Bridging the Green Gap: Metal–Organic Framework Heteromultilayers Assembled from Porphyrinic Linkers Identified by Using Computational Screening

In organic photovoltaics, porphyrins (PPs) are among the most promising compounds owing to their large absorption cross-section, wide spectral range, and stability. Nevertheless, a precise adjustment of absorption band positions to reach a full coverage of the so-called green gap has not been achieved yet. We demonstrate that a tuning of the PP Q- and Soret bands can be carried out by using a computational approach for which substitution patterns are optimized in silico. The most promising candidate structures were then synthesized. The experimental UV/Vis data for the solvated compounds were in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. By attaching further functionalities, which allow the use of PP chromophores as linkers for the assembly of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), we were able to exploit packing effects resulting in pronounced redshifts, which allowed further optimization of the photophysical properties of PP assemblies. Finally, we use a layer-by-layer method to assemble the PP linkers into surface-mounted MOFs (SURMOFs), thus obtaining high optical quality, homogeneous and crystalline multilayer films. Experimental results are in full accord with the calculations, demonstrating the huge potential of computational screening methods in tailoring MOF and SURMOF photophysical properties.     

Facile synthesis of new imidazoles from direct reaction of 2,3‐diamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone with aldehydes

New imidazoles were easily prepared from 2,3‐diamino‐1,4‐naphthoquinone and stoichiometric quantities of the appropriate aldehydes in dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent. The reaction proceeded for few hours. The procedure can be generalized to different classes of aldehydes. 2‐Methyl‐1H‐naphtho[2,3‐d]imidazole‐4,9‐dione was also obtained in good yield during refluxing of 2,3‐diaminonaphthoquinone in acetic acid. The structure of the newly synthesized imidazoles was extensively investigated using NMR experiments. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Development of Odorless Thiols and Sulfides and Their Applications to Organic Synthesis

Summary. Development of new odorless thiols (dodecanethiol, 4-n-heptylphenylmethanethiol, 4-trimethylsilylphenylmethanethiol, 4-trimethylsilylbenzenethiol) and an odorless sulfide (1-methylsulfanyldodecane) and their applications to dealkylation, Michael addition, Swern oxidation, and Corey-Kim oxidation are described.     

Comparison of fingerprint-based methods for virtual screening using multiple bioactive reference structures

Fingerprint-based similarity searching is widely used for virtual screening when only a single bioactive reference structure is available. This paper reviews three distinct ways of carrying out such searches when multiple bioactive reference structures are available: merging the individual fingerprints into a single combined fingerprint; applying data fusion to the similarity rankings resulting from individual similarity searches; and approximations to substructural analysis. Extended searches on the MDL Drug Data Report database suggest that fusing similarity scores is the most effective general approach, with the best individual results coming from the binary kernel discrimination technique.     

Role of reactive species in processing materials at laboratory temperature by spray plasma devices

Processing the aerosol of metal salts in non-equilibrium plasma represents a promising technique that combines the advantages of spray pyrolysis with the high reactivity of plasmas at nearlaboratory temperature in order to produce mixed-oxides and perovskite materials. The aim of this paper is to describe the principles of this new technique and to present the various applications and latest developments. This technique’s capacity to deposit various mixed metal oxides with precise stoichiometry is demonstrated. It is shown that oxidant plasma species play a key role in the chemical transformation of starting materials into oxides at laboratory temperature, while the configuration of the reactor determines the morphology and texture of the deposited layers. Two different reactor configurations are presented. The porous layers of La _x Sr_1−x MnO₃ as the cathode for fuel cells were synthesised in a wave shock reactor configuration, while nanostructured ZnO-Al layers to form a transparent conductive cathode for photovoltaic cells were deposited in the spray plasma reactor of the latest generation for this technique. The experimental results emphasise the role of plasma species in the rate of chemical reactions and in the chemical composition of the deposited layers.     

