Copper bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) catalyzed synthesis of N-substituted ferrocenes

An efficient catalytic protocol for the Ulmann-type coupling reaction of both bromo and iodoferrocene with heterocyclic amines using a stable and well defined copper bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) complex has been developed. The protocol was applicable for the synthesis of wide variety of N-substituted ferrocenes and the desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields.     

Visible light-mediated photocatalyzed synthesis of oxazole via intermolecular C?N and C?O bond formation

An efficient visible light-mediated, eosin Y-catalyzed synthesis of oxazole has been developed from benzil with primary amines, that providing a straightforward, green, and environmentally benign access to a wide variety of substituted oxazole-2-amines under mild reaction conditions.     

Dendrimer building toolkit: Model building and characterization of various dendrimer architectures

We have developed a graphical user interface based dendrimer builder toolkit (DBT) which can be used to generate the dendrimer configuration of desired generation for various dendrimer architectures. The validation of structures generated by this tool was carried out by studying the structural properties of two well known classes of dendrimers: ethylenediamine cored poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer, diaminobutyl cored poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimer. Using full atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation we have calculated the radius of gyration, shape tensor and monomer density distribution for PAMAM and PPI dendrimer at neutral and high pH. A good agreement between the available simulation and experimental (small angle X‐ray and neutron scattering; SAXS, SANS) results and calculated radius of gyration was observed. With this validation we have used DBT to build another new class of nitrogen cored poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimer and study it's structural features using all atomistic MD simulation. DBT is a versatile tool and can be easily used to generate other dendrimer structures with different chemistry and topology. The use of general amber force field to describe the intra‐molecular interactions allows us to integrate this tool easily with the widely used molecular dynamics software AMBER. This makes our tool a very useful utility which can help to facilitate the study of dendrimer interaction with nucleic acids, protein and lipid bilayer for various biological applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Review on Polyacrylonitrile as an Effective and Economic Constituent of Adsorbents for Wastewater Treatment

Water gets polluted due to the dumping of untreated industrial waste into bodies of water, particularly those containing heavy metals and dyes. Industrial water contains both inorganic and organic wastes. Numerous adsorbents that are inexpensive and easily available can be used to address the issue of water deterioration. This review report is focused on polyacrylonitrile as an efficient constituent of adsorbents to extract toxic ions and dyes. It discusses the various formulations of polyacrylonitrile, such as ion exchange resins, chelating resins, fibers, membranes, and hydrogels, synthesized through different polymerization methods, such as suspension polymerization, electrospinning, grafting, redox, and emulsion polymerization. Moreover, regeneration of adsorbent and heavy metal ions makes the adsorption process more cost-effective and efficient. The literature reporting successful regeneration of the adsorbent is included. The factors affecting the performance and outcomes of the adsorption process are also discussed.     

Advances in transition metal dichalcogenide-based two-dimensional nanomaterials

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are the layered materials that have gained substantial consideration in a wide range of applications. The TMDCs possess exceptional properties such as high surface-to-volume ratio, excellent charge transfer capacity, mechanical strength, and low bandgap energy. Additionally, TMDCs (MoS₂, WS₂, etc.) are abundant, have a low synthesis cost, and are visible-light-active. The appealing surface morphologies and properties of TMDCs make them an appropriate choice for diverse applications like photocatalytic degradation of hazardous pollutants, energy conversion reactions (electrocatalytic and photocatalytic H₂ production), and energy storage devices (supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries) in addition to bio/chemical sensors. This article addresses the latest trends and advancements in the domain of TMDC-based nanomaterials. The different synthesis routes have been comprehensively reviewed. The challenges faced by TMDCs at a large scale and the future scope have also been discussed.     

Synthesis,Properties and Reactivity Studies of a Hetero-dicopper Complex Consisting of a Porphyrin and a Bispyridylamine Moiety Connected by a Xanthene Backbone

Synthesis, characterization and reactivity studies of a hetero-dicopper complex, particularly towards oxygen reduction are presented. A bischlorido copper(II) trishistidine-type coordination unit is positioned directly above a copper porphyrin unit. The close distance between the two coordination fragments is secured by a rigid xanthene backbone. Surprisingly, the dinuclear complex is not active towards oxygen reduction unlike the earlier published mononuclear analogues with a bispyridylamine copper center. However, the compound architecture of this multinuclear metal complex is interesting and can play an important role in the development of new catalysts for ORR.     

Making and Breaking of C−N Bonds: Applications in the Synthesis of Unsymmetric Tertiary Amines and α-Amino Carbonyl Derivatives

An operationally simple process has been developed for the synthesis of unsymmetrical amines and α-amino carbonyl derivatives in the absence of a catalyst, ligand, oxidant, or any additives. Contrary to known reductive amination methods, this protocol is amenable to substrates containing other reducible groups. This process effectively results in consecutive cleavage and formation of C−N bonds. DFT studies and Hammett analysis provide useful insight into the mechanism. The role of noncovalent interactions as a stabilizing factor have been examined in the protocol. A wide range of alkyl-bromides have been coupled efficiently with a variety of dimethyl anilines to get unsymmetric tertiary amines with yields up to 90%. This methodology was further extended to the synthesis of α-amino carbonyl derivatives with yields up to 93%.     

Non-van der Waals 2D Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage

The development of advanced electrode materials for the next generation of electrochemical energy storage (EES) solutions has attracted profound research attention as a key enabling technology toward decarbonization and electrification of transportation. Since the discovery of graphene's remarkable properties, 2D nanomaterials, derivatives, and heterostructures thereof, have emerged as some of the most promising electrode components in batteries and supercapacitors owing to their unique and tunable physical, chemical, and electronic properties, commonly not observed in their 3D counterparts. This review particularly focuses on recent advances in EES technologies related to 2D crystals originating from non-layered 3D solids (non-van der Waals; nvdW) and their hallmark features pertaining to this field of application. Emphasis is given to the methods and challenges in top-down and bottom-up strategies toward nvdW 2D sheets and their influence on the materials’ features, such as charge transport properties, functionalization, or adsorption dynamics. The exciting advances in nvdW 2D-based electrode materials of different compositions and mechanisms of operation in EES are discussed. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of nvdW 2D systems are highlighted not only in electrochemical energy storage but also in other applications, including spintronics, magnetism, and catalysis.