Adsorptive stripping voltammetric analysis of 2,4,6-tri(2′pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine at a mercury electrode

The redox behaviour of adsorbed species of 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3-5-triazine (TPTZ) at the surface of a mercury electrode was examined using cycling voltammetry. Based on the adsorption and accumulation of TPTZ at the charged mercury surface cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (CSV) is applied for the trace determination of TPTZ using a differential pulse (DP) technique. Experimental and operational parameters for the quantitative analysis of TPTZ are optimized and the detection limit was found to be 3×10^–9 mol/l. The effect of some interferences, e.g. organic compounds, cations and anions, are investigated.     

Complexes of tris(o-phenanthroline)nickel(II) and copper(II) bromide with dithiocarbamates derived from α-amino acids

Complexes of 1,10-o-phenanthroline (o-phen)-Ni^II and Cu^II with dithiocarbamates derived from -amino acids (glycine, phenylalanine, alanine, methionine and tryptophan) were synthesized and characterized by chemical analysis, spectral and thermal studies and by biological screening; the complexes are non-electrolytes. The empirical formula are [Ni(o-phen)₂(aadtc)] and [Cu₂(o-phen)₂(phaladtc)(H₂O)₂Br₂] where, aadtc = glycinyl-, phenylalaninyl-, alaninyl-, methioninyl- and tryptophanyldithiocarbamate and phaladtc = phenylalaninyldithiocarbamate. The structure of these complexes is probably octahedral. Molecular association through hydrogen bonding between the —NH and the carboxylate groups is proposed for the Ni^II complexes. The Cu^II complex is dimeric with the phenylalaninyldithiocarbamate acting as a bridge.     

Kinetics and electrochemical studies on superoxide

Rate constants for the reaction of superoxide O^- ₂ with various substrates were obtained through stationary electrode polarography theory and technique. In solvent acetonitrile, the substrate and the rate constants of the reaction O^- ₂ + AH^{- k2}Product, are, AH = isopropanol (k₂ < 0.01 M^-1 s^-1); ethanol (k₂ = 1.42 × 10² M^-1 s^-1); methanol (k₂ = 1.1 × 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1), H₂O (k₂ = 1.0 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1). In MeCN, O^-2 was found to be rather unreactive towards glucose and acetone but it reacts with fructose and sucrose catalytically. However, in DMF2, O^- ₂reacts with glucose and fructose with k2 order of 105 M-1 s-1. The mechanism of the reaction of O^- ₂ with the substrates (AH) is proposed as O^- ₃ + AH k₂O, AH^k2 _k-1 k [O₂H + AH]^-, _k-2O₂H + A^- with k₁ = 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1 and k^-1 = 10⁸ -10⁹ s^-1. With these values of k_-1 and k₁, k k₂(obs). The reversible E_1/2 for O₂ + e O^- ₂ in various solvents: MeCN, acetone, isopropanol, methanol, H₂O were obtained either directly from the reversible voltammogram or from experimental voltammograms and the rate constants obtained (as above) using stationary electrode polargraphy theory; E_1/2 being -0.82 (MeCN),-0.85 (acetone),-0.72 (isopropanol);-0.66 (MeOH),-0.56 (H2O) vs SCE.     

Synthesis and photochemistry of binary and mixed ligand complexes of copper(II) containing 5-arylazo-8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives and alkyl xanthates

Summary Mixed ligand complexes of the type K[Cu(x-HQA)Rxan] [x-HQA = 5-arylazo-8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives; Rxan = methyl or ethylxanthate] have been prepared and characterised by elemental analysis, spectral measurements and conductivity. Upon irradiation, solutions of these complexes photoeliminate dinitrogen and a mechanism for this reaction is proposed. The photosensitivity of the oxine ligand was found to be responsible for the observed photolysis of the complexes.     

Synthesis of α-alkenyl-α-amino esters via addition of potassium Alkenyltrifluoroborate salts to imine in the presence of Yb(OTf)3

A simple protocol which led to an effective construction of α-alkenyl-α-amino esters was achieved under mild conditions. This transformation proceeded by Yb-catalyzed addition of alkenyltrifluoroborates across the imine double bond. A variety of functional groups could be applicable to both partners.     

