Highly nonlinear dispersion-flattened square photonic crystal fibers with low confinement losses

A new simple structure of an index-guiding highly nonlinear dispersion-flattened square photonic crystal fiber (HNDFSPCF) with low confinement losses is proposed. The results reveal that it is possible to design five-rings HNDF-SPCFs with a flattened dispersion of 0.43 ps/(nm·km), low dispersion slope of -0:02 ps/(nm²·km), low confinement loss of approximately 10³ dB/m, and a large nonlinear coefficient of approximately 35W^-1 km^-1 at 1.55 μm. It is also observed that the confinement loss is less than 10^-1 dB/m in the wavelength range of 1.2 –1.7 μm.     

Synthesis of-4-((4-trimethylsilyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl)-2H-chromen-2-ones: A novel class of heteroaryl anionic synthon

A one-pot synthesis of some novel anionic scaffolds: the substituted-4-((4-trimethylsilyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl)-2H-chromen-2-one is reported. Reaction of 10 different substituted bromomethylcoumarins with trimethylsilylacetylene and sodium azide in the presence of copper(I) iodide catalyst gave the corresponding heteroaryl conjugates: the substituted-4-((4-trimethylsilyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl)-2H-chromen-2-one in 70–92% yields. The structures of the synthesized compounds have been completely characterized by spectral and elemental analyses. For the first time, the representative single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of 6-methoxy-4-((4-trimethylsilyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl)-2H-chromen-2-one is reported which confirms the formation of anionic synthon which bears the trimethylsilyl-group.     

Two new triterpenoids and a steroidal glycoside from the aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum

Studies on the chemical constituents of the aerial parts of Ocimum basilicum have led to the isolation of three new compounds, basilol (1), ocimol (2), and basilimoside (3), along with two known constituents betulinic acid and oleanolic acid. The structures of the new constituents have been elucidated through spectral studies including 2D-NMR experiments (HMQC, HMBC, COSY, NOESY, and J-resolved) and chemical transformation, as p-formylphenyl 3beta-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oate (1), 2-methoxy-4-carbomethoxyphenyl 3beta-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oate (2), and (22E)-24xi-ethyl-25-methylcholesta-5,22-diene-3beta-ol-3-O-D-glucopyranoside (3).     

Hydroxyl functionalized thermosensitive microgels with quadratic crosslinking density distribution

N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) based uniform thermosensitive microgels were synthesized by dispersion polymerization by using relatively hydrophilic crosslinking agents with hydroxyl functionality. Glycerol dimethacrylate (GDMA), pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) and pentaerythritol propoxylate triacrylate (PEPTA) were used as crosslinking agents with different hydrophilicities. A protocol was first proposed to determine the crosslinking density distribution in the thermosensitive microgel particles by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The microgels were fluorescently labeled by using hydroxyl group of the crosslinking agent. The CLSM observations performed with the microgels synthesized by three different crosslinking agents showed that the crosslinking density exhibited a quadratic decrease with the increasing radial distance in the spherical microgel particles. This structure led to the formation of more loose gel structure on the particle surface with respect to the center. Then the use of hydrophilic crosslinking agents in the dispersion polymerization of NIPA made possible the synthesis of thermosensitive microgels carrying long, flexible and chemically derivatizable (i.e., hydroxyl functionalized) fringes on the surface by a single-stage dispersion polymerization. The microgels with all crosslinking agents exhibited volume phase transition with the increasing temperature. The microgel obtained by the most hydrophilic crosslinking agent, GDMA exhibited higher hydrodynamic diameters in the fully swollen form at low temperatures than those obtained by PETA and PEPTA. Higher hydrodynamic size decrease from fully swollen form to the fully shrunken form was also observed with the same microgel.     

