Eco-friendly synthesis of high silica zeolite Y with choline as green and innocent structure-directing agent

Zeolite synthesis in contemporary chemical industries is predominantly conducted using organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs), which are chronically hazardous to humans and the environment. It is a growing trend to develop an eco-friendly and nuisanceless OSDA for zeolite synthesis. Herein, choline is employed as a non-toxic and green OSDA to synthesize high silica Y zeolite with SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratios of 6.5–6.8. The prepared Y zeolite samples exhibited outstanding (hydro)thermal stability at ultrahigh temperature owing to the higher SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio. The XRF, SEM, ²⁹Si-NMR and ¹³Na+ results suggested that choline plays a structure-directing role in the synthesis of Y zeolite, while the feed molar fraction of Na⁺ is a crucial determinant for the framework SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio and the crystal morphology.     

Polymer blends based on the β-modification of polypropylene

iPP/sPP, iPP/rPP, iPP/PVDF and iPP/PA-6 blends, and their β-nucleated forms were prepared in the present study. The components of iPP/sPP and iPP/rPP blends are compatible in the molten state. The phase structure of the melt of iPP/PVDF and iPP/PA-6 blends is heterogeneous. The melting and crystallisation characteristics as well as the structure and polymorphic composition of these blends were studied by polarised light microscopy (PLM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). When semicrystalline polymers are added to iPP, the most important factor of the formation a blend with β-crystalline phase is the α-nucleation effect of the second polymer. In the case of polymers with an α-nucleating effect, the temperature range of their crystallisation should be lower than that of β-iPP. β-nucleated iPP/PVDF and iPP/PA-6 blends are extreme examples showing that completely β-iPP matrix can not form even in the presence of a highly effective β-nucleant, because of the strong α-nucleating ability and higher crystallisation temperature range of PVDF and PA-6. We found that the β-crystallisation tendency of random propylene copolymers can be enhanced by adding an iPP homopolymer.     

Antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Schiff base ligand and its transition metal mixed ligand complexes with heterocyclic base

A new Schiff base ligand (HL) was prepared via a condensation reaction of quinoline‐2‐carboxaldhyde with 2‐aminophenol in a molar ratio of 1:1. Its transition metal mixed ligand complexes with 1,10‐phenanthroline (1,10‐phen) as co‐ligand were also synthesized in a 1:1:1 ratio. HL and its mixed ligand complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, infrared, ¹H NMR, mass and UV–visible spectroscopies, molar conductance, magnetic measurements, solid reflectance, thermal analysis, electron spin resonance and X‐ray diffraction. Molar conductance measurements showed that all complexes have an electrolytic nature, except Cd(II) complex. From elemental and spectral data, the formulae [M(L)(1,10‐phen)(H₂O)]Cl_x?nH₂O (where M = Cr(III) (x = n = 2), Mn(II) and Ni(II) (x = 1, n = 2), Fe(III) (x = n = 2), Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) (x = 1, n = 2)) and [Cd(L)(1,10‐phen)Cl]?3H₂O for the metal complexes have been proposed. The geometric structures of complexes were found to be octahedral. Powder X‐ray diffraction reflected the crystalline nature of the complexes; however, the Schiff base is amorphous. HL and its mixed ligand complexes were screened against Gram‐positive bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram‐negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). Antifungal activity was determined against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans, the data showing that most complexes had activity less than that of the Schiff base while Mn(II), Fe(III) and Ni(II) complexes showed no significant antifungal activity. The anticancer activity of HL and its metal complexes was also studied against breast and colon cell lines. The metal complexes showed IC₅₀ higher than that of HL, especially the Cu(II) complex which showed the highest IC₅₀ against breast cell line.     

Detection and recognition of cancer cells in vivo

A fundamentally new recognition method of bio-objects (e.g., cancer cells as the most important case of them) that escape the immune system supervision control is suggested. It is proposed to use a unified complex consisting of several molecular groups (e.g., antibodies or their fragments) bound with each other. Binding targets are localized on the surface of this bio-object. The choice of the targets is determined by antigen profiling being expressed on the surface of these bio-objects. The recognition efficiency appears to be notably higher than in a situation when molecular groups do not form a unified complex and act separately.     

Silver(I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes of bis‐imidazol‐2‐ylidenes having different aromatic‐spacers: synthesis,crystal structure,and in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer studies

A series of Ag(I) complexes ( 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ) derived from imidazol‐2‐ylidenes was synthesized by reacting Ag₂O with an o‐, m‐, p‐xylyl or 1,3,5‐triazine‐linked imidazolium salts ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) and then characterizing these using various spectro‐analytical techniques. Additionally, triazine‐linked bis‐imidazolium salt 5 was characterized using the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method. Complexes 6–9 were formed from the N‐heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors 1–3 as PF₆^‐ salts in good yields. Conversely, salt 5 does not form Ag(I) complex even under various reaction conditions. Using ampicillin as a standard, complexes 6–9 were tested against bacteria strains Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, respectively, showing potent antimicrobial activities against the tested bacteria even at minimum inhibition concentration and bacterial concentration levels. Furthermore, the potential anticancer activities of the reported complexes were evaluated against the human colorectal cancer (HCT 116) cell lines, using 5‐fluorouracil as a standard drug. The highest anticancer activities were observed for complex 8 with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 μm , whereas the lowest was observed for complex 9 with an IC₅₀ value of 18.1 μm . Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gd complexes of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid conjugates of low-molecular-weight chitosan oligosaccharide as a new liver-specific MRI contrast agent

This study was to describe the synthesis of complexes of gadolinium diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid conjugates of low-molecular-weight chitosan oligosaccharide Gd-DTPA-CSn (n = 6, 8, 11) as a new class of contrast agent as well as its magnetic property in a pilot magnetic resonance imaging. The efficacy of the contrast agent was assessed by measuring the longitudinal relaxivity (r₁), FLASH imaging in phantoms in vitro and signal intensity in vivo of the rat abdominal axial imaging. The r₁ of Gd-DTPA-CS₁₁ was up to 11.65 mM^− 1·s^− 1, which was 3 times higher than that of the analogous MRI contrast agent Gd-DTPA in commercial use. In vivo MR images of rat obtained with Gd-DTPA-CS₁₁ showed strong signal enhancement in liver and the vessels of the liver parenchyma during the extended period of time. The present study suggests that the new synthesized gadolinium complexes can be used as a new class of practical liver-specific MRI contrast agent because of its superior performance compared with Gd-DTPA.     

Synthesis of Piperidine Nucleosides as Conformationally Restricted Immucillin Mimics

The de novo synthesis of piperidine nucleosides from our homologating agent 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin is herein reported. The structure and conformation of nucleosides were conceived to faithfully resemble the well-known nucleoside drugs Immucillins H and A in their bioactive conformation. NMR analysis of the synthesized compounds confirmed that they adopt an iminosugar conformation bearing the nucleobases and the hydroxyl groups in the appropriate orientation.     

Cyclotriphosphazene,a scaffold for 19F MRI contrast agents

A cyclotriphosphazene substituted with six 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl) benzyloxy units was designed as a novel ¹⁹F MRI contrast agent. The resulting molecule has 36 magnetically equivalent fluorine atoms and exhibited suitable MRI properties with high imaging sensitivity, confirming the proof-of-concept as a convenient scaffold for the production of new ¹⁹F MRI contrasts agents.