Synthesis and characterization of the free ligand 5,6:13,14-dibenzo-9,10-benzo(15-crown-5)-2,3-bis(hydroxyimino)-7,12-dioxo-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane and its mono and tri nuclear complexes

The novel (E,E)-dioxime 5,6:13,14-dibenzo-9,10-benzo(15-crown-5)-2,3-bis(hydroxyimino)-7,12-dioxo-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (H₂L) has been synthesized by the reaction of 4′,5′-diaminobenzo(15-crown-5) with N,N′-bis(2-carbomethoxyphenyl)diaminoglyoxime (1). Only mononuclear Co^III and Ru^II complexes with a metal/ligand ratio of 1:2 have been isolated. The cobalt(III) complex bridged with BF₂⁺ is achieved with H-bonded cobalt(III) complex and borontrifluoride ethyl ether complex. The reaction of BF₂ bridged cobalt(III) complex with bis(benzonitril)palladium(II) chloride gives a trinuclear complex. The structures of dioxime and its complexes are proposed according to elemental analyses, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, IR and mass spectral data.     

Synthesis and characterization of 2,3-bis(hydroxyimino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine and its nickel(II), cobalt(II), copper(II), palladium(II), cadmium(II) and cobalt(III) complexes

Summary 2,3-Bis(hydroxyimino)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine (H₂L), prepared from 2,3-diaminopyridine and cyanogen-di-N-oxide has been converted into nickel(II), palladium(II), copper(II), cobalt(II), and cobalt(III) complexes (H₂L) with a 12 metal:ligand ratio. The ligands coordinate through the two N atoms, as do most vicinal dioximes. [(LH)Cl(H₂O)Cd], contains a six-membered chelate ring. [Co(HL)₂(L)Cl] has also been prepared using triphenylphosphine, triphenylarsine, thiophene and chloride as axial ligands. The structure of thevic-dioxime and its complexes are proposed on the basis of elemental analysis, i.r.,¹H-n.m.r. and uv-visible measurements.     

Using digital stories to reduce misconceptions and mistakes about fractions: an action study

The aim of this study is to determine the mistakes and misconceptions about fractions of the fourth-grade students in a primary school and to eliminate these mistakes and misconceptions through digital stories. The study has been conducted with a total of 25 students in the fourth-grade of a private primary school in Turkey. An action research method based on qualitative research approach has been used in the study. In the preparation of activities related to digital stories, the mistakes and misconceptions that students have regarding fractions are taken into account. As a data collection tool, the Determination of Misconceptions Form consisting of 30 open ended questions about the fractions prepared by the researchers and the observation notes taken during the implementation process have been used. In addition, semi-structured interviews have been conducted to identify views of teachers and students about activities designed with digital stories. The implementation has been carried out for 5 weeks. Qualitative data analysis techniques have been used in analysing the data. As a result of the research, it has emerged that teaching implementations designed with digital stories have eliminated the mistakes and misconceptions that a large majority of students have about fractions. Most of the students who had a limited perception about the concept of fraction before implementation have fully perceived the definition of fractions after the activities designed with digital stories. Likewise, most of the students who incorrectly modelled the operations with fractions before the implementation, have been able to use the correct model for the operations with fractions after the-implementation fractions. When opinions about the activities designed with digital stories have been examined, it has been found that most students’ express positive opinions on digital story use in lessons and found digital stories fun, instructive and constructive.     

Quantitative characterization of chemical degradation of heat‐treated wood surfaces during artificial weathering using XPS

