Interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimers

We study the complexation of nontoxic, native poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimers with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The interaction was monitored by measuring the quenching of inherent fluorescence of the dendrimer. The dendrimer-nanotube binding also resulted in the increased electrical resistance of the hole doped SWNT, due to charge-transfer interaction between dendrimer and nanotube. This charge-transfer interaction was further corroborated by observing a shift in frequency of the tangential Raman modes of SWNT. We also report the effect of acidic and neutral pH conditions on the binding affinities. Experimental studies were supplemented by all atom molecular dynamics simulations to provide a microscopic picture of the dendrimer-nanotube complex. The complexation was achieved through charge transfer and hydrophobic interactions, aided by multitude of oxygen, nitrogen, and n-propyl moieties of the dendrimer.     

A validated stability-indicating RP-HPLC assay method for Amsacrine and its related substances

A validated specific stability indicating reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the quantitative determination of Amsacrine as well as its related substances determination in bulk samples, in presence of degradation products, and its process related impurities. Forced degradation studies were performed on bulk samples of Amsacrine as per International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human use (ICH) prescribed stress conditions using acid, base, oxidative, thermal stress, and photolytic degradation to show the stability indicating power of the method. Significant degradation was observed during basic hydrolysis, slight degradation was observed in oxidative and thermal stress, and no degradation was observed in other stress conditions. The chromatographic method was optimized using the samples generated from forced degradation studies and the impurity spiked solution. Good resolution between the peaks corresponds to process-related impurities and degradation products from the analyte were achieved on Inertsil ODS column using the mobile phase consists a mixture of 1.0% triethyl amine in 20 mM potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate, with pH adjusted to 6.5, with ortho phosphoric acid in water and acetonitrile using a simple linear gradient. The detection was carried out at wavelength 248 nm. The mass balance in each case was in between 99.4% to 99.9%, indicating that the developed method was stability-indicating. Validation of the developed method was carried out as per ICH requirements. The developed method was found to be suitable to check the quality of bulk samples of Amsacrine at the time of batch release and also during its stability studies.     

High performance liquid chromatographic analysis of phytoplankton pigments using a C16-amide column

In this study, a reverse-phase HPLC method incorporating a ternary solvent system was developed to analyze most polar and non-polar chlorophylls and carotenoids present in phytoplankton. The method is based on an RP-C₁₆-Amide column and provided excellent peak resolution of most taxonomically important pigments and an elution profile different than C₈ or C₁₈ columns provide. Analysis of mixed pigment standards, extracts of phytoplankton monocultures, and field samples showed that this method was able to resolve more than sixty pigments, ranging from very polar acidic chlorophylls to the non-polar hydrocarbon carotenes in less than 36 min. This included chlorophylls c₁, c₂ and c₃, divinyl chlorophylls a and b, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin and some recently discovered pigments. The ability of this method to resolve divinyl chl b from monovinyl chl b and divinyl chl a from monovinyl chl a is particularly important for the quantification and identification of the marine cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus spp. in oceanic waters. The described protocol is sensitive and reproducible and can be used to assess the distribution and dynamics of major phytoplankton groups in marine and freshwater ecosystems.     

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 over Cu-TiO2 /molecular sieve 5A composite

TiO(2) and different Cu wt% loaded TiO(2) (TC(0.5-5.0)), 10 wt% TC(2.0) supported on molecular sieve 5A (10 wt% TC(2.0)/MS) were prepared by impregnation and solid-state dispersion methods. The photocatalysts prepared were characterized using XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis DRS, TEM, XPS spectroscopy techniques. Photocatalytic reduction of CO(2) in water and alkaline solution are investigated in a batch reactor. The yield of oxalic acid increased notably when TC was supported on molecular sieve. The Cu-TiO(2) supported on molecular sieve catalyst promotes the charge separation that leads to an increase in the selective formation of oxalic acid in addition to methanol, acetic acid and traces of methane. The product formation is due to the high adsorption of CO(2), water and product shape selectivity of the composite photocatalyst. The maximum yield of oxalic acid was found to be 65.6 μg h(-1) g(-1) per cat using 0.2 N NaOH containing solution over 10 wt% TC(2.0)/MS photocatalyst. The difference in the photocatalytic activity is related to its physicochemical properties.     

