Novel route to synthesis of allyl starch and biodegradable hydrogel by copolymerizing allyl‐modified starch with methacrylic acid and acrylamide

Maize starch was modified by allyl chloride adopting an interfacial reaction technique with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst and pyridine as an acid acceptor. The degree of substitution was determined from an increasing carbon content of the modified starch. The percentage of carbon and hydrogen of the allyl‐modified starch was estimated by elemental analysis (C, H, and N), and the product characterization was done through ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses. The allyl‐modified starch was then copolymerized with methacrylic acid and a combination of methacrylic acid and acrylamide at 50 and 70 °C with potassium persulfate as an initiator. The copolymer thus formed swelled in distilled water after neutralization with sodium carbonate. The percentage of absorption capacity of the hydrogels was determined with distilled water and 0.9% NaCl solution. The highest percentage of absorption, 6500%, was achieved for the developed hydrogel containing allyl starch and acrylic monomer in a 1.7:1 w/w ratio and acrylic monomer, namely, methacrylic acid and acrylamide in a 3.2:1 w/w ratio. The study on biodegradability of the developed hydrogel showed that the hydrogel is degradable in the presence of diastase (amylase). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1650–1658, 2003     

Weak radiative decays of hyperons within theSU(6) broken quark-diquark model

In view of persisting discrepancy between experimental and theoretical results, specially in the weak radiative decays of∑ ⁺ andΞ ⁰, we analyse these decays within the framework of the QCD inspired quark-diquark model. On introducing a slightSU(6) breaking we obtainα(∑ ⁺→p+γ)≈?0.9 which is in excellent agreement with experimental value. Other decays are also improved in this scheme.     

The autoxidation of 2-(2-aminophenyl)-3- methylindole

Fischer indolisation of 2-aminophenyl ethyl ketone phenylhydrazone using glacial acetic acid saturated with hydrogen chloride as catalyst affords 3-methylindolo(l′:2′-3:4)2-methylquinazoline and 2-(2-aminophenyl)-3-methylindole. The latter compound is autoxidised to 2-(2-amino-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3H-indole, a reaction which is shown to be dependent upon the presence of the primary amino group at the 2-position of the 2-phenyl substituent and which is much slower than the corresponding autoxidation of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methylindole to 3-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-3H-indole previously reported.Nitration of isopropyl phenyl ketone occurs preferentially at the ortho- rather than the meta- positions of the benzene nucleus.     

Recent advancement in inorganic-organic electron transport layers in perovskite solar cell: current status and future outlook

Organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite solar cells have captured significant attention in recent years due to low processing costs and unprecedented development in power conversion efficiency (PCE). It has appeared from 2009 with PCE of 3.8% to being claimed more than 25.2% PCE in a very short span of time, showing their future prospective toward the fabrication of less expensive and stable solar cells. The incredible advancement in this technology encourages at one end, whereas several hurdles restricting its complete utilization for commercial purposes at another end. Although the selection of perovskite structure is limited with planar and mesoporous electron transport layers (ETLs), but identification of appropriate ETLs necessitates excellent effort to improve the surface morphology of absorber and obtain enhanced PCE with higher stability. In the present review, we have investigated various inorganic-organic ETLs with different device configurations of PSCs, primarily focusing on crystallization and morphology control techniques of ETL thin films. Numerous strategies such as surface functionalization, doping, and addition of interfacial layer are adopted for ETLs, and their effect on device efficiency, performance, and hysteresis is also discussed in detail. Additionally, designs of PSCs with different device configurations are discussed as well, providing future guidelines for significant progress in PSCs structure with different ETLs.     

Mössbauer effect studies on thermal decomposition of iron(III) hydroxy- and amino-benzoates

The thermal decomposition of iron(III) aminobenzoates (o-, m-, p-) and iron(III) hydroxybenzoates (p-, m-, p-) have been investigated from ambient temperature to 873 K in air using derivatography DTG-DTA-TG, Mössbauer, IR spectroscopy and XRD. The importance of Mössbauer spectra recorded at various stages of heating, without separating the product mixture, in studying the mode of decomposition is highlighted. The intermediates (e.g., Fe(II)-species) were confirmed. The nature of water of hydration and the order of stability (p->m->o-) have been investigated from decomposition temperatures. The kinetic model and parameters have been investigated for dehydration.P.U. and G.K.B. thank to Guru Nanak Dev. University, Amritsar for financial assistance.     

Synthesis and characterisation of luminescent rhenium tricarbonyl complexes with axially coordinated 1,2,3-triazole ligands

A series of 1-alkyl-4-aryl-1,2,3-triazoles (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole (1a); 1-propyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole (1b); 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole (1c); 1-propyl-4-p-tolyl-1,2,3-triazole (1d)) have been prepared through a one-pot procedure involving in situ generation of the alkyl azide from a halide precursor followed by copper catalysed alkyne/azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) with the appropriate aryl alkyne. Cationic Re(I) complexes [Re(bpy)(CO)(3)(1a-d)]PF(6) (2a-d) were then prepared by stirring [Re(bpy)(CO)(3)Cl] with AgPF(6) in dichloromethane in the presence of ligands 1a-d. X-ray crystal structures were obtained for 2a and 2b. In the solid state, 2a adopts a highly distorted geometry, which is not seen for 2b, in which the plane of the triazole ligand tilts by 13° with respect to the Re-N bond as a result of a π-stacking interaction between the Ph substituent and one of the rings of the bpy ligand. This π-stacking interaction also results in severe twisting of the bpy ligand. Infrared spectra of 2a-d exhibit ν(CO) bands at ～2035 and ～1926 cm(-1) suggesting that these ligands are marginally better donors than pyridine (ν(CO) = 2037, 1932 cm(-1)). The complexes are luminescent in aerated dichloromethane at room temperature with emission maxima at 542 to 552 nm comparable to that of the pyridine analogue (549 nm) and blue shifted relative to the parent chloride complex. Long luminescent lifetimes are observed for the triazole complexes (475 to 513 ns) in aerated dichloromethane solutions at room temperature.