A comparison of eight commercial reverse-phase (ODS) columns for the separation of hydroxylated derivatives of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene

This paper presents an evaluation of a number of commercially available octadecylsilane columns. The separation of four 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) derivatives namelycis- andtrans-5,6-dihydroxy DMBA,trans-8,9-dihydro-8,9-dihydroxy DMBA, and 7,12-dihydroxymethyl benz(a)anthracene (BA) was compared under identical conditions comprising of a concave gradient (No. 4) from 20 to 70% acetonitrile/water for 75 minutes at flow rate of 1ml/min. A direct correlation between percent carbon loading and retention behavior was observed for bonded phases prepared from silica particles with similar surface areas. Other column performance parameters, such as capacity factors, separation ratios and resolution between peaks for the solutes examined were also calculated and are discussed.     

Oxygenation of 4-tert-butylcatechol catalysed by a manganese(II) complex: implications for extradiol catechol dioxygenases

An N donor tetradentate manganese complex, [Mn^II(bispicen)Cl₂] (A) [bispicen = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine)] catalyses the oxidative cleavage of 4-tert-butylcatechol (1) in the presence of O₂. The oxygenated products were isolated by t.l.c. and column chromatography and characterised by ¹H-, ¹³C-n.m.r., DEPT, i.r. and u.v.–vis. spectroscopy. The oxygenated products as well as other spectral evidence suggest that the oxygenation occurs via a 4-tert-butylsemiquinone bound complex, [Mn^II(bispicen)(4-sq)]⁺ (4-sq = 4-tert-butylsemiquinone). ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy suggests that the oxygenation follows multiple pathways. Isolation of the products suggests that the oxygenations proceed in an extradiol fashion and a probable mechanism is suggested. Some intradiol cleaved products have also been detected. E.s.r. spectroscopy suggests that manganese(II) is ultimately converted into the manganese(IV) species.     

Simultaneous multielement determination of chewing and snuff tobaccos used in India by INAA

Trace elements present in Indian cigarette tobacco and cigarette smoke have been reported earlier. This paper presents trace element concentrations in chewing and snuff tobaccos determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis. The levels of Br, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, etc., present in different brands of chewing and snuff tobaccos are compared in two types of tobacco as well as with similar data from other countries.     

On the apex angle in C2v-‘V’ structure of B2O3

Results of valence electron SCF-MO calculations in the INDO approximation predict a value of 102° for the apex angle of C_2v-‘V’ structure of B₂O₃, assuming bond lengths obtained from electron diffraction work. Calculated results for the dipole moment are reported and electron population analysis is used to discuss bonding.     

Copper(I) complexes of bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether: synthesis, reactivity, and theoretical calculations

The tricoordinated cationic Cu(I) complex [Cu(kappa2-P,P'-DPEphos)(kappa1-P-DPEphos)][BF4] (1) (DPEphos = bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether) containing a dangling phosphorus center was synthesized from the reaction of [Cu(CH3CN)4][BF4] with DPEphos in a 1:2 molar ratio in dichloromethane. When complex 1 is treated with MnO2, elemental sulfur, or selenium, the uncoordinated phosphorus atom undergoes oxidation to form a P=E bond resulting in the formation of complexes of the type [Cu(kappa2-P,P'-DPEphos)(kappa2-P,E-DPEphos-E)][BF4] (2, E = O; 3, E = S; 4, E = Se) containing a Cu-E bond. The zigzag polymeric CuI complex [Cu(kappa2-P,P'-DPEphos)(micro-4,4'-bpy)]n[BF4]n (5) was prepared by the reaction of [Cu(CH3CN)4][BF4] with DPEphos and 4,4'-bipyridine in an equimolar ratio. The stereochemical influences of DPEphos on its coordination behavior are examined by density functional theory calculations.     

Heterohexanuclear (Cu3Fe3) Complexes of Substituted Hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATN) Ligands: Twofold BF4− Association in the Solid and Stepwise Oxidation (3e) or Reduction (2e) to Spectroelectrochemically Characterized Species

New tris(ferrocenylcopper) compounds [(μ₃‐dqp){Cu(dppf)}₃][X]₃ (dppf=1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphinoferrocene), dqp=hexamethyl‐, hexachloro‐ or un‐substituted diquinoxalino[2,3‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine=hexaazatrinaphthylene (HATN), X^?=BF₄^? or PF₆^?) undergo at least two different, reversible one‐electron reductions and three very closely spaced one‐electron oxidations. While the latter are attributed to the stepwise ferrocene→ferrocenium conversions, the first electron addition occurs in the ligand bridge to yield EPR detectable radical complexes. X‐band EPR measurements at 9.5 GHz showed a partially resolved hyperfine structure, while high‐frequency EPR measurements at 95 or 115 GHz revealed a small but variable axial g tensor anisotropy. All reversible steps were investigated by optically transparent thin‐layer electrode (OTTLE) spectroelectrochemistry (UV/Vis/NIR regions), revealing very low energy transitions for the reduced forms in agreement with the frontier MO arrangement. A crystal structure of the compound with unsubstituted dqp shows notable deviation from the trigonal symmetry and the close association of two tetrafluoroborate anions with the complex trication along the quasi‐trigonal axis to yield [(μ₃‐dqp){Cu(dppf)}₃(BF₄)₂]BF₄.     