Physicochemical studies of bioactive heterocycles of some novel imidazole derivatives as sensitive NLO materials

Some novel imidazole derivatives were developed as highly sensitive chemisensors for transition metal ions. A prominent fluorescence enhancement was found in the presence of transition metal ions such as Hg(2+), Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Co(2+) and Fe(2+) and this was suggested to result from the suppression of radiationless transitions from the n-π* state in the chemisensors. By DFT calculation HOMO-LUMO energies were calculated, the electric dipole moment (μ) and the hyperpolarizability (β) of the investigated molecules have been studied experimentally and also theoretically. These synthesized molecules were found to have microscopic non-linear optical (NLO) behaviour with non-zero tensor components.     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer from a bio-active imidazole derivative 2-(1-phenyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)phenol to a bioactive indoloquinolizine system

Novel donor imidazole derivative, 2-(1-phenyl-1H-imidazo [4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)-phenol (PIPP) was screened as highly sensitive chemisensor for transition metal ions and it can be used as a "multi-way" optically switchable material. Solvatochromic effects on the fluorescence behaviour of PIPP were studied in different solvents. The fluorescence of PIPP was highly sensitive to both the polarity as well as protic nature of the solvent. Fluorescence (Forster) resonance energy transfer (FRET) process from PIPP to a potent bioactive indoloquinolizine molecule was studied and it is argued that long-range dipole-dipole interaction is operating for the energy transfer mechanism. The energy transfer efficiency (E) and the distance between the acceptor and the donor (r(0)) have been determined.     

A physiochemical study of excited state intramolecular proton transfer process-Luminescent chemosensor by spectroscopic investigation supported by ab initio calculations

A group of novel Schiff base derivatives were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectra, X-ray, mass and CHN analysis. An excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process in hydroxy Schiff base (SB4) has been studied using emission spectroscopy and it was detected that the two distinct ground state isomers of I and II are responsible for the emission. The comparison of the emission wavelength in hydrocarbon solvent strongly supports that trans enol form predominates over the cis enol form for Schiff base (SB4). With increasing base concentration of the solutions of hydroxy substituted Schiff bases (SB4 and SB5), two isobestic points are found which confirm the equilibrium among the trans enol form, anion and the cis enol form. The fluorescence of (SB4) quenched markedly with the gradual addition of Cu(2+) but the fluorescence properties of (SB5) was influenced by other metal ions. Therefore Schiff base (SB5) can be used as a new fluorescence sensor to detect the quantity of Cu(2+) ion in any sample solution depending on the relative intensity change. DFT calculations on energy, dipole moment, charge distribution of the rotamers in the ground and excited states of the Schiff base derivatives were performed and discussed. PES calculation indicates that the energy barrier for the interconversion of two rotamers is too high in the excited state than the ground state.     

Radiation-Induced Copolymerization of Acrylonitrile with Methyl Acrylate: Synthesis and Characterization

Radiation-induced copolymerization of acrylonitrile with methyl acrylate was carried out in aqueous medium at room temperature. Different compositions of the copolymer were prepared and characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR, thermal, and dielectric studies. NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the composition and stereochemistry of the copolymer. Glass transition temperature values (T_g ) were determined by DSC. Dielectric studies were carried out to understand the segmental motions and the effect of composition on dielectric loss.     

Enantioselective Organo‐Photocatalysis Mediated by Atropisomeric Thiourea Derivatives

Can photocatalysis be performed without electron or energy transfer? To address this, organo‐photocatalysts that are based on atropisomeric thioureas and display lower excited‐state energies than the reactive substrates have been developed. These photocatalysts were found to be efficient in promoting the [2+2] photocycloaddition of 4‐alkenyl‐substituted coumarins, which led to the corresponding products with high enantioselectivity (77–96 % ee) at low catalyst loading (1–10 mol %). The photocatalytic cycle proceeds by energy sharing via the formation of both static and dynamic complexes (exciplex formation), which is aided by hydrogen bonding.     

Structure and assembly of dense solutions and melts of single tethered nanoparticles

The microscopic polymer reference interaction site model theory is generalized and applied to study intermolecular pair correlation functions and collective structure factors of dense solutions and melts of spherical nanoparticles carrying a single tethered chain. The complex interplay of entropy (translational, conformational, and packing) and enthalpy (particle-particle attraction) leads to different structural arrangements with distinctive small and wide angle scattering signatures. Strong concentration fluctuations, indicative of aggregate formation and/or a tendency for microphase separation, occur as the total packing fraction and/or particle-particle attraction strength increase. In analogy with block copolymers, the microphase spinodal curve is estimated by extrapolation of the inverse of the amplitude of the small angle scattering peak. For nanoparticles that are twice the diameter of monomers, the microphase separation boundary spinodal occurs at higher particle-particle attraction strength (or lower temperature) as compared to the macrophase demixing curve for nanoparticles with no tethers when the packing fraction is below 0.45, while the opposite trend is observed above 0.45. Increasing nanoparticle diameter results in a reduction in the microphase spinodal temperature and a qualitative change in its packing fraction dependence.