Synthesis,spectral characterization and biological studies of transition metal(II) complexes with triazole Schiff bases

New metal based triazoles (1–12) have been synthesized by the interaction of novel Schiff base ligands (L¹–L³) with the Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal ions. The Schiff base ligands and their all metal(II) complexes have been thoroughly characterized using various physical, analytical and spectroscopic techniques. In vitro bacterial and fungal inhibition studies were carried out to examine the antibacterial and antifungal profile of the Schiff bases in comparison to their metal(II) complexes against two Gram‐positive, four Gram‐negative and six fungal strains. The bioactivity data showed the metal(II) complexes to have more potent antibacterial and antifungal activity than their uncomplexed parent Schiff bases against one or more bacterial and fungal species. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Double Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction of pyrimidine boronic acid: synthesis of new versatile dielectrophile

The double Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction has successfully been applied for the synthesis of 5,5′‐(5‐butoxy‐1,3‐phenylene)bis(2‐chloropyrimidine) with two reactive chloro groups and an alkoxy side chain starting from 2‐chloropyrimidin‐5‐ylboronic acid and 1,3‐dibromo‐5‐butoxybenzene. The reactivity of this dielectrophile was tested by reaction with aniline and phenol, a nitrogen and oxygen nucleophile, respectively. The new dielectrophile would further provide an ideal platform for the construction of large hetero‐atom bridged macrocycles for desired properties and functions in supramolecular and material chemistry. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cobalt titanate–cobalt oxide composite thin films deposited from heterobimetallic precursor

A single molecular heterobimetallic complex, [Co₂Ti(μ₃‐O)(TFA)₆(THF)₃] (1) [TFA = trifluoroacetate, THF = tetrahydrofuran], was synthesized, structurally and spectroscopically characterized and implemented as a single‐source precursor for the preparation of CoTiO₃–CoO composite thin films by aerosol‐assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD). The precursor complex was prepared by interaction of Co(OAc)₂.4H₂O [OAc = (CH₃COO^?)] with Ti(iso‐propoxide)₄ in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in THF, and was analysed by melting point, CHN, FT‐IR, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The precursor complex thermally decomposed at 480 °C to give a residual mass corresponding to a CoTiO₃–CoO composite material. Good‐quality crystalline CoTiO₃–CoO composite thin films deposited at 500 °C by AACVD and characterized through powder X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy show that the crystallites have a rose‐flower‐like morphology with an average petal size in the range of 2–6 µm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,anti‐migration and burning rate catalytic mechanism of ferrocene‐based compounds

One of the most important components of solid rocket propellant is the burning rate catalysts (BRC) which enhance burning rate of solid composite propellant. Low‐pressure exponents and stable burning rate are the key features of an excellent solid propellant. Addition of BRC to the propellant results in the increase of burning rate of the propellant and decrease in pressure exponents. Among all BRC, ferrocene‐based BRC have attracted much attention because of their better microscopic homogeneities in distribution, ignitability of the propellants and good compatibility with organic binder. However, the main barrier for the development and practical applications of ferrocene‐based BRC is their migration property. This article reviews the field and highlights recent progress. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural Characterization of Graphene Nanosheets for Miniaturization of Potentiometric Urea Lipid Film Based Biosensors

The present article describes a miniaturized potentiometric urea lipid film based biosensor on graphene nanosheets. Structural characterization of graphene nanosheets for miniaturization of potentiometric urea lipid film based biosensors have been studied through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. UV‐Vis and Fourrier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy have been utilized to study the pre‐ and postconjugated surfaces of graphene nanosheets. The presented potentiometric urea biosensor exhibits good reproducibility, reusability, selectivity, rapid response times (～4 s), long shelf life and high sensitivity of ca. 70 mV/decade over the urea logarithmic concentration range from 1×10^?6 M to 1×10^?3 M.     

Solvent‐assisted anionic ring opening polymerization of glycidol: Toward medium and high molecular weight hyperbranched polyglycerols

Hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPGs) are globular structures with a large number of functionalizable hydroxyl groups and have excellent in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility profiles comparable to polyethylene glycol. This work introduces a facile method for the synthesis of medium molecular weights (M_ws) (50–300 kDa) HPGs, which has been difficult to synthesize with low polydispersity, with the assistance of solvents by ring opening polymerization. The influence of different solvents (1,4‐dioxane, tetrahydropyran (THP), ethylene glycol diethyl ether (EGDE) and decane), solvent to glycidol ratio, concentration of glycidol and the time of polymerization on M_w and polydispersity of HPGs has been studied. The M_w and polydispersity of HPGs are significantly affected by the nature of the polymerization phase (homogeneous or heterogeneous) and chemical structure of the solvent. The differences in the solvation of the potassium cations and change in the nucleophilicity of the alkoxide anion in various solvents may be responsible for the changes in M_w and PDI of the HPG. The M_w of the HPG decreases in the order 1,4‐dioxane > THP > EGDE >decane. The microstructure, solution and thermal properties of the HPG do not depend on the nature of solvent. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2614–2621     

Temperature dependent electrical conductivity of polyaniline/Y2O3 composites

Composites of polyaniline with yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) nanoparticles have been prepared by chemical polymerizations method by increasing the weight percentage of yttrium oxide. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FTIR) were used to characterize the composites. XRD and FTIR pattern indicate that Polyaniline (PANI) is intercalated into the layers of Y₂O₃ nanoparticles successfully by in situ polymerization and therefore the degree of crystallinity increases due to crystalline of yttrium oxide nanoparticles. The scanning electron micrographs (SEM) also confirm the formation of dual phase of platelet as well as of flaky structure in PANI-Y₂O₃. Temperature dependant DC conductivity showed three dimensional variable ranges hopping (3D VRH) model. Activation energy, density of states and hopping length are calculated and found to be influenced by intercalating PANI into the layers of Y₂O₃ clay.     

Coupled Sliding Discharges: A Scalable Nonthermal Plasma System Utilizing Positive and Negative Streamers on Opposite Sides of a Dielectric Layer

A nonthermal plasma system based on simultaneously formed positive and negative streamers on either side of a dielectric layer is described. The coupled sliding discharge (CSD) reactor based on this concept was found to be scalable by stacking and operating multiple electrode assemblies in parallel, similarly to the shielded sliding discharge (SSD) reactor reported earlier. A comparison of the two systems showed that although the energy density in the CSD reactor was lower, the efficiency for NO conversion and ozone synthesis from dry air were significantly higher. The energy cost for 50 % NO removal was ~30 eV/molecule compared to ~60 eV/molecule in the case of the SSD under the same conditions of 330 ppm initial NO concentration in air. The energy cost decreased to ~12 eV/molecule in both cases when NO was mixed with plasma-activated air at the outlet of the reactor to utilize ozone for NO conversion i.e., indirect plasma treatment. The energy yield for ozone generation from dry air was at ~70 g/kWh, comparable in both systems. The results show that the concept of a CSD, as that of SSDs, allows the construction of compact, efficient plasma reactors.     

Gold-surface binding of molecular switches studied by M?ssbauer spectroscopy

The nonanuclear coordination compound [Mo^IV{(CN)Fe^III(3-methyl-saldptn)}₈]Cl₄ exhibits multiple spin transitions (3-methyl-saldptn = N,N′-bis(3′′-methyl-2′′-hydroxy-benzyliden)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane). This spin crossover cluster is bound via a self-assembled monolayer onto a two dimensional array gold surface. M?ssbauer spectroscopy indicates that the thermally and optically induced spin crossover of the compound is maintained. Thereby, the foundation for its potential practical application (e.g. in the field of information storage) was laid.