KF/Al2O3‐Mediated N‐Alkylation of Amines and Nitrogen Heterocycles and S‐Alkylation of Thiols

KF/Al₂O₃ efficiently catalyzes N‐alkylation of heterocyclic, primary, and secondary amines and S‐alkylation of thiols with a variety of alkyl halides. The N‐alkylation and S‐alkylation adducts were produced in good to excellent yields and in short times.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Mg‐Doped ZnO NPs and ZnO/rGO Nanocomposites

A systematic experimental and theoretical study of the origin of the enhanced photocatalytic performance of Mg‐doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and Mg‐doped ZnO/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites has been performed. In addition to Mg, Cd was chosen as a doping material for the bandgap engineering of ZnO NPs, and its effects were compared with that of Mg in the photocatalytic performance of ZnO nanostructures. The experimental results revealed that Mg, as a doping material, recognizably ameliorates the photocatalytic performance of ZnO NPs and ZnO/graphene nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the Mg‐doped and Cd‐doped ZnO NPs had the same size. The optical properties of the samples indicated that Cd narrowed the bandgap, whereas Mg widened the bandgap of the ZnO NPs and the oxygen vacancy concentration was similar for both samples. Based on the experimental results, the narrowing of the bandgap, the particle size, and the oxygen vacancy did not enhance the photocatalytic performance. However, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Barret–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) models showed that Mg caused increased textural properties of the samples, whereas rGO played an opposite role. A theoretical study, conducted by using DFT methods, showed that the improvement in the photocatalytic performance of Mg‐doped ZnO NPs was due to a higher electron transfer from the Mg‐doped ZnO NPs to the dye molecules compared with pristine ZnO and Cd‐doped ZnO NPs. Moreover, according to the experimental results, along with Mg, graphene also played an important role in the photocatalytic performance of ZnO.     

Determination of organophosphorus pesticides by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry using a large‐volume injection technique after magnetic extraction

A fast and efficient method was developed for the extraction and determination of organophosphorus pesticides in water samples. Organophosphorus pesticides were extracted by solid‐phase extraction using magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and determined by gas chromatography with ion‐trap mass spectrometry. Parameters affecting the extraction were investigated. Under optimum conditions of the method, 10 mg magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes were added into 10 mL sample. After 2 min, adsorbent particles settled at the bottom of test tube with a magnet. After removing aqueous supernatant, the analytes were desorbed with acetonitrile. Then, 70 μL of acetonitrile phase was injected into the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry system that had an ion‐trap analyzer. To achieve high sensitivity, the large‐volume‐injection technique was used with a programmed temperature vaporization inlet, and the ion‐trap mass spectrometer was operated in single ion storage mode. Under the best conditions, the enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were in the range of 113–124 and 74–103%, respectively. The limits of detection were between 3 and 15 ng/L, and the relative standard deviations were < 10%. This method was successfully used for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in dam water, lagoon water, and river water samples with good reproducibility and recovery.     

Ligand-mediated formation of Cu/metal oxide hybrid nanocrystals with tunable number of interfaces

Combining domains of different chemical nature within the same hybrid material through the formation of heterojunctions provides the opportunity to exploit the properties of each individual component within the same nano-object; furthermore, new synergistic properties will often arise as a result of unique interface interactions. However, synthetic strategies enabling precise control over the final architecture of multicomponent objects still remain scarce for certain classes of materials. Herein, we report on the formation of Cu/MO_x (M = Ce, Zn and Zr) hybrid nanocrystals with a tunable number of interfaces between the two domains. We demonstrate that the organic ligands employed during the synthesis play a key role in regulating the final configuration. Finally, we show that the synthesized nanocrystals serve as materials platforms to investigate the impact of the Cu/metal oxide interfaces in applications by focusing on the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction as one representative example.

We report on the formation of Cu/metal oxide hybrid nanocrystals with a tunable number of interfaces between the two domains. We demonstrate that the organic ligands employed during the synthesis play a key role in regulating the final configuration.     

Selective Sensing Characteristics of Ca Doped BeO Nano-sized Tube toward H20 and NH3

By means of density functional calculations, the structural and electronic properties of chemical modification of pristine and Ca-doped BeO nanotubes were investigated with NH3 and H20 molecules. It was found that the NH3 and H20 molecules can be adsorbed on the Be atom of the tube sidewall with the adsorption energies of about 36.1 and 39.0 kcal/mol, respectively. Density of states analysis shows that the electronic properties of the BeONT are slightly changed after the adsorption processes. Substitution of a Be atom in the tube surface with a Ca atom increases the adsorption energies by about 7.4 and 14.7 kcal/mol for NH3 and H20, respectively. Unlike the pristine tube, the electronic properties of Ca-doped BeONT are sensitive to NH3 and H20 molecules. Also, the Ca-doped tube is much more sensitive to H20 molecule than NH3 one.     

