Experimental and Theoretical Studies on Acid Corrosion Inhibition of API 5L X70 Steel with Novel 1-N-α-d-Glucopyranosyl-1H-1,2,3-Triazole Xanthines.

A series of novel 1-N-α-d-glucopyranosyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole xanthines was synthesized from azido sugars (glucose, galactose, and lactose) and propargyl xanthines (theophylline and theobromine) using a typical copper (I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The corrosion inhibition activities of these new carbohydrate-xanthine compounds were evaluated by studying the corrosion of API 5 L X70 steel in a 1 M HCl medium. The results showed that, at 10 ppm, a 90% inhibition efficiency was reached by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The inhibitory efficiency of these molecules is explained by means of quantum chemical calculations of the protonated species with the solvent effect, which seems to better represent the actual situation of the experimental conditions. Some quantum chemical parameters were analyzed to characterize the inhibition performance of the tested molecules.

Innovative Incorporation of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) as Hole Carrier Transport Layer and as Anode for Organic Solar Cells Performance Improvement.

In this work, we present a comparative study of benzoid poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as electrode and as hole carrier transport layer (HTL) in the manufacture of organic photovoltaic devices using Fischer metal-carbene complexes. The performance of the different devices was evaluated for solar cell applications. Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the thin films that integrated the devices. A more ordered and crystallized active film microstructure is observed when using benzoid PEDOT:PSS as nucleation layer. The optical gap for both direct and indirect electronic transitions was evaluated from ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy data (UV-vis), as well as the absorption coefficient (α), and the values are in the range of 2.10-2.93 eV. Photovoltaic devices with conventional architecture, using two different chromium carbenes as active layers, were manufactured, and their electrical behavior was studied. The devices were irradiated with different wavelengths between the infrared and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Using the PEDOT:PSS film as hole carrier transport layer (HTL) decreases the slope on the ohmic and space charge limited current (SCLC) regions and eliminates the trap-charge limited current (T-CLC) mechanism. Furthermore, a saturation current of ~1.95 × 10-10 A and higher current values ~1.75 × 10-2 A at 4 V, ~4 orders in magnitude larger were observed. The PEDOT:PSS films as HTL in the devices reduced the injection barrier, thus showing a better performance than as anodes in this type of organic solar cells.

Cu-Al mixed oxide-catalysed multi-component synthesis of gluco- and allofuranose-linked 1,2,3-triazole derivatives.

A series of carbohydrate-linked 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were synthesized in good yields from glucofuranose and allofuranose diacetonides using as key step a three-component 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition catalysed by a Cu-Al mixed oxide. In this multi-component reaction, Cu-Al mixed oxide/sodium ascorbate system serves as a highly reactive, recyclable and efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the regioselective synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. The reported protocol has significant advantages over classical CuI/N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) or CuSO4/sodium ascorbate conditions in terms of efficiency and reduced synthetic complexity. In addition, the selective deprotection of synthesized di-O-isopropylidene derivatives was also carried out leading to the corresponding mono-O-isopropylidene products in moderate yields. Some of the synthesized triazole glycoconjugates were tested for their in vitro antimicrobial activity using the disc diffusion method against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), as well as fungus (Aspergillus niger) and yeast (Candida utilis). The results revealed that these compounds exhibit moderate to good antimicrobial activity mainly against Gram-negative bacteria.

Multifunctional Fischer Aminocarbene Complexes as Hole or Electