Donor-acceptor (D-A) terpolymers based on alkyl-DPP and t-BocDPP moieties for polymer solar cells

A series of low band gap terpolymers based on 4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b¢] dithiophene (BDTT) and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) with varied solubilizing groups (i.e., tert-butoxycarbonyl, t-Boc and 2-octyldodecyl) are developed as electron donors for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs). The results reveal that the one with 50% t-Boc concentration (P3) performs better than the other terpolymers used in this study in conventional PSC devices with a power conversion efficiency of 2.92%.     

Synthesis,Nanoformulations, and In Vitro Anticancer Activity of N-Substituted Side Chain Neocryptolepine Scaffolds

The naturally occurring neocryptolepine (5-Methylindolo [2,3-b]quinoline) and its analogs exhibited prominent anticancer and antimalarial activity. However, the main problem of this class of compounds is their poor aqueous solubility, hampering their bioavailability and preventing their clinical development. To overcome the problem of insolubility and to improve the physicochemical and the pharmacological properties of 5-Methylindolo [2,3-b]quinoline compounds, this work was designed to encapsulate such efficient medical compounds into mesoporous silica oxide nanoemulsion (SiO₂NPs). Thus, in this study, SiO₂NPs was loaded with three different concentrations (0.2 g, 0.3, and 0.6 g) of 7b (denoted as NPA). The findings illustrated that the nanoparticles were formed with a spherical shape and exhibited small size (less than 500 nm) using a high concentration of the synthesized chemical compound (NPA, 0.6 g) and good stabilization against agglomeration (more than −30 mv). In addition, NPA-loaded SiO₂NPs had no phase separation as observed by our naked eyes even after 30 days. The findings also revealed that the fabricated SiO₂NPs could sustain the release of NPA at two different pH levels, 4.5 and 7.4. Additionally, the cell viability of the produced nanoemulsion system loaded with different concentrations of NPA was greater than SiO₂NPs without loading, affirming that NPA had a positive impact on increasing the safety and cell viability of the whole nanoemulsion. Based on these obtained promising data, it can be considered that the prepared NPA-loaded SiO₂NPs seem to have the potential for use as an effective anticancer drug nanosystem.     

Low temperature ATRP of POSS-MA and its amphiphilic pentablock copolymers

A low temperature ATRP of methacryloisobutyl POSS (POSS-MA) is carried out, using poly(propylene glycol) (PPG)-based macroinitiator, in toluene with CuCl/PMDETA as the catalyst system, generating well-defined P(POSS-MA)-b-PPG-b-P(POSS-MA) triblock copolymer with Р~ 1.1. The semilogarithmic kinetic plot reveals first-order kinetics and the dispersity is observed to decrease as the reaction progresses—an indication of the controlled behavior of the polymerization. To assess the chain-end fidelity of the produced block copolymer, chain extension is carried out with oligo(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (OEGMA) that afforded water-soluble P(OEGMA)-b-P(POSSMA)-b-PPG-b-P(POSSMA)-b-P(OEGMA) pentablock copolymers. The SEC profiles suggest a quantitative initiation by the macroinitiator. By varying the monomer to initiator molar ratio, block copolymers with various P(OEGMA) chain lengths, ranging from 19 to 58 units on each side have been achieved with relative lower dispersity (Р< 1.4). Kinetic analysis of the ATRP of OEGMA, with P(POSSMA)-b-PPG-b-P(POSSMA) as the macroinitiator, suggests first-order kinetics and controlled nature of the polymerization. The PPG and P(OEGMA) segments impart a thermosensitive character to the obtained water-soluble amphiphilic hybrid block copolymers; hence they display temperature-dependent self-assembly behavior in aqueous medium.     

GC–MS analysis of phytoconstituents present in methanolic extract of Actinidia deliciosa L. fruits and its antioxidant activity

Kiwi fruit (KF) (Actinidia deliciosa L.) are members of the Actinidia genus (Family Actinidiaceae). Previously these plants have confirm anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial etc. properties. The therapeutic efficacy of complex phytoconstituents found in fruit extracts has piqued the interest of pharmaceutical companies and academics alike. Methanolic extract of kiwi fruit (MEKF) was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and yielded positive results signaling towards identification and characterization of therapeutic claims of this species in the traditional system. The antioxidant activity of MEKF was determined by the most suitable DPPH method. The most significant constituents found in MEKF are 2-cyclohexylpiperidine (0.58%), phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)- (0.13%), 1,6-anhydro- β-d-glucopyranose (0.52%), dodecanoic acid (0.32%), 2-heptenoic acid, trimethylsilyl ester (2.84%), Tetradecanoic acid (1.87%), Neophytadiene (2.81%), Hexahydro farnesyl acetone (1.72%), Neophytadiene (0.97%), n-hexadecanoic acid (19.00%), Ethyl hexadecanoate (7.21%), Linoleic acid ethyl ester (0.23%), Phytol (4.74%), α-linolenic acid (16.73%), Ethyl (9z,12z)-9,12-octadecadienoate (2.92%), Octadecanoic acid (4.76%), Octadecanoic acid, 17-methyl-, methyl ester (1.68%), Phytol, acetate (0.15%), 2-Methylhexacosane (0.97%), Ethyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate (0.81%), Tetracontane (1.45%), α-tocospiro A (0.15%), α-tocospiro B (0.19%), 3.β-Acetoxystigmasta-4,6,22-triene (0.24%), Octacosane, 1-iodo (0.43%), 4,6-cholestadien-3.β-ol, benzoate (2.14%), γ.-Sitosterol (4.40%), and Tigogenin (2.32%). The found results in the analysis of the antioxidant activity of MEKF showed significant free radical scavenging capacity against DPPH-generated free radicals due to the presence of alkaloids, glycoside, terpenoids, vitamins, and some other reported compounds. In the pharmaceutical industry, GC-MS reports will be useful for identifying a wide range of phytoconstituents in polyherbal extracts and standardizing of plant materials.     

Chemically reactive accelerating radiative flow of Eyring Powell nanofluid with microorganisms and buoyancy forces

Recently, the nanofluids report multidisciplinary applications in the various era of engineering like engine cooling, solar energy production, cooling of engineering devices, diesel generator performance etc. Owing to such novel applications, the aim of current communication is to report the significances of bio-convection for unsteady Eyring Powell nanofluid due to bidirectional oscillatory stretching surface. The enrollment of buoyancy forces and magnetic impact are worked out to inspect the stability and thermal on set of nanofluids. Heat transformation features are explored by utilizing thermal radiation. Further, the characteristics of chemical reaction and activation energy have been considered for physical significance. Unlike traditional approach, the governing equations are not altered into ordinary set of equation but only diminish the independent variables. This task makes the non-dimensional equations in highly complicated from which the convergent technique via HAM is successfully implemented. The physical outcomes of dominant variables on profiles of microorganisms, concentration, temperature, velocity and skin frictions are conferred graphically while local motile density, Sherwood and Nusselt numbers are deliberated through different tables. It is noted that the amplitude of bidirectional shear stresses and velocities periodically get increase for higher material parameter. This analysis emphasized that concentration distribution augments for rising values of activation energy variable, whereas conflicting situation occurs for temperature difference parameter. Moreover, motile microorganism's distributions are diminished by improved values of bio-convected Peclet and bio-convected Lewis numbers.     

Antioxidant,cholinesterase inhibition activities and essential oil analysis of Nelumbo nucifera seeds

Nelumbo nucifera seeds’ essential oil (EO), crude extract and subsequent fractions were evaluated for their DPPH, ABTS and superoxide anion-free radical scavenging and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. The ethyl acetate fraction and EO showed outstanding antioxidant activities with IC₅₀ values of 191, 450 μg/mL (DPPH), 123, 221 μg/mL (ABTS) and 69, 370 μg/mL (superoxide anion). The ethyl acetate fraction and EO also caused significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase with IC₅₀ values of 70 ± 0.6, 64 ± 0.8 and 75 ± 0.3, 58 ± 0.2, in dose-dependent manner. The first ever gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the EO obtained from N. nucifera seeds resulted in identification of 19 constituents, mainly comprised of oxygenated sesquiterpenes responsible for their promising bioactivity. The crude and fractions revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides in phytochemical investigation.     

12-Tungstophosphoric acid niched in Zr-based metal-organic framework: a stable and efficient catalyst for Friedel-Crafts acylation

Heteropoly acids(HPA) are well known for their versatile solid acid catalysis in diverse chemical reactions, however they suffer from low surface area(10 m~2/g) and leaching into the reactions media, which reduce their prospects as industrial catalyst.Herein, a novel hybrid material HPW@Zr-BTC,composed of 12-tungstophoric acid(HPW) and Zr~(Ⅳ)-benzene tri-carboxylate(Zr-BTC) metal-organic framework(MOF), was prepared via one-pot solvothermal method. Excellent HPW loading up to 32.3 wt% was achieved, and HPW@Zr-BTC composite proved to be highly stable, besides the crystalline morphology of Zr-BTC was intact. The catalytic activity of the hybrid composite was explored via Friedel-Crafts acylation of anisole with benzoyl chloride.The 28.2 wt% HPW@Zr-BTC showed excellent catalytic performance, with 99.4% anisole conversion and 97.6% yield(pmethoxybenzophenone) under solvent free conditions. Excellent retention of catalytic activity was achieved after at least five consecutive runs due to non-observable HPW leaching. The promising activity and stability of the catalyst forecasted its potential industrial applications.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological analysis of transition metal complexes with macro cyclic ligands derived from adipic acid,ethylenediamine with diethyloxalate and diethylmalonate

Macro-cyclic ligands from adipic acid, ethylenediamine with diethyloxalate and diethylmalonate and their respective metal complexes of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) with macro cyclic ligands (LO) and (LM) L [N,N′-bis(2-aminoethyl)hexanediamide] were synthesized successfully. These metal complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet visible spectrometry, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mass Spectrometry, CHNS and thermogravimetric analysis. The elemental analysis confirms the structures for Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes similar to octahedral geometry, Cu(II) complexes as a square planar geometry and Zn(II) complexes in the tetrahedral geometry. The molar conductivities of all the metal complexes were taken in 10^?3 M DMSO, and values of all the metal complexes showed their electrolytic nature which indicates the presence of chloride ions. Thermal analysis supports as the metal complexes are thermally stable. The result of antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms confirms that the metal complexes are potent bactericides and fungicides than the ligand. Metal complexes of LO with Cu(II) and Zn(II) were found to be highly active against S. typhimurium than the complexes of LM.

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Synthesis of ligand-selective ZnS nanocrystals exhibiting ligand-tunable fluorescence

High-quality ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) of nearly identical size are synthesized using isomeric ligands, o-, m-, p-phenylenediamines (PDAs) that bind to the NC cores. The fluorescence emission from the NC is tunable according to the structure of the isomer. The measured fluorescence quantum yields (QYs) are 2-3 times higher for NCs that are passivated with isomeric PDA ligands than the fluorescence QY of NCs prepared at the absence of PDAs. The NC morphologies were studied by low-angle and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average correlating sizes were found to be 3.0+/-0.3, 3.7+/-0.30, and 3.0+/-0.5 nm for the NCs that were passivated with o-PDA, m-PDA, and p-PDA, respectively. The Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies were carried out to investigate the shell structure and the interaction between the core and the shell. The adsorbed ligands were quantitatively analyzed by TGA. The structure, morphology, and optical properties of these PDA passivated NCs were compared with the NCs prepared in the absence of PDA.     

Estimation of Residual Nickel and Some Heavy Metals in Vanaspati Ghee

To convert vegetable edible oils into vanaspati ghee, nickel is used as a catalyst in the hydrogenation process. A simple and fast method for the trace level determination of nickel in ghee is reported. In this work different methods were applied for the extraction of residual nickel from ghee samples. Using toluene, benzene and carbon tetrachloride as organic solvents, an acid mixture was used for the extraction of nickel. Extracted nickel was quantified with atomic absorption and colorimetric methods. Among the organic solvents, toluene proved to be the best solvent mediating a 95% extraction of nickel from ghee samples. Nickel was extracted and determined in ten different brands of ghee and in all samples its amount was well above the permissible limit of WHO (0.2 μg/g). Other metals like lead, zinc, copper, and cadmium were also determined and their concentrations were found to be much below the WHO permissible limits.