Esterification of Carboxylic Acids and Diacids by Trialkyl Borate under Solvent- and Catalyst-Free Conditions

Esterification or transesterification reactions are usually carried out in the presence of homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts. However, recently a new method was reported for the esterification of carboxylic acids by tributyl borate under solvent- and catalyst-free conditions. In order to show the synthetic ability of trialkyl borate esters in the esterification reactions, here, the esterification of other carboxylic acids and diacids by tributyl-, triisoamyl-, and tribenzyl borate under the same conditions were reported. Some of the prepared ester and diester products have found wide applications as plasticizers and synthetic ester base lubricants. The esterification reactions have been cleanly carried out in the absence of any solvent under catalyst-free conditions. The maximum rate belongs to isoamyl trichloroacetate （VIb） which reached about 76% within about 6.5 h. On the basis of obtained findings, it seems that electron withdrawing groups on carboxylic acid facilitate the esterification reaction.     

A Novel Copper Oxide Nanoparticle Conjugated by Thiosemicarbazone Promote Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

The current study highlights the apoptotic activity of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles functionalized by Glutamic acid and conjugated by thiosemicarbazone (TSC) toward human breast cancer (MCF-7) and normal (HEK293) cell lines. To this aim, the co-precipitation method was used for preparation the CuO nanoparticles. Afterward, the CuO nanoparticles functionalized by glutamic acid. After that the functionalized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO@Glu) conjugated to thiosemicarbazone. In next step, the final nanoparticle product (CuO@Glu/TSC) was characterized by physico-chemical techniques including Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), zeta potential analysis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The effects of in vitro cell viability in CuO@Glu/TSC nanoparticles showed the anti-proliferative properties with a dose-dependent manner (IC₅₀?=?133.97 µg/ml). The IC₅₀ of CuO@Glu/TSC on normal cell line was 230.2 µg/ml. This IC₅₀ deference shows high cytotoxicity of CuO@Glu/TSC nanoparticles on tumor cells and low cytotoxicity on non-tumorigenic cells (HEK293) and is considered as an important aspect for this nanoparticles. Also, CuO@Glu/TSC nanoparticles had efficient effects in inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). In addition, the CuO@Glu/TSC nanoparticle induced apoptosis symptoms which were assessed by Caspase-3 activation assay, Annexin V/ propidium iodide flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33258 staining. Further, Bax and Bcl-2 genes expression was estimated by real time PCR. The expression of Bax increased 1.69 fold, while the expression of Bcl-2 decreased 0.6 fold. The results of the current study propose that CuO@Glu/TSC nanoparticles reveal effective anti-cancer activity against breast cancer cell line.

     

Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of 3-(1-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-2-aryl-6,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indol-3-yl)indolin-2-ones by novel core-shell bio-based nanocatalyst anchoring sulfonated L-histidine on magnetized silica (SO3H-L-His@SiO2-nano Fe3O4)

An efficient synthesis of 3-(1-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)-2-aryl-6,6-dimethyl-4-oxo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indol-3-yl)indolin-2-ones is reported via a one-pot three-component reaction of 3-phenacylidenoxindoles, tryptamine, and dimedone under ultrasound irradiation using a newly prepared core-shell nanostructure. The utilized nanocatalyst is obtained by anchoring sulfonated L-histidine amino acid shell, as the bio part, on silica-nanomagnetite core (SO₃H-L-His@SiO₂-nano Fe₃O₄) and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and back-titration. The protocol contains several advantages, such as relatively short reaction times, simple work-up procedure by separation of the catalyst with an external magnet, the use of economical and environmentally friendly ultrasonic waves, and reusability and recoverability of the core-shell nano-promoter for three runs without significant activity loss.     

Polystyrene@graphene oxide-Fe3O4 as a novel and magnetically recyclable nanocatalyst for the efficient multi-component synthesis of spiro indene derivatives

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Polystyrene (PS)-coated magnetic graphene oxide (GO-Fe3O4) nanocomposite has been prepared and characterized by FT-IR, TEM and VSM techniques, and its catalytic...     

Synthesis of 4-alkylaminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines linked to carbamate moiety as potent α-glucosidase inhibitors

Molecular Diversity - In this work, various imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines linked to carbamate moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Among...