Frequency dependence of gold nanoparticle superassembly by dielectrophoresis

Dielectrophoresis is an effective method for capturing nanoparticles and assembling them into nanostructures. The frequency of the dielectrophoretic alternating current (ac) electric field greatly influences the morphology of resultant nanoparticle assemblies. In this study, frequency regimes associated with specific gold nanoparticle assembly morphologies were identified. Gold nanoparticles suspended in water were captured by microelectrodes at different electric field frequencies onto thin silicon nitride membranes. The resultant assemblies were examined by transmission electron microscopy. For this system, the major frequency-dependent influence on morphology appears to arise not from the Clausius-Mossotti factor of the dielectrophoretic force itself, but instead from ac electroosmotic fluid flow and the influence of the electrical double layer at the electrode-solution interface. Frequency regimes of technological interest include those forming one-dimensional nanoparticle chains, microwires, combinations of microwires and nanoparticle chains suitable for nanogap electrode formation, and dense three-dimensional assemblies with very high surface area.     

Extraction,Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Artemisia and Their Biological Significance: A Review

Diverse medicinal plants such as those from the genus Artemisia have been employed globally for centuries by individuals belonging to different cultures. Universally, Artemisia species have been used to remedy various maladies that range from simple fevers to malaria. A survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrated that 80% of the global population is highly reliant on herbal medicine for their primary healthcare. WHO recommends artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) for the treatment of global diseases such as malaria. Artemisinin is a bioactive compound derived from Artemisia annua leaves. It is a sesquiterpene endoperoxide with potent antimalarial properties. This review strives to instill natural products to chemists and others in diverse fields with a heterogeneous set of knowledge compiled from multifaceted researchers and organizations in literature. In particular, the various Artemisia species and effective extraction, isolation, and characterization methodologies are discussed in detail. An in-depth investigation into the literature reveals that divergent species of Artemisia exhibit a vast array of biological activities such as antimalarial, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. There is substantial potential for bioactive compounds from Artemisia to provide significant relief from differing human ailments, but more meticulous research in this field is needed.     

Borane-induced dehydration of silica and the ensuing water-catalyzed grafting of B(C6F5)3 to give a supported, single-site Lewis acid, ≡SiOB(C6F5)2

A supported, single-site Lewis acid, ≡SiOB(C(6)F(5))(2), was prepared by water-catalyzed grafting of B(C(6)F(5))(3) onto the surface of amorphous silica, and its subsequent use as a cocatalyst for heterogeneous olefin polymerization was explored. Although B(C(6)F(5))(3) has been reported to be unreactive toward silica in the absence of a Br?nsted base, we find that it can be grafted even at room temperature, albeit slowly. The mechanism was investigated by (1)H and (19)F NMR, in both the solution and solid states. In the presence of a trace amount of H(2)O, either added intentionally or formed in situ by borane-induced dehydration of silanol pairs, the adduct (C(6)F(5))(3)B·OH(2) hydrolyzes to afford C(6)F(5)H and (C(6)F(5))(2)BOH. The latter reacts with the surface hydroxyl groups of silica to yield ≡SiOB(C(6)F(5))(2) sites and regenerate H(2)O. When B(C(6)F(5))(3) is present in excess, the resulting grafted boranes appear to be completely dry, due to the eventual formation of [(C(6)F(5))(2)B](2)O. The immobilized, tri-coordinate Lewis acid sites were characterized by solid-state (11)B and (19)F NMR, IR, elemental analysis, and C(5)H(5)N-TPD. Their ability to activate two molecular C(2)H(4) polymerization catalysts, Cp(2)ZrMe(2) and an (α-iminocarboxamidato)nickel(II) complex, was explored.     

PHYTOCHROME MEDIATED CAROTENOID SYNTHESIS IN THE FUNGUS VERTICILLIUM AGARZCZNUM

Abstract— Ten minutes of red irradiation (R) increased carotenogenesis in Verticillium agoricinum and this effect was reversed by 10min of far-red (FR) irradiation indicating that phytochrome is involved. A far-red minus red difference spectrum of a crude extract shows a peak at 670 nm and a dip at 750 nm wavelength, values slightly larger than higher plant phytochrome. indicating the presence of phytochrome.     

Photomediated crosslinking of cinnamated PDMS for in situ direct photopatterning

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers incorporating pendant cinnamate groups have been synthesized and evaluated for their ability to form patterned thin films via photo‐crosslinking. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3482–3487, 2008     

Thermal,antioxidant, morphological and bioactive properties of starchy material extracted from the bacupari (Garcinia brasiliensis (Mart.)) seed using aqueous and alkaline maceration

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Despite their being rich in bioactive compounds, by-products produced during fruit pulping are usually discarded. The present paper aimed to...     

Oxetane ethers are formed reversibly in the lithium-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts alkylation of phenols with oxetanols: Synthesis of dihydrobenzofurans,diaryloxetanes, and oxetane ethers

Studies on the mechanism and intermediate products in the Friedel–Crafts reaction between oxetanols and phenols are presented. The formation of O-alkylated intermediates is identified using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, in a reversible formation of the kinetic oxetane ether products. An interesting relationship between the electronic nature of the nucleophile and the degree of O-alkylation is uncovered. For phenols substituted with an electron withdrawing group such as CN, oxetane ethers are the only products isolated regardless of reaction time. Increasing the electron rich nature of the phenol leads to an increased proportion of the thermodynamic C-alkylated Friedel–Crafts products after just 1?h and as the sole product/s after extended reaction times. These studies have enabled a more complete catalytic cycle to be proposed. Using the same lithium catalyst and carefully selected reaction times, several examples of oxetane ethers are successfully isolated as novel bioisosteres for ester groups.     

A non-oxidative approach toward chemically and electrochemically functionalizing Si(111)

A general method for the non-oxidative functionalization of single-crystal silicon(111) surfaces is described. The silicon surface is fully acetylenylated using two-step chlorination/alkylation chemistry. A benzoquinone-masked primary amine is attached to this surface via Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition ("click" chemistry). The benzoquinone is electrochemically reduced, resulting in quantitative cleavage of the molecule and exposing the amine terminus. Molecules presenting a carboxylic acid have been immobilized to the exposed amine sites. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and contact angle goniometry were utilized to characterize and quantitate each step in the functionalization process. This work represents a strategy for providing a general platform that can incorporate organic and biological molecules on Si(111) with minimal oxidation of the silicon surface.     

Bayesian Estimation of NMR Spectral Parameters Under Low Signal-to-Noise Conditions

The Bayesian statistical method of spectral estimation is applied to NMR free induction decay signals at various values of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The frequency and amplitude estimates from the Bayesian calculations are more accurate than those from the commonly used fast Fourier transformation (FFT) of the same data sets. Both real and synthetic data sets are examined with the Bayesian results being superior in all cases. In addition to the superior performance at low SNR the Bayesian derived amplitudes and frequency estimates were not as affected by signal decay as in Fourier Transformed spectra. Finally, the amplitudes obtained are equal to the FFT integrated intensities resulting in an apparent frequency domain signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) greater than the FFT SNR by a factor proportional to the FFT frequency domain linewidth. For typical high resolution spectra this improvement was approximately a factor of 2.5. Even greater improvement is obtained when rapidly decaying signals are analyzed. Bayesian computation time for the 6 line p-chloroanaline and chloroform spectrum was approximately 12 minutes on a modern computer work station.