Solvation Chemistry of DL‐Nor‐Valine in Aqueous Mixture of Dipolar Aprotic N,N‐Dimethyl Formamide

In this article, we reported the solubilities of the amino acid DL‐nor‐valine (VAL) at five equidistant temeratures i.e. from 15 to 35 °C in aqueous mixtures of N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF). The Standard free energies (ΔG (i)) and entropies (ΔS (i)) of transfer of VAL from water to aqueous mixture of cationophilic dipolar aprotic DMF have been evaluated at 25 °C. The transfer of Gibbs energies (ΔG (i)) and entropies (TΔS (i)) due to the chemical effects have been obtained after elimination of cavity effect, estimated by the scaled particle theory and dipole‐dipole interaction effects, computed by the used of Keesom‐orientation expression. The chemical contribution of transfer energetics of DL‐nor‐valine (VAL) are mainly guided by the composite effects of increased dispersion interaction, basicity effect and decreased acidity, hydrogen bonding effects, hydrophilic hydration and hydrophobic hydration of aqueous DMF mixtures as compared to that of reference solvent, water.     

A Catalyst and Solvent Free Route for the Synthesis of N-Substituted Pyrrolidones from Levulinic Acid

An efficient, metal-free, catalyst-free and solvent-free methodology for the reductive amination of levulinic acid with different anilines has been developed using HBpin as the reducing reagent. This protocol offers an excellent method to avoid solvents and added catalysts on the synthesis of different kinds of N-substituted pyrrolidones under metal free conditions. It is also the first report for the synthesis of different pyrrolidones by solvent-free as well as catalyst-free methods. The proposed mechanism for the formation of pyrrolidone has been supported by DFT calculations and control experiments.     

Unveiling the binding interaction of zinc (II) complexes of homologous Schiff-base ligands on the surface of BSA protein: A combined experimental and theoretical approach

Four new zinc (II) complexes [Zn (HL¹H)Br₂] (1), [Zn (HL¹H)Cl₂] (2), [Zn₂(HL²)Br₃] (3), and [Zn (HL²)Cl] (4) have been synthesized by adopting template synthetic strategy and utilizing two homologous Schiff base ligands (H₂L¹ = 4-bromo-2-{[2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-ethylimino]-methyl}-6-methoxyphenol, H₂L² = 4-bromo-2-{[3-(2-hydroxyethylamino)propylimino]methyl}-6-methoxyphenol), differing in one -CH₂- unit in the ligating backbone, by adopting template synthetic strategy. All the complexes have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis as well as by other routine physicochemical techniques. Ligand mediated structural variations have been observed and rationalized by density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations. Interaction of the complexes 1–4 with Bovine Serum Albumin protein (BSA) has been studied by different spectroscopic techniques. A complete thermodynamic profile (ΔH^o, ΔS^o and ΔG^o) was evaluated initially from the change in absorption and fluorescence spectra upon addition of BSA to the complexes. Appreciable binding constant values in the range ~ 0.94–4.51 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ indicate efficient binding tendency of the complexes to BSA with the sequence 1 ≅ 2 > 3 ≅ 4. Circular dichroism (CD), isothermal calorimetric titration experiments, molecular docking and molecular dynamics have been performed to gain deep insight into the binding regions of complex 1 to BSA. Experimental evidences suggest an interaction of zinc complexes at the surface of BSA protein and this particular binding has been exploited to determine unknown concentration of BSA protein. For this purpose complex 1 was explored as a BSA protein quantification tool.     

Designing semiencapsulation based covalently self‐healable poly(methyl methacrylate) composites by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Self‐healable poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites were fabricated with embedded glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) encapsulated poly(melamine‐formaldehyde) microcapsules. The matrix polymers were synthesized via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization using two different initiators; one linear and another hexafunctional. As the so prepared polymer matrix retains living characteristics, it can initiate a healing reaction when the encapsulated monomer reaches the matrix due to formation or extension of a crack and thus healing the system covalently. The effect of number of initiating functionality on healing characteristic was studied using both linear and 6‐armed star PMMA having same targeted molecular weight. Both the systems were able to restore 100% original fracture toughness after healing. However, the polymer matrix prepared by hexafunctional initiator restored the fracture toughness much faster than that of the linear polymer matrix. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1842–1851     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Catalysis of Water-Soluble Trimeric and Monomeric Palladium Complexes of 8-Aminoquinolines

New water soluble neutral and cationic palladium complexes were synthesized using 8-aminoquinoline (8-AQ) and 2-methyl 8-aminoquinoline (2-Me 8-AQ) ligands and their catalytic properties were evaluated. The neutral trimeric complexes having a Pd₃N₃ core were found to form when Pd(OAc)₂ was reacted with 8-AQ or 2-Me 8-AQ irrespective of the stoichiometry between the 2 reagents. Controlled addition of triflic acid to the neutral trimeric complex resulted in the formation of a trimeric cationic palladium complex as well as a monomeric cationic complex. A cationic palladium complex having two units of 2-Me-8AQ ligand was also synthesized from the cationic monomeric complex. Crystal structures of the new palladium complexes are reported in this study. The water-soluble neutral palladium complex showed catalytic activity for the oxidation of benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes, while the cationic palladium complexes were found to be efficient catalysts for the oxidation of styrenes to methyl ketones.     

