Interfacial Effect-Induced Electrocatalytic Activity of Spinel Cobalt Oxide in Methanol Oxidation Reaction.

In this study, spinel cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles without combining with any other metal atoms have been decorated through the influence of two hard templating agents, viz., zeolite-Y and carboxy-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNT). The adornment of the Co3O4 nanoparticles, through the combined impact of the aluminosilicate and carbon framework has resulted in quantum interference, causing the reversal of signatory Raman peaks of Co3O4. Apart from the construction of small Co3O4 nanoparticles at the interface of the two matrices, the particles were aligned along the direction of COOH-MWCNT. The catalyst Co3O4-Y-MWCNT exhibited excellent catalytic activity toward the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in comparison to Co3O4-Y, Co3O4-MWCNT, and bared Co3O4 with the current density of 0.92 A mg-1 at an onset potential of 1.33 V versus RHE. The material demonstrated persistent electrocatalytic activity up to 300 potential cycles and 20,000 s without substantial current density loss. High surface area of zeolite-Y in combination with the excellent conductivity of the COOH-MWCNT enhanced the electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst. The simplicity of synthesis, scale-up, and remarkable electrocatalytic activity of the catalyst Co3O4-Y-MWCNT provided an effective way toward the development of anode materials for direct methanol fuel cells.

An Integrative Approach to Study the Inhibition of Providencia vermicola FabD Using C2-Quaternary Indolinones.

Background: The present study investigates the potential bioactivity of twelve experimentally designed C-2 quaternary indolinones against Providencia spp., a bacterial group of the Enterobacteriaceae family known to cause urinary tract infections. The study aims to provide insights into the bioactive properties of the investigated compounds and their potential use in developing novel treatments against Providencia spp. The experimental design of indolinones, combined with their unique chemical structure, makes them attractive candidates for further investigation. The results of this research may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic agents to combat Providencia spp. infections. Methods: The synthesized indolinones (moL1-moL12) are evaluated to identify any superior activity, particularly focusing on moL12, which possesses aza functionality. The antimicrobial activities of all twelve compounds are tested in triplicates against six different Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms, including P. vermicola (P<0.05). Computational methods have been employed to assess the pharmacokinetic properties of the compounds. Results: Among the synthesized indolinones, moL12 exhibits superior activity compared to the other compounds with similar skeleton but different functional moieties. All six strains tested, including P. vermicola, demonstrated sensitivity to moL12. Computational studies support the pharmacokinetic properties of moL12, indicating acceptable absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity characteristics. Conclusion: Utilizing the PPI approach, we have identified a promising target, FabD, in Gram-negative bacteria. Our analysis has shown that moL12 exhibits significant potential in binding with FabD, thereby, might inhibit cell wall formation, and display superior antimicrobial activity compared to other compounds. Consequently, moL12 may be a potential therapeutic agent that could be used to combat urinary tract infections caused by Providencia spp. The findings of this research hold significant promise for the development of new and effective treatments for bacterial infections.

Nano-functionalization and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Tinospora cordifolia against the TolB protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa - An antibacterial and computational study.

Introduction: Antibacterial drug resistance, brought on by the overuse of antibiotics, is one of the biggest threats to human health. It is crucial to consider cutting-edge strategies, such as herbal remedies, to control multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Methods: This study evaluated the phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the various Tinospora cordifolia extracts. Functionalization of the isolated active compound was done using gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). Further, to understand the interaction of the isolated class, Cordifolisides, with its target, various in-silico methods were used. Results and Discussion: The plant was reported from the Charaideo district of Assam, whose methanolic stem extract showed the maximum activity towards the nosocomial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Consequently, the active compound was isolated and characterized as belonging to the class Cordifoliside using NMR. The AuNPs and AgNPs functionalized isolates showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa compared to the unfunctionalized isolate. The most reactive compound, Cordifoliside C was determined using Density Functional Theory (DFT) analysis, whose interactions with the TolB protein were studied using molecular docking methods, which revealed good binding interactions of Cordifoliside C with the TolB protein. Conclusion: This study offers enormous potential for drug design and might be used as a pipeline to address the urgent problem of multidrug-resistance in bacteria. Graphical Abstract.

Heterogeneous iron catalyst for C(1)-H functionalization of 2-naphthols with primary aromatic alcohols.

An iron oxide nanocatalyst supported on a potassium exchanged zeolite-Y (Fe2O3-KY) is an efficient and reusable catalyst that promotes the selective α-H functionalization of 2-naphthols with various aromatic primary alcohols. The reaction occurs at 110 °C in dichloroethane and requires 6 h for completion. The product yields were found to vary with respect to the nature of the substituents. Benzyl alcohols with electron-donating groups gave the highest yields of up to 90%.

