Progress and Perspectives on Covalent-Organic Frameworks (COFs) and Composites for Various Energy Applications

Covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), being a new member of the crystalline porous materials family, have emerged as important materials for energy storage/conversion/generation devices. They possess high surface areas, ordered micro/mesopores, designable structures and an ability to precisely control electro-active groups in their pores, which broaden their application window. Thanks to their low weight density, long range crystallinity, reticular nature and tunable synthesis approach towards two and three dimensional (2D and 3D) networks, they have been found suitable for a range of challenging electrochemical applications. Our review focuses on the progress made on the design, synthesis and structure of COFs and their composites for various energy applications, such as metal-ion batteries, supercapacitors, water-splitting and solar cells. Additionally, attempts have been made to correlate the structural and mechanistic characteristics of COFs with their applications.     

Shape‐controlled synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles for efficient dye photodegradation and antibacterial activities

Herein, two‐shaped cerium oxide nanoparticles (NPs), that is, spherical and cubical, were synthesized through hydrothermal approach by tuning reaction temperatures. The morphology and structural and chemical composition of both samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high‐resolution TEM (HRTEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Both types of NPs were subjected to photodegradation of industrial dye, methylene blue, under dark, sunlight, and UV irradiation, and their recyclability and reusability were also assessed. Besides, the effect of pH, concentration of NPs, and dye on degradability was also analyzed. The cubical‐shaped NPs demonstrated superior degradation of ~70% under UV irradiation than the spherical ones (<50%). The antibacterial activities of both NPs were also examined, and cubical‐shaped NPs were found to exhibit superior antimicrobial potential (zone of inhibition [ZOI]: 25.75 ± 0.25, 18.83 ± 0.76, 15.75 ± 0.66, and 15.75 ± 0.25 mm) in comparison with the spherical ones (ZOI: 19.41 ± 0.94, 14.25 ± 0.66, 12.58 ± 1.01, and 9.91 ± 1.01 nm) for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus respectively with reduced growth and viable count. This difference in performance may be attributed to the higher surface areas of cubical‐shaped NPs and higher content of oxygen vacancies. The results presented in this study suggest that cubical NPs are excellent candidates for treating industrial wastewater with greater reproducibility. Moreover, they can be used as active growth inhibitors against different microorganisms and thus can be extremely useful in developing medical devices and to design various antimicrobial systems.     

Temperature and solvent dependent NMR studies on mangiferin and complete NMR spectral assignments of its acyl and methyl derivatives

By employing concerted 1 and 2D NMR techniques, exact NMR spectral assignments have been made of the acyl (2-7) and methyl (8 and 9) derivatives of mangiferin (1) isolated from the leaves of Bombax ceiba. Derivatives 2, 8 and 9 have been reported in literature, while 3-7 represent new compounds. The acetates 2 and 3 were found to be unstable and were converted into the same penta-acetate 4 at room temperature. Extensive NMR studies on mangiferin (1) and its derivatives showed that H-4 exchanges with deuterium of the solvent molecule more easily. This exchange under acidic conditions occurred at that position (C-4) where electrophilic substitution reactions can easily take place. This is the first report describing the exchange of C-4 proton of mangiferin (1), or any other xanthone, with deuterium of solvent molecules.     

In vitro Photo‐Oxidation of Pyruvate to Acetyl: A Main Source for the Formation of Acetyl Coenzyme A in the Citric Acid Cycle to Perform Biochemical Reactions

The kinetics of photooxidation of pyruvate was investigated in presence of zinc oxide catalyst under illumination of visible light. The influence of different parameters such as concentrations of reactants, amount of catalyst and irradiation time was studied on the redox reaction under pseudo‐first order conditions. The results indicated that amount of catalyst, presence of electron accepter in solution and irradiation time was the key factors influencing the efficiency of photo‐oxidation of pyruvate to acetyl.     