The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of three heat‐treated North American wood species (jack pine, birch and aspen) was carried out to evaluate chemical modifications occurring on the wood surface during artificial weathering for different times. The results suggest that the weathering reduces lignin content (aromatic rings) at the surface of heat‐treated wood, consequently, the carbohydrates content increases. This results in surfaces richer in cellulose and poorer in lignin. Heat‐treated wood surfaces become acidic due to weathering, and the acidity increases as the weathering time increases. Three possible reasons are given to account for the increase of acidity during weathering. The lignin content increases, whereas the hemicelluloses content decrease due to heat treatment. Heat‐treated woods have lower acidity to basicity ratios than the corresponding untreated woods for all three species because of the decrease in carboxylic acid functions mainly present in hemicelluloses. The wood composition changes induced by weathering are more significant compared to those induced by heat treatment at wood surface. Exposure to higher temperatures causes more degradation of hemicelluloses, and this characteristic is maintained during weathering. However, the wood direction has more effect on chemical composition modification during weathering compared to that of heat treatment temperature. The heat‐treated jack pine is affected most by weathering followed by heat‐treated aspen and birch. This is related to differences in content and structure of lignin of softwood and hardwood. The use of XPS technique has proved to be a reliable method for wood surface studies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intrinsic Surface‐Drying Properties of Bioadhesive Proteins

Sessile marine mussels must “dry” underwater surfaces before adhering to them. Synthetic adhesives have yet to overcome this fundamental challenge. Previous studies of bioinspired adhesion have largely been performed under applied compressive forces, but such studies are poor predictors of the ability of an adhesive to spontaneously penetrate surface hydration layers. In a force‐free approach to measuring molecular‐level interaction through surface‐water diffusivity, different mussel foot proteins were found to have different abilities to evict hydration layers from surfaces—a necessary step for adsorption and adhesion. It was anticipated that DOPA would mediate dehydration owing to its efficacy in bioinspired wet adhesion. Instead, hydrophobic side chains were found to be a critical component for protein–surface intimacy. This direct measurement of interfacial water dynamics during force‐free adsorptive interactions at solid surfaces offers guidance for the engineering of wet adhesives and coatings.     

Development of surface chemistry for surface plasmon resonance based sensors for the detection of proteins and DNA molecules

The immobilisation of biological recognition elements onto a sensor chip surface is a crucial step for the construction of biosensors. While some of the optical biosensors utilise silicon dioxide as the sensor surface, most of the biosensor surfaces are coated with metals for transduction of the signal. Biological recognition elements such as proteins can be adsorbed spontaneously on metal or silicon dioxide substrates but this may denature the molecule and can result in either activity reduction or loss. Self assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide an effective method to protect the biological recognition elements from the sensor surface, thereby providing ligand immobilisation that enables the repeated binding and regeneration cycles to be performed without losing the immobilised ligand, as well as additionally helping to minimise non-specific adsorption. Therefore, in this study different surface chemistries were constructed on SPR sensor chips to investigate protein and DNA immobilisation on Au surfaces. A cysteamine surface and 1%, 10% and 100% mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUDA) coatings with or without dendrimer modification were utilised to construct the various sensor surfaces used in this investigation. A higher response was obtained for NeutrAvidin immobilisation on dendrimer modified surfaces compared to MUDA and cysteamine layers, however, protein or DNA capture responses on the immobilised NeutrAvidin did not show a similar higher response when dendrimer modified surfaces were used.     

Preparation and characterization of PEPPSI-palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes using benzimidazolium salts catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reaction and their antitumor and antimicrobial activities

New palladium complexes were efficiently synthesized from the reaction of benzimidazolium salts 2a–e, potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) and palladium chloride (PdCl₂) in pyridine (for 3a–e). The catalytic activity of these complexes in a catalytic system including palladium complexes and K₂CO₃ in DMF-H₂O was evaluated in Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides and chlorides with phenylboronic acid. Our novel complexes show excellent catalytic activities with high turnover numbers (TON) and high turnover frequencies (TOF) (e.g. for the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction: TON up to 370 and TOF up to 123.3?h^?1). Both benzimidazolium salts 2a–e and complexes 3 have been characterized using spectroscopic data and elemental analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes 3a–e varies with the nature of the ligands. Also, the IC₅₀ values of both, complexes (3a–e) and benzimidazoles 2a–e, have been determined. In addition, the new palladium complexes were screened for their antitumor activity. Complexes 3e and 3d exhibited the highest antitumor effect with IC₅₀ values 6.85?μg/mL against MCF-7 and 10.75?μg/mL against T47D, respectively.