Hetero-Polar Sextuple Bond: A Relativistic Quantum Chemical Study.

Number of bonds formed by sharing an electron pair between two atoms is not restricted to one, it can go beyond four and six is the maximum. While homopolar sextuple bond in Mo2 and W2 has been reported, such a high bond order in heteropolar diatomics has remained elusive. In the pursuit of the sextuple bond in polar diatomics, the present study depicts the existence of such multiple bonds in Rhodium-Scandium hetero-diatom based on relativistic quantum chemical calculations. The bonding comprises of three normal electron sharing covalent bonds and three dative covalent bonds.

Gold (I)-Promoted Intermolecular Cascade Annulation to Access 2-Hydroxybenzocarbazoles via a Meyer-Schuster Rearrangement.

An efficient cascade annulation protocol was established to access substituted 2-hydroxybenzocarbazoles from alkynylcyclohexadienones and substituted 2-aminophenols under gold catalysis. In this transformation a new C-C, two C-N bonds were formed sequentially and moderate to excellent yields of 2-hydroxybenzocarbazole derivatives were obtained selectively via Meyer-Schuster rearrangement in one-pot.

Chirally modified cobalt-vanadate grafted on battery waste derived layered reduced graphene oxide for enantioselective photooxidation of 2-naphthol: Asymmetric induction through non-covalent interaction.

The cobalt oxide-vanadium oxide (Co3O4-V2O5) combined with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) having band gap of âˆ¼ 3.3 eV appeared as a suitable photocatalyst for selective oxidation of 2-naphthol to BINOL. C2-symmetric BINOL was achieved with good yield using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant under UV-light irradiation. The same catalyst was chirally modified with cinchonidine and a newly synthesized chiral Schiff base ligand having a sigma-hole center. The strong interaction of the chiral modifiers with the cobalt-vanadium oxide was truly evident from various spectroscopic studies and DFT calculations. The chirally modified mixed metal oxide transformed the oxidative CC coupling reaction with high enantioselectivity. High enantiomeric excess upto 92 % of R-BINOL was obtained in acetonitrile solvent and hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. A significant achievement was the formation of S-BINOL in the case of the cinchonidine modified catalyst and R-BINOL with the Schiff base ligand anchored chiral catalyst. The UV-light induced catalytic reaction was found to involve hydroxyl radical as the active reactive species. The spin trapping ESR and fluorescence experiment provided relevant evidence for the formation of such species through photodecomposition of hydrogen peroxide on the catalyst surface. The chiral induction to the resultant product was found to induce through supramolecular interaction like OH…π, H…Br interaction. The presence of sigma hole center was believed to play significant role in naphtholate ion recognition during the catalytic cycle.

A Remote 'Imidazole'-Based Ruthenium(II) Para-Cymene Pre-catalyst for the Selective Oxidation Reaction of Alkyl Arenes and Alcohols.

Herein we disclosed the use of a remote 'imidazole'-based precatalyst [(para-cymene)RuII (L)Cl]+ , C-1 where L=2-(4-substituted-phenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline) for the selective oxidation of a variety of alkyl arenes/heteroarenes and alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones in presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The remote 'imidazole' moiety present in the complex facilitates the activation of oxidant and subsequent generation of active species via the release of para-cymene from C-1, which in-turn was less effective without the 'imidazole' moiety. The mechanistic features of C-1 promoted oxidation of alkyl arenes were also assessed from spectroscopic, kinetic, and few control experiments. The substrate scope for C-1 promoted oxidation reaction was assessed based on the selective oxidation of 27-different alkyl arenes/heteroarenes and 25 different alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes/ketones in moderate to good yields.

Direct cyanidation of silver sulfide by heterolytic C-CN bond cleavage of acetonitrile.

Extraction of silver as silver cyanide from silver sulfide was made possible using acetonitrile as the source of cyanide. The process of cyanidation took place through the oxidation of sulfide to sulfur oxides and cleavage of the C-CN bond of acetonitrile. The reaction was found to be catalyzed by vanadium pentoxide and hydrogen peroxide. The different species involved in the cyanidation process were duly characterized using FTIR, ESI-MS, HRMS, XPS and UV-vis spectroscopic analysis. The mechanism of the cyanidation process was confirmed through in situ FTIR analysis.

Pd-NiO-Y/CNT nanofoam: a zeolite-carbon nanotube conjugate exhibiting high durability in methanol oxidation.

