A newly developed highly selective ratiometric fluoride ion sensor: spectroscopic, NMR and density functional studies

A new easy-to-synthesize chemosensor, 3,3'-bis(indolyl)-4-chlorophenylmethane (hereafter S), was designed, synthesized and employed as a selective optical chemosensor for fluoride ions.(1)H NMR and density functional studies on the system have been carried out to determine the nature of the interaction between S and X(-) (X = inorganic anions) responsible for the significant fluoride-induced changes in the absorption properties of S. The experimental results reveal that abstraction of an acidic proton of S by the fluoride ion, leading to the formation of anionic species, is responsible for the spectral changes. These changes allow signaling for the fluoride ion to detect and estimate the concentration of fluoride ion present even at the submicromolar level, accurate up to 2 μM. Calculations of the transition energies of S, S(-), and S···F(-) (hydrogen bonded complex) show that only S(-) is responsible for the long-wavelength absorption band in the presence of F(-).     

Structure and gas sorption behavior of a new three dimensional porous magnesium formate

A new three-dimensional magnesium formate polymorph, namely, γ-[Mg(3)(O(2)CH)(6)] has been synthesized via in situ formate anion generation method. γ-Mg-formate crystallizes in space group Pbcn, and structural determination by X-ray single crystal diffraction reveals a three-dimensional network of Mg(2+) linked by formate anions. All formate anions possess similar binding mode to the metal center with one oxygen of a particular formate anion binds to one metal center (μ(1) oxygen) and other oxygen binds to two metal centers (μ(2) oxygen). N(2) adsorption studies indicate that the framework displays permanent porosity. The specific surface area of γ-Mg-formate (BET, 120 m(2) gm(-1)) is lower than the α- polymorph (BET, 150 m(2) gm(-1)). However, the initial hydrogen uptake of γ-Mg-formate reached almost 1.0 wt % when the adsorbate pressure approached 760 Torr at 77 K. This is higher than the hydrogen uptake of α-Mg-formate (0.6 wt %). γ-Mg-formate, shows a moderate affinity and capacity for CO(2) (3.4 ? kinetic diameter) at 298 K. The CO(2) uptake at 760 Torr is 2.01 mmol gm(-1) (47.0 cc gm(-1)). Although this CO(2) uptake is somewhat modest, it compares well with the CO(2) uptake of several Mg-MOFs and ZIFs reported in the literature.     

Density Functional Investigations of Electronic Structure and Dehydrogenation Reactions of Al‐ and Si‐Substituted Magnesium Hydride

The effect on the hydrogen storage attributes of magnesium hydride (MgH₂) of the substitution of Mg by varying fractions of Al and Si is investigated by an ab initio plane‐wave pseuodopotential method based on density functional theory. Three supercells, namely, 2×2×2, 3×1×1 and 5×1×1 are used for generating configurations with varying amounts (fractions x=0.0625, 0.1, and 0.167) of impurities. The analyses of band structure and density of states (DOS) show that, when a Mg atom is replaced by Al, the band gap vanishes as the extra electron occupies the conduction band minimum. In the case of Si‐substitution, additional states are generated within the band gap of pure MgH₂—significantly reducing the gap in the process. The reduced band gaps cause the Mg? H bond to become more susceptible to dissociation. For all the fractions, the calculated reaction energies for the stepwise removal of H₂ molecules from Al‐ and Si‐substituted MgH₂ are much lower than for H₂ removal from pure MgH₂. The reduced stability is also reflected in the comparatively smaller heats of formation (ΔH_f) of the substituted MgH₂ systems. Si causes greater destabilization of MgH₂ than Al for each x. For fractions x=0.167 of Al, x=0.1, 0.167 of Si (FCC) and x=0.0625, 0.1 of Si (diamond), ΔH_f is much less than that of MgH₂ substituted by a fraction x=0.2 of Ti (Y. Song, Z. X. Guo, R. Yang, Mat. Sc. & Eng. A 2004 , 365, 73). Hence, we suggest the use of Al or Si instead of Ti as an agent for decreasing the dehydrogenation reaction and energy, consequently, the dehydrogenation temperature of MgH₂, thereby improving its potential as a hydrogen storage material.     

Iodine/CuI-mediated alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction: synthesis of 1-aryl-1,2-dihydrochromeno[2,3-b]azepine-3,6-dione

Iodine/cuprous iodide-mediated intramolecular alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction has been developed using 2-(N-aryl-N-propargyl)aminochromone-3-carbaldehyde as the substrate. It led to the synthesis of hitherto unreported chromeno[2,3-b]azepine-3,6-dione. The special features of this methodology are mild reaction conditions, 100% atom economy and use of inexpensive reagents. This is the first example of I₂/CuI-mediated alkyne–carbonyl metathesis reaction.     

Indium trichloride catalyzed sp C–H bond functionalization of 2-alkyl azaarenes under microwave irradiation

Microwave promoted indium trichloride (10 mol %) catalyzed sp³ C–H bond functionalization of 2-alkyl azaarenes 1 or 4 has been observed to construct C–C bond either with but-2-ene-1,4-diones 2 or (E)-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethylidene)indolin-2-one (6) giving access to 2-((quinolin-2-yl)methyl)butane-1,4-diones 3, 2-((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)butane-1,4-diones 5, or 3-(quinolin-2-yl)propan-2-yl)indolin-2-ones 7 in good yields using 1,4-dioxane as solvent.     

Structural characterization and spectroelectrochemical, anion sensing and solvent dependence photophysical studies of a bimetallic Ru(II) complex derived from 1,3-di(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline-2-yl)benzene

The X-ray crystal structure of a mixed-ligand bimetallic ruthenium(II) complex of composition [(bipy)(2)Ru(H(2)Impib)Ru(bipy)(2)](ClO(4))(4) (1), where H(2)Impib = 1,3-di(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline-2-yl)benzene and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, has been determined and showed that the compound crystallized in monoclinic form with the space group P2(1)/c. The absorption, steady state and time-resolved luminescence spectral properties of the complex were thoroughly investigated in different solvents. The compound displays strong luminescence at room temperature with lifetimes in the range of 140-470 ns, depending upon the nature of the solvent. Solvent-induced lifetime tuning makes the complex a suitable solvatochromic probe. The complex is found to undergo one simultaneous two-electron reversible oxidation in the positive potential window (0 to +1.6 V) and four quasi-reversible reductions in the negative potential window (0 to -2.2 V). Spectroelectrochemical studies have also been carried out for the bimetallic compound in the range of 300-1600 nm. With stepwise oxidation of the Ru(ii) centers replacement of MLCT bands by LMCT bands occur with the development of a broad band at λ(max) = 1260 nm, which is ascribed to inter-valence charge-transfer (IVCT) transition for the mixed-valence Ru(II)Ru(III) species. The anion sensing properties of the receptor were thoroughly investigated in acetonitrile solution using absorption, steady state and time-resolved emission spectroscopic studies. The anion sensing studies revealed that the receptor acts as sensor for F(-), AcO(-) and H(2)PO(4)(-). It is evident that in the presence of excess F(-) and AcO(-) ions, deprotonation of the imidazole N-H fragments of the receptor occurs, an event which is signaled by the change of color from yellow to orange visible to the naked eye. From the absorption and emission titration studies the binding/equilibrium constants of the receptor with the anions have also been determined. Anion-induced lifetime quenching by F(-) and AcO(-) and enhancement by H(2)PO(4)(-) makes the receptor a suitable lifetime-based sensor for selective anions. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements of the compound carried out in acetonitrile have provided evidence in favor of anion-dependent electrochemical responses with F(-) and AcO(-) ions.     

Interaction of pyrene-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) with bovine serum albumin and human serum albumin in aqueous buffer medium: a fluorometric study

The photophysical behavior of a hydrophobically tailored water-soluble polymer, pyrene-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (PYPY), has been studied in aqueous buffered bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) media. In buffered aqueous solution the polymer shows dual emission corresponding to the monomer and the excimer of pyrene moiety. The relative intensity of the monomer to the excimer emission shows interesting variation with the addition of BSA and HSA and is indicative of significant interaction of these albumin proteins with the polymer. The binding interaction has been shown to have a prominent role on the steady state fluorescence anisotropy of the two emission bands. Attempt has been made to determine the micropolarities of the protein microenvironments from a comparison of the variation of the monomer to excimer relative fluorescence intensities of the probe in water–dioxane mixtures with varying composition.     

Mixed synchronization in chaotic oscillators using scalar coupling

We report experimental evidence of mixed synchronization in two unidirectionally coupled chaotic oscillators using a scalar coupling. In this synchronization regime, some of the state variables may be in complete synchronization while others may be in anti-synchronization state. We extended the theory by using an adaptive controller with an updating law based on Lyapunov function stability to include parameter fluctuation. Using the scheme, we implemented a cryptographic encoding for digital signal through parameter modulation.     

Induced Correspondence of a Local π‐Aromatic Sextet in Heteroannulenes: Synthesis and Characterization

Acid‐catalyzed [3+3] condensation reactions of two hitherto unknown tripyrrane moieties with pentafluorobenzaldehyde has led to the formation of new generation heteroannulene (4.1.4.1) and mutant heteroannulene (1.1.1.1.1.1). Inclusion of local π‐aromatic sextets, namely the N‐methyl pyrrole rings through β,β‐linkages and α,β‐linkages, has led to the isolation of first ever heteroannulenes cross‐conjugated at four points and two points respectively within the macrocycles.