Characterization and biological evaluation of ruthenium(III) complexes of 2-fluorophenyl imines

The isolation and characterization of 2-fluorophenyl imines and their metal complexes based upon physical (quantitative analyses, molecular weight determinations and conductivity measurements) and spectral evidence (i.r. and 1H-, 13C- and 19F-n.m.r.) are described. Structural assignments have been made from spectral studies. The donor sites of ligands have been located and geometries of the donor environment around the RuIII acceptor centre are proposed. In view of the potential therapeutic activity exhibited by the fluoro ligands, RuIII complexes, together with their parent 2-fluorophenyl imines, were screened for biological activity. The results are encouraging.     

Determination of antihelminthic drug pyrantel pamoate in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations using electro-analytical methods

Electrochemical behaviour of pyrantel pamoate has been studied by using different voltammetric and polarographic techniques in Britton Robinson buffer system. Differential pulse polarographic and cyclic voltammetric methods have been developed for the determination of drug in pharmaceutical formulation. A well-defined cathodic wave and one anodic peak were observed for the pyrantel pamoate in the entire pH range. Number of electrons transferred in the reduction process was calculated and the reduction mechanism postulated. The results indicate that the electrode process is reversible and diffusion controlled. The proposed method has been validated. The peak current is found to be linear over the concentration range 4 × 10⁻⁴ to 2 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹. The lower detection limit (LOD) and lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) is found to be 2.45 × 10⁻⁵ and 8 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹.     

Water adsorption on clay minerals as a function of relative humidity: application of BET and Freundlich adsorption models

Water adsorption on kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite clays was studied as a function of relative humidity (RH) at room temperature (298 K) using horizontal attenuated total reflectance (HATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy equipped with a flow cell. The water content as a function of RH was modeled using the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models to provide complementary multilayer adsorption analysis of water uptake on the clays. A detailed analysis of model fit integrity is reported. From the BET fit to the experimental data, the water content on each of the three clays at monolayer (ML) water coverage was determined and found to agree with previously reported gravimetric data. However, BET analysis failed to adequately describe adsorption phenomena at RH values greater than 80%, 50%, and 70% RH for kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite clays, respectively. The Freundlich adsorption model was found to fit the data well over the entire range of RH values studied and revealed two distinct water adsorption regimes. Data obtained from the Freundlich model showed that montmorillonite has the highest water adsorption strength and highest adsorption capacity at RH values greater than 19% (i.e., above ML water adsorption) relative to the kaolinite and illite clays. The difference in the observed water adsorption behavior between the three clays was attributed to different water uptake mechanisms based on a distribution of available adsorption sites. It is suggested that different properties drive water adsorption under different adsorption regimes resulting in the broad variability of water uptake mechanisms.     

Cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric studies on lamivudine: an antiretroviral drug

The electrochemical reduction and adsorption of lamivudine, a systemic antiviral drug, were studied in a phosphate buffer medium at a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Cyclic voltammetry studies showed one well-defined reduction peak in the potential range from -1.2 to -1.8 V under different pH conditions, but the best results were obtained at pH 3.4. The reduction was irreversible and exhibited diffusion-controlled adsorption. The response was evaluated with respect to preconcentration time, pH effect, accumulation potential, accumulation time, and scan rate. The number of electrons transferred in the reduction process was calculated and the probable reduction mechanism was proposed. A systemic study of the experimental parameters that affect the square-wave stripping response was carried out and experimental conditions were optimized.     

Spider Monkey Optimization algorithm for numerical optimization

Swarm intelligence is one of the most promising area for the researchers in the field of numerical optimization. Researchers have developed many algorithms by simulating the swarming behavior of various creatures like ants, honey bees, fish, birds and the findings are very motivating. In this paper, a new approach for numerical optimization is proposed by modeling the foraging behavior of spider monkeys. Spider monkeys have been categorized as fission–fusion social structure based animals. The animals which follow fission–fusion social systems, split themselves from large to smaller groups and vice-versa based on the scarcity or availability of food. The proposed swarm intelligence approach is named as Spider Monkey Optimization (SMO) algorithm and can broadly be classified as an algorithm inspired by intelligent foraging behavior of fission–fusion social structure based animals.