Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate as an Efficient and Inexpensive Catalyst for the Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)methanes under Solvent-Free Conditions

Bis(indolyl)methanes were synthesized by the reaction of indole derivatives and aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes in the presence of diammonium hydrogen phosphate as a solid catalyst under solvent-free conditions. This methodology offers significant improvements for the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes with regard to the yield of products, simplicity in operation, and green aspects by avoiding toxic catalysts and solvents.     

Efficient and eco-friendly synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones, bis(indolyl)methanes, and N-alkyl and N-arylimides in ionic liquids

Dihydropyrimidinones, bis(indolyl)methanes, and N-alkyl and N-arylimides were synthesized efficiently under mild reaction conditions in the presence of two types of ionic liquids. In each section, effects of different ILs on the yield of reactions were investigated. The use of ionic liquids offer improvements for the synthesis of title compounds with regard to the yield of products, simplicity in operation, short reaction times and green aspects by avoiding toxic catalyst and organic solvents.     

A colorimetric method for the determination of carboxylic acids

A new colorimetric method for the determination of carboxylic acids using bromocresol green reagent is established. The formed color follows Beer's Lambert law and is stable for 24 hr. The method is successfully applied for measuring the disappearance of volatile fatty acids in P. oxalicum culture media. The method is reproducable and is used also for the quantitative determination of carboxylic acids in Dowex 1-X8 eluates. A linear relationship between the pK₁ of different carboxylic acids and the calculated molar extinction coefficients of the color formed at 440 nm is demonstrated.     

A new approach to the facile synthesis of mono- and disubstituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones under solvent-free conditions

Quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives were synthesized successfully via a one-pot, three component reaction of isatoic anhydride and an orthoester with ammonium acetate or a primary amine catalyzed by silica sulfuric acid under solvent-free conditions. This is the first report on the synthesis of 2-substituted quinazolin-4(3H)-ones by this procedure.     

A facile procedure for the one-pot synthesis of unsymmetrical 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

Unsymmetrically 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles were efficiently synthesized from the cyclization-oxidation reaction of acyl hydrazones. Also, the synthesis of the title compounds was achieved by the condensation of acyl hydrazides and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate in dichloromethane.     

Selective formation of spiro dihydrofurans from one-pot reaction of dimedone with BrCN and aldehydes in the presence of Et3N

Reaction of 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione (dimedone), aldehydes and cyanogen bromide in the presence of triethylamine leads to the selective formation of spiro dihydrofurans in moderate to good yields at room temperature.     

Structural studies and biological evaluation of Co (II), Ni (II) and Cu (II) complexes of carbohydrazone derived from ethyl acetoacetate in addition to crystallographic description of La (III) or Sm (III) catalytic activity abnormal product

New carbohydrazone ligand derived from the condensation of carbohydrazide and ethyl acetoacetate, diethyl 3,3′‐(carbonylbis (hydrazin‐2‐yl‐1‐ylidene))(3E,3′E)‐dibutyrate (H₄EBC), and its divalent Co, Ni and Cu chelates have been isolated and characterized utilizing convenient methods. ¹H‐NMR spectrum of H₄EBC revealed the abundance of the enol isomer in solution, which was the opposite to what was shown by the solid IR. This was supported by comparing the theoretical IR of both keto and enol forms. In [Ni(H₄EBC)Cl₂(H₂O)]·2H₂O, H₄EBC acts as a neutral NON tridentate ligand via the (C=O)_carbonyl oxygen atom besides the two (C=N)_azomethine nitrogen atoms, while in [Co(H₄EBC)Cl₂(2H₂O)]·2H₂O, H₄EBC behaves as a neutral NN bidentate ligand through the two azomethine groups. Magnetic measurements inherent to their electronic spectra show that both Ni (II) and Co (II) chelates have octahedron coordination frameworks. On the other hand, the ligand behaves as a binegative tetradentate in [Cu₂(H₄EBC)Cl₂]·H₂O via the deprotonated (C=O)_carbonyl groups of the ethyl acetoacetate framework and the two (C=N)_azomethine groups. In the latter complex, the carbonyl group of the carbohydrazide moiety is converted to hydroxyl group. Cu (II) complex has a tetrahedral geometry according to ESR and electronic spectral data. The reaction of H₄EBC with SmCl₃·6H₂O or LnCl₃·7H₂O gave single crystals of abnormal product (C₁₆H₁₆N₄O₄). The packing diagram of this crystal has a chain structure. The photoluminescence spectra of [Cu ₂ (H ₄ EBC)Cl ₂ ]·H ₂ O , [Co(H ₄ EBC)Cl ₂ (H ₂ O) ₂ ]·2H ₂ O and [Ni(H ₄ EBC)Cl ₂ (H ₂ O)]·2H ₂ O display emission broad‐bands at 342, 321 and 337 nm, respectively. The microbial behavior of the synthesized moieties was investigated against various bacterial and fungal strains. [Cu₂(H₄EBC)Cl₂]·H₂O complex shows the same activity as ampicillin towards Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zones of 26 and 22 mm, respectively. Antioxidant activity is determined using bleomycin‐dependent DNA damage assay besides erythrocyte hemolysis. Finally, in vitro cytotoxic activities against two different cell lines have been examined.     

Synthesis and design of polyurethane and its nanocomposites derived from canola-castor oil: Mechanical,thermal and shape memory properties

The recent global pandemic and its tremendous effect on the price fluctuations of crude oil illustrates the side effects of petroleum dependency more evident than ever. Over the past decades, both academic and industrial communities spared endless efforts in order to replace petroleum-based materials with bio-derived resources. In the current study, a series of shape memory polymer composites (SMPC's) was synthesized from epoxidized vegetable oils, namely canola oil and castor oil fatty acids (COFA's) as a 100% bio-based polyol and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as an isocyanate using a solvent/catalyst-free method in order to eventuate polyurethanes (PU's). Thereafter, graphene oxide (GO) nanoplatelets were synthesized and embedded in the neat PU in order to overcome the thermomechanical drawbacks of the neat matrix. The chemical structure of the synthesized components, as well as the dispersion and distribution levels of the nanoparticles, was characterized. In the following, thermal and mechanical properties as well as shape memory behavior of the specimens were comprehensively investigated. Likewise, the thermal conductivity was determined. This study proves that synthesized PU's based on vegetable oil polyols, including graphene nanoparticles, exhibit proper thermal and mechanical properties, which make them stand as a potential candidate to compete with traditional petroleum-based SMPC's.