Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and magnetic properties of homo- and heterodinuclear complexes of transition and non-transition metal ions with a new Schiff base ligand

Four homodinuclear complexes of Ni(II)-Ni(II), Cu(II)-Cu(II), Co(II)-Co(II) and Co(III)-Co(II) and five heterodinuclear complexes of Co(III)-Zn(II), Co(III)-Cu(II), Co(III)-Ni(II), Cu(II)-Zn(II) and Zn(II)-Cu(II) with the octadentate Schiff base compartmental ligand 1,8-N-bis(3-carboxy)disalicylidene-3,6-diazaoctane-1,8-diamine (H4fsatrien) have been synthesized. The complexes have been characterized with the help of elemental analyses, molecular weights, molar conductances, magnetic susceptibilities and spectroscopic (UV-vis, IR, ESR) data. Cryomagnetic data also helped to elucidate the structural features of the Cu(II) complexes.     

Indium-mediated vic-diallylation/propargylation of phenacyl bromides: a facile synthesis of 4-arylocta-1,7-dien-4-ol derivatives

Phenacyl bromides undergo smooth vic-diallylation and dipropargylation with allyl and propargyl indium reagents generated in situ from metallic indium and allyl or propargyl bromide to produce 4-arylocta-1,7-dien-4-ol derivatives in good yields. Phenacyl chloride and azide also participated effectively in bis-allylation. Similar results are also obtained from in situ generated allyl or propargyl zinc bromide.     

Syntheses,structures and electrochemistry of manganese(III) complexes derived from N,N′-o-phenylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldimine): Efficient catalyst for styrene epoxidation

Syntheses, characterizations, electrochemistry and catalytic properties for styrene epoxidation of three manganese(III) compounds [Mn^IIIL¹(H₂O)(MeOH)](ClO₄) (1) [Mn^IIIL¹(N₃)(H₂O)]·dmf (2) [Mn^IIIL¹(Cl)(H₂O)] (3) derived from the Schiff base compartmental ligand N,N′-o-phenylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldimine) (H₂L¹) are reported. The three compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, IR, mass and UV–Vis spectra and conductance values. Single crystal X-ray structures of 1 and 2 have been determined. The structures of 1 and 2 show that these are mononuclear compounds having a salen type structure. In both structures, a dinuclear species is formed by bifurcated hydrogen bonding involving coordinated water molecule. The coordination of chloride in 3 is shown by conductance measurements. The compounds have also been characterized by UV–Vis and mass spectroscopic studies. Cyclic voltammetric and square wave voltammetric studies of the three compounds reveal that these undergo Mn(III)/Mn(II) reduction reversibly with the order of the ease of reduction as 3 > 2 > 1. This order has been explained proposing the composition of active species in solution. Catalytic properties for epoxidation of styrene by all the three complexes using PhIO and NaOCl as oxidant have been studied. The order of both the styrene conversion and styrene epoxidation using the three title compounds is 3 > 1 > 2. Again, it has been observed that more efficient conversion and epoxidation take place when PhIO is used as oxidant.     

Facile synthesis of polyacrylate directed silver nanoparticles for pH sensing through naked eye

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and its salt poly(acrylate) (PA) have been synthesized through modified free radical polymerization in environmentally begin aqueous medium under ultrasound to make the process robust. The synthesized polymer is well-characterized through conventional techniques. Its salt is employed to produce highly stable and stimuli sensitive colloidal silver (Ag-PA sol) without using any additional reducing chemical reagents like sodium borohydride, ascorbic acid, hydrazine, etc or UV/Gamma radiation. A detailed mechanistic path of the polymerization and reduction of Ag⁺ on polyacrylate chains has been evaluated. Finally Ag-PA sol is used for pH sensing through naked eye to eliminate the need for sophisticated instrument for data collection. The present work focuses mainly the development of a low cost pH sensing system based on colorimetric ‘smart polymer’ having high practical utility. The unique structural and photo-physical features of nano-scaled materials open new opportunities for the applications of colorimetric pH sensor. In the present work, Ag nano-clusters capped by PA^? are employed as an effective colorimetric pH sensor for the first time, requiring no further functionalization.     

Insertion of arynes into thioureas: a new amidine synthesis

Arynes, generated from trimethylsilyl phenyltriflate precursors, have been found to react with thioureas via a formal π-insertion into the C═S bond. The reaction contrasts with that of ureas, which proceeds via benzyne σ-insertion into the C-N bond, and represents a new, operationally simple route to functionalized amidines.     

Atom‐Efficient Gold(I)‐Chloride‐Catalyzed Synthesis of α‐Sulfenylated Carbonyl Compounds from Propargylic Alcohols and Aryl Thiols: Substrate Scope and Experimental and Theoretical Mechanistic Investigation

Gold(I)‐chloride‐catalyzed synthesis of α‐sulfenylated carbonyl compounds from propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols showed a wide substrate scope with respect to both propargylic alcohols and aryl thiols. Primary and secondary aromatic propargylic alcohols generated α‐sulfenylated aldehydes and ketones in 60–97 % yield. Secondary aliphatic propargylic alcohols generated α‐sulfenylated ketones in yields of 47–71 %. Different gold sources and ligand effects were studied, and it was shown that gold(I) chloride gave the highest product yields. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrated that the reaction proceeds in two separate steps. A sulfenylated allylic alcohol, generated by initial regioselective attack of the aryl thiol on the triple bond of the propargylic alcohol, was isolated, evaluated, and found to be an intermediate in the reaction. Deuterium labeling experiments showed that the protons from the propargylic alcohol and aryl thiol were transferred to the 3‐position, and that the hydride from the alcohol was transferred to the 2‐position of the product. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the observed regioselectivity of the aryl thiol attack towards the 2‐position of propargylic alcohol was determined by a low‐energy, five‐membered cyclic protodeauration transition state instead of the strained, four‐membered cyclic transition state found for attack at the 3‐position. Experimental data and DFT calculations supported that the second step of the reaction is initiated by protonation of the double bond of the sulfenylated allylic alcohol with a proton donor coordinated to gold(I) chloride. This in turn allows for a 1,2‐hydride shift, generating the final product of the reaction.     

Molecularly imprinted polyaniline-polyvinyl sulphonic acid composite based sensor for para-nitrophenol detection

We report results of the studies relating to the fabrication and characterization of a conducting polymer based molecularly imprinted para-nitrophenol (PNP) sensor. A water pollutant, para-nitrophenol is electrochemically imprinted with polyvinyl sulphonic acid (PVSA) doped polyaniline onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate. This PNP imprinted electrode (PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO) prepared via chronopotentiometric polymerization and over-oxidation is characterized by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, contact angle (CA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies. The response studies of PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO electrode carried out using DPV reveal a lower detection limit of 1 × 10⁻³ mM, improved sensitivity as 1.5 × 10⁻³ A mM⁻¹ and stability of 45 days. The PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO electrode shows good precision with relative standard deviation of 2.1% and good reproducibility with standard deviation of 3.78%.     

Two-photon absorption enhancement of polymer-templated porphyrin-based J-aggregates

Supramolecular structures based on organized assemblies of macrocyclic chromophores, particularly porphyrin-based dyes, have attracted widespread interest as components of molecular devices with potential applications in molecular electronics, artificial light harvesting, and pharmacology. We report the formation of J-aggregates of two porphyrin-based dyes, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TSPP, 4) and an amino tris-sulfonate analogue (5) in water using a functionalized norbornene-based homopolymer, synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Ionic interactions of the cationic side chains (ammonium groups) of the polymer under acidic conditions with the negatively charged sulfonate groups of the porphyrins facilitated polymer template enhanced J-aggregation of the porphyrin dyes. J-Aggregation behavior was investigated photophysically by UV-vis absorption along with steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies. Two-photon absorption (2PA) was enhanced by about an order of magnitude for the J-aggregated TSPP relative to its free base. Significantly, the 2PA cross section of the polymer-templated TSPP J-aggregate was up to three times higher than the J-aggregated TSPP in the absence of the polymer template while the 2PA cross section for polymer-templated J-aggregates of 5 increased substantially, up to ca. 10,000 GM, suggesting a prominent role of polymer-templating to facilitate porphyrin aggregation and greatly enhance nonlinear absorption.     

Fibrillar Networks of Glycyrrhizic Acid for Hybrid Nanomaterials with Catalytic Features

Self‐assembly of the naturally occurring sweetening agent, glycyrrhizic acid (GA) in water is studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering and microscopic techniques. Statistical analysis on atomic force microscopy images reveals the formation of ultralong GA fibrils with uniform thickness of 2.5 nm and right‐handed twist with a pitch of 9 nm, independently of GA concentration. Transparent nematic GA hydrogels are exploited to create functional hybrid materials. Two‐fold and three‐fold hybrids are developed by introducing graphene oxide (GO) and in situ‐synthesized gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the hydrogel matrix for catalysis applications. In the presence of GO, the catalytic efficiency of Au NPs in the reduction of p‐nitrophenol to p‐aminophenol is enhanced by 2.5 times. Gold microplate single crystals are further synthesized in the GA hydrogel, expanding the scope of these hybrids and demonstrating their versatility in materials design.     

Indium-mediated allylation/propargylation of α-diazoketones: a facile synthesis of 1-bromo-2-alkyl- or 2-arylpent-4-en-2-ols

α-Diazoketones undergo smooth allylation with successive bromide insertion with allylindium bromide generated in situ from allyl bromide and indium metal to produce 1-bromo-2-alkyl- or 2-arylpent-4-en-2-ols in high yields. Addition of propargylindium bromide produces 1-bromo-2-alkyl-or 2-arylpent-4-yn-2-ols under similar conditions.