Regioselective competitive adsorption of water and organic vapor mixtures on pristine single-walled carbon nanotube bundles

Sequential adsorption of water and organic vapor mixtures onto single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles is studied experimentally and by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation to elucidate the distinct interactions between select adsorbates and the nanoporous structure of SWNTs. Experimental adsorption isotherms on SWNT bundles for hexane, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexane, and toluene individually mixed in carrier gases that were nearly saturated with water vapor are compared with the GCMC-simulated isotherms for hexane, as a representative organic, on the external surface of the heterogeneous SWNT bundles. From the nearly perfect overlap between the experimental and simulated isotherms, it is concluded that until near saturation only the internal pore volume of pristine SWNT bundles fills with water. The adsorption of water vapor on the peripheral surface of the bundles remains insignificant, if not negligible, in comparison to the adsorption of water in the internal volume of the bundles. This is in contrast with the adsorption of pure hexane, which exhibits appreciable adsorption both inside the bundles and on their external surface. It is also suggested that during competitive adsorption, water molecules take precedence over small nonpolar and polar organic molecules for adsorption inside SWNTs and leave unoccupied the hydrophobic external surface of the bundles for other more compatible adsorbates.     

Valence-state analysis through spectroelectrochemistry in a series of quinonoid-bridged diruthenium complexes [(acac)(2)Ru(mu-L)Ru(acac)(2)](n) (n=+2, +1, 0, -1, -2)

The quinonoid ligand-bridged diruthenium compounds [(acac)(2)Ru(mu-L(2-))Ru(acac)(2)] (acac(-)=acetylacetonato=2,4-pentanedionato; L(2-)=2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinone, 1; 3,6-dichloro-2,5-dioxido-1,4-benzoquinone, 2; 5,8-dioxido-1,4-naphthoquinone, 3; 2,3-dichloro-5,8-dioxido-1,4-naphthoquinone, 4; 1,5-dioxido-9,10-anthraquinone, 5; and 1,5-diimido-9,10-anthraquinone, 6) were prepared and characterized analytically. The crystal structure analysis of 5 in the rac configuration reveals two tris(2,4-pentanedionato)ruthenium moieties with an extended anthracenedione-derived bis(ketoenolate) pi-conjugated bridging ligand. The weakly antiferromagnetically coupled {Ru(III)(mu-L(2-))Ru(III)} configuration in 1-6 exhibits complicated overall magnetic and EPR responses. The simultaneous presence of highly redox-active quinonoid-bridging ligands and of two ruthenium centers capable of adopting the oxidation states +2, +3, and +4 creates a large variety of possible oxidation state combinations. Accordingly, the complexes 1-6 exhibit two reversible one-electron oxidation steps and at least two reversible reduction processes. Shifts to positive potentials were observed on introduction of Cl substituents (1-->2, 3-->4) or through replacement of NH by O (6-->5). The ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) absorptions in the visible region of the neutral molecules become more intense and shifted to lower energies on stepwise reduction with two electrons. On oxidation, the para-substituted systems 1-4 exhibit monocation intermediates with intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions of Ru(III)Ru(IV) mixed-valent species. In contrast, the differently substituted systems 5 and 6 show no such near infrared (NIR) absorption. While the first reduction steps are thus assigned to largely ligand-centered processes, the oxidation appears to involve metal-ligand delocalized molecular orbitals with variable degrees of mixing.     

