Synthesis,characterization, DNA cleavage and in vitro antimicrobial activities of copper(II) complexes of Schiff bases containing a 2,4-disubstituted thiazole

Six Cu(II) complexes of Schiff base ligands of arylidene-2-(4-(4-bromo/methoxy-phenyl)thiazol-2-yl) hydrazines have been synthesized, characterized and screened for DNA cleavage and antimicrobial activities. The chemical structures of the complexes were deduced by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Elemental analyses indicated that the stoichiometry of the complexes is CuL₂ (L = Schiff base ligand). The DNA cleavage activities of the complexes were evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of oxidant (H₂O₂) and free radical scavenger (DMSO). All the six complexes showed significant nuclease activity in the presence of H₂O₂, and two of the complexes showed moderate nuclease activity even in the absence of oxidant. The complexes did not show nuclease activity in the presence of free radical scavenger. The compounds were tested for activity against selected bacteria and fungi.     

The applicability of three-dimensional aromaticity in BiSn(n)- Zintl analogues

Three-dimensional aromaticity is shown to play a role in the stability of deltahedral Zintl clusters and here we examine the connection between aromaticity and stability. In order to gain further insight, we have studied Zintl analogs comprised of bismuth doped tin clusters with photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical methods. To assign aromaticity, we examine the ring currents induced around the cage by using the nucleus independent chemical shift. In the current study, BiSn(4)(-) is a stable cluster and fits aromatic criteria, while BiSn(5)(-) is found to fit antiaromatic criteria and has reduced stability. The more stable clusters exhibit an aromatic character which originates from weakly interacting s-states and bonding orbitals parallel to the surface of the cluster, while nonbonding lone pairs perpendicular to the surface of the cluster account for antiaromaticity and reduced stability. The effect of three-dimensional aromaticity on the electronic structure does not result in degeneracies, so the resulting variations in stability are smaller than those seen in conventional aromaticity.     

Syntheses,characterization, X-ray crystal structures and emission properties of copper(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of pyridyl–pyrazole derived Schiff base ligand – Metal selective ligand binding modes

The varying coordination modes of the title ligand, L [5-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-N′-[pyridin-2-ylmethylidene]pyrazole-3-carbohydrazide] towards the different metal centers is reported by preparation and characterization of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes, [Cu(L)NO₃.H₂O](NO₃) (1) [Zn(L)₂](ClO₄)₂·2DMF (2) and [Cd(L)(I)₂] (3) respectively. In 1, the neutral ligand serves as tetradentate 4 N donor where both pyridine and pyrazole nitrogen atoms of pyridyl–pyrazole part are coordinatively active, leaving the carbonyl oxygen of the carbohydrazide part inactive. The same pyridine and pyrazole N atoms remain abstained from the coordination process towards the Zn(II) and Cd(II) metal centers. For 2 and 3 the ligand behaves as a tridentate NNO donor where the two nitrogen atoms come from azomethine, pyridine of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde parts and O from carbonyl oxygen atoms (carbohydrazide part). The complex 1 and 2 are distorted octahedral while complex 3 adopts distorted square pyramidal geometry. All the complexes are X-ray crystallographically characterized.     

Semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-assisted Sagnac switch for designing of all-optical tri-state logic gates

Tri-state logic plays a significant role in carry free arithmetical operation. Design of all-optical scheme of three basic tri-state logical operation (NOT, AND, OR) with the help of polarization encoded semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-assisted Sagnac interferometric switch has been studied and investigated in this present paper. Numerical simulation is also presented, which verifies the theoretical results. Insertion loss, contrast ratio, extinction ratio, amplitude modulation, bit error rate and signal to noise ratio values have also been analyzed.     

Photoinduced melting of antiferromagnetic order in La(0.5)Sr(1.5)MnO4 measured using ultrafast resonant soft x-ray diffraction

We used ultrafast resonant soft x-ray diffraction to probe the picosecond dynamics of spin and orbital order in La(0.5)Sr(1.5)MnO(4) after photoexcitation with a femtosecond pulse of 1.5 eV radiation. Complete melting of antiferromagnetic spin order is evidenced by the disappearance of a (1/4,1/4,1/2) diffraction peak. On the other hand, the (1/4,1/4,0) diffraction peak, reflecting orbital order, is only partially reduced. We interpret the results as evidence of destabilization in the short-range exchange pattern with no significant relaxation of the long-range Jahn-Teller distortions. Cluster calculations are used to analyze different possible magnetically ordered states in the long-lived metastable phase. Nonthermal coupling between light and magnetism emerges as a primary aspect of photoinduced phase transitions in manganites.     

