Polyelectrolyte templating strategy for the fabrication of multilayer hemicyanine Langmuir-Blodgett films showing enhanced and stable second harmonic generation

Polyelectrolyte templating effectively suppresses the aggregation of cationic hemicyanine-based amphiphiles in monolayer Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films leading to enhanced and stable optical second harmonic generation (SHG). The current study explores the impact of different polyelectrolytes (salts of poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid), deoxyribonucleic acid, and carboxymethylcellulose) on the mode of formation of multilayer LB films of the hemicyanine amphiphile and their SHG response. Pressure-area isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy reveal the impact of the polyelectrolyte complexation on the Langmuir films. Transfer ratios observed during film deposition, supported by electronic absorption spectra and atomic force microscope images of the multilayer LB films, suggest that the polyanions influence the deposition sequence, leading to significant variations in the SHG. Carboxymethylcellulose is identified as an optimal template that induces favorable z-type deposition, leading to the formation of stable multilayer films. These films exhibit the expected quadratic increase of SHG with the extent of deposition; significantly the film response is very stable under extended laser irradiation. It is proposed that structural adjustments of the sandwiched polymer layer lead to the observed deposition sequence and film stability. Polyelectrolyte templating is demonstrated to be a simple and effective strategy for the fabrication of multilayer LB films to elicit efficient quadratic nonlinear optical response.     

Blue luminescence of Au nanoclusters embedded in silica matrix

Photoluminescence study using the 325 nm He-Cd excitation is reported for the Au nanoclusters embedded in SiO(2) matrix. Au clusters are grown by ion beam mixing with 100 KeV Ar(+) irradiation on Au [40 nm]/SiO(2) at various fluences and subsequent annealing at high temperature. The blue bands above approximately 3 eV match closely with reported values for colloidal Au nanoclusters and supported Au nanoislands. Radiative recombination of sp electrons above Fermi level to occupied d-band holes are assigned for observed luminescence peaks. Peaks at 3.1 and 3.4 eV are correlated to energy gaps at the X- and L-symmetry points, respectively, with possible involvement of relaxation mechanism. The blueshift of peak positions at 3.4 eV with decreasing cluster size is reported to be due to the compressive strain in small clusters. A first principle calculation based on density functional theory using the full potential linear augmented plane wave plus local orbitals formalism with generalized gradient approximation for the exchange correlation energy is used to estimate the band gaps at the X- and L-symmetry points by calculating the band structures and joint density of states for different strain values in order to explain the blueshift of approximately 0.1 eV with decreasing cluster size around L-symmetry point.     

EPR and electronic spectral studies on Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with a new tetradentate [N4] macrocyclic ligand and their biological activity

Cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes having the general composition M(L)X2 (where M = CO(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II), L = ligand, i.e. 3,4,12,13-tetraketo-2,5,11,14,19,20-hexaazatricyclo[13.3.1.1(6-10)]cosane; 1(19),6,8,10(20),15,17-hexaene and X stands for Cl-; NO3- and SO42-), have been prepared. The structure of the complexes has been elucidated by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements, mass, IR, electronic and EPR spectral studies. The magnetic moment measurements of the complexes indicate that the metal ion is in high-spin state. On the basis of IR, electronic and EPR spectral studies an octahedral geometry was assigned for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes whereas tetragonal geometry for Cu(II) complexes. This ligand and its complexes were also screened against bacteria and pathogenic fungi in vitro.     

Potential inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II: ruthenium(II) poly-pyridyl and pyridyl-azine complexes

In search of new DNA probes a series of new mono and binuclear cationic complexes [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(L)]⁺ and [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(-μ-L)RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺ [L=pyridine-2-carbaldehyde azine (paa), p-phenylene-bis(picoline)aldimine (pbp) and p-biphenylene-bis(picoline)aldimine (bbp)] have been synthesized. The reaction products were characterized by microanalyses, spectral (IR, UV-Vis, NMR and ESMS and FAB-MS) and electrochemical studies. Structure of the representative mononuclear complex [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(paa)]BF₄ was crystallographically determined. The crystal packing in the complex [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(paa)]BF₄ is stabilized by intermolecular π-π stacking resulting into a spiral network. Topoisomerase II inhibitory activity of the complexes and a few other related complexes [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(L)]⁺ {L=2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz) and 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)-pyrazine (bppz)} have been examined against filarial parasite Setaria cervi. Absorption titration experiments provided good support for DNA interaction and binding constants have also been calculated which were found in the range 1.2 × 10³-4.01 × 10⁴ M⁻¹.     

Spectroscopic characterization and EPR spectral studies on transition metal complexes with a novel tetradentate, 12-membered macrocyclic ligand

Complexes of Cr(III), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) containing a tetradentate macrocyclic N-donor ligand have been prepared via template reaction of 2,3-pentanedione, ethylene-di-ammine and transition metal ions. The complexes have been characterized on the basis of the elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic moment susceptibility, IR, electronic and EPR spectral studies. The complexes are of high spin type and possess four coordinate tetrahedral five coordinate square pyramidal and six coordinated octahedral/tetragonal geometry.     

