Single-step preparation and catalytic activity of mesoporous MCM-41 and SBA-15 silicas functionalized with perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid groups analogous to Nafion

Preparation of hybrid organic-inorganic MCM-41 and SBA-15 silicas functionalized with perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid groups has been achieved in a single step by reacting the mesoporous silicas with 1,2,2-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-1-trifluoromethylethane sulfonic acid beta-sultone; the catalysts showed higher activity than commercial Nafion-silica composite for the esterification of long chain fatty acids with ethanol.     

The effect of grass fiber filler on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber

Natural rubber is reinforced with a novel type of grass fiber (Cyperus Tegetum Rox b). The effects of fiber loading of different mesh sizes on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of grass fiber filled natural rubber composite are studied. Since 400 mesh grass fiber loaded natural rubber composite shows superior mechanical properties, therefore the effect of silane coupling agent was studied for this particular composite. Here composites were prepared by using water leached grass fiber. Optimum cure time increases with the increase in fiber loading but the change in scorch time is less. The same trend of increase in optimum cure time is observed in the presence of Si69. But the value is higher compared to that of rubber composite without Si69. With increase in the fiber loading, modulus and hardness of the composite increases but tensile strength decreases. The mechanical properties of the composite, namely moduli at 200 and 300% elongation and hardness increase in the presence of Si69 but tensile strength is less compared to that of the composite without Si69. Elongation at break is not much affected due to the presence of Si69. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complexes of NS and NSO donor ligands. Nickel(II), copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of glyoxal bis(morpholineN-thiohydrazone) and diacetyl bis(morpholineN-thiohydrazone)

Summary Reactions of glyoxal bis(morpholineN-thiohydrazone), H₂gbmth, with NiCl₂·6H₂O, Ni(OAc)₂·4H₂O, Ni(acac)₂· H₂O, CuCl₂·2H₂O, Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O, Cu(acac)₂, CoCl₂· 6H₂O, Co(OAc)₂·4H₂O and Co(acac)₂·2H₂O yield complexes of the type [M(gbmth)], [M=Ni^II, Cu^II or Co^II]. Diacetyl reacts with morpholineN-thiohydrazide in the presence of nickel salts to yield [Ni^II(dbmth)], [Ni^II(dmth)(OAc)]H₂O and [Ni^II(Hdmth)(NH₃)Cl₂] involving N₂S₂ and NSO donor ligands. Copper and cobalt complexes of N₂S₂ and NSO donor ligands with compositions [Cu^II(dbmth)], [Co^II(dbmth)]·4H₂O and [Co^II(H₂dbmth)]Cl₂, have been isolated. The compounds have been characterised by elemental analyses, magnetic moments, molar conductance values and spectroscopic (electronic and infrared) data.     

One-step synthesis and characterization of difunctionalized N-confused tetraphenylporphyrins

Three disubstituted N-confused porphyrins (2-4) were prepared in ca. 4% yield using a one-pot synthesis. These porphyrins bear 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl groups substituted at the C(5) and C(20) meso positions and para-substituted (Br, NO(2), ethynyl) phenyl groups at the C(10) and C(15) meso positions. The specific orientation of the aryl rings around the macrocycle in porphyrin 2 was definitively determined using a combination of 1D ((1)H and (13)C) and 2D (gHMQC and gHMBC) NMR spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of 2-4 in CH(2)Cl(2) and dimethylacetamide are similar to those of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin in the same solvents but have Soret and Q-bands that are shifted to lower energies. Steady-state fluorescence measurements revealed Q(x)(0,0) and Q(x)(0,1) bands similar in energy to the unsubstituted NCPs 1i and 1e. The fluorescence quantum yield results for two of these NCPs (2, 4) are atypical of porphyrin behavior and are being further investigated by time-resolved spectroscopy.     

A New Bismuth Nitrate–Catalyzed Electrophilic Substitution of Indoles with Carbonyl Compounds Under Solvent-Free Conditions

An expeditious synthetic method for the preparation of bis(indollyl)methane derivatives has been developed through a bismuth nitrate-catalyzed reaction of indole with various carbonyl compounds in mortar and pastle under solvent-free conditions.     

Highly chemoselective reduction of azides to amines by Fe(0) nanoparticles in water at room temperature

A highly chemoselective reduction of aryl, heteroaryl, acyl and sulfonyl azides to the corresponding amines has been achieved by Fe(0) nanoparticles in water at room temperature in the absence of external hydride source. Several readily reducible functionalities including alkene, alkyne, S-S linkage, OTBDMS remain unaffected during reduction.     

Stepwise Self-assembly of a Tripeptide from Molecular Dimers to Supramolecular β-sheets in Crystals and Amyloid-like Fibrils in the Solid State

The terminally protected tripeptide Boc–Ala(1)–Leu(2)–Ala(3)–OMe 1 forms antiparallel hydrogen-bonded dimers of two different conformers in the asymmetric unit and the individual dimers then self-associate to form supramolecular β-sheet structures in crystals and amyloid-like fibrils in the solid state.     

Naturally derived green bio-additives

During the last few years, special attention has been paid by the lubricant industry towards vegetable oil-based lubricants due to their biodegradability, renewability and excellent tribological properties. But to maintain the biodegradability of the final lubricants, the additive in the lubricants must also be biodegradable. Hence, in our present work, multifunctional lubricating oil additive based on castor oil has been investigated as a less toxic, feasible alternative to traditional petroleum based additives. Homopolymer of castor oil and its copolymer with α-pinene were synthesized by a thermal method using azobisisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. Characterization of the prepared polymers was performed by spectral analysis and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Additive performances of each of the prepared polymers as viscosity index improvers/viscosity modifiers and pour point depressants were carefully evaluated. Photo micrographic image was used to study the effectiveness of the additives as pour point depressants. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted to investigate the thermal response of the additives at high temperature. Finally, biodegradability of all the polymers was tested against fungal pathogen by the disc diffusion method and soil burial test. The study illuminated excellent additive performances of the polymers and thus their potential for acting as entirely naturally derived green bio-additives for lube oil.     

Probing the Binding of Syzygium-Derived α-Glucosidase Inhibitors with N- and C-Terminal Human Maltase Glucoamylase by Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Human maltase glucoamylase (MGAM) is a potent molecular target for controlling post prandial glucose surplus in type 2 diabetes. Binding of small molecules from Syzygium sp. with α-glucosidase inhibitory potential in MGAM has been investigated in silico. Our results suggest that myricetin was the most potent inhibitor with high binding affinity for both N- and C-terminals of MGAM. Molecular dynamics revealed that myricetin interacts in its stretched conformation through water-mediated interactions with C-terminal of MGAM and by normal hydrogen bonding with the N-terminal. W1369 of the extended 21 amino acid residue helical loop of C-terminal plays a major role in myricetin binding. Owing to its additional sugar sites, overall binding of small molecules favours C-terminal MGAM.