(acacH)₃(acac)₂ · Cl₄], [Re(NO)(acac)₂(OH) · H₂O] · 2 H₂O have also been described. These complexes were characterized through their elemental analyses, u.v., vis, i.r., ¹Hn.m.r., magnetic, and conductance data.     

Magnetic behaviour of spin-mixed iron(III) porphyrins

Detailed average magnetic susceptibility (295-4.2 K) and average magnetisation (20-2 K, 50-10 kOe) are reported for two novel spin-mixed iron(III) porphyrins, namely Fe(TPP)ClO4 and Fe(OEP)ClO4. The results confirm an S = 3/2 ground state substantially spin-mixed with a low-lying S = 5/2 state, but do not agree in detail with the crystal-field model of Maltempo.     

Thermal investigations on γ-radiation processed natural medicinal products (Ashwagandha,Amla and Hartiki)

DSC and TG studies were carried out on -radiation processed Indian natural products of medicinal importance, namely Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Amla (Emblica Officinalis) and Hartiki (Terminalia chebula). DSC thermoanalytical curves were recorded from 35 to 400°C in air and nitrogen atmosphere. Similarly, TG thermoanalytical curves were taken from 35 to 700°C in air and nitrogen atmosphere. Irradiated products gave significantly different thermoanalytical profiles in comparison to non-irradiated samples. The differences were observed above decomposition temperature of 200°C and were non-linear with respect to radiation dose. Partial oxidation of the products during irradiation in air could be responsible for the observed differences.     

Recoil reactions of38Cl and128I in some heterocyclic systems

Halogen recoil following /n, / reaction has been studied in some heterocyclic systems. The organic yields are 60% for irradiation as solids: exceptions are dioxanide furoate /34%/ and 5-chloro isatoic anhydride /31%/. As solutions in 11 THF + benzene and 11 HTF+DMSO, these yields are lower by 10% and decrase further when only THF is the solvent. Mass-spectroscopy data revealed the possible fragmentation pattern.     

Studies on binuclear hydroxo/carboxylato-bridged manganese(III) complexes and a mononuclear manganese(III) complex involving salen type ligands

Synthesis of six hydroxo-bridged binuclear manganese(III) complexes of formulae [MnL-X-MnL](ClO₄) [X = OH (1–6)] along with a mononuclear manganese(III) complex (7) [Mn(L)(L′)(MeOH)₂] [HL′ = 2-(2-hydroxy-phen-yl)benzimidazole] and two carboxylate-bridged binuclear manganese(III) complexes (8) and (9) are described. The complexes have been characterized by the combination of i.r., u.v.-vis spectroscopy, magnetic moments and by their redox properties. The electronic spectra of all the complexes exhibit almost identical features consisting of two d–d bands at ca. 550 and 600 nm, one MLCT band at ca.400 nm, together with two π–π^* intra-ligand transitions at ca. 250 nm and ca.300 nm. Room temperature magnetic data range from μ = 2.7–3.0 BM indicates some super-exchange between the binuclear metal centers via bridging hydroxo/carboxylato groups. The X-ray crystal structure of the binuclear complex (5) revealed that it has a symmetric Mn^IIIN₂O₂ core bridged by a hydroxyl group. The X-ray analysis of the mononuclear complex (7) showed that the manganese-center possesses a distorted octahedral geometry. Electrochemical properties of hydroxo-bridged manganese(III) complexes (1–6) show identical features consisting of an irreversible and a quasi-reversible reduction corresponding to the Mn₂^III → Mn^IIMn^III → Mn^IIMn^II couples in the voltammogram. It was found that electron withdrawing substituents on the ligand result in easier reduction. Complex (7) displays an irreversible reduction at 0.08 V and a reversible oxidation at 0.45V assignable to the Mn^III → Mn^II reduction and Mn^III → Mn^IV oxidation, respectively. The carboxylate-bridged compound (8) exhibits two irreversible oxidations at 0.4 and 0.6 V, probably due to Mn₂^III → Mn^IIIMn^IV → Mn^IVMn^IV oxidations and shows a quasi-reversible reductive wave at −0.85 V, tentatively assigned to Mn₂^III → Mn^IIMn^III reduction.