Syntheses and crystal structures of cadmium(II)X2-hexamethylenetetramine (X = Br/I/SCN) coordination polymers having different dimensionality

Four new coordination polymers of cadmium(II) with hexamethylenetetramine (htm) have been synthesized and characterized by routine physicochemical techniques as well as by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. They are [CdBr(htm)(SCN)(H₂O)₂·CH₃OH]_n (1), [CdI(htm)(SCN)(H₂O)₂·0.5(CH₃OH)]_n (2), [Cd₂(htm)₃(SCN)₄(H₂O)]_n·nH₂O (3) and [Cd₃Br₆(htm)₂(H₂O)₅·(htm)(H₂O)₆]_n (4). Complexes 1, 2 and 3 exhibit 1D polymeric structure and complex 4 shows a 2D undulated layered arrangement, containing Cd₆(htm)₆ hexagonal units as building block, which extended to a 3D supramolecular architecture through hydrogen bonding. Thorough thermal investigation suggest that as far as the thermal stability of Cd(II)-htm bond is concerned it attains the maximum in complex 1 and minimum in complex 4. In case of complex 3 the thermal study inferred that CdS end product was obtained at ∼730 °C, whereas in case of other complexes the thermally stable end product remained unidentified. Solid state fluorescence study shows that all the complexes are luminescent at room temperature except complex 3.     

Fluorines in tetrafluoromethane as halogen bond donors: Revisiting address the nature of the fluorine's σhole

It has been demonstrated in several instances that the 0.001 a.u. (electrons per bohr³) isodensity mapped electrostatic surface potentials on the fluorines along the outermost extensions of the C? F covalent bonds in tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) are entirely negative, they are thereby unable to engage in σ_hole bonding interactions with the negative sites on another molecules. In this study, we have attempted at resolving this controversy by performing various high‐level electronic structure calculations with Quadratic Configuration Integrals of Singles and Doubles QCISD(full), second‐order Møller–Plesset MP2(full), and 12 other Density Functional Theory (DFT) based functionals with and without dispersion corrections, all in conjunction with the 6–311++G(2d,2p) basis set. The results achieved with all the levels of theory utilized suggest that the fluorine's σ_holes in CF₄ are positive regardless of the 0.001‐, 0.0015‐, and 0.002‐a.u. isodensity mapped electrostatic surfaces examined. Because of this specific quality, the fluorines in CF₄ have displayed their capacities to form not only 1:1 clusters with the Lewis bases such as water (H₂O), ammonia (NH₃), formaldehyde (H₂C?O), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), but also 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 clusters with the latter three randomly chosen Lewis bases. Various topological and nontopological features obtained from applications of atoms in molecules, noncovalent interaction reduced‐density‐gradient and natural bond orbital analytical tools reveal that the N···F, O···F, and F···F long‐ranged interactions developed between the interacting monomers in H₃N···FCF₃, H₂O···FCF₃, and (Y? D)_n=1–4···F₄C (Y? D = H₂C?O, HCN, and HF) are reminiscent of halogen bonding. The nonadditive cooperative and anticooperative energetic effects emerged on cluster formations are discussed in detail. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

New mixed-valent Mn clusters from the use of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine (edteH4): Mn3, Mn4, Mn6, and Mn10

The syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetochemical characterization are reported for the new mixed-valent Mn clusters [Mn(2)(II)Mn(III)(O(2)CMe)(2)(edteH(2))(2)](ClO(4)) (1), [Mn(II)(2)Mn(III)(2)(edteH(2))(2)(hmp)(2)Cl(2)](Mn(II)Cl(4)) (2), [Mn(III)(6)O(2)(O(2)CBu(t))(6)(edteH)(2)(N(3))(2)] (3), [Na(2)Mn(III)(8)Mn(II)(2)O(4)(OMe)(2)(O(2)CEt)(6)(edte)(2)(N(3))(6)] (4), and (NEt(4))(2)[Mn(8)(III)Mn(2)(II)O(4)(OH)(2)-(O(2)CEt)(6)(edte)(2)(N(3))(6)](5), where edteH(4) is N,N,N',N'-tetrakis-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine and hmpH is 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine. 1-5 resulted from a systematic exploration of the effect of different Mn sources, carboxylates, the presence of azide, and other conditions, on the Mn/edteH(4) reaction system. The core of 1 consists of a linear Mn(II)Mn(III)Mn(II) unit, whereas that of 2 is a planar Mn(4) rhombus within a [Mn(II)(2)Mn(III)(2)(μ(3)-OR)(2)] incomplete-dicubane unit. The core of 3 comprises a central [Mn(III)(4)(OR)(2)] incomplete-dicubane on either side of which is edge-fused a triangular [Mn(III)(3)(μ(3)-O)] unit. The cores of 4 and 5 are similar and consist of a central [Mn(II)(2)Mn(III)(2)(μ(3)-OR)(2)] incomplete-dicubane on either side of which is edge-fused a distorted [Mn(II)Mn(III)(3)(μ(3)-O)(2)(μ(3)-OR)(2)] cubane unit. Variable-temperature, solid-state direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) magnetization studies were carried out on 1-5 in the 5.0-300 K range, and they established the complexes to have ground state spin values of S = 3 for 1, S = 9 for 2, and S = 4 for 3. The study of 3 provided an interesting caveat of potential pitfalls from particularly low-lying excited states. For 4 and 5, the ground state is in the S = 0-4 range, but its identification is precluded by a high density of low-lying excited states.     