Low-cost Cu-based inorganic hole transporting materials in perovskite solar cells: Recent progress and state-of-art developments

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are rapidly approaching as promising processes toward efficient energy harvesting technologies. High cost and low environmentally stable organic hole transporting materials (HTMs) are the main hurdles in their commercial realization. Perovskite community is actively looking for inorganic HTMs which will potentially yield into a pragmatic solution. Cu-based materials, e.g. Cu-based oxides, halides, and chalcogenides exhibit features like low production cost, suitable band alignment, and high hole mobility Due to these properties, Cu-based materials are being explored as potential HTMs in PSCs. Significant efforts are contributed toward using low-cost Cu-based materials because of high chemical stability, high carrier mobility, low-cost and the possibility of developing a very simple technique. The photo-physical properties, e.g. optical electronic structure, valence band engineering, and carrier mobility are briefly discussed. Detailed insights toward understanding the development of Cu-based HTMs along with their possible pragmatic commercialization aspects are presented. This article highlights the utilization of Cu-based chalcogenide HTM and role of ternary Cu-based chalcopyrite, Pnma ternary chalcogenides, sulvanite and oxychalcogenides in the field of PSC with a brief idea about tailoring their optoelectronic properties. This article will significantly help the community toward the engineering of novel Cu-based HTMs for possible commercialization of PSC technology.     

Thymoquinone Loaded Topical Nanoemulgel for Wound Healing: Formulation Design and In-Vivo Evaluation

Thymoquinone is a natural bioactive with significant therapeutic activity against multiple ailments including wound healing. The poor aqueous solubility and low skin permeability limit its therapeutic efficacy. The present investigation aimed to improve the biopharmaceutical attributes of thymoquinone to enhance its topical efficacy in wound healing. A nanoemulsion-based hydrogel system was designed and characterized as a nanotechnology-mediated drug delivery approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of thymoquinone, utilizing a high-energy emulsification technique. The black seed oil, as a natural home of thymoquinone, was utilized to improve the drug loading capacity of the developed nanoemulsion system and reduced the oil droplet size to <100 nm through ultrasonication. The influence of formulation composition, and the ultrasonication process conditions, were investigated on the mean globule size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. Irrespective of surfactant/co-surfactant ratio and % concentration of surfactant/co-surfactant mixture, the ultrasonication time had a significant (p < 0.05) influence on the mean droplet size and polydispersity index of the generated nanoemulsion. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone demonstrated the pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropic properties, and this behavior is desirable for topical application. The nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited significant enhancement (p < 0.05) in skin penetrability and deposition characteristics after topical administration compared to the conventional hydrogel system. The developed nanoemulgel system of thymoquinone exhibited quicker and early healing in wounded Wistar rats compared to the conventional hydrogel of thymoquinone, while showing comparable healing efficacy with respect to marketed silver sulfadiazine (1%) cream. Furthermore, histopathology analysis of animals treated with a developed formulation system demonstrated the formation of the thick epidermal layer, papillary dermis along with the presence of extensive and organized collagen fibers in newly healed tissues. The outcome of this investigation signifies that topical delivery of thymoquinone through nanoemulgel system is a promising candidate which accelerates the process of wound healing in preclinical study.     

Crystal feature and spectral characterization of Zn(II) complexes containing Schiff base of Acylpyrazolone ligand with antimalarial action

With association of acylpyrazolones and benzhydrazide, two novel Ligands BZ-PCBMCPMP ((Z)-N'-((4-chlorophenyl) (1-(3-chlorophenyl) 3-methyl-5-oxo-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazol-4-ylidene) methyl) benzohydrazide) and BZ-PCBPMP ((Z)-N'-((4-chlorophenyl) (1-phenyl) 3-methyl-5-oxo-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazol-4-ylidene) methyl) benzohydrazide)) with different O–N–O fashion were synthesized via Schiff base reaction, which on complexation with Zn(II) acetate dihydrate yields novel [Zn(BZ-PCBMCPMP)₂] and [Zn-(BZ-PCBPMP)₂] complexes with distorted octahedron framework. Structure elucidation was performed through several spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C NMR, TG-DTA, UV/Vis, and Single-crystal XRD. The non-electrolytic nature was confirmed through molar-conductance values. Single crystal X-ray study of the BZ-PCBPMP ligand shows intramolecular as well as intermolecular hydrogen bonding, giving rise to a H-bonded dimer. In [Zn-(BZ-PCBPMP)₂] one ligand is symmetrically coordinating while the other is asymmetrically coordinating to the Zinc atom. Antimalarial property of ligands and complexes was also discovered by its efficient MIC activity against Chloroquine sensitive P. falciparum.     

Oligonucleotides containing 7-propynyl-7-deazaguanine: synthesis and base pair stability

Oligonucleotides incorporating the propynyl derivative of 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine (1) were synthesized by solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. As building blocks the phosphoramidites 7a,b were prepared. The incorporation of 1 into oligonucleotides exerts a positive effect on the DNA duplex stability. The duplex stabilization by 1 was higher than that of 7-iodo-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine (2b). The stabilizing effect of the 7-propynyl group introduced in the 7-deazapurines is similar to that reported for 8-aza-7-deazapurines. From CD spectra it was deduced that the B-DNA structure is not significantly altered by compound 1.