Development and validation of HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of piperine and guggulsterones in compound Unani formulation (tablets) and a nanoreservoir system

An attempt has been made to develop and validate a simultaneous HPLC method for novel approach of drug release via oil‐in‐water (o/w) nanoemulsion formulation and Habb‐e‐Khardal Unani tablet containing piperine and guggul sterones E and Z as main ingredients. Nanoemulsion was prepared by titration method using sefsol‐218 as an oily phase, cremophor‐EL as a surfactant, transcutol as a co‐surfactant and distilled water as an aqueous phase. The formulation was optimized on the basis of thermodynamic stability and dispersibilty test. The nanoformulation was evaluated for particle size, surface morphology, electrical conductivity and viscosity determination. The in vitro dissolution was carried out by dialysis bag method. Drugs were quantified using an HPLC method developed in‐house with a C₁₈ column as stationary phase and acetonitrile and water as mobile phase at λ_max of 240 nm. The optimized formulation showed higher drug release, lower droplet size and less viscosity as compared with the conventional Habb‐e‐Khardal Unani tablet. The present study illustrated the potential of nanoemulsion dosage form in improving biopharmaceutic performance of piperine and guggul sterone. The HPLC method was also found to be quite sufficient for the routine quality control of formulations containing piperine and guggul sterone E and Z as ingredients and also for in vitro drug release studies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple dot-in-rod PbS/CdS heterostructures with high photoluminescence quantum yield in the near-infrared

Pb cations in PbS quantum rods made from CdS quantum rods by successive complete cationic exchange reactions are partially re-exchanged for Cd cations. Using STEM-HAADF, we show that this leads to the formation of unique multiple dot-in-rod PbS/CdS heteronanostructures, with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 45-55%. We argue that the formation of multiple dot-in-rods is related to the initial polycrystallinity of the PbS quantum rods, where each PbS crystallite transforms in a separate PbS/CdS dot-in-dot. Effective mass modeling indicates that electronic coupling between the different PbS conduction band states is feasible for the multiple dot-in-rod geometries obtained, while the hole states remain largely uncoupled.     

Zinc mediated reductive dimerization and cyclization of α,β-unsaturated ketones in the presence of a catalytic amount of mercury(II) chloride

The zinc mediated reductive dimerization and cyclization of α,β-unsaturated ketones gives functionalized cyclopentanols in good yield in the presence of a catalytic amount of mercury(II) chloride in N,N-dimethylformamide as solvent at room temperature. The reaction is regio- and stereo-selective producing 3,4-trans-diarylcyclopentanols selectively.     

Photo Polymerized Interpenetrating Polymer Network of Poly(antimony acrylate) and Poly(arsenic acrylate): Synthesis and Characterization

A series of IPN based on poly(antimony acrylate) and poly(arsenic acrylate) have been synthesized by a sequential mode of synthesis. Formation of complex based on “polymer solvent” method reflects the contraction of the polymer coils by determining the value of mutual interaction constant (k_AB) in different solvents such as dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) (k_AB=0.60); dimethylformamide (DMF) (k_AB=0.42); dioxane (k_AB=0.26) predicting weak Vander Waal interaction. The scanning electron microscopy reveals dual phase morphology of both metal acrylates. The infrared spectrum indicates characteristic frequencies of (>C?O) at 1730 cm^?1,thus giving structural evidence for IPN. The properties namely percentage swelling, average molecular weight between crosslinks(M_c),Young's modulus, increases with concentrations of linear polymer(polyantimony acrylate) and initiator (benzoyl peroxide). However, it decreases with concentrations of monomer (arsenic acrylate) and crosslinker (divinyl benzene).The value of activation energy calculated from thermo gravimetric analysis is 15 KJ/mol.     

Electron Ionization Mass Spectra of Organophosphorus Compounds. Part III: Mass Spectrometric Fragmentation of Diethyl Spiro[Pyrimidino[5,3′][1,2]Oxazole] Phosphonate,Diethyl (Oxazolo[5,4-D]Pyrimidine-4,6-Dione)Phosphonate,and Diethyl (Pyrimidino[4,5-B][1,4]Oxazine)Phosphonate Derivatives

Abstract

Fragmentation pathways of 14 organophosphorus compounds derived from diethyl spiro[pyrimidino[5,3][1,2]oxazole] phosphonates, diethyl (oxazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine-4,6-dione)phosphonates, and diethyl (pyrimidino[4,5-b][1,4] oxazine)phosphonates were investigated by electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS). The intensity of the recorded molecular ion peaks showed various values depending on the nature of the compounds. Characteristic fragment ions were formed by successive loss of simple functional groups followed by decomposition of heterocycles connected to pyrimidine rings.