Discrete and selective absorption in crystalline molecular nanofilms

Recent research in nano-optical engineering and in nanomedicine as well, seeks for methods of construction of various types of nano-markers, nano-carriers, and ways to deliver drugs to the exactly determined regions of body. In this process it is important to find methods of recognition of certain types of molecules. It is obvious that optical recognition would be the easiest and the most effective way to do it. Our research presents a model of a molecular ultrathin crystalline film and generated exciton system inside it and corresponding methodology of analysis of their optical characteristics. Properties of these spatially very restricted structures are very sensitive to their surrounding surfaces. Using the two-time Green’s functions adapted for crystalline structures with symmetry breaking, and graphical-numerical software, we have calculated the energy spectra and possible exciton states. We have shown that the appearance and the presence of localized states on the surfaces and in the boundary layers of the film depend on the thickness of the film and the film surroundings, presented through the perturbation of parameters on surfaces. Optical properties in these structures demonstrate discrete and very selective resonant absorption spectra, depending on the perturbation on their surfaces.     

Platanus acerifolia’s buds: additional non-polar metabolites and structure revision of two previous dihydrochalcone-like metabolites

In addition to the methylated and prenylated flavonoids previously reported from Platanus acerifolia, the multistep chromatographic processing of the n-hexane extract of the fresh unripe buds resulted in the isolation of 11 metabolites. Besides six common wax constituents, the n-hexane portion led to the isolation of four gem-dimethylpyrano flavanones. They corresponded to two pairs of angular and linear isomers derived only from pinocembrin (5,7-dihydroxyflavanone). Additionally, a novel β-decadione was split into the major keto-enol tautomer as shown by the detailed NMR and EIMS analyses. Moreover, the structures of grenoblone and 4-hydroxygrenoblone, two previously reported dihydrochalcone-like metabolites, were revised according to the EIMS spectra.     

Thermal properties of bisitaconimide and bisbenzoxazine blends

Blends of cardanol-based bisbenzoxazine (BZc) and 4,4′-bisitaconimidodiphenyl ether (BIM) having nine different mass ratios (i.e. 100:0, 90:10, 75:25, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 25:75, 10:90 and 0:100) were prepared and their curing behaviour was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A curing mechanism comprising two-steps: (1) homopolymerization and co-curing reaction of itaconimide with alkyl side chain double bonds of cardanol BZc at lower temperature (~443 K) and (2) ring-opening polymerization of oxazine at higher temperature (~453–483 K) has been proposed. The T _g of the cured resin blends was determined by DSC and the increase in BIM content in the blend resulted in an increase in T _g from 408 K BZc to 474 K BIM. Increase in bisitaconimide content resulted in improvement of char yield at 1,073 K as well as an increase in mass loss temperatures (5 and 10 %). Compared to BZc, the blends showed a higher thermal stability. The lap shear strength of these blends in metal–metal joints was investigated at 323, 523 and 573 K.     

Ce-promoted Fe–Cu–ZSM-5 catalyst: SCR-NO activity and hydrothermal stability

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Fe–Cu–ZSM-5 and Ce–Fe–Cu–ZSM-5 solids prepared using solid-state ion exchange method (SSIE) were tested in the NH3–SCR of NO...     

Antioxidant,Antimicrobial, and Insecticidal Properties of a Chemically Characterized Essential Oil from the Leaves of Dittrichia viscosa L.

Since some synthetic insecticides cause damage to human health, compounds in plants can be viable alternatives to conventional synthetic pesticides. Dittrichia viscosa L. is a perennial Mediterranean plant known to possess biological activities, including insecticidal properties. The chemical composition of an essential oil (EOD) from D. viscosa, as well as its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and insecticidal effects on the cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus) were determined. Forty-one volatile compounds were identified in EOD, which accounted for 97.5% of its constituents. Bornyl acetate (41%) was a major compound, followed by borneol (9.3%), α-amorphene (6.6%), and caryophyllene oxide (5.7%). EOD exhibited significant antioxidant activity in all tests performed, with an IC₅₀ of 1.30 ± 0.05 mg/mL in the DPPH test and an EC₅₀ equal to 36.0 ± 2.5 mg/mL in the FRAP assay. In the phosphor-molybdenum test, EOD results ranged from 39.81 ± 0.7 to 192.1 ± 0.8 mg AAE/g E. EOD was active on E. coli (9.5 ± 0.5 mm), S. aureus (31.0 ± 1.5 mm), C. albicans (20.4 ± 0.5 mm), and S. cerevisiae (28.0 ± 1.0 mm), with MICs ranging from 0.1 mg/mL to 3.3 mg/mL. We found that 1 µL of EOD caused 97.5 ± 5.0% insect mortality after 96 h in the inhalation test and 60.0 ± 8.3% in the ingestion assay. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was 7.8 ± 0.3 μL EO/L, while the effective concentration in the ingestion test (LC₅₀) was 15.0 ± 2.1 μL EO/L. We found that 20 µL of EOD caused a reduction of more than 91% of C. maculatus laid eggs.     

Selective Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy Nitroethanol Ethers by Alcoholysis of Oxiranes

β‐Hydroxy nitroethanol ethers are prepared by selective alcoholysis of oxiranes. The best results are obtained using a clay (monmorillonite K10) or a π‐acid (TCNE) as the catalyst.