A Pd-NiO-based catalyst hybridized with zeolite-Y and multiwalled carbon nanotubes has been found to show a remarkable mass activity in the electrochemical oxidation of methanol with long term durability up to 80 000 s.

Pd/Cu-Oxide Nanoconjugate at Zeolite-Y Crystallite Crafting the Mesoporous Channels for Selective Oxidation of Benzyl-Alcohols.

Solid-state grinding of palladium and copper salts allowed the growth of palladium/copper oxide interface at the zeolite-Y surface. The hybrid nanostructured material was used as reusable heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation of various benzyl alcohols. The large surface area provided by the zeolite-Y matrix highly influenced the catalytic activity, as well as the recyclability of the synthesized catalyst. Impregnation of PdO-CuO nanoparticles on zeolite crystallite leads to the generation of mesoporous channel that probably prevented the leaching of the metal-oxide nanoparticles and endorsed high mass transfer. Formation of mesoporous channel at the external surface of zeolite-Y was evident from transmission electron microscopy and surface area analysis. PdO-CuO nanoparticles were found to be within the range of 2-5 nm. The surface area of PdO-CuO-Y catalyst was found to be much lower than parent zeolite-Y. The decrease in surface area as well as the presence of hysteresis loop in the N2-adsoprtion isotherm further suggested successful encapsulation of PdO-CuO nanoparticles via the mesoporous channel formation. The high positive shifting in binding energy in both Pd and Cu was attributed to the influence of zeolite-Y framework on lattice contraction of metal oxides via confinement effect. PdO-CuO-Y catalyst was found to oxidize benzyl alcohol with 99% selectivity. On subjecting to microwave irradiation the same oxidation reaction was found to occur at ambient condition giving same conversion and selectivity.

Metallogel templated synthesis and stabilization of silver-particles and its application in catalytic reduction of nitro-arene.

Metallogel of iron-carboxylates was obtained from trans-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid in dimethylformamide (DMF) at basic condition. Spectroscopic and SEM morphology study of the iron-metallogel revealed that the iron complex with dicarboxylic acid was linked together via carboxylates and led to a supramolecular helical like architecture. The synthesized metallogel served as an excellent template for in-situ reduction of silver ion to silver particles micro to nano scale range. Variation of AgNO3 concentration shepherd to change the morphology of the Ag-particles. AgNO3 concentration was found to affect the shape and size of silver particles. On going from lower to higher concentration shape of silver particles changed from spherical to large agglomerated particles. Cubic shape Ag-particles were found on treatment of 0.05M AgNO3 solution with metallogel. Cubical shape silver particles were found to be effective catalyst for nitro-arene reduction in presence of NaBH4. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to rationalize the role of Ag-particles in catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. Based on DFT study, we proposed that catalytic reduction occurred via Ag-hydride complex formation. Since metallogels as well as the 4-aminophenol are finding large application in pharmaceuticals industries therefore the current work can provide an alternatives path in production of 4-aminophenols. In addition to this, the synthesis of Ag-nanomaterials using metallogel as template can pave a new direction in the development of nanotechnology and might find wide applications in catalytic industrial processes.

DFT and TDDFT study on cation-π complexes of diboryne (NHC → B ≡ B←NHC).

In this study, density functional theory calculation on mono-cationic cation-π complexes of diborynes has been made to understand the interaction in cation-π complexes of diboryne. Results suggest that apart from the smaller cations Li+ and Na+, larger cation like K+ ion could also form complexes with diboryne compounds via cation-π interaction. From the calculated structural and spectroscopic analysis 11B, 13C NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra red) (force constant, value), and UV-vis spectra, it is found that the interaction between the cations and π-electron cloud of the diboryne is purely electrostatic. It is also observed that smaller cation (Li+) with high electronegativity interacts more strongly compared to larger cation (K+). Calculated interaction energy advocates that the π-electron cloud of the B2 unit contributes more to the cation-π interaction than the two aromatic phenyl rings of the NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) substituted with 2,6-diisopropylphenyl group. The aryl substituent at the NHC-ligands undergoes a change in spatial orientation with respect to the size of cations in order to provide suitable space to the cations for effective cation-π interaction. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules study clarifies further the nature and extent of B-B and B2-cation interactions.11B-NMR, 13C-NMR, and time dependent density functional theory analysis indicate that cation-π interaction annihilates the B → C (NHC) π-back donation and favours the B≡B bond formation.

Chiral modification of copper exchanged zeolite-Y with cinchonidine and its application in the asymmetric Henry reaction.

Chirally modified Cu(2+) exchanged zeolite-Y was synthesized by direct adsorption of cinchonidine under ambient conditions. The chirally modified materials were characterized using various spectrochemical and physicochemical techniques viz. BET, FTIR, MAS ((1)H and (13)C NMR), XPS, SEM, cyclic voltammetry and PXRD. Characteristic peaks of cinchonidine observed in the supported materials confirmed the adsorption of cinchonidine and its coordination with the Cu(2+) active site on copper exchanged zeolite-Y. (13)C SSNMR and XPS analysis however confirmed for the half encapsulation process, only the quinoline ring of cinchonidine gets coordinated to the internal metal sites via the N atom while the quinuclidine moiety extends out of the host surface. Cinchonidine supported Cu(2+)-Y zeolites were found to exhibit good catalytic performance in the asymmetric Henry reaction. (1)H SSNMR studies also confirmed the protonation of the N atom of the quinuclidine ring during the course of the Henry reaction. Heterogeneous chiral catalysts were effective for up to two consecutive cycles. Leaching of cinchonidine after the second cycle was found to have a negative result in the catalytic performance.

Enantioselective Epoxidation of Styrene by Manganese Chiral Schiff Base Complexes Immobilized on MCM-41.

Two chiral MnIII complexes synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction were grafted onto mesoporous silica MCM-41. The MCM-41-immobilized solid chiral catalysts were characterized by various spectrochemical and physicochemical methods (XRD, FTIR, 29 Si NMR, TGA, UV/Vis/DRS, EPR, cyclic voltammetry, SEM, BET). Both the homogeneous and heterogeneous MnIII chiral complexes are found to be effective catalysts for epoxidation of styrene. MCM-41-supported chiral catalysts are found to retain their catalytic activity up to five cycles. When an ionic liquid was implemented to enhance the catalytic recyclability of the homogeneous catalysts, they can be recycled up to three times. However, after the third cycle the catalytic activities of the complexes were found to decrease due to rupturing of the chiral catalyst.

Substituent and Solvent Effects on the Absorption Spectra of Cation-π Complexes of Benzene and Borazine: A Theoretical Study.

Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has been used to predict the absorption spectra of cation-π complexes of benzene and borazine. Both polarized continuum model (PCM) and discrete solvation model (DSM) and a combined effect of PCM and DSM on the absorption spectra have been elucidated. With decrease in size of the cation, the π → π* transitions of benzene and borazine are found to undergo blue and red shift, respectively. A number of different substituents (both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating) and a range of solvents (nonpolar to polar) have been considered to understand the effect of substituent and solvents on the absorption spectra of the cation-π complexes of benzene and borazine. Red shift in the absorption spectra of benzene cation-π complexes are observed with both electron-donating groups (EDGs) and electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs). The same trend has not been observed in the case of substituted borazine cation-π complexes. The wavelength of the electronic transitions corresponding to cation-π complexes correlates well with the Hammet constants (σp and σm). This correlation indicates that the shifting of spectral lines of the cation-π complexes on substitution is due to both resonance and inductive effect. On incorporation of solvent phases, significant red or blue shifting in the absorption spectra of the complexes has been observed. Kamlet-Taft multiparametric equation has been used to explain the effect of solvent on the absorption spectra of complexes. Polarity and polarizability are observed to play an important role in the solvatochromism of the cation-π complexes.

Effect of substituent and solvent on cation-π interactions in benzene and borazine: a computational study.

A DFT and ab initio quantum chemical study has been carried out at different theoretical levels to delve into the role of the cation-π interaction within the main group metal cations (Li(+), Na(+) and K(+)), substituted benzene and borazine. The effects of electron withdrawing and electron donating groups on these non-covalent forces of interaction were also studied. The excellent correlation between Hammett constants and binding energy values indicates that the cation-π interaction is influenced by both inductive and resonance effects. Electron donating groups (EDG) such as -CH3 and -NH2 attached to benzene at the 1, 3 and 5 position and the three boron atoms of borazine were found to strengthen these interactions, while electron withdrawing groups (EWG) such as -NO2 did the reverse. These results were further substantiated by topological analysis using the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM). The polarized continuum model (PCM) and the discrete solvation model were used to elucidate the effect of solvation on the cation-π interaction. The size of the cations and the nature of the substituents were found to influence the enthalpy and binding energy of the systems (or complex). In the gas phase, the cation-π interaction was found to be exothermic, whereas in the presence of a polar solvent the interaction was highly endothermic. Thermochemical analysis predicts the presence of thermodynamic driving forces for borazine and benzene substituted with EDG. DFT based reactivity descriptors, such as global hardness (η), chemical potential (µ) and the electrophilicity index (ω) were used to elucidate the effect of the substituent on the reactivity of the cation-π complexes.

Effect of Nanospace Confinement on the Catalytic Activity and Stability of a Chiral Schiff Base Complex (CuL; L=C22 H24 N2 O4 ): A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study.

Emerging trends in recyclable homogeneous chiral catalysts and their application in asymmetric synthesis are prompting a renewed interest in the field of catalysis as well as in industry. However, owing to fatal disadvantages of the homogeneous catalyst, they are not easily recoverable and recyclable. Herein, a comparison is made of the recyclability and stability of a homogeneous chiral CuII Schiff base complex of general formula CuL, in which L=C22 H24 N2 O4 , with that of a zeolite-Y-confined heterogeneous catalyst. On the basis of our experimental evidence, we demonstrate how self-decomposition and bimetallic formation disrupt the catalytic activity of a homogeneous catalyst. By exploiting the special structure of faujasite zeolite, self-decomposition of the chiral catalyst is fully controlled and efficiently used for the asymmetric nitroaldol reaction. The use of ionic liquid results in catalytic enhancement and provides a convenient way to recycle the homogeneous catalyst up to three cycles. When encapsulated in a cavity of faujasite by means of the "ship-in-a-bottle" synthesis method, it shows much better catalytic activity with enhanced enantioselectivity, recyclability, and stability. The heterogeneous catalyst is recycled up to nine cycles and retains the catalytic activity for a longer period of time relative to its homogeneous counterpart. The synthesized heterogeneous CuII complex provides the nitroaldol product with a maximum of 84 % yield and 87 % enantiomeric excess (ee; R isomer). Structural and reactivity differences between the homogeneous and heterogeneous chiral complexes are substantiated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Enantioselective Henry reaction catalyzed by "ship in a bottle" complexes.

Two chiral Schiff-base complexes of copper(II) have been successfully encapsulated inside the cavity of zeolite-NaY via a "ship in a bottle" synthesis method. The presence of the two complexes inside the cages of zeolite-Y has been confirmed based on various spectrochemical and physicochemical techniques, viz. FTIR, UV-vis/DRS, ESR, XPS, CV, EDX, SEM, and TGA. Zeolite-encapsulated chiral copper(II) Schiff-base complexes are found to give a high-enantioselective (84% ee, R conformation) nitro-aldol product at -20 °C. The encapsulated copper complexes are found to show higher catalytic efficiency than their homogeneous counterparts under identical conditions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation has been implemented to understand the effect of the zeolite matrix on structural, electronic, and reactivity properties of the synthesized complexes. Theoretical calculation predicts that upon encapsulation into the zeolite matrix the Cu center becomes more susceptible to nucleophilic attack, favoring a nitro-aldol reaction. A plausible mechanism is suggested based on the experimental and theoretical results. The structures of reaction intermediates and transition state(s) involved in the catalytic cycle are derived using DFT.

Enhanced catalytic activity of zeolite encapsulated Fe(III)-Schiff-base complexes for oxidative coupling of 2-napthol.

Iron(III) Schiff-base complexes of general formula [Fe(L)(2)Cl]·2H(2)O, where L = N,N-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine and N,N-disalicylidene-1,2-phenylenediamine have been encapsulated within various alkali exchanged zeolites viz. LiY, NaY, and KY by flexible ligand method. The encapsulated complexes are characterized by EDX, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, UV-vis, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR) and cyclic voltammetry studies. The diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectra of encapsulated complexes show a dramatic red shift of the charge transfer band with increasing electropositivity of the exchangeable cations. The electrochemical analysis predicts the shifting of the reduction potential toward negative values with increasing size of the alkali exchanged cations. The zeolite encapsulated Schiff-base complexes of iron are found to be catalytically active toward the oxidative coupling of 2-napthol. Metal complexes incorporated in potassium exchanged zeolite-Y are found to be more effective for catalytic conversion of 2-naphthol to binaphthol and induces higher selectivity toward the R-conformation. The catalytic conversion of 2-napthol to BINOL is found to depend on the reduction potential of the catalyst, with a more negative reduction potential being better for the catalytic conversion. Density functional calculation is being carried out on both the neat Fe-Salen and Fe-Salophen complexes and those encapsulated in NaY zeolite to investigate change in structural parameters, energies of the HOMO and LUMO, and global hardness and softness. Fukui functions, as local descriptors, are used to analyze the hard-hard interaction at a particular site of the complexes.