Role of Ion exchange in permeation processes

The single ion transport of transition metal ions like Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were carried out through the H⁺ and alkali metal ion forms of Nafion membrane. These studies showed that the ion exchange selectivity coefficient of the permeating ion had an effect on its transport process. It was found that the diffusion coefficient values (D) were directly proportional to the selectivity coefficient (K). This shows that the initial stage of permeation is governed by ion exchange process (effect of K on D).     

How Does Solvation Affect the Binding of Hydrophilic Amino Saccharides to Cucurbit[7]uril with Exceptional Anomeric Selectivity?

Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) is known to bind strongly to hydrophilic amino saccharide guests with exceptional α‐anomer selectivities under aqueous conditions. Single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography and computational methods were used to elucidate the reason behind this interesting phenomenon. The crystal structures of protonated galactosamine (GalN) and glucosamine (GluN) complexes confirm the inclusion of α anomers inside CB[7] and disclose the details of the host–guest binding. Whereas computed gas‐phase structures agree with these crystal structures, gas‐phase binding free energies show preferences for the β‐anomer complexes over their α counterparts, in striking contrast to the experimental results under aqueous conditions. However, when the solvation effect is considered, the binding structures drastically change and the preference for the α anomers is recovered. The α anomers also tend to bind more tightly and leave less space in the CB[7] cavity toward inclusion of only one water molecule, whereas loosely bound β anomers leave more space toward accommodating two water molecules, with markedly different hydrogen‐bonding natures. Surprisingly, entropy seems to contribute significantly to both anomeric discrimination and binding. This suggests that of all the driving factors for the strong complexation of the hydrophilic amino saccharide guests, water mediation plays a crucial role in the anomer discrimination.     

Coumarine–imino–C2-glucosyl conjugate as receptor for Cu in blood serum milieu,on silica gel sheet and in Hep G2 cells and the characterization of the species of recognition

A coumarine–imino–C2-glucosyl conjugate (L) was synthesized and characterized. The conjugate L is found to recognize Cu²⁺ in aqueous HEPES buffer by exhibiting a 95% fluorescence quenching in pH range 7–10 even in the presence of several biologically and ecologically relevant metal ions. Fluorescence on–off behavior has been clearly demonstrated on the basis of the binding variability of Cu²⁺ to L. The binding has been elicited through the changes observed in fluorescence, absorption, ESI-MS and ¹H NMR titrations. All the other thirteen metal ions studied did not show any change in the fluorescence emission. These ions do not interfere with the recognition of Cu²⁺ by L. The structural features of [CuL]₂ complex in both the isomeric forms were established by DFT computational calculations. The utility of L has been demonstrated by showing its sensitivity toward Cu²⁺ on a thin layer of silica gel. The L gives sensitive fluorescence signals for Cu²⁺ even in blood serum and exhibits appropriate fluorescence responses in living cells.     

Electronic structure, molecular electrostatic potentials, vibrational spectra in substituted calix[n]arenes (n = 4, 5) from density functional theory

Electronic structure, molecular electrostatic potential, and vibrational frequencies of para-substituted calix[n]arene CX[n]-R (n = 4, 5; R = H, NH(2), t-Bu, CH(2)Cl, SO(3)H, NO(2)) and their thia analogs (S-CX[n]-R; with R = H and t-Bu) in which sulfur bridges two aromatic rings of CX[n] have been derived from the density functional theory. A rotation around CH(2) groups connecting the phenol rings engenders four, namely, cone, partial cone, 1,2-alternate, and 1,3-alternate CX[n]-R conformers. Of these, the cone conformer comprising of large number of O1-H1···O1' interactions turns out to be of lowest energy. Normal vibration analysis reveal the O1-H1 stretching frequency of unsubstituted CX[n] shifts to higher wavenumber (blue shift) on substitution of electron-withdrawing (NO(2) or SO(3)H) groups, while electron-donating substituents (NH(2), t-Bu) engender a shift of O1-H1 vibration in the opposite direction (red shift). The direction of frequency shifts have been analyzed using natural bond orbital analysis and molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) topography. Furthermore, calculated (1)H NMR chemical shift (δ(H)) in modified CX[n] hosts follow the order: H1 > H3/H5 > H7(a) > H7(b). The δ(H) values in CX[4] are in consonant with the observed (1)H NMR spectra.     

Fluorescence studies of ternary complexes of Europium and Terbium and their application to analytical determinations

Europium and Terbium were found to form ternary complexes with ethylenediammine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ortho-phenanthroline (o-phen) in aqueous solution in the pH range of 6-8. These ternary complexes were found to have 1:1:1 composition and showed strong fluorescence properties. The method is made use of for the determination of these lanthanide ions in presence of excess amounts of other lanthanide ions. The lowest detection limit was calculated as 30 and 65 ng/ml of Tb(3+) and Eu(3+), respectively.     