Synthesis of bis[benzyl‐N′‐hydrazinecarbodithioato‐κ2 N′,S]nickel(II) complex as a novel lead molecule for cancer treatment

A novel bis[benzyl‐N′‐hydrazinecarbodithioato‐κ² N′,S]nickel(II) complex was synthesized and characterized by means of various physical, chemical, and spectroscopic techniques. The X‐ray single crystal diffraction analysis indicated two independent close comparable bis‐chelated square planar complexes of trans‐configuration, where S‐benzyl dithiocarbazate (SBDTC) ligand is coordinated via N,S‐donor set. The complex is able to inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell proliferation by 51.81% and 75.75%, with 0.3 and 50 mg kg^?1 (dose adjusted) dose, respectively, administered intraperitoneally for five successive days in mice model. Apoptotic cell morphological changes were examined using optical and fluorescence microscopy techniques. Expression pattern of apoptosis regulatory genes in EAC cells treated with the synthesized nickel(II) complex for five consecutive days showed an increased expression of P⁵³, Bax, Cas‐8, Cas‐9, Cas‐3, Cyt‐c, and TNF‐α proapoptotic genes and decreased expression of antiapoptotic Bcl‐2 gene. The Ni(II) complex and Bleomycin (standard drug) were used in molecular docking coupled with molecular dynamics simulation studies with the aim to support the experimental results and to investigate the apoptotic effect towards the targeting apoptotic genes. Both experimental and computational studies reveal that the nickel(II) complex inhibits EAC cells growth successfully, suggesting a potential compound for cancer treatment.     

Ranolazine-functionalized CuO NPs: efficient homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for reduction of 4-nitrophenol

In the present study copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were synthesized using a hydrothermal method with ranolazine as a shape-directing agent. Ranolazine-functionalized CuO NPs were characterized by various analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM pattern confirmed the morphology of ranolazine-functionalized CuO NPs with well-defined rice-like structures. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the interaction between CuO NPs and ranolazine. The XRD analysis indicated that the structure of ranolazine-functionalized CuO NPs was monoclinic crystalline and the size ranged between 9 and 18 nm with an average particle size of 12 nm. The smaller size range of CuO NPs gave a large surface area that enhanced the efficiency of these catalysts employed for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the H ₂ O system. In homogeneous catalysis, results showed that 50 μL of CuO NPs was required in the presence of NaBH4 for 99% reduction of 4-NP in 240 s. On the other hand, for heterogeneous catalysis, 0.5 mg of CuO NPs was used in the presence of NaBH4 for 99% catalytic reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP in 320 s. The rate of reaction for homogeneous catalysis and heterogeneous catalysis was determined from the plots of In(Ct /C0) of 4-NP versus time (s), which showed good linearity with values of 1.3 × 10 ^-2 and 8.8 × 10 ^-3 s ^-1 . respectively. The high-quality catalytic efficiency, good reusability, nontoxic nature, and low cost are favorable properties of the synthesized CuO NPs for use as efficient catalysts for reduction of 4-AP to 4-NP in both homogeneous and heterogeneous media.     

Anticancer and antibacterial potential of Rhus punjabensis and CuO nanoparticles

Abstract

The present study reports ecofriendly synthesis of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) using an extract of Rhus punjabensis as a reducing agent. NPs structural and composition analysis are evaluated by X-rays diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared, Energy dispersive spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, and Thermal analysis. The NPs have pure single phase monoclinic geometry with spherical structure and high stability toward heat and with average particle size of about 36.6 and 31.27?nm calculated by XRD and SEM, respectively. NPs are tested for antibacterial, protein kinase (PK) inhibition, SRB cytotoxic, and NF-κB activities. Antibacterial activity is observed against B. subtilis and E. coli. Significant PK and SRB cytotoxic activity is observed with some NF-κB inhibition. NPs IC₅₀ values against HL-60 and PC-3 prostate cancer cells are 1.82?±?1.22 and 19.25?±?1.55?μg/mL. The results encourage further studies for antibacterial and anticancer drug development of NPs using animal models.     

A profound density functional theory study to unravel the spectroscopic and molecular properties of two Flavanols differing in α-pyrone ring position

A comprehensive theoretical model was designed for two new flavanols that have been reported from Glycosmis pentaphylla, differing in the placement of α-pyrone ring. The density functional theory (DFT) approach was utilized for computing different properties of these compounds to validate the experimental findings and stereochemical assignments. Electronic properties, geometric parameters, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), molecular electrostatic potential (MESP), and natural bond orbital analysis were performed for the first time at the PBE0-D3BJ/def2-TZVP level of theory for the compounds under study. The simulated vibrational frequencies for compounds 1 and 2 were computed and compared with the experimental results. nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (¹H and ¹³C) chemical shift values were computed at the PBE0-D3BJ/def2-TZVP/SMD_DMSO level of theory and showed a very good agreement with the experimental results for both the compounds. The electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and ultraviolet–visible (UV) spectra for both the compounds were obtained using time-dependent DFT in methanol, whose results exhibited excellent correlation with experimental data. The intermolecular interaction effect on geometric parameters, vibrational frequencies, and electronic properties were studied for the first time.