CDP-Ethanolamine and CDP-Choline: one-pot synthesis and P NMR study

Herein we report a one-pot multi-step synthesis of the cofactors CDP-Ethanolamine and CDP-Choline starting from cytidine 5′-monophosphate and using commercially available and/or easily prepared reagents. While studying the ³¹P NMR spectrum of CDP-Ethanolamine, an unexpected characteristic for a pyrophosphate diester was observed as it showed a singlet or two doublets depending upon the pH. Therefore, further NMR studies were undertaken to investigate the pH dependence of the peak splitting pattern and measure the acid dissociation constants of the compounds.     

A Laccase/Chitosan‐Lambda‐Carrageenan Based Voltammetric Biosensor for Phenolic Compound Detection

In this contribution, a new concept of voltammetric catechol biosensor, based on the encapsulation of laccase (LAC) in a chitosan+lambda‐carrageenan (CHIT+CAR) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) employing a simple coacervation process is presented. Chitosan (CHIT) was prepared from α‐chitin extracted from shrimp shells and lambda‐carrageenan (CAR) was extracted from red algae, both polysaccharides and PEC being characterized using FTIR spectrometry and electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammetry was utilized to determine the analytical features of the laccase (LAC) biosensor for catechol detection. The linear range was from 10^?20 M to 10^?14 M with a sensitivity of 1.55 mA/p[catechol] and a limit of detection of 3×10^?21 M.The laccase biosensor exhibits good repeatability (RSD 2.38 %) and stability (four weeks). The developed biosensor was tested by applying it to the evaluation of the total polyphenolic content in natural oil samples.     

Surface excitation probabilities in surface electron spectroscopies

The phenomenon of surface excitation is competitive in nature for elastic and other inelastic scattering processes in surface electron spectroscopies; the knowledge of influence of surface excitations in electron energy loss spectra is then essential for quantitative surface analysis with these spectroscopies. The inelastic scattering of an electron moving in the vicinity of a surface is considered in a self-energy formalism to estimate the contribution of surface excitation in electron-solid interactions via the total surface excitation probability. The formulation uses the optical bulk dielectric function and provides the spatial and angular dependence of the differential and total inelastic cross-sections. The kinetic energy range of probing electrons considered is 100-5000 eV and the numerical evaluation of total surface excitation probabilities are performed for several metals, Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, Fe and Ti; empirical formulae for the surface excitation probability are given for each of these materials and compared with experimental results for the surface excitation parameter. The total surface excitation probability is higher in Ag as compared to other metals under consideration, for identical conditions of electron-solid interactions.     

Utilization of 2-ylidene-4-thiazolidinones in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds. Part I: Synthesis of pyrazoles

2-Ylidene and 2,5-diylidene-4-thiazolidinones 2a–d were synthesized and converted into pyrazole derivatives 4a–d by reaction with hydrazine hydrate. A mechanism of this novel conversion is suggested.     

Internal path investigation of the acting electrons during the photocatalysis of panchromatic ruthenium dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells

A series of heteroleptic Ru(II) complexes were theoretically investigated using time-dependent density functional theory. These dyes, including K8 and N3, are based on a common motif formed by Ru center, NCS, and polypyridyl ligands, but differ only by the nature of the added group in para position of each pyridyl. The presence of these ligands will enable the evaluation of the electronic effects ±I and ±M. This work focuses on the localization of the part, among the metal, the NCS, the polypyridyl ligands, and the added group R, which is most actively involved in the photocatalysis process. We dealt with both ground and excited states as well as the electronic transitions between them. To illustrate the effect of each functional group R on its photophysical properties, the geometries of five dyes were optimized in the molecular and univalent cationic states. All molecules are asymmetrical in shape with a distorted octahedral coordination of the RuN6 core. Atomic charge and spin density distributions show that a charge transfer process occurs from the NCS/Ru to polypyridyl ligand. Analysis of the electronic absorption spectra reveals that the band with the highest wavelength value is assigned to metal-to-ligand charge transfer transition. On the contrary, two other bands are assigned to multitransitions Ru/NCS to polypyridyl–π*. These attributions have been confirmed by the localization of all atoms intervening in them. We also introduced an adapted way to estimate the ionization probability values in each atomic center in the ground and first excited states. Phenomenal properties such as mobility, redox potential, electronic spectrum, ionization potential, and optical gap of the most efficient dye, which is the N3, fit well with experimental values.     

Novel lanthanum sulfide–decorated zirconia nanohybrid for enhanced electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Metal sulfide and oxides have drawn interest as economical substitutes to noble metal catalysts due to their ability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER)...     

Establishing Relationship between Vitamins,Total Phenolic and Total Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Activities in Various Honey Types

Honey is a well-known natural sweetener and is rich in natural antioxidants that prevent the occurrence of oxidative stress, which is responsible for many human diseases. Some of the biochemical compounds in honey that contribute to this property are vitamins and phenolic compounds such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. However, the extent to which these molecules contribute towards the antioxidant capacity in vitro is inconsistently reported, especially with the different analytical methods used, as well as other extrinsic factors that influence these molecules’ availability. Therefore, by reviewing recently published works correlating the vitamin, total phenolic, and flavonoid content in honey with its antioxidant activities in vitro, this paper will establish a relationship between these parameters. Based on the literature, vitamins do not contribute to honey’s antioxidant capacity; however, the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids has an impact on honey’s antioxidant activity.     

Dynamic light scattering studies of additive effects on the microstructure of aqueous gemini micelles

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements have been performed at 30 degrees C to see the effects of additives on the microstructure of gemini alkanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(dimethylcetylammonium bromide) surfactants, (Br-, n-C16H33N+Me2-(CH2)s-Me2- N+n-C16H33, Br-, 16-s-16, where s = 4, 5, 6). In pure aqueous solutions, the hydrodynamic diameter, Dh, was found to increase rapidly with geminis in comparison to their monomeric counterpart cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (n-C16H33N+Me3, Br-, CTAB) on increasing surfactant concentration. The additives considered in the present study are n-alcohols (C4-C6OH) and n-hexylamine (C6NH2) on the micellar growth of 0.03 M 16-4-16 in the presence and absence of 0.001 M KBr. The presence of 0.001 M KBr or organic additives at lower concentrations singly or jointly has little effect on the micellar size. As the chain length of the additive increases, the size increases with the increase of additive concentration, the magnitude being substantial in the presence of 0.001 M KBr. However, for equal chain length additives (C6OH, C6NH2), the effect was greater for C6OH. In case of C6NH2, the value of Dh reaches to almost constancy when the concentration of the additive was increased. Increased effectiveness of additives in the presence of added salt (KBr) is discussed in light of electrostatic and hydrophobic forces operating in the solution, which are always responsible for growth processes.