Terahertz imaging through self-mixing in a quantum cascade laser

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) frequency imaging using a single quantum cascade laser (QCL) device for both generation and sensing of THz radiation. Detection is achieved by utilizing the effect of self-mixing in the THz QCL, and, specifically, by monitoring perturbations to the voltage across the QCL, induced by light reflected from an external object back into the laser cavity. Self-mixing imaging offers high sensitivity, a potentially fast response, and a simple, compact optical design, and we show that it can be used to obtain high-resolution reflection images of exemplar structures.     

Synthesis of ordered ZnO nanowire arrays from aqueous solution using AAO template

In this paper we report a simple method that enables the easy fabrication of ordered ZnO nanowire arrays using Anodic Aluminium Oxide (AAO) template. We have used a vacuum injection technique to fill solution into the pores of an AAO template. The AAO template has been fabricated by a two-step anodization process using 0.3 M oxalic acid (H₂C₂O₄) solution under a constant voltage of 40 V. The AAO template formed through this process has been detached from Al substrate via an anodic voltage pulse using perchloric acid (HClO₄) solution (70%). The nanowires of ZnO have been synthesized by injecting the saturated Zn(NO₃)₂ solution into the pores of the detached AAO template using a vacuum pump. The ZnO nanowires synthesized by this technique have been found dense & continuous with uniform diameter throughout the length of the wire. The structural characteristics of AAO template and ZnO nanowires have been studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Atomic force microscope (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).     

Solubility of carbon dioxide in aqueous solution of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol and piperazine

In this work, new experimental results of the vapour-liquid equilibrium (VLE) of CO₂ in aqueous 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) and piperazine (PZ) have been presented in the temperature range of 298-328 K and PZ concentration range of 2-8 mass%, keeping the total amine concentration in the solution at 30 mass%. The partial pressures of CO₂ were in the range of 0.1-1450 kPa. A thermodynamic model was developed to correlate and predict the VLE of CO₂ in aqueous AMP + PZ. The electrolyte nonrandom two liquid (ENRTL) theory has been used to develop the VLE model for the quaternary system (CO₂ + AMP + PZ + H₂O) to describe the equilibrium behaviour of the solution. The experimental data from this work and data available in the literature were used to regress the ENRTL interaction parameters. The model predictions are in good agreement with the experimental data of CO₂ solubility in aqueous blends of this work as well as those reported in the literature. The current model can also predict speciation, heat of absorption, pH of the CO₂ loaded solution, and amine volatility.     

Intermediates involved in serotonin oxidation catalyzed by Cu bound Aβ peptides

The degradation of neurotransmitters is a hallmark feature of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Copper bound Aβ peptides, invoked to be involved in the pathology of AD, are found to catalyze the oxidation of serotonin (5-HT) by H₂O₂. A combination of EPR and resonance Raman spectroscopy reveals the formation of a Cu(ii)–OOH species and a dimeric, EPR silent, Cu₂O₂ bis-μ-oxo species under the reaction conditions. The Cu(ii)–OOH species, which can be selectively formed in the presence of excess H₂O₂, is the reactive intermediate responsible for 5-HT oxidation. H₂O₂ produced by the reaction of O₂ with reduced Cu(i)–Aβ species can also oxidize 5-HT. Both these pathways are physiologically relevant and may be involved in the observed decay of neurotransmitters as observed in AD patients.

The mononuclear copper hydroperoxo species (Cu(ii)–OOH) of Cu–Aβ is the active oxidant responsible for serotonin oxidation by Cu–Aβ in the presence of physiologically relevant oxidants like O₂ and H₂O₂, which can potentially cause oxidative degradation of neurotransmitters, a marker of Alzheimer''s disease.