Thermal decomposition kinetics of thorium(IV) chelates of two naphthol dyes

The thermal decomposition of thorium(IV) chelates of 1-(2-fluorenylazo)-2-naphthol ando-carboxyphenylazo-2-naphthol was studied by TG. Thermoanalytical data (TG and DTG) of these chelates are presented in this communication. Interpretation and mathematical analysis of these data and evaluation of order of reaction, the energy and entropy of activation based on the differential method employing the Freeman-Carroll equation, the integral method using Coats-Redfern equation and the approximation method using the Horowitz-Metzger equation are also given. On the basis of experimental findings in the present course of studies the relative thermal stabilities of the thorium chelates can be given as [Th(FAN)₂(NO₃)₂]>[Th(CPAN)₂(H₂O)₂]2H₂O.

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Zusammenfassung Die thermische Zersetzung von Thorium(IV)-Chelaten von 1-(2-Fluorenylazo)-2-naphthol undo-Carboxyphenylazo-2-naphthol wurde thermogravimetrisch untersucht. Thermoanalytische Daten (TG und DTG) dieser Chelate werden angegeben und interpretiert. Reaktionsordnung sowie Aktivierungsenergie und -entropie wurden nach der differentiellen Methode unter Anwendung der Freeman-Carroll-Gleichung, nach der integralen Methode unter Verwendung der Coats-Redfern-Gleichung und nach der Näherungsmethode von Horowitz-Metzger bestimmt. Für die relative thermische Stabilität wird die Reihenfolge [Th(FAN)₂(NO₃)₂]>[Th(CPAN)₂(H₂O)₂]2H₂O angegeben.

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1(2- )-2- 1(2-)-2- --2-, . , . -, , - -. .

     

Towards a naturally small cosmological constant from branes in 6D supergravity

We investigate the possibility of self-tuning of the effective 4D cosmological constant in 6D supergravity, to see whether it could naturally be of order 1/r⁴ when compactified on two dimensions having Kaluza–Klein masses of order 1/r. In the models we examine supersymmetry is broken by the presence of non-supersymmetric 3-branes (on one of which we live). If r were sub-millimeter in size, such a cosmological constant could describe the recently-discovered dark energy. A successful self-tuning mechanism would therefore predict a connection between the observed size of the cosmological constant, and potentially observable effects in sub-millimeter tests of gravity and at the Large Hadron Collider. We do find self-tuning inasmuch as 3-branes can quite generically remain classically flat regardless of the size of their tensions, due to an automatic cancellation with the curvature and dilaton of the transverse two dimensions. We argue that in some circumstances six-dimensional supersymmetry might help suppress quantum corrections to this cancellation down to the bulk supersymmetry-breaking scale, which is of order 1/r. We finally examine an explicit realization of the mechanism, in which 3-branes are inserted into an anomaly-free version of Salam–Sezgin gauged 6D supergravity compactified on a 2-sphere with nonzero magnetic flux. This realization is only partially successful due to a topological constraint which relates bulk couplings to the brane tension, although we give arguments why these relations may be stable against quantum corrections.     

Direct imaging of multimode interference in a channel waveguide

By use of a near-field scanning optical microscope in collection mode, multimode interference was directly measured in an annealed proton-exchanged LiNbO3 waveguide. Periodic transitions from a single-peaked Gaussianlike intensity distribution to a double-peaked intensity distribution were observed. The intensity distribution along the waveguide was calculated, and the results agree well with the experimental observation.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of vanillidene anthranilic acid complexes of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II)

The thermal decomposition of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of the Schiff base vanillidene anthranilic acid was studied by TG. The chelates show somewhat similar TG plots when heated in an atmosphere of air. Thermoanalytical data (TG and DTG) of these chelates are presented in this communication. Interpretation and mathematical analysis of these data and evaluation of order of reaction, the energy and entropy of activation based on the differential method employing the Freeman-Carroll equation, the integral method using Coats-Redfern equation and the approximation method using the Horowitz-Metzger equation are also given. On the basis of experimental findings in the present course of studies, it is concluded that the relative thermal stability of vanillidene anthranilic acid chelates can be aligned as Co(II)Ni(II)>Zn(II)>Cu(II).

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Zusammenfassung Die thermische Zersetzung von Cobalt(II)-, Nickel(II)-, Kupfer(II)- und Zink(II)-Komplexen der Schiffschen Base Vanillidenanthranilsäure wurde thermogravimetrisch untersucht. Die Chelate zeigen in einer Luftatmosphäre ähnliche TG-Kurven. Thermoanalytische Daten (TG and DTG) dieser Chelate werden mitgeteilt, interpretiert und mathematisch analysiert. Ebenfalls werden die Reaktionsordnung und die Energie und Entropie der Aktivierung nach der von Freeman-Carroll angewandten differentiellen Methode, nach der auf der Coats-Redfern-Gleichung basierenden integralen Methode und nach der die Horowitz-Metzger Gleichung benutzenden Näherungsmethode bestimmt. Aus den Befunden wird geschlossen, dass die thermische Stabilität von Vanillidenanthranilsäure-Chelaten in der Reihenfolge Co(II)Ni(II)>Zn(II)> >Cu(II) abnimmt.

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, , . - . . , , - , , - . , Ni>Zn>u.

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We thank Dr. C. P. Savariar, Professor of Chemistry, University of Calicut for encouragement. We are also grateful to the University Grants Commission for the award of a Senior Research Fellowship to one of us (J. C).     

Recent Developments in the Synthesis of Five‐ and Six‐Membered Heterocycles Using Molecular Iodine

Heterocyclic scaffolds represent the key structural subunits of many biologically active compounds. Over the last few years iodine‐mediated reactions have been extensively studied due to their low cost and eco‐friendliness. This Review covers advances in the field of iodine‐mediated synthesis of heterocyclic compounds since 2006, especially with an emphasis on mechanisms of ring formation. In this article, syntheses of different heterocycles are classified based on the manipulation of functional groups.     

Retroracemization using new forms of Belokon's original ligand: ­intermediate NiII complexes of N‐({2‐[N‐(S)‐alkylprolylamino]phenyl}phenylmethylene)‐(S)‐phenylalanine (alkyl is 2‐picolyl, 3‐picolyl or ethyl)

In the title compounds, [N‐(phenyl{2‐[N‐(S)‐(2‐picolyl)­prolyl­amino]­phenyl}methyl­ene)‐(S)‐phenyl­alaninato]­nickel(II), [Ni(C₃₃H₃₀N₄O₃)], (I), [N‐(phenyl{2‐[N‐(S)‐(3‐picolyl)­prolyl­amino]­phenyl}methyl­ene)‐(S)‐phenyl­alaninato]­nickel(II) hemihydrate, [Ni(C₃₃H₃₀N₄O₃)]·0.5H₂O, (II), and [N‐({2‐[N‐(S)‐ethyl­prolyl­amino]­phenyl}phenyl­methyl­ene)‐(S)‐phenyl­ala­nin­ato]­nickel(II), [Ni(C₂₉H₂₉N₃O₃)], (III), the Ni^II centres have approximate square‐planar coordination geometries from N₃O donor sets. The picolyl N atoms in (I) and (II) are too remote from the metal centres to interact significantly, but the metal coordination geometries experience tetrahedral distortion and/or displacement of the metal centre from the N₃O plane. These are linked to conformational differences between the ligands of the symmetry‐independent complexes (Z′ = 2), which in turn are related to molecular packing. In (III), where a less sterically demanding ethyl group replaces the picolyl substituents, there are none of the distortions or displacements seen in (I) and (II).     

Surfactant-Assisted Acid Pretreatment of Sugarcane Tops for Bioethanol Production

Sugarcane tops is one of the largest biomass resources in India and in tropical countries such as Brazil in terms of surplus availability. Conversion of this feedstock to ethanol requires pretreatment to make it more accessible for the enzymes used in saccharification. Though several pretreatment regimens have been developed for addressing biomass recalcitrance, very few seem to be promising as an industrial process. A novel hybrid method involving use of mild acid and surfactant was developed which could effectively remove lignin and improve the sugar yield from sugar cane tops. Operational parameters that affect the pretreatment efficiency (measured as yield of sugars) were studied and optimized. Changes in structural properties of the biomass were studied in relation to the pretreatment process using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, and the changes in chemical composition was also monitored. The biomass pretreated with the optimized novel method could yield 0.798?g of reducing sugars per gram of pretreated biomass upon enzymatic hydrolysis.     

Unraveling the Rationale Behind Organic Solvent Stability of Lipases

Organic solvent-stable lipases have pronounced impact on industrial economy as they are involved in synthesis by esterification, interesterification, and transesterification. However, very few of such natural lipases have been isolated till date. A study of the recent past provided few pillars to rely on for this work. The three-dimensional structure, inclusive of the surface and active site, of 29 organic solvent-stable lipases was analyzed by subfamily classification and protein solvent molecular docking based on fast Fourier transform correlation approach. The observations revealed that organic solvent stability of lipases is their intrinsic property and unique with respect to each lipase. In this paper, factors like surface distribution of charged, hydrophobic, and neutral residues, interaction of solvents with catalytically immutable residues, and residues interacting with essential water molecules required for lipase activity, synergistically and by mutualism contribute to render a stable lipase organic solvent. The propensity of surface charge in relation to stability in organic solvents by establishing repulsive forces to exclude solvent molecules from interacting with the surface and prohibiting the same from gaining entry to the protein core, thus stabilizing the active conformation, is a new finding. It was also interesting to note that lipases having equivalent surface-exposed positive and negative residues were stable in a wide range of organic solvents, irrespective of their LogP values.