Synthesis and Characterisation of Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Silica Hybrid Composites Derived Through the Sol-Gel Method in Aqueous Medium: Effect of Acid Content,Silica Content and Viscosity of PVA on the Dispersion Characteristics of Silica and the Physical Properties of the Composites

A cheap and environment friendly route towards the synthesis of Polyvinyl alcohol/silica hybrid composites is presented. Polyvinyl alcohol/silicate hybrid materials were synthesised in aqueous medium by the sol-gel method using dil HCl (0.5 N) as catalyst and a cost-effective silica source sodium silicate. The synthesis method was aimed at enhancing the rate of co-condensation of silica within the polyvinyl alcohol matrix. Transparent and flexible hybrid films of homogenous thickness were obtained after gelation at 45°C for 24 h and extended drying for another 48 h. The hybrid composites were characterised by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopoy (SEM), thermogravimeric analysis (TGA), tensile strength, elongation at break and water uptake measurements. SEM micrographs revealed that silica was dispersed in the PVA matrix without the large aggregation of particles for a molar composition of 0.0004 PVA:0.048 Sodium silicate: 0.004 HCl.     

The chemical stability of L-isoleucine,L-threonine,and L-serine in aqueous solutions of KCl at 298.15 K

The experimental saturated solubilities of L-isoleucine, L-threonine, and L-serine in aqueous mixtures of a KCl solution at 298.15 K are presented in this article. The solubilities are measured by gravimetric method. In the present study the theoretical calculation of the standard transfer Gibbs free energy, cavity forming enthalpy of transfer, cavity forming transfer Gibbs free energy, dipole-dipole interaction effect have been computed. The chemical effects of the transfer Gibbs energies for the present amino acids have been obtained by subtracting the cavity effects and dipole-dipole interaction effects from the ΔG_t⁰(i). The stability of the experimental amino acids in aqueous KCl in terms of thermodynamic parameters is explained.     

Thermotropic poly(azomethine-urethane)s with non linear optical properties: Synthesis and characterization

Two series of the thermotropic main chain poly(azomethine-urethane)s were synthesized by the polyaddition of azadiol, 1,8-octandiol with methylene bis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) and tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) respectively. The mesomorphic properties and phase transition temperature of the polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and hot stage polarizing microscopy. These polymers showed nematic messophase. The non linear optical (NLO) activity of the polymers was also investigated.     

Solvation Thermodynamics of a Series of Homologous α-Amino Acids in Non-aqueous Binary Mixtures of Protic Ethylene Glycol and Dipolar Aprotic Acetonitrile

Standard transfer Gibbs energies $ \left( {\Updelta G_{t}^{0} (i)} \right) $ ( Δ G t 0 ( i ) ) and entropies $ \left( {\Updelta S_{t}^{0} (i)} \right) $ ( Δ S t 0 ( i ) ) of transfer of the homologous α-amino acids: glycine, dl-alanine, dl-α-amino butyric acid and dl-nor-valine (nor-val) from protic ethylene glycol (EG) to proton/cation-phobic dipolar aprotic acetonitrile (ACN) mixed solvents with 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 wt% ACN compositions have been determined at 25 °C. For this purpose solubilities of the α-amino acids were measured by “formol titrimetry” at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 °C. The chemical components of these Gibbs energies $ \left( {\Updelta G_{t,\rm{ch}}^{0} (i)} \right) $ ( Δ G t , ch 0 ( i ) ) and entropies $ \left( {{\rm T}\Updelta S_{t,\rm{ch}}^{0} (i)} \right) $ ( T Δ S t , ch 0 ( i ) ) of the homologous α-amino acids have been computed by subtracting the cavity effects and dipole–dipole interaction effects. The chemical contributions of transfer energetics of these homologous α-amino acids are determined by different types of interactions. The decreased acidity, basicity, H-bonding capacity, solvophilic solvation and solvophobic solvation and increased dispersion and soft–soft interaction of ethylene glycol and acetonitrile mixtures, as compared to EG, are the guiding factors. The characteristics of the solvation thermodynamics of α-amino acids in protic EG and proton/cation-philic dipolar aprotic DMF mixed solvent systems studied earlier are also discussed here for comparison.