Base and catalyst-free synthesis of nitrobenzodiazepines via a cascade N-nitroallylation-intramolecular aza-Michael addition involving o-phenylenediamines and nitroallylic acetates

A [4+3] annulation of o-phenylenediamines with primary nitroallylic acetates affords nitrobenzodiazepines (NBDZs) in good to excellent yield. The reaction which proceeds in MeOH at room temperature in the absence of any base or catalyst involves a cascade S_N2 N-nitroallylation-intramolecular aza-Michael addition sequence. In the case of mono-N-arylated o-phenylenediamines and o-aminobenzamides, the reaction stops at the S_N2 stage affording nitroallylic amines. On the other hand, reaction of o-aminobenzamides with secondary nitroallylic acetates delivers S_N2′ products. Formation of stable S_N2 and S_N2′ products provides insights into the reactivity of primary and secondary nitroallylic acetates and also the mechanism of formation of nitrobenzodiazepines.     

Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease – An Overview

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with a significant global impact on public health. The emergence of atypical clinical phenotypes challenges traditional diagnostic approaches, necessitating a deeper exploration of biomarkers for accurate identification. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classification of biomarkers and their integration into different stages of AD provide a structured framework for their application in research and clinical settings. Within the context of AD drug development, biomarkers are essential for participant selection, target engagement evaluation, and assessment of pathological hallmarks, including Aβ and tau protein abnormalities. The incorporation of nanoparticles with a biodegradable approach introduces innovative strategies to address the complexities of AD. This paper extensively discusses biomarkers associated with synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and glial activation, recognizing their significance in elucidating disease mechanisms. Common pathologies such as synuclein and TDP-43 further underscore the multifaceted nature of AD. Current biomarkers for AD diagnosis, encompassing cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and various imaging modalities, reflect the ongoing efforts to enhance early detection and monitoring. Intriguingly, novel biomarkers continue to emerge, offering promising avenues for improved understanding and intervention. Current review provides a comprehensive survey of biomarkers for AD, elucidating their diverse roles across different aspects of the disease. By highlighting their contributions to diagnosis, drug development, and mechanistic insights, this overview underscores the importance of biomarker research in the pursuit of effective AD management and treatment strategies.     

Effect of Substrate Temperature on the Growth of Molybdenum Trioxide Thin Films

Crystallography Reports - Molybdenum oxide is one of the most important inorganic material, which exhibits several phases, such as MoO3, MoO2, Mo4O11, Mo5O14, etc. Among them, molybdenum trioxide...     

Intensity and composition-dependent sign reversal of non-linearity in TiO2/CeO2 nanocomposites

CeO2/TiO2 composite nanoparticles with different Ce/Ti molar ratios have been successfully synthesized via sol-gel method. It was found that the band gap of the nanocomposite is tunable by varying Ce/Ti content. The nonlinear response of the sample was studied by using the nanosecond laser pulses from a Q switched Nd：Yag laser employing the Z-scan method. Open aperture Z-scan experiment revealed that with the increase in the CeO2 amount in the nanocomposite, the non-linearity of the composite increases, and it was assumed that this could be due to the modification of TiO2 dipole symmetry by the addition of CeO2. Closed aperture Z-scan experiment showed that when the CeO2 amount increases, positive nonlinear refraction decreases, and this could be attributed to the increase in the two photon absorption which subsequently suppresses the nonlinear refraction.     

Tailoring optical properties of TiO2 in silica glass for limiting applications

We present the linear and nonlinear optical studies on TiO2-SiO2 nanocomposites with varying compositions. Opti- cal band gap of the material is found to vary with the amount of SiO2 in the composite. The phenomenon of two-photon absorption （TPA） in TiO2/SiO2 nanocomposites has been studied using open aperture Z-scan technique. The nanocom- posites show better nonlinear optical properties than pure TiO2, which can be attributed to the surface states and weak dielectric confinement of TiO2 nanoparticles by SiO2 matrix. The nanocomposites are thermally treated and similar studies are performed. The anatase form of TiO2 in the nanocomposites shows superior properties relative to the amorphous and rutile counterpart. The involved mechanism is explained by rendering the dominant role played by the excitons in the TiO2 nanoparticles.     

Novel approach to 3,3-dimethyl-4-morpholino-3,4-dihydrocoumarins via hetero-Diels–Alder reaction

A new four-step synthetic procedure has been developed to prepare 3,3-dimethyl-4-morpholino-3,4-dihydrocoumarins from substituted salicylaldehydes, morpholine, and isobutyraldehyde. It involves aminal formation, deamination, enamine formation, hetero-Diels–Alder reaction, hydrolysis, and oxidation. The aminal formation, subsequent one-pot domino deamination, enamine formation, and hetero-Diels–Alder reaction were achieved in microwave-assisted catalyst-free conditions. The following hydrolysis and oxidation steps, performed conventionally, gave quantitative yields.     

Fluorogenic dual click derived bis-glycoconjugated triazolocoumarins for selective recognition of Cu(II) ion

Carbohydrate based fluorescent sensors S1 and S2 have been developed by fluorogenic dual click chemistry and are characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. Both the fluorescent probes displayed highly selective detection of Cu²⁺ ions by means of fluorescence quenching. The job plot experiment suggested 1:1 complexation of probes S1 and S2 with Cu²⁺ ions having detection limit of 6.99 μM and 7.30 μM, respectively. The binding constants for S1-Cu²⁺ and S2-Cu²⁺ complexation were evaluated to be 3.34 × 10³ M⁻¹ and 5.93 × 10³ M⁻¹, respectively.