Investigations on discotic liquid crystals

ABSTRACT

Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) have reached from curiosity to commodity in a short span of time. Tremendous development has been observed in the field of DLCs in the past few years due to their vide-viewing display and unidirectional conducting properties. In this article, I present some aspects of research carried out by me and my collaborators on DLCs. This work was presented at the Asian Conference on Liquid Crystals (ACLC 2019) at Shenzhen, China during January 17–18, 2019.     

para-Selective Arylation of Arenes: A Direct Route to Biaryls by Norbornene Relay Palladation

Biaryl compounds are extremely important structural motifs in natural products, biologically active components and pharmaceuticals. Selective synthesis of biaryls by distinguishing the subtle reactivity difference of distal arene C−H bonds are significantly challenging. Herein, we describe para-selective C−H arylation, which is acheived by a unique combination of a meta-directing group and norbornene as a transient mediator. Upon direct meta-C−H palladation, one-bond relay palladation occurs in presence of norbornene and subsequently para-C−H arylation is achieved for sulfonates, phosphonates and phenols bearing 2,6-disubstitution patterns. The protocol is amenable to electron-deficient aryl iodides. Multisubstituted arenes and phenols are obtained by postsynthetic modification of the products. The protocol allows the synthesis of hexa-substituted benzene by sequential selective distal C−H functionalization.     

Bi2O3/FAp,a sustainable catalyst for synthesis of dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives through green strategy

The bismuth loaded on fluorapatite (Bi₂O₃/FAp) proved to be an excellent catalyst for the synthesis of novel dihydro-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives via a three-component reaction involving the mixture of 1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine, ethyl cyanoacetate or ethyl acetoacetate, and different benzaldehydes in ethanol at room temperature. The catalyst material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, Fourier-transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The efficacy of Bi₂O₃/FAp as a heterogeneous catalyst was evaluated with the loading of different wt% of bismuth on FAp. The 2.5% bismuth on FAp performed extremely well as a catalyst with a high yield of products (92%–96%) in a short reaction time (25–35 min). The catalyst was recovered by simple filtration. It showed undiminished activity up to five runs. Simple work-up, room temperature reaction, short reaction time, high yields, no column chromatography, and good reusability of catalyst are the merits of the proposed protocol. In addition, this process offers 100% carbon efficiency and 98% atom economy with noteworthy fiscal and environmental benefits.     

2,2'-Dipyridylketone (dpk) as ancillary acceptor and reporter ligand in complexes [(dpk)(Cl)Ru(mu-tppz)Ru(Cl)(dpk)]n+ where tppz = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

The tppz-bridged diruthenium(II) complex [(dpk)(Cl)Ru(II)(mu-tppz)Ru(II)(Cl)(dpk)](ClO4)2, [2](ClO4)2, and mononuclear [(dpk)(Cl)Ru(II)(tppz)](ClO4), [1](ClO4) [tppz = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, dpk = 2,2'-dipyridylketone], have been synthesized. The 260 mV separation between successive one-electron oxidation couples in [2]2+ translates to a relatively small comproportionation constant, Kc, of 2.5 x 10(4) for the intermediate. It is shown how electrochemical data (E(ox), E(red), Kc) reflect the donor/acceptor effects of ancillary ligands L in a series of systems [(L)ClRu(mu-tppz)RuCl(L)]n, particularly the competition between L and tppz for electron density from the metal. According to EPR (g1 = 2.470, g2 = 2.195, and g3 = 1.873 at 4 K) the intermediate [2]3+ is a mixed-valent Ru(II)Ru(III) species which shows a rather narrow intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) band at 1800 nm (epsilon = 1500 M(-1) cm(-1)). The width at half-height (Deltanu(1/2)) of 700 cm(-1) of the IVCT band is much smaller than the calculated value of 3584 cm(-1), obtained by using the Hush formula Deltanu(1/2) = (2310E(op))(1/2) (E(op) = 5556 cm(-1), energy of the IVCT transition) which would be applicable to localized (Class II) mixed-valent Ru(II)Ru(III) systems. Valence delocalization in [2]3+ is supported by the uniform shift of the nu(C=O) band of the N,N'-coordinated dpk ligands from 1676 cm(-1) in the Ru(II)Ru(II) precursor to 1690 cm(-1) in the Ru(2.5)Ru(2.5) form, illustrating the use of the dpk acceptor to act as reporter ligand via the free but pi-conjugated organic carbonyl group. The apparent contradiction between the moderate value of Kc and the narrow IVCT band is being discussed considering "borderline" or "hybrid" "Class II-III" concepts of mixed-valency, as well as coordination aspects, i.e., the bis-tridentate nature of the pi-acceptor bridging ligand. Altogether, the complex ions [1]+ and [2]2+ display four and five successive reduction processes, respectively, involving both tppz- and dpk-based unoccupied pi orbitals. The one-electron reduced form [2]+ has been assigned as a tppz*- radical-anion-containing species which exhibits a free-radical-type EPR signal at 4K (g(parallel) = 2.002, g(perpendicular) = 1.994) and one moderately intense ligand-based low-energy band at 965 nm (epsilon = 1100 M(-1) cm(-1)).     

The influence of indoxyl sulfate and ammonium on the autofluorescence of human urine

Despite biological variability the spectral characteristics of undiluted human urine show relatively low autofluorescence at short UV (250-300 nm) excitation. However with dilution the fluorescence intensity remarkably increases. This paper examines the mechanisms behind this effect, by using excitation-emission matrices. Corrections for the inner filter effect were made for improved understanding of the spectral patterns. We focused on three major fluorophores (tryptophan, indoxyl sulfate and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetate) that are excited at these wavelengths, and whose content in urine is strongly linked with various health conditions. Their fluorescence was studied both individually and in combinations. We also examined the effect of ammonium on the fluorescence of these major fluorophores individually and in combinations. Through these studies we have identified the leading effects that reduce the UV fluorescence, namely higher concentration of indoxyl sulfate producing the inner filter effect and concentration quenching and quenching of fluorophores by ammonium. This result will assist in broader utilisation of UV fluorescence in medical diagnostics.     

An isolable, metastable, geometrically unique manganese(IV) trihydrazide complex poised for reactivity

A metastable Mn(IV) tris(N,N')diphenylhydrazide complex, Li(2)Mn(κ(2)-N(2)Ph(2))(3) (1) has been prepared, and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and spectroscopic techniques. Mn precursors are reacted with LiNH(t)Bu to form an intermediate manganese-imido mixture, which reacts with N,N'-diphenylhydrazine, oxidizing the metal, and forming 1. Despite ease of formation, 1 is poised for reactivity, as loss of ether ligand triggers reductive elimination of azobenzene.     

Tautomerization in gas-phase ion chemistry of isomeric C-8 deoxyguanosine adducts from phenol-induced DNA damage

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of 8-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine and 8-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine was investigated using sequential tandem mass spectrometry. These adducts represent biomarkers of DNA damage linked to phenolic radicals and were investigated to gain insight into the effects of chemical structure of a C-8 modification on fragmentation pathways of modified 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG). CID in MS(2) of the deprotonated molecules of both the isomers generated the same product ion having the same m/z values. CID in MS(3) of the product ion at m/z 242 and CID in MS(4) experiments carried out on the selected product ions at m/z 225 and m/z 218 afford distinct fragmentation patterns. The conformational properties of isomeric product ions from CID showed that the ortho-isomers possess the unique ability to tautomerize through an intramolecular proton transfer between the phenolic OH group and the imine nitrogen (N7). Tautomerization of ortho-isomers to their keto-tautomers led to differences in their system of conjugated double bonds compared with either their enol-tautomer or the para-isomer. The charge redistribution through the N-7 site on the imidazole ring is a critical step in guanosine adduct fragmentation which is disrupted by the formation of the keto-tautomer. For this reason, different reaction pathways are observed for 8-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine and 8-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine. We present herein the dissociation and the gas-phase ion-molecule reactions for highly conjugated ions involved in the CID ion chemistry of the investigated adducts. These will be useful for those using tandem mass spectrometry for structural elucidation of C-8 modified dG adducts. This study demonstrates that the modification at the C-8 site of dG has the potential to significantly alter the reactivity of adducts. We also show the ability of tandem mass spectrometry to completely differentiate between the isomeric dG adducts investigated.