Synthesis and application of silica and calcium carbonate nanoparticles in the reduction of organics from refinery wastewater

Oil refinery is one of the fast growing industries across the globe and it is expected to progress in the near future. The worldwide increase in the generation of refinery wastewater along with strict environmental regulations in the discharge of industrial effluent, persistent efforts have been devoted to recycle and reuse the treated water. The wastewater from the refining operation leads to serious environmental threat to the ecosystem. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize silica (SiO₂) and calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO₃) in the reduction of organics from refinery wastewater. The synthesized nanoparticles were employed in the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from refinery wastewater by studying the influence of solution pH, contact time, dosage of nanoparticles and stirring speed on adsorption performance. From the batch experimental studies, the optimized processing conditions for the reduction of COD using SiO₂ nanoparticles are pH 4.0, dosage 0.5 g, stirring speed 125 rpm and 90 min stirring time, and the corresponding values for CaCO₃ nanoparticles are pH 8.0, dosage 0.4 g, stirring speed 100 rpm and 90 min stirring time. The study demonstrates that SiO₂ and CaCO₃ nanoparticles have a promising future in the reduction organics from refinery wastewater in different pH regimes.     

Aptamer Laden Liquid Crystals Biosensing Platform for the Detection of HIV-1 Glycoprotein-120

We report a label-free and simple approach for the detection of glycoprotein-120 (gp-120) using an aptamer-based liquid crystals (LCs) biosensing platform. The LCs are supported on the surface of a modified glass slide with a suitable amount of B40t77 aptamer, allowing the LCs to be homeotropically aligned. A pronounced topological change was observed on the surface due to a specific interaction between B40t77 and gp-120, which led to the disruption of the homeotropic alignment of LCs. This results in a dark-to-bright transition observed under a polarized optical microscope. With the developed biosensing platform, it was possible to not only identify gp-120, but obtained results were analyzed quantitatively through image analysis. The detection limit of the proposed biosensing platform was investigated to be 0.2 µg/mL of gp-120. Regarding selectivity of the developed platform, no response could be detected when gp-120 was replaced by other proteins, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA), hepatitis A virus capsid protein 1 (Hep A VP1) and immunoglobulin G protein (IgG). Due to attributes such as label-free, high specificity and no need for instrumental read-out, the presented biosensing platform provides the potential to develop a working device for the quick detection of HIV-1 gp-120.     

Isolation and Identification of Bioactive Compounds from Bidens spp. Using HPLC-DAD and GC-MS Analysis and Their Biological Activity as Anticancer Molecules

The genus Bidens a member of family Compositae, is widely documented as an ethno-medicinally important genus of plants. In the present study, anticancer potential of three ethno-medicinally important species i.e., B. bipinnata, B. biternata and B. pilosa were tested. For in-vitro evaluation, an MTT (Thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide) assay was performed against cervical cancer cells (HeLa), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG), and adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549). For in vivo evaluation, Artemia salina, Danio rerio, and Caenorhabditis elegans were used. Among all the tested extracts, the ethanol extract of B. biternata appeared to have highest anticancer activity, and the compounds responsible for this activity were identified to be Tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl), 4-hydroxy-2,4′-dimethoxychalcone, and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol. This is the first report of the isolation of Tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate from the genus Bidens and the first report of 4-hydroxy-2,4′-dimethoxychalcone and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol from B. biternata. Among the isolated compounds, 4-hydroxy-2,4′-dimethoxychalcone showed the highest anticancer activity with an LD50 value of 236.7 µg/mL. Therefore, this compound carries promising potential for being established as a pharmaceutical for chemoprevention and chemotherapy.     

Optical and dielectric properties of fluorinated ethylene propylene and tetrafluoroethylene–perfluoro(alkoxy vinyl ether) copolymer films modified by low energy N and C ion beams

Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) and tetrafluoroethylene–perfluoro(alkoxy vinyl ether) (PFA) copolymer films were irradiated in vacuum with 60 keV C⁴⁺ and N⁴⁺ ions to fluences ranging from 1.0×10¹² to 5.0×10¹⁵ cm⁻². Changes in optical and dielectric properties were analyzed by spectroscopic ellipsometry and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), Raman and dielectric relaxation spectroscopies. Direct and indirect energy band gap values were determined from the absorption edge in the 200–800 nm region using Tauc's relation. The values of the direct energy gap have been found to be greater than the corresponding values of the indirect energy gap. Significant changes in the index of refraction, and β and γ dielectric relaxations were observed in the case of N⁴⁺ irradiated FEP and PFA samples.