Ion Interactions with a New Ditopic Naphthalimide‐Based Receptor: A Photophysical,NMR and Theoretical (DFT) Study

A new multi‐component chemosensor system comprising a naphthalimide moiety as fluorophore is designed and developed to investigate receptor–analyte binding interactions in the presence of metal and non‐metal ions. A dimethylamino moiety is utilized as receptor for metal ions and a thiourea receptor, having acidic protons, for binding anions. The system is characterized by conventional analytical methods. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system consist of a broad band typical for an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The effects of various metal‐ion additives on the spectral behavior of the present sensor system are examined in acetonitrile. It is found that among the metal ions studied, alkali/alkaline earth‐metal ions and transition‐metal ions modulate the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the system. As an additional feature, the anion signaling behavior of the system in acetonitrile is studied. A decrease in fluorescence efficiency of the system is observed upon addition of fluoride and acetate anions. Fluorescence quenching is most effective in the case of fluoride ions. This is attributed to the enhancement of the photoinduced electron transfer from the anion receptor to the fluorophore moiety. Hydrogen‐bond interactions between the acidic NH protons of the thiourea moiety and the F^? anions are primarily attributed to the fluoride‐selective signaling behavior. Interestingly, a negative cooperativity for the binding event is observed when the interactions of the system are studied in the presence of both Zn²⁺ and F^? ions. NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations are also carried out to better understand the receptor–analyte binding.     

The electronic structure and adsorption geometry of L-histidine on Cu(110)

The adsorption of L-histidine on clean and oxygen-covered Cu(110) surfaces has been studied by soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The valence band spectra, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen 1 s XPS and N K edge absorption spectra were measured for submonolayer, monolayer, and multilayer films. The spectra provide a detailed picture of the electronic structure and adsorption geometry at each coverage. In the monolayer, the histidine molecules are randomly oriented, in contrast to the submonolayer regime, where the molecules are coordinated to the copper surface with the imidazole functional group nearly parallel to, and strongly interacting with, the surface. The pi*/sigma* intensity ratio in NEXAFS spectra at the nitrogen edge varies strongly with angle, showing the imidazole ring is oriented. Adsorption models are proposed.     

Band‐Gap Manipulations of Monolayer Graphene by Phenyl Radical Adsorptions: A Density Functional Theory Study

Phenyl radical (Ph^.) adsorption on monolayer graphene sheets is used to investigate the band‐gap manipulation of graphene through density functional theory. Adsorption of a single Ph^. on graphene breaks the aromatic π‐bond and generates an unpaired electron, which is delocalized to the ortho or para position. Adsorption of a second radical at the ortho or para position saturates the radical by electron pairing and results in semiconducting graphene. Adsorption of a second radical at the ortho position (ortho–ortho pairing) is found to be more favorable than adsorption at the para position (ortho–para pairing), and the ortho–ortho pairing has stronger effects on band‐gap opening compared with ortho–para pairing. Adsorption of even numbers of Ph^. on graphene by ortho–ortho and ortho–para pairings, in general, increases the band gap. Our study shows promise of band‐gap manipulation in monolayer graphene by Ph^. adsorption, leading to potential wider applications of graphene.     

Role of hydrogen bonding on the spectroscopic properties of thiazolidinedione derivatives in homogeneous solvents

In this work, three newly synthesized derivatives of thiazolidinediones, with potential for application as drugs in pharmaceutical industry and free radical scavenging activity, have been taken up to investigate their behaviour in different homogeneous solvents. The purpose of this work is to study the solvation characteristics in ground and excited states of the derivatives by monitoring the absorbance and fluorescence band maxima. The steady state and time resolved fluorescence studies in protic and aprotic solvents have been rationalized on the basis of solute–solvent interaction and substituent effect on these photophysical processes have been analyzed. Substituents at different positions of the aryl moiety affect the hydrogen bond formation ability of the probes.     

Predicting catalysis: understanding ammonia synthesis from first-principles calculations

Here, we give a full account of a large collaborative effort toward an atomic-scale understanding of modern industrial ammonia production over ruthenium catalysts. We show that overall rates of ammonia production can be determined by applying various levels of theory (including transition state theory with or without tunneling corrections, and quantum dynamics) to a range of relevant elementary reaction steps, such as N(2) dissociation, H(2) dissociation, and hydrogenation of the intermediate reactants. A complete kinetic model based on the most relevant elementary steps can be established for any given point along an industrial reactor, and the kinetic results can be integrated over the catalyst bed to determine the industrial reactor yield. We find that, given the present uncertainties, the rate of ammonia production is well-determined directly from our atomic-scale calculations. Furthermore, our studies provide new insight into several related fields, for instance, gas-phase and electrochemical ammonia synthesis. The success of predicting the outcome of a catalytic reaction from first-principles calculations supports our point of view that, in the future, theory will be a fully integrated tool in the search for the next generation of catalysts.     

Molecular diversity from aromatics. A tandem oxidative dearomatization,cycloaddition and reactivity modulation in excited states: synthesis of tricyclo[5.3.1.0]undecanes and bicyclo[4.2.0]octanes from common precursors

Stereoselective route to tricyclo[5.3.1.0^1,5]undecane and bicyclo[4.2.0]octane ring systems present in the molecular structure of tricycloillicinone, cedrenoids and endiandric acid, elysiapyrones, respectively, is described. A tandem oxidative dearomatization of o-hydroxymethylphenol, π⁴s+π²s cycloaddition, reactivity modulation in excited state and ring-closing metathesis are the key features of our approach.     

2-(2-Selenocyanic acid ethyl ester)-1H-benz[de] isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)-dione, synthesis photophysics and interaction with bovine serum albumin: a spectroscopic approach

The compound 2-(2-selenocyanic acid ethyl ester)-1H-benz[de] isoquinoline-1,3-(2H)-dione (SEBID), a ubiquitous, bioactive naphthalimide derivative is expected to possess an anticancer, anti-tumor and other important therapeutic activities of significant potency with low systematic toxicity. In this paper, the synthesis of the compound, photophysics of the newly prepared naphthalimide derivative and its interaction with model transport protein Bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been reported using the absorption and steady state fluorescence spectroscopic techniques exploiting the intrinsic fluorescence emission properties of BSA as a probe. Interaction of this organoselenium compound in different dioxane-water mixtures with increase in the polarity of the medium has been studied spectroscopically. Interaction of SEBID with BSA leads to a dramatic decrease in the fluorescence intensity of BSA, which suggests the binding of SEBID with the tryptophan residue of BSA. Furthermore, different thermodynamic parameters for SEBID-BSA interaction have been calculated. Rationalization of the data has been attempted, particularly in relation to prospective applications in the biomedical research.     

Micellization of bile salts in a formamide solution: A gas liquid chromatography study

Sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate dissolved in formamide were applied as stationary phases in gas chromatography. The critical micelle concentration of sodium cholate and deoxycholate in formamide was determined by surface tension measurements. The relation of retention times vs. concentration of bile salts was investigated for isomers of monoterpenes and xylenes. The enthalpy of binding of selected compounds with sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate monomers and micelles was determined.