Determination of hydrogen peroxide based on a metal dispersed sol-gel derived ceramic-graphite composite electrode

A new copper dispersed ceramic-graphite composite electrode was fabricated by the initial mixing of copper nitrate and (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxy silane (MPS) followed by stirring with graphite powder. The combination of the metal catalysis and the advantages of the ceramic composite favored the electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at a reduced overpotential of -0.2 V with good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility. The sensor showed a good linear response to H2O2 in the range from 8.3 x 10(-6) M to 2.0 x 10(-3) M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9989 and the detection limit was 6.2 x 10(-6) M (S/N =3).     

l-Proline catalyzed selective synthesis of 2-aryl-1-arylmethyl-1H-benzimidazoles

l-Proline (10 mol %) was found to be a versatile organocatalyst for the selective synthesis of 2-aryl-1-arylmethyl-1H-benzimidazoles from a wide range of substituted o-phenylenediamines and aldehydes in moderate to excellent isolated yields (32-95%) under mild conditions using chloroform as a solvent at ambient temperature.     

Flexible cofacial binuclear metal complexes derived from alpha,alpha-bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene

The tetradentate Schiff-base ligand SIXH2 (alpha,alpha-bis(salicylimino)-m-xylene), prepared from salicylaldehyde and m-xylylenediamine, forms cofacial binuclear complexes with Pd and Cu. Of the two isomers possible (trans-syn and trans-anti) for M2(SIX)2, these complexes crystallize exclusively as the trans-anti isomer. In ansolvous Pd2(SIX)2, the metal-containing planes are approximately parallel, with PdPd 4.416(1) A. Pd2(SIX)2 also forms a crystalline solvate, in which the molecules adopt a more open conformation with longer metal-metal distances (5.109(1) and 5.112(1) A). The M...M distance is significantly longer in Cu2(SIX)2 (6.653(1) A), because of conformational changes in the m-xylylene moieties and substantial tetrahedral distortion about Cu.     

Quantifying the relative contribution of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic environments, and coordinating groups, in the zinc(II)-water acidity by synthetic modelling chemistry

Ligands derived from the tripodal N4 ligand tris(pyridylmethyl)amine ((pyCH2)3N, tpa) of general formula (6-RNHpyCH2)nN(CH2py)(3-n)(R = H, n= 1-3 L(1-3); R = neopentyl, n= 1-3 L'(1-3)) were used to elucidate and quantify the magnitude of the effects exerted by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic environments in the zinc-water acidity of their complexes. The pKa of the zinc-bound water molecule of [(L(1-3))Zn(OH2)]2+ and [(L'(1-3))Zn(OH2)]2+ 1'-3' was determined by potentiometric pH titrations in water (1-3) or water-ethanol (1:1) (1'-3'). The zinc(II) water acidity gradually increases as the number of -NH2 hydrogen bonding groups adjacent to the water molecule increases. Thus, the zinc-bound water of [(L3)Zn(OH2)]2+ and [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+ deprotonate with pKa values of 6.0 and 8.0, respectively. The pKa of the water molecule, however, is only raised from 8.0 in [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+ to 9.1 in [(bpg)Zn(OH2)]+ (bpa =(pyCH2)2N(CH2COO-)). Moreover, the acidity of the zinc-bound water of several of the five-coordinate zinc(II) complexes with the hydrogen bonding groups is greater than that of four-coordinate [((12)aneN3)Zn(OH2)]2+ (pKa = 7.0). This result shows that the magnitude of the effect exerted by the hydrogen bonding groups can be larger than that induced by changing one neutral by one anionic ligand, and/or even by changing the coordination number of the zinc(II) centre. The X-ray structure of [(L'2)Zn(OH)]ClO4 2' and [(L'3)Zn(OH)]ClO4.CH3CN 3'.CH3CN is reported, and show the neopentylamino groups forming N-H...O hydrogen bonds with the zinc-bound hydroxide. Although, which have hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic groups, have a zinc-bound water more acidic than [(tpa)Zn(OH2)]2+, their pKa is not always lower than that of 1-3. This result suggests that a hydrogen bonding microenvironment may be more effective than a hydrophobic one to increase the zinc-water acidity.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile. Kinetics of the reaction initiated by the Ce(IV)/thioacetamide redox system

Vinyl polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by the Ce(IV)/thioacetamide redox system has been investigated in aqueous sulfuric acid in the temperature range of 10–20°C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) and the rate of Ce(IV) disappearance (?R_Ce) were measured. The effect of certain water-soluble organic solvents, added electrolytes, and aromatic and heterocyclic organic nitrogen compounds on the rate of polymerization has been investigated. Depending on the experimental results, we have suggested a suitable reaction scheme for the system which involves the production of initiating radicals from the oxidation of thioacetamide (TAm) by ceric ion and the termination of the polymer chain by metal ions.     

