Effects of structural imperfections on the dynamic mechanical response of main-chain smectic elastomers

We examine the influence of structural imperfections on mechanical damping in polydomain smectic main-chain liquid crystalline elastomers (MCLCE) subjected to small strain oscillatory shear. The mechanical loss factor tan δ = G″(ω)/G′(ω) exhibits a strong maximum (tan δ ≈ 1.0) near the smectic-isotropic (clearing) transition. “Optimal” elastomers that exhibit minimal equilibrium swelling in a good solvent are compared with highly swelling “imperfect elastomers” that contain higher concentrations of structural imperfections such as pendant chains. For the imperfect elastomers, tan δ is markedly enhanced in the isotropic state because of relaxation of pendant chains and other imperfections. However, within the smectic state, the magnitude of tan δ and its temperature dependence are similar for optimal and imperfect elastomers at ω = 1 Hz. The prominent loss peak near the clearing transition arises from segment-level relaxations that are insensitive to the details of chain connectivity. Smectic MCLCE can be tailored for applications as vibration-damping materials by manipulating the clearing transition temperature through the backbone structure or by deliberate introduction of structural imperfections such as pendant chains. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3267–3276, 2007     

ZrCl4-mediated regio- and chemoselective Friedel-Crafts acylation of indole

An efficient method for regio- and chemoselective Friedel-Crafts acylation of indole using acyl chlorides in the presence of ZrCl(4) has been discovered. It minimizes/eliminates common competing reactions that occur due to high and multiatom-nucleophilic character of indole. In this method, a wide range of aroyl, heteroaroyl alkenoyl, and alkanoyl chlorides undergo smooth acylation with various indoles without NH protection and afford 3-acylindoles in good to high yields.     

Quantification of Puerarin in Pueraria tuberosa DC. by High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC -     

Advanced polymeric dendrimers in the management of Alzheimer's disease

In recent years, advanced polymeric dendrimers have emerged as a promising avenue for AD management. Dendrimers are highly branched, three-dimensional macromolecules with precise nanoarchitectures, making them ideal candidates for the delivery of therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools. Their unique properties, such as well-defined size, multifunctionality, and controlled surface chemistry, allow for the design of targeted and highly efficient drug delivery systems and diagnostic probes. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential applications of advanced polymeric dendrimers in the management of Alzheimer's disease. We explored their role in drug delivery, diagnostics, and other therapeutic interventions for AD. Additionally, we will delve into the challenges and opportunities in utilizing dendrimers as a key player in the battle against this devastating disease. The review will begin by discussing the current state of Alzheimer's disease, including its pathological features, clinical manifestations, and existing treatment strategies. It will then transition to an in-depth examination of polymeric dendrimers, highlighting their structural characteristics, synthesis methods, and biocompatibility. Subsequently, the review will delve into the various ways in which dendrimers can be tailored for AD management, including drug encapsulation and delivery, enhanced blood–brain barrier penetration, and targeted diagnostic imaging. Furthermore, we explored the potential benefits of dendrimer-based therapies, such as improved drug efficacy, reduced side effects, and enhanced patient compliance. The review will also address the challenges associated with dendrimer-based approaches, including toxicity concerns, regulatory hurdles, and the need for rigorous clinical evaluation.     

New Chemodosimetric Reagents as Ratiometric Probes for Cysteine and Homocysteine and Possible Detection in Living Cells and in Blood Plasma

In this work, we have rationally designed and synthesized two new reagents ( L₁ and L₂ ), each bearing a pendant aldehyde functionality. This aldehyde group can take part in cyclization reactions with β‐ or γ‐amino thiols to yield the corresponding thiazolidine and thiazinane derivatives, respectively. The intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) bands of these thiazolidine and thiazinane derivatives are distinctly different from those of the molecular probes ( L₁ and L₂ ). Such changes could serve as a potential platform for using L₁ and L₂ as new colorimetric/fluorogenic as well as ratiometric sensors for cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) under physiological conditions. Both reagents proved to be specific towards Cys and Hcy even in the presence of various amino acids, glucose, and DNA. Importantly, these two chemodosimetric reagents could be used for the quantitative detection of Cys present in blood plasma by using a pre‐column HPLC technique. Such examples are not common in contemporary literature. MTT assay studies have revealed that these probes have low cytotoxicity. Confocal laser scanning micrographs of cells demonstrated that these probes could penetrate cell membranes and could be used to detect intracellular Cys/Hcy present within living cells. Thus, the results presented in this article not only demonstrate the efficiency and specificity of two ratiometric chemodosimeter molecules for the quantitative detection of Cys and Hcy, but also provide a strategy for developing reagents for analysis of these vital amino acids in biological samples.     

Influence of strain rate and temperature on necking transition in a polydomain smectic main chain elastomer

Smectic main‐chain liquid crystalline elastomers (MCLCE) with polydomain morphology are rare examples of elastomers that can form a neck and undergo cold drawing under tension. However, not all previous studies of the mechanical behavior of smectic MCLCE reported neck formation. The mechanical response of a polydomain smectic MCLCE has therefore been characterized by elongation at varying strain rates and temperatures to identify factors favoring mechanical instability. Yielding and neck formation are increasingly favored as the strain rate increases at constant temperature, or as the temperature decreases toward T_g. As cold drawing proceeds, significant creep occurs continuously within the neck, in contrast to the behavior of certain linear polymers that exhibit a “natural” draw ratio. Thermal imaging during elongation indicates that viscous heating is not a prerequisite for neck formation. Rather, inherent softening of the material during yielding due to morphological changes leads to an enhanced rate of deformation and contraction at the neck. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Broad Molecular Weight Polypropylene Synthesis using Mixed Internal Donor Incorporated Magnesium Dichloride Supported Titanium Catalyst

Magnesium dichloride supported titanium tetrachloride catalyst with mixed internal donor, comprised of ethylbenzoate and sulfolane, were synthesized. The composition characteristics of catalysts indicate incorporation of sulfolane to max 8.2 wt%, in addition to ethylbenzoate. The amount of incorporated donors in solid catalyst is dependent on the sulfolane concentration and reaction temperature of the process. A physical characteristics study of catalyst indicated that morphology, crystallite size, surface area, pore volume and titanium distribution have not been influenced much by incorporation of the second internal donor (sulfolane). The catalysts, in combination with triethyl aluminum as cocatalyst and p-ethoxyethylbenzoate as external donor, show good activity for propylene polymerization. The polypropylene synthesized with an optimized catalyst system shows broad molecular weight distribution as compared to ethylbenzoate based catalyst.     

Freezing water in no-man's land

We report homogeneous ice nucleation rates between 202 K and 215 K, thereby reducing the measurement gap that previously existed between 203 K and 228 K. These temperatures are significantly below the homogenous freezing limit, T(H)≈ 235 K for bulk water, and well within no-man's land. The ice nucleation rates are determined by characterizing nanodroplets with radii between 3.2 and 5.8 nm produced in a supersonic nozzle using three techniques: (1) pressure trace measurements to determine the properties of the flow as well as the temperature and velocity of the droplets, (2) small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to measure the size and number density of the droplets, and (3) Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to follow the liquid to solid phase transition. Assuming that nucleation occurs throughout the droplet volume, the measured ice nucleation rates J(ice,V) are on the order of 10(23) cm(-3) s(-1), and agree well with published values near 203 K.     

Electron impact ionisation cross sections for atomic and molecular allotropes of phosphorous and arsenic

We report electron impact total ionisation cross sections for phosphorous (P), arsenic (As), diphosphorous (P₂), diarsenic (As₂), tetra phosphorous (P₄) and tetra arsenic (As₄) from the threshold of the target to 2000 eV. We employed spherical complex optical potential to compute total inelastic cross sections (Q_inel). The total ionisation cross section is extracted from the total inelastic cross section using the complex scattering potential–ionisation contribution method. The results of most of the targets studied here compare well with the measurements and the theoretical data wherever available. The correlation between the peak of ionisation cross sections with the number of target electrons and polarisability is also reported. It is observed that the maximum ionisation cross sections depend linearly on the number of target electrons and polarisability of the target. This linear correlation is used to predict the maximum ionisation cross sections for the targets (I₂, HI and PF₃) where no experimental data are available.     

Convenient Synthesis of Novel Quinazoline Congeners via Copper Catalyzed C–N/C–S Coupling and Their Biological Evaluation

A library of novel quinazoline scaffolds endowed with semicarbazide/oxadiazole thiol motif synthesized via an efficient and sustainable copper catalyzed C–N/C–S coupling is reported, making the presented methodology extremely valuable from economic and environmental point of view. Among the all synthesized compounds screened for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and anti‐TB activity, 7b , 7c , 7f , 9b , 9c , 9i , and 9j showed excellent inhibitory effect on particular strain of bacteria, fungi, and M. tuberculosis H37Rv as well. All the newly synthesized derivatives were well characterized by their IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis.