Synthesis and Comparison of Extraction Properties of p‐tert‐Butylcalix[n]arene Nitrile Derivatives for Selected Metals and Dichromate Anions

The article describes the syntheses and extraction properties of two p‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene nitrile derivatives (3 and 4). The trinitrile derivative 3 has been synthesized from 5,11,17,23,29,35‐hexa‐tert‐butyl‐37,38,39,40,41,42‐hexahydroxycalix[6]arene 1. The compound 1 was directly converted to its hexanitrile derivative 4. In these syntheses, it was thought to explore the role of nitrile sites in the extraction of various metal cations and HCr₂O₇ ^?/Cr₂O₇ ^2? anions. The liquid‐liquid extraction properties of 3 and 4 towards selected alkali/transition metal cations and HCr₂O₇ ^?/Cr₂O₇ ^2? anions are reported. It has been observed that receptor 3 does not extract alkali/transition metal cations effectively, but shows affinity towards HCr₂O₇ ^?/Cr₂O₇ ^2? anions at low pH. The compound 4 is an effective form for transferring Ni²⁺ selectively, while it shows poor transferring ability for HCr₂O₇ ^?/Cr₂O₇ ^2? anions from an aqueous into a dichloromethane layer. It was observed that the cavity size of the calix[n]arenes and the cooperativity of the functionalities play important roles in two phase extraction systems.     

Synthetic Access to New Pyridone Derivatives through the Alkylation Reactions of Hydroxypyridines with Epoxides

General methods for the preparation of a variety of pyridone and oxypyridine derivatives are described. 2‐,3‐,4‐Hydroxy pyridine and 2‐pyridinemethanol were alkylated with ethylene‐, propylene‐, and stryrene‐oxide and epichlorohydrin in the presence of different Lewis acids as a catalyst. The best yield of 3a was achieved in the presence of CdI₂/BF₃ · OEt₂. The corresponding pyridone derivatives (3a–d, 7a–d) were obtained from the reaction of 2‐and 4‐hydroxypyridine with oxiranes in good yields, whereas oxypyridine derivatives (5a–d, 9a,b) were obtained from reactions of 3‐hydroxypyridine and 2‐pyridinemethanol with oxiranes. Chlorohydrines (3d, 5d, 7d) were easily converted to corresponding epoxy derivatives (10, 11, 12) in basic medium; then amino alcohols (13–17) were obtained from the reaction of these epoxy derivatives with amines.     

Inhibitor design for 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase enzyme; molecular docking and determination of molecular and electronic properties of ligands by density functional theory method

Designing new inhibitors having less side effects is a need which also could reduce cholesterol levels. To fulfill this aim, we have carried out a molecular docking study toward 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase. A set of designed structural derivatives of statin drugs, eight ligands which are used as HIV-1 integrase inhibitor candidates, a set of terpenoids, and ligands downloaded from Zinc15 database were docked to HMG-CoA reductase enzyme which contains atorvastatin in crystal structure. The analysis of docking studies revealed that statin derivative ligands are more appropriate for inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. To define the contribution of the molecular properties to the binding of ligands to enzyme structure; the highest occupied molecular orbitals-lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals, hardness, electronegativity, and chemical potential properties of ligands have best score in their sets calculated by quantum mechanical tools.     

On the solvability of initial boundary value problems for nonlinear time-dependent Schrödinger equations

In this paper, we study the initial boundary value problems for a nonlinear time-dependent Schrödinger equation with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions, respectively. We prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the initial boundary value problems by using Galerkin’s method.     

Electronic and vibrational spectroscopy of intermediates in methane-to-methanol conversion by CoO+

At room temperature, cobalt oxide cations directly convert methane to methanol with high selectivity but very low efficiency. Two potential intermediates of this reaction, the [HO-Co-CH(3)](+) insertion intermediate and [H(2)O-Co=CH(2)](+) aquo-carbene complex are produced in a laser ablation source and characterized by electronic and vibrational spectroscopy. Reaction of laser-ablated cobalt cations with different organic precursors seeded in a carrier gas produces the intermediates, which subsequently expand into vacuum and cool. Ions are extracted into a time-of-flight mass spectrometer and spectra are measured via photofragment spectroscopy. Photodissociation of [HO-Co-CH(3)](+) in the visible and via infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) makes only Co(+) + CH(3)OH, while photodissociation of [H(2)O-Co=CH(2)](+) produces CoCH(2)(+) + H(2)O. The electronic spectrum of [HO-Co-CH(3)](+) shows progressions in the excited state Co-C stretch (335 cm(-1)) and O-Co-C bend (90 cm(-1)); the IRMPD spectrum gives ν(OH) = 3630 cm(-1). The [HO-Co-CH(3)](+)(Ar) complex has been synthesized and its vibrational spectrum measured in the O-H stretching region. The resulting spectrum is sharper than that obtained via IRMPD and gives ν(OH) = 3642 cm(-1). Also, an improved potential energy surface for the reaction of CoO(+) with methane has been developed using single point energies calculated by the CBS-QB3 method for reactants, intermediates, transition states and products.     

Extending Pummerer reaction chemistry: studies in the palau'amine synthesis area

Exploratory oxidative cyclization studies on cyclopentanelated and cyclohexenelated oroidin derivatives utilized Pummerer chemistry to generate pentacyclic structures related to the palau'amine family of sponge metabolites. Stereochemical issues were paramount, and appropriate choice of annelated ring size led to formation of the pentacyclic framework with complete diastereoselectivity for all of the core bonds.     

Extending Pummerer reaction chemistry. Examination of the prospects for forming vicinal quaternary carbon centers

Pummerer chemistry applied to 2-sulfinyl indoles promotes oxidative cyclization of pendant nucleophiles to furnish C(3) spirocyclic indolenine products. Use of tetrasubstituted silyl enol ether nucleophiles in this transform yields spirocycles featuring vicinal all-carbon quaternary centers in two cases, but fails when a nearby amine can intervene.     

Interfacial engineering of CuO nanorod/ZnO nanowire hybrid nanostructure photoanode in dye-sensitized solar cell

Developing efficient and cost-effective photoanode plays a vital role determining the photocurrent and photovoltage in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Here, we demonstrate DSSCs that achieve relatively high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) by using one-dimensional (1D) zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires and copper (II) oxide (CuO) nanorods hybrid nanostructures. CuO nanorod-based thin films were prepared by hydrothermal method and used as a blocking layer on top of the ZnO nanowires’ layer. The use of 1D ZnO nanowire/CuO nanorod hybrid nanostructures led to an exceptionally high photovoltaic performance of DSSCs with a remarkably high open-circuit voltage (0.764 V), short current density (14.76 mA/cm² under AM1.5G conditions), and relatively high solar to power conversion efficiency (6.18%) . The enhancement of the solar to power conversion efficiency can be explained in terms of the lag effect of the interfacial recombination dynamics of CuO nanorod-blocking layer on ZnO nanowires. This work shows more economically feasible method to bring down the cost of the nano-hybrid cells and promises for the growth of other important materials to further enhance the solar to power conversion efficiency.