Effect of Thermal/Gravity Modulation on the Onset of Convection in a Maxwell Fluid Saturated Porous Layer

The effect of thermal/gravity modulation on the onset of convection in a Maxwell fluid saturated porous layer is investigated by a linear stability analysis. Modified Darcy–Maxwell model is used to describe the fluid motion. The regular perturbation method based on the small amplitude of modulation is employed to compute the critical Rayleigh number and the corresponding wavenumber. The stability of the system characterized by a correction Rayleigh number is calculated as a function of the viscoelastic parameter, Darcy–Prandtl number, normalized porosity, and the frequency of modulation. It is found that the low frequency symmetric thermal modulation is destabilizing while moderate and high frequency symmetric modulation is always stabilizing. The asymmetric modulation and lower wall temperature modulations are, in general, stabilizing while the system becomes unstable for large values of Darcy–Prandtl number and for small frequencies. It is shown that in general the gravity modulation produces a stabilizing effect on the onset of convection for moderate and high frequency. The small frequency gravity modulation is found to have destabilizing effect on the stability of the system.     

Probing the stereoselectivity of P-glycoprotein-synthesis, biological activity and ligand docking studies of a set of enantiopure benzopyrano[3,4-b][1,4]oxazines

A series of enantiomerically pure benzopyrano[3,4-b][1,4]oxazines have been synthesised and tested for their ability to inhibit P-glycoprotein. Reducing the conformational flexibility of the molecules leads to remarkable differences in the activity of diastereoisomers. Docking studies into a homology model of human P-gp provide first insights into potential binding areas for these compounds.     

Mild and Efficient Solvent‐Free Friedel–Crafts Acylation of Reserpine

The first mild, efficient, solvent‐free Friedel–Crafts acylation of reserpine has been developed, which resulted in the synthesis of 10‐ and 12‐acylated homologues in high overall yields.     

In situ reversible tuning of photoluminescence of Mn2+-doped ZnS quantum dots by redox chemistry

Herein we report the development of a new method for in situ reversible tuning of photoluminescence properties of quantum dots (Qdots) by partial oxidation of population of the emitting species and subsequent chemical reduction of the oxidized form. The concept has been demonstrated using Mn(2+)-doped ZnS Qdots stabilized by acetyl acetonate. Treatment of an aqueous solution of the Qdots (with Mn(OAc)(2) being the source of Mn used for the synthesis of the Qdots) by potassium peroxodisulfate (KPS) led to reduction of intensity of emission due to Mn(2+) ((4)T(1)-(6)A(1)). Subsequent treatment of the solution containing KPS-treated Qdots with NaBH(4) led to regaining of intensity, thus providing reversibility to the tuning, which was possible for more than one cycle. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopic investigations revealed reduction of the population of Mn(2+) upon treatment with KPS, whereas it went back up upon further treatment with NaBH(4). Interestingly, a mixed population of oxidation states of Mn was indicated to be present in the Qdots prepared using KMnO(4) as the source of Mn. The fluorescence intensity of the Qdots so prepared increased upon treatment with NaBH(4) following synthesis, which was not possible when the source of Mn was Mn(OAc)(2). Transmission electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction studies indicated that oxidation and reduction did not change the sizes of Qdots significantly.     

Biogenic synthesis of Ag, Au and bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles using aqueous extract of mahogany (Swietenia mahogani JACQ.) leaves

In this paper, we have demonstrated for the first time, the superb efficiency of aqueous extract of dried leaves of mahogany (Swietenia mahogani JACQ.) in the rapid synthesis of stable monometallic Au and Ag nanoparticles and also Au/Ag bimetallic alloy nanoparticles having spectacular morphologies. Our method was clean, nontoxic and environment friendly. When exposed to aqueous mahogany leaf extract, competitive reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions present simultaneously in same solution leads to the production of bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles. UV-visible spectroscopy was used to monitor the kinetics of nanoparticles formation. UV-visible spectroscopic data and TEM images revealed the formation of bimetallic Au/Ag alloy nanoparticles. Mahogany leaf extract contains various polyhydroxy limonoids which are responsible for the reduction of Au(III) and Ag(I) ions leading to the formation and stabilization of Au and Ag nanopaticles.