Antimony phosphate nanoribbons: sorbents for uptake of uranyl ion

Antimony phosphate nanoribbons was synthesized and characterized using different techniques. Studies showed that the synthesized antimony phosphate possessed highly crystalline monoclinic SbPO₄ phase with an average crystallite size of 14 nm. TEM studies showed that antimony phosphate was present both as nano ribbons and nano particles. It is observed that the nano ribbons have length in the range of 500–700 nm and width around 100–200 nm whereas the nanoparticles size in the range of 1–5 nm. The synthesized nano phosphate was studied for its efficiency as sorbent for uptake of various metal ions including uranyl ion. The results indicated that a clean separation of uranyl ion from its various binary mixtures could be achieved at optimized pH of 4.5 and equilibration period of 1 h using 0.1 g of the sorbent.     

Mononuclear and long-range single-bridged binuclear complexes of oxovanadium(IV) involving conjugated heterocyclic nitrogen base and heterocyclic β-diketones

Summary Binuclear complexes of OV^IV have been prepared by reacting aromatic diamines with mixed-ligand (mononuclear) complexes of the type [(diamine), VO(PmAcp or PmbzP)], where (diamine) = 2,2-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline, and PmAcp or PmbzP heterocyclic -diketone ligands = 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-acetyl or 4-benzoyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one. 2,6-Diaminopyridine orm-phenylenediamine condenses with the MeCO or PhCO groups of PmAcp and PmbzP on two complex molecules, thus bridging the two VO^II centres. The complexes have been characterized by electronic, i.r. and e.s.r. spectra, magnetic measurements, thermogravimetry, conductometry and microanalysis. The magnetic moments and the order of antiferromagnetism are explained on the basis of delocalized -orbitals, orientation of the metal orbitals and the bridging Schiff base. The metal-ligand bond is covalent.     

Homometallic glycolates containing hydroxyl functionality for anchoring another metal: synthesis and characterization of heterometallic alkoxide–glycolates of Ti and Zr incorporating Al and Nb

Reaction of Ti(OPrⁱ)₄ with 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol [HOGOH, where G = CMe₂CH₂CH(Me)] in 1?:?3 M ratio under reflux afforded the monomeric [Ti(OGO)(OGOH)₂] (1), which on further reactions with [Al(OPrⁱ)₃] or [Nb(OPrⁱ)₅] in 1?:?1 and 1?:?2 M ratios afforded heterometallic derivatives, [Ti(OGO)₃{M(OPrⁱ)_n?2}] and [Ti(OGO)₃{M(OPrⁱ)_n?1}₂] [where M = Al (n = 3), Nb (n = 5)], respectively. Similar reactions of Zr(OPrⁱ)₄?PrⁱOH with a number of glycols [HOGOH, where G = CH(Me)CH(Me), CMe₂CMe₂, CMe₂CH₂CH(Me)] yielded dimeric [Zr₂(OGO)₂(OGOH)₄]. [Zr₂(OGO)₆{M(OPrⁱ)_n?2}₂] and [Zr₂(OGO)₄(OGOH)₂M(OPrⁱ)_n?2] [M = Al (n = 3), Ti (n = 4), Nb (n = 5)] were prepared by 1?:?2 and 1?:?1 reactions, respectively, of [Zr₂(OGO)₂(OGOH)₄] with Al(OPrⁱ)₃, Ti(OPrⁱ)₄, or Nb(OPrⁱ)₅. Surprisingly, a 1?:?2 reaction of [VO(OPrⁱ)₃] with 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol in benzene followed a different reaction and produced a neutral tetranuclear derivative [V₄(O)₄(μ-OCH₂CEt₂CH₂O)₂(OCH₂CEt₂CH₂O)₄] (18). All of these derivatives were characterized by elemental analysis, molecular weight measurements, FT-IR, and ¹H NMR (and wherever possible, by ²⁷Al or ⁵¹V NMR) spectroscopic studies. The derivatives [Zr₂(OCMe₂CH₂CH(Me)O)₂(OCMe₂CH₂CH(Me)OH)₄] (9 and 18) were additionally characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis.     

Hydrogen bond energies and cooperativity in substituted calix[n]arenes (n = 4, 5)

Hydrogen-bonded interactions in para-substituted calix[n]arenes (CX[n]) (n = 4, 5) and their thia analogues are analyzed using the recently proposed molecular tailoring approach. The cooperative contribution toward the hydrogen-bonding network within the CX[5] host is shown to be nearly 5 times larger than that in its thia analogue. Hydrogen bond strengths in the O-H···O network are enhanced on substitution of an electron-donating group. The cooperativity contributions are reflected in the electron density at the bond critical point in the quantum theory of atoms in molecules.