Anionic–Nonionic Mixed Surfactant Systems: Micellar Interaction and Thermodynamic Behavior

The interactions between an anionic surfactant, viz., sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and nonionic surfactants with different secondary ethoxylated chain length, viz., Tergitol 15-S-12, Tergitol 15-S-9, and Tergitol 15-S-7 have been studied in the present article. An attempt has also been made to investigate the effect of ethoxylated chain length on the micellar and the thermodynamic properties of the mixed surfactant systems. The micellar properties like critical micelle concentration (CMC), micellar composition (X_A), interaction parameter (β), and the activity coefficients (f_A and f_NI) have been evaluated using Rubingh's regular solution theory. In addition to micellar studies, thermodynamic parameters like the surface pressure (Π_CMC), surface excess values (Γ_CMC), average area of the monomers at the air–water interface (A_avg), free energy of micellization (ΔG_m), minimum energy at the air–water interface (G_min), etc., have also been calculated. It has been found that in mixtures of anionic and nonionic secondary ethoxylated surfactants, a surfactant containing a smaller ethoxylated chain is favored thermodynamically. Additionally, the adsorption of nonionic species on air/water interface and micelle increases with decreasing secondary ethoxylated chain length. Dynamic light scattering and viscometric studies have also been performed to study the interactions between anionic and nonionic surfactants used.     

A review on adsorption mediated phosphate removal and recovery by biomatrices

Low cost biosorbents have gained considerable importance in the past decade for their removal efficiency of contaminants from wastewaters. Both removal and recycle of the phosphate anion through benign methods are relevant to sustain a steady balance. An attempt has been made to give a comprehensive insight into several physico-chemical factors leading to the adsorption process by various natural biosorbents. Few important facts regarding phosphate biosorption have emerged out as key points viz., pH < pHpzc, high uptake capacity; correlation with Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo second order kinetics; decrease of uptake capacity with longer contact time; enhancement of adsorption process in presence of counter ions, etc. Also, it was noted that the adsorbate: adsorbent ratio is crucial for the removal efficiency of the phosphate ions. A few biosorbents exhibit removal efficiency to a large extent (>95%) although even higher adsorption capacity can be obtained by the modification of the adsorbents. Commercial biomatrices like biochars have shown wide applications for removal of phosphates. Magnetic biochars have shown special performance owing to the presence of iron and a porous nature of their structure. Desorption studies revealed that almost complete recovery of the phosphate ion is possible through simple ion exchange mechanism.     

Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts as Beneficial Prospect for Cancer Theranostics

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely explored and are well-known for their medical applications. Chemical and physical synthesis methods are a way to make AuNPs. In any case, the hunt for other more ecologically friendly and cost-effective large-scale technologies, such as environmentally friendly biological processes known as green synthesis, has been gaining interest by worldwide researchers. The international focus on green nanotechnology research has resulted in various nanomaterials being used in environmentally and physiologically acceptable applications. Several advantages over conventional physical and chemical synthesis (simple, one-step approach to synthesize, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, and biocompatibility) have drawn scientists’ attention to exploring the green synthesis of AuNPs by exploiting plants’ secondary metabolites. Biogenic approaches, mainly the plant-based synthesis of metal nanoparticles, have been chosen as the ideal strategy due to their environmental and in vivo safety, as well as their ease of synthesis. In this review, we reviewed the use of green synthesized AuNPs in the treatment of cancer by utilizing phytochemicals found in plant extracts. This article reviews plant-based methods for producing AuNPs, characterization methods of synthesized AuNPs, and discusses their physiochemical properties. This study also discusses recent breakthroughs and achievements in using green synthesized AuNPs in cancer treatment and different mechanisms of action, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation, leading to apoptosis, etc., for their anticancer and cytotoxic effects. Understanding the mechanisms underlying AuNPs therapeutic efficacy will aid in developing personalized medicines and treatments for cancer as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy.