Synthesis of hexadecylamine capped CdS nanoparticles using heterocyclic cadmium dithiocarbamates as single source precursors

Heterocyclic cadmium dithiocarbamates, [Cd(S₂CNC₅H₁₀)₂] and [Cd(S₂CNC₉H₁₀)₂] were synthesized. The complexes were thermolysed in hexadecylamine (HDA) to give HDA capped CdS nanoparticles. A combination of close to spherical, rod, bipods and tripods was obtained by varying the reaction parameters such as precursor concentration and temperature. The optical properties and X-ray diffraction studies of the particles are also reported.     

Regioselective protection of hydantoins – essential for hydantoin based anti-epileptic drugs

The synthesis and NMR elucidation of six novel mono- and bis-Boc protected hydantoins are reported. The hydantoins 5-methylhydantoin, 5,5-dimethylhydantoin and a pentacycloundecane hydantoin exhibit an increase in substitution and steric hindrance at C-5. Kinetic and reagent controlled monoprotection of the smaller hydantoins achieve regioselective protection at N-1 while the bulky cage hydantoin is protected at N-3′. Hydantoin based anti-epileptic drugs such as 5,5-diphenylhydantoin require regioselective substitution at N-3′ for enhanced pharmaceutical activity. The study enhances our understanding of the activity of the nitrogen atoms on hydantoin rings.     

The effects of carbon nanotubes on the electrocatalysis of hydrogen peroxide by metallo-phthalocyanines

The pre-grafted screen-printed gold electrode modified with phenyl-amino monolayer was investigated for covalent immobilization of phenyl-amine functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (PA-SWCNT) and metal tetra-amino phthalocyanine (MTAPc) using Schiff-base reactions with benzene-1,4-dicarbaldehyde (BDCA) as cross-linker. The PA-SWCNT and MTAPc modified electrodes were applied as hybrids for electrochemical sensing of H₂O₂. The step-by-step fabrication of the electrode was followed using electrochemistry, impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy and all these techniques confirmed the fabrication and the immobilization of PA-SWCNT, MnTAPc and CoTAPc onto gold surfaces. The apparent electron transfer constant (k_app) showed that the carbon nanotubes and metallo-phthalocyanines hybrids possess good electron transfer properties compared to the bare, pre-grafted and the MTAPc modified gold electrode surfaces without PA-SWCNT. The electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide was successful with PA-SWCNT-MTAPc hybrid systems showing higher electrocatalytic currents compared to the other electrodes. The analytical parameters obtained using chronoamperometry gave good linearity at H₂O₂ concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 30.0 μmol L⁻¹. The values for the limit of detection (LoD) were found to be of the orders of 10⁻⁷ M using the 3δ for all the electrodes. The PA-SWCNT-MTAPc modified SPAuEs were much more sensitive compared to PA-MTAPc modified SPAuEs.