A turn on ESIPT probe for rapid and ratiometric fluorogenic detection of homocysteine and cysteine in water with live cell-imaging

5(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde (BHI), an intense ESIPT containing molecule in mixed media loses its properties due to resonance-assisted H-bond (RAHB) in absolute water. Due to resonance-assisted H-bond the o-aldehyde is more reactive than the other one. With addition of cysteine/homocysteine into this solution the o-aldehyde group gets transformed into thiazolidine/thiazine ring, respectively, and the phenolic proton becomes free enough for transfer to nitrogen of the benzothiazole ring in excited state, that is, the ESIPT of BHI is turned on. Thus we can detect cysteine/homocysteine in water as well as in live cells.     

Arylsulfimide Polymers. IV. Prototype Transamidations–A Comparison of the Reactions of Benzamides,Benzimides, Sulfonamides,Sulfonimides, and Saccharins

Transamidation reactions of nonpolymerizing systems involving benzamides, phthalimides, arylsulfonamides, benzenedisulfonamides and -disulfonim-ides, and saccharins are described. The study includes reactions of both N-substituted and unsubstituted amides and imides with anilines and aniline hydrochlorides. An evaluation of the results of these reactions, aimed at establishing the optimum conditions for transamidations in polymerizing systems, is also presented.     

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated by multi-layer silica for improving thermal conductivity of polymer composites

Silica has been non-covalently coated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using the sol–gel chemistry, where tetraethoxy silane (TEOS) was used to form an inorganic silica layer immediately next to surface of MWCNTs and octyl triethoxy silane was coated over the TEOS. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements show that the diameter of MWCNTs increases with increasing the number of coating layer, indicating that the silica has been coated on MWCNTs. Quantitative analysis from thermogravimetric analysis (TG) also indicates that the inorganic and organic silica has been successfully coated on MWCNTs. Further, quantitative analysis found that the amount of silica measured by TG agrees well with the increase of thickness of coated MWCNTs obtained from TEM, indicating that little or no free silica exists in the system. The thermal conductivity of epoxy/MWCNTs composite was studied and the results show that the thermal conductivity of the composite is improved by coating MWCNTs in this manner and increases with increasing the number of coatings.     

Blends of benzoxazine monomers

This article describes synthesis, characterization and properties of blends of benzoxazine (Bz) monomers, i.e., m-alkylphenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzoxazine (Bz-C), 6,6′-(propane-2,2-diyl)bis(3-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzoxazine (Bz-A) and 3-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzoxazine-p-carboxylic acid (Bz-pA). Binary blends of Bz-C with Bz-pA, and Bz-A with Bz-pA were prepared by first synthesizing Bz-C or Bz-A followed by the addition of all the ingredients of Bz-pA. In a similar manner, ternary blends of Bz-C, Bz-A and Bz-pA were prepared by first synthesizing Bz-C and subsequent addition of all the ingredients of Bz-A and Bz-pA in one pot. The Bz monomer blends were characterized by ¹H-NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The temperature of onset of curing (T _o), due to ring-opening polymerization of Bz was found to decrease significantly by incorporation of carboxyl groups (Bz-pA) showing thereby the catalytic effect of acid functionality. Bz polymers showed good thermal stability and incorporation of Bz-pA in blends resulted in a highly cross-linked network. The interlaminar shear strength of glass fabric reinforced composites and the lap shear strength of metal–metal joints using these resin blends was also investigated.     

Synthesis,mesomorphic, photophysical and computational studies of new achiral four-ring unsymmetrical bent-core mesogens and their Copper(II) complexes

New achiral four-ring unsymmetrical bent-core mesogens derived from 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and their copper(II) complexes have been synthesised as a new design with an imine and ester linkage. These new bent-core molecules resemble hockey-stick shape, which possesses 4-n-alkyloxy chain (4-n-hexyloxy and 4-n-decyloxy) at one end and methyl or methoxy group at the other end of the molecule. The synthesis, spectroscopic characterisation, phase transition temperature and characterisation of phase behaviour are reported. The bent-core molecules exhibited monotropic nematic and smectic A phase depending on the terminal chain length. Interestingly, copper(II) complexes of bent-core molecules displayed monotropic nematic phase. This is the first report on copper(II) complexes of bent-core molecules that exhibited nematic phase. The four-ring bent-core molecule exhibited fluorescence with large stoke shift. The density functional theory calculations of bent-core molecules and their copper(II) complexes are carried out using Gaussian 09 program at B3LYP level to obtain the stable molecular conformation, dipole moment, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies and bending angle of the compounds. The natural atomic charges and electronic configurations of the atoms of free ligands as well as the complexes have been evaluated.     

Extraction of Residues of Dyfonate-ring-14C from Soil

Abstract

Residues of Dyfonate-ring-¹⁴C were extracted from a clay loam soil with various solvents under a variety of conditions. Recovery of radioactivity from the soil was not related to the polarity (dipole moment) or the dielectric constant of the solvents. Commonly used solvents such as acetone, methanol, ethanol, and hexane/acetone (1:1) extracted only 28, 44, 27, and 25%, respectively, of the residues from the air-dried soil. The extraction efficiencies were increased to 46, 60, 54, and 49%, respectively, when 20% water was added to the soil prior to extraction with these solvents. The amount of water added to the soil and time of contact with water also affected the recovery of radioactivity from the soil. Any of the solvents or methods investigated failed to recover more than 60% of the radioactivity in the soil, indicating that residues of Dyfonate were strongly bound to the soil and were difficult to recover.     

Bulky,spherical, and fluorinated anion BAr induces ‘on-water’ activity of silver salt for the hydration of terminal alkynes

AgBAr^F displays remarkable ‘on-water’ activity for catalytic hydration of terminal alkynes although it is ineffective in common organic solvents. Liquid alkynes do not require additive or co-solvent whereas a small amount of ethyl acetate triggers quantitative conversions for solid alkynes.