Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure determination of zinc (II) and mercury (II) complexes with 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bithiazole

The 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bithiazole ligand (1), (dm4bt), and its Zn and Hg complexes have been prepared. A conformational property calculation at the DFT level for the ligand shows the anti conformation is energetically more stable by about 22.83 kJ/mol and the rotational barrier is about 32.01 kJ/mol for the anti → syn conversion, a phenomena happening during complex formation. The complexes [Zn(dm4bt)Cl₂] (2) and [Hg(dm4bt)Cl₂] (3) have spectral properties typical for d¹⁰ metal diimine systems. The structures of the ligand and the two complexes have been determined by the single crystal diffraction method. The X-ray structure determinations show that both complexes are four coordinated by two chloride atoms and one bidentate dm4bt. In the Hg complex one of the two chlorides is set at a semi-bridging position.     

Dinuclear copper complexes of pyridylphenylphosphine ligands: Characterization of a mixed-valence Cu/Cu dimer

Homo bi-copper complexes [Cu₂{PhP(2-py)₂}₂(NO₃)₃] (1) and [Cu₂{P(2-py)₃}₂Cl₂] (2), were synthesized from the reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O and CuCl₂·2H₂O with their corresponding 2-pyridylphosphine ligands. Compound 1 has a mixed valence Cu(I)-Cu(II) core with electron acceptor phosphine atoms and two NO₃⁻ anions coordinated in a monodentate fashion to Cu(I), giving it a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The environment of Cu(II) in 1 is composed of four nitrogen atoms from pyridyl and another NO₃⁻ anion in a square pyramidal geometry. This complex shows luminescence and a low energy absorption band at 969 nm corresponding to intermetallic electron transfer between the copper centers. Complex 2 was prepared from the treatment of copper(II) chloride with tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine, producing a binuclear copper complex which possesses a crystallographic inversion center. The copper geometry in this complex is distorted tetrahedral with coordination of one Cl⁻, two nitrogens from one bridging tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine ligand and one P atom from the other bridging tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine ligand, in a similar way observed in related complexes. The products have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and also by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method.     

Microwave-assisted expeditious hydrolysis of isobenzofuranone derivatives using silica supported acid under organic solvent-free conditions

Silica sulfuric acid was found to be an efficient, reusable and environment-friendly catalyst for fast hydrolysis of various isobenzofuranone to corresponding 2-ketomethylquinoline derivatives in a high yield under solvent-free using microwave irradiation. As the activator of silica sulfuric acid the wet SiO₂ was chosen. The reactions in conventional conditions were compared with the microwave assisted reactions. This approach can prove beneficial since the recovery of solvents from conventional reaction systems always results in some losses.     

Carbon nanotube/metal oxide dispersed poly(ortho‐aminophenol) as a ternary nanocomposite film: Facile electrosynthesis,surface characterization,and electrochemical pseudocapacitive performance

In this work, CNT‐NiCo₂O₄ was first synthesized via a chemical strategy in order to fabricate the ternary nanocomposite of a p‐type conductive polymer. Subsequently, hybrid poly(o‐aminophenol) POAP/CNT‐NiCo₂O₄ ternary composite films were prepared via the electropolymerization of POAP in the presence of CNT‐NiCo₂O₄ to be used in electrochemical storage devices as the active electrode. Electrochemical analyses including galvanostatic charge–discharge experiments, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were conducted to study the system performance. Furthermore, surface analyses were carried out to characterize the POAP/CNT‐NiCo₂O₄ composite film. Novel nanocomposite materials with the merits of extraordinarily high active surface area, ease of fabrication, and superior stability in aqueous electrolytes are presented for use in electrochemical redox capacitors.     

H3PMo12O40‐immobilized chitosan/Co3O4: A novel and recyclable nanocomposite for the synthesis of pyrimidinedione derivatives

An efficient three‐component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 6‐aminouracil/6‐amino‐1,3‐dimethyluracil and 4‐hydroxycoumarin in the presence of a novel heterogeneous catalyst H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀‐immobilized Co₃O₄/chitosan led to a synthesis of a new class of pyrimidinedione derivatives under reflux conditions. The magnetically recoverable nanocomposite of Co₃O₄/chitosan/H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ was fully characterized by Fourier transform‐infrared spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, vibrating‐sample magnetometry and N₂ adsorption–desorption by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. Results show that Keggin‐type 12‐molybdophosphoric acid immobilized into the network of the cross‐linked chitosan with super‐paramagnetic Co₃O₄ nanoparticles. The present method offers several advantages, such as simple procedure, short reaction times and excellent yields of products. The novelty of the catalyst, high catalytic activity, easy separation from the reaction with an external magnetic field and reusability of the catalyst in six consecutive runs are additional eco‐friendly attributes of this catalytic system.     

Photocatalytic reduction of nitro aromatic compounds to amines using a nanosized highly active CdS photocatalyst under sunlight and blue LED irradiation

A variety of aromatic nitro compounds were chemoselectively reduced to the corresponding anilines using conveniently prepared nanosized CdS as a photocatalyst under the sunlight and blue LED irradiation. The results demonstrated that synthesized CdS nanostructures have the potential to provide a promising visible light driven photocatalyst for chemoselective reduction of nitro aromatics in the presence of nitrile and carbonyl groups to the corresponding amines under both sunlight and blue LED irradiation. Photoreduction of nitro aromatics by the prepared nanosized CdS with high surface area was faster than when using the commercially available CdS under both sunlight and LED irradiation. Nanosized CdS photocatalyst was prepared by a simple method without any capping agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N₂ absorption—desorption, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and flat band potential methods were employed for the characterization, which revealed that the prepared CdS nanoparticles have a well-resolved cubic structure with the size of around 10–30 nm and a band gap of 2.37 eV.     

Theoretical calculation and prediction for experimental design to obtain spin crossover complexes

DFT methods were utilized to study SCO complexes. [Fe(2btz)₂(NCX)₂] (2btz = 2,2′‐bithiazoline, X = S ( 1 ) and Se ( 2 )), [Fe(phen)₂(NCX)₂] (phen = 1,10‐phenantroline, X = S ( 3 ) and Se ( 4 )), and [Fe(bpy)₂(NCS)₂] ( 5 ) (bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) compounds, which have experimentally shown SCO behavior, were calculated. B3LYP, B3LYP*, OPBE, and OLYP with 6‐31G* and 6‐311 + G** basis sets were employed to calculate the ΔE_HS/LS energy gap as a clue to find complexes with SCO behavior. It is found that calculated result by B3LYP* with c₃ = 0.14 and OPBE methods and 6‐31G* basis set are in agreement with experimentally observed SCO complexes. Then, newly designed Fe(N‐N)₂(X)₂ complexes, where N‐N are bidentate nitrogen donor chelating ligands and X= SCN^‐, SeCN^‐, Cl^‐, Br^‐, I^‐, were chosen to see their potential to be SCO compounds. ΔE_HS/LS for potential SCO complexes are estimated from 0.8 to 6.5 kcal/mol in B3LYP* and 0.6–5.7 kcal/mol in OPBE. These calculations suggest [Fe(bpy)₂(NCSe)₂], [Fe(5dmbpy)₂(NCS)₂], and [Fe(3‐BrPhen)₂(NCSe)₂] compounds have the ability to show SCO behavior. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Magnetic carbon nanotube‐supported imidazolium cation‐based ionic liquid as a highly stable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of 2‐aminothiazoles

Magnetic carbon nanotube‐supported imidazolium ionic liquid (CNT‐Fe₃O₄‐IL) was synthesized and investigated using various characterization techniques, including Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies, X‐ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. In order to synthesize the CNT‐Fe₃O₄‐IL nanocomposites, Fe₃O₄‐decorated multi‐walled CNTs were modified with 1‐methyl‐3‐(3‐trimethoxysilylpropyl)‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium chloride. This catalytic system was found to be a highly stable, active, reusable and solid‐phase catalyst for the synthesis of 2‐aminothiazoles via the one‐pot reaction of ketone, thiourea and N‐bromosuccinimide under mild conditions. Immobilized magnetic ionic liquid catalysis combines the advantages of ionic liquid media with magnetic solid support nanomaterials which enables the application of nanotechnology and green chemistry in chemical processes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tungsten hexachloride nanoparticles loaded on montmorillonite K-10: a novel solid acid catalyst in the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical azines

In the present investigation, we have developed a novel technique to prepare azines using nano-WCl₆ loaded on Montmorillonite K10 clay as a highly active catalyst. A variety of aldehydes and ketones were efficiently converted to the corresponding azines using catalytic amounts of nanosized WCl₆/Mont. K10 under mild conditions. The nanostructures of WCl₆ loaded on Mont. K10 as solid acid catalyst have been prepared by solid dispersion method. The advantages of this catalyst are rapid completion of the reactions, simplicity of performance, lack of pollution and mild and green reaction conditions. The morphologies, structure, and chemical components of parent and modified clay were successfully characterized using SEM, FT-IR, CV, XRD and EDX measurements.