Binding and condensation of plasmid DNA onto functionalized carbon nanotubes: toward the construction of nanotube-based gene delivery vectors

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) constitute a class of nanomaterials that possess characteristics suitable for a variety of possible applications. Their compatibility with aqueous environments has been made possible by the chemical functionalization of their surface, allowing for exploration of their interactions with biological components including mammalian cells. Functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs) are being intensively explored in advanced biotechnological applications ranging from molecular biosensors to cellular growth substrates. We have been exploring the potential of f-CNTs as delivery vehicles of biologically active molecules in view of possible biomedical applications, including vaccination and gene delivery. Recently we reported the capability of ammonium-functionalized single-walled CNTs to penetrate human and murine cells and facilitate the delivery of plasmid DNA leading to expression of marker genes. To optimize f-CNTs as gene delivery vehicles, it is essential to characterize their interactions with DNA. In the present report, we study the interactions of three types of f-CNTs, ammonium-functionalized single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-NH3+; MWNT-NH3+), and lysine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-Lys-NH3+), with plasmid DNA. Nanotube-DNA complexes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, PicoGreen dye exclusion, and agarose gel shift assay. The results indicate that all three types of cationic carbon nanotubes are able to condense DNA to varying degrees, indicating that both nanotube surface area and charge density are critical parameters that determine the interaction and electrostatic complex formation between f-CNTs with DNA. All three different f-CNT types in this study exhibited upregulation of marker gene expression over naked DNA using a mammalian (human) cell line. Differences in the levels of gene expression were correlated with the structural and biophysical data obtained for the f-CNT:DNA complexes to suggest that large surface area leading to very efficient DNA condensation is not necessary for effective gene transfer. However, it will require further investigation to determine whether the degree of binding and tight association between DNA and nanotubes is a desirable trait to increase gene expression efficiency in vitro or in vivo. This study constitutes the first thorough investigation into the physicochemical interactions between cationic functionalized carbon nanotubes and DNA toward construction of carbon nanotube-based gene transfer vector systems.     

Polymers with advanced structural and supramolecular features synthesized through topochemical polymerization

Polymers are an integral part of our daily life. Hence, there are constant efforts towards synthesizing novel polymers with unique properties. As the composition and packing of polymer chains influence polymer''s properties, sophisticated control over the molecular and supramolecular structure of the polymer helps tailor its properties as desired. However, such precise control via conventional solution-state synthesis is challenging. Topochemical polymerization (TP), a solvent- and catalyst-free reaction that occurs under the confinement of a crystal lattice, offers profound control over the molecular structure and supramolecular architecture of a polymer and usually results in ordered polymers. In particular, single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) TP is advantageous as we can correlate the structure and packing of polymer chains with their properties. By designing molecules appended with suitable reactive moieties and utilizing the principles of supramolecular chemistry to align them in a reactive orientation, the synthesis of higher-dimensional polymers and divergent topologies has been achieved via TP. Though there are a few reviews on TP in the literature, an exclusive review showcasing the topochemical synthesis of polymers with advanced structural features is not available. In this perspective, we present selected examples of the topochemical synthesis of organic polymers with sophisticated structures like ladders, tubular polymers, alternating copolymers, polymer blends, and other interesting topologies. We also detail some strategies adopted for obtaining distinct polymers from the same monomer. Finally, we highlight the main challenges and prospects for developing advanced polymers via TP and inspire future directions in this area.

This perspective showcases the potential of topochemical polymerization as an effective tool for synthesizing polymers with advanced molecular and supramolecular structures.     

Synthesis of polysilanes bearing pendant carbosilyl groups and Si-NMR probe on the tacticity using side chain silicon atoms

New functional polysilanes [R₂R¹Si(CH₂)₂SiH]_n (R=Me, R¹=H (1); R=R¹=Et (2); R=Me, R¹=Ph (3)) bearing carbosilyl side chains have been synthesized by catalytic dehydropolymerization of precursor carbosilanes R₂R¹SiCH₂CH₂SiH₃ using Cp₂TiCl₂–BuLi as a catalyst. These polymers are characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si, {¹H–²⁹Si} HSQC NMR spectroscopy, GPC and TGA. Attempts to delineate the tacticity from the analysis of deconvoluted ²⁹Si{¹H}-NMR signals associated with the side chain silicon atoms reveal that the triad concentration ratio follows a Bernoullian statistical model for polymers 1 and 2 only.