Environmental pollution study by multielemental neutron activation analysis of garden soil samples from Nagpur City, India

A multielemental instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) method has been employed for the determination of 30 elements in seven garden soil samples from Nagpur City and two intercomparison soil standards from IAEA, Vienna and Institute of Radioecology and Applied Nuclear Techniques (IRANT), Slovak Republic. Environmental implications of elemental concentrations in different soils have been discussed.     

Bivalent 3d-metal complexes of malonyl- and succinyldihydrazide based macrocyclic ligands. Synthesis and characterization

Summary The macrocycles 2,10-dimethyl-3,4,8,9,15-pentaazabicyclo-[9.3.1]-pentadeca-1 (15),2,9,11,13-penta-ene-5,7-dione (L) and 2,11-dimethyl-3,4,8,9,10,16-pentaazabicyclo[10.3.1]-hexadeca-1 (16),2,10,12,14-penta-ene-5,8-dione (L) were prepared and characterized by elemental, i.r. and mass spectral data. The macrocycles react with various metal(II) chlorides to yield complexes of the types [MLCl₂H₂O] (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu or Zn), [MLCl₂H₂O] (M = Mn, Ni, Cu or Zn) and [Co₃L₂Cl₄]Cl₂. The complexes were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods.     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed alkylation of indoles with propargyl alcohols: an expeditious synthesis of 3-substituted indoles

Indoles undergo smooth alkylation with propargylic alcohols in the presence of 10 mol % of scandium triflate under mild conditions to produce 3-propargylated indoles in excellent yields with high selectivity.     

Quantification of Valerenic Acid in Valeriana jatamansi and Valeriana officinalis by HPTLC

A simple, rapid, cost-effective and accurate high performance thin layer chromatographic method has been developed for quantification of valerenic acid in Valeriana jatamansi and Valeriana officinalis which is one of the stable compounds of Valeriana officinalis and designated as a key marker compound. Valerenic acid makes substantial contribution to the sedative and spasmolytic activity of the essential oil and extract of Valeriana officinalis. Separation and quantification was achieved by HPTLC using ternary mobile phase of hexane: ethyl acetate: acetic acid (80:20:0.5 v/v) on precoated silica gel 60F₂₅₄ aluminium plates and densitometric determination was carried out after derivatization with anisaldehyde-sulphuric acid reagent at 700 nm, in absorption-reflectance mode. The calibration curves were linear in the range of (500 ng–2.5 μg). This is the first HPTLC report for the identification and quantification of valerenic acid in Valeriana jatamansi and Valeriana officinalis.     

Total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-lentiginosine

Total synthesis of (-)-lentiginosine was achieved from D-mannitol using highly stereoselective reactions. Similarly, (+)-lentiginosine was synthesized from L-tartaric acid.     

Facile reduction of aromatic nitro/azido functionality on solid support employing Al/NiCl2·6H2O and Al/NH4Cl: synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines

An efficient and mild method for the reduction of aromatic nitro and azido groups on solid support using Al/NiCl₂·6H₂O and Al/NH₄Cl is described. This solid phase reduction technique has been applied towards the synthesis of DNA binding pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine antitumour antibiotics.     

General solution for Poisson-Boltzmann equation in semiinfinite planar symmetry

Self-assembled multilayer thin films have been prepared on Au substrate by alternate surface derivatization with L-cysteine hydrochloride and cupric perchlorate. The layer-by-layer structure at each step of multilayer formation was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The measurements indicate that there are two structure modes in the multilayers. One is that Cu(2+) sandwiches between two amino acid groups. The other one is that Cu(+) is bonded through disulfide and thiolate. This process is also confirmed by cyclic voltammetry of Cu ion at different self-assembled multilayers. Steps further on will lead to repeated multilayer films.     

Role of Surface Molecular Architecture and Energetics of Hydrogen Bonding Sites in Adsorption of Polymers and Surfactants

Hydrogen bonding is generally thought to be an ubiquitous adsorption mechanism, which often foils selective adsorption schemes. Through investigation of hydrogen bonding energy and its dependence on surface molecular architecture, it may be possible to develop new methodologies to control the adsorption of surfactants and polymeric flocculants, depressants, and dispersants used in particulate processing industries. A model system using St?ber silica spheres and polyethylene oxide, a polymer known for its ability to form hydrogen bonds, was examined. The effect of two different surface treatments of the silica particles, calcination and rehydroxylation, upon the adsorption of two polymer molecular weights was studied. The adsorption behavior was then linked to the respective surface structures via characterization of the surfaces using FTIR, NMR, and Raman techniques. In this paper role of hydrogen bonding sites and surface architecture on adsorption is discussed. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Benzyne cyclisation with carbanion activated aromatic rings1

Attempts to cyclise o-chlorophenyl benzyl ether, sulphide, sulphoxide and sulphone by treatment with KNH₂/NH₃ were unsuccessful. Similar reaction of 1-(o-chlorophenyl)-2,2-diphenylethane led to amination whereas α-(o-chlorobenzyl)phenylacetic acid gave a dihydrocoumarin. Reaction of 4- and 2-(o-chlorophenethyl)-pyridines, however, afforded products comprising benzisoquinolines and 1-pyridylbenzocyclobutenes.     

Redox reactions in nonaqueous media : Determination of organoisothiocyanates and organoisocyanates

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of organoisothiocyanates and organoisocyanates based on their quantitative reaction with n-butylamine in dimethylformamide medium to form substituted thioureas and ureas, respectively. The solution is mixed with 6 to 7 times its volume of acetonitrile and an excess of carbon disulphide, which converts the residual amine quantitatively into the corresponding n-butylammonium n-butyl dithiocarbamate. The determination is completed by titrating the resulting dithiocarbamate with iodine monobromide solution in acetonitrile. The end point is detected visually by the yellow color imparted to the solution by the first drop of oxidant solution in excess. The dithiocarbamates are quantitatively oxidized to the corresponding thiuram disulphides.