Dynamics of halide ion-water hydrogen bonds in aqueous solutions: dependence on ion size and temperature

We have carried out a series of molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the dynamics of X(-)-water (X = F, Cl, Br, and I) and water-water hydrogen bonds in aqueous alkali halide solutions at room temperature and also of Cl(-)-water and water-water hydrogen bonds at seven different temperatures ranging from 238 to 318 K. The hydrogen bonds are defined by using a set of configurational criteria with respect to the anion(oxygen)-oxygen and anion(oxygen)-hydrogen distances and the anion(oxygen)-oxygen-hydrogen angle for an anion(water)-water pair. The results of the hydrogen bond dynamics are obtained for two different cutoff values for the angular criterion. In both cases, similar dynamical behavior of the hydrogen bonds is found with respect to their dependence on ion size and temperature. The fluoride ion-water hydrogen bonds are found to break at a much slower rate than water-water hydrogen bonds, while the lifetimes of chloride and bromide ion-water hydrogen bonds are found to be shorter than those of fluoride ion-water ones but still longer than water-water hydrogen bonds. The short-time dynamics of iodide ion-water hydrogen bonds is found to be slightly faster, while its long-time dynamics is found to be slightly slower than the corresponding water-water hydrogen bond dynamics. Correlations of the observed dynamics of anion(water)-water hydrogen bonds with those of rotational and translational diffusion and residence times of water molecules in ion(water) hydration shells are also discussed. With variation of temperature, the lifetimes of both Cl(-)-water and water-water hydrogen bonds are found to show Arrhenius behavior with a slightly higher activation energy for the Cl(-)-water hydrogen bonds.     

A combined experimental and theoretical study on photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer in trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino)cinamate

Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) behavior of trans-ethyl p-(dimethylamino)cinamate (EDAC) in various solvents has been studied by steady-state absorption and emission, picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and femtosecond transient absorption experiments as well as time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Large fluorescence spectral shift in more polar solvents indicates an efficient charge transfer from the donor site to the acceptor moiety in the excited state compared to the ground state. The energy for 0,0 transition (ν_0,0) for EDAC shows very good linear correlation with static solvent dielectric property. The relaxation dynamics of EDAC in the excited state can be effectively described by a “three state” model where, the locally excited (LE) state converts into the ICT state within 350 ± 100 fs. A combination of solvent reorganization and intramolecular vibrational relaxation within 0.5–6 ps populates the relaxed ICT state which undergoes fluorescence decay within few tens to hundreds of picoseconds.     

Properties of foam films stabilized with tetraethylammonium perfluorooctane-sulfonate

Properties of single foam films prepared with tetraethylammonium perfluorooctane-sulfonate (TAPOS) were studied. Film thickness was measured as a function of NH₄Cl concentration in the film forming solution. The dependence of the film disjoining pressure versus the film thickness (disjoining pressure isotherms) and the mean lifetime of the films were studied. The dependence of the film thickness on the electrolyte concentration showed the presence of an electrostatic double layer at the film surfaces. The electrostatic double layer component of the disjoining pressure was screened at a NH₄Cl concentration higher than 0.2 M where Newton black films (NBFs) of 6 nm thickness were formed. These films are bilayers of amphiphile molecules and contain almost no free water. The disjoining pressure isotherms of the foam films formed with 0.001 M TAPOS were measured at two different NH₄Cl concentrations (0.005 and 0.0005 M). The Deryaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory describes well the isotherms with an electrostatic double layer potential of ∼140 mV. The mean lifetime, a measure of the stability of the NBFs, was measured depending on surfactant concentrations. The observation of NBF was possible above a minimum TAPOS concentration of 9.4 × 10⁻⁵ M. Above this concentration, the lifetime increases exponentially. The dependence of the film lifetime on surfactant concentration is explained by the theory for NBF-rupture by nucleation mechanism of formation of microscopic holes.     

Spectroscopic characterization of chromium(III), manganese(II) and nickel(II) complexes with a nitrogen donor tetradentate, 12-membered azamacrocyclic ligand

The complexes of Cr(III), Mn(II) and Ni(II) were synthesized with macrocyclic ligand i.e. 5,11-dimethyl-6,12-diethyl-dione-1,2,4,7,9,10-hexazacyclododeca -1,4,6,10-tetraene. The ligand (L) was prepared by [2+2] condensation reaction of 2,3-pentanedione and semicarbazide hydrochloride. These complexes were found to have the general composition [Cr(L)X(2)]X and [M(L)X(2)] (where M=Mn(II) and Ni(II); X=Cl(-), NO(3)(-), (1/2)SO(4)(2-), NCS(-) and L=ligand [N(6)]). The ligand and its transition metal complexes were characterized by the elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, mass, IR, electronic and EPR spectral studies. On the basis of IR, electronic and EPR spectral studies, an octahedral geometry has been assigned for these complexes except sulphato complexes which are of five coordinated geometry.     

A soluble molecular variant of the semiconducting silicondiselenide

Silicondiselenide is a semiconductor and exists as an insoluble polymer (SiSe₂)_n which is prepared by reacting elemental silicon with selenium powder in the temperature range of 400–850 °C. Herein, we report on the synthesis, isolation, and characterization of carbene stabilized molecular silicondiselenide in the form of (cAAC)₂Si₂Se₄ (3) [cAAC = cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene]. 3 is synthesized via reaction of diatomic silicon(0) compound (cAAC)₂Si₂ (2) with black selenium powder at –78 °C to room temperature. The intensely orange colored compound 3 is soluble in polar organic solvents and stable at room temperature for a month under an inert atmosphere. 3 decomposes above 245 °C. The molecular structure of 3 has been confirmed by X-ray single crystal diffraction. It is also characterized by UV-vis, IR, Raman spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The stability, bonding, and electron density distributions of 3 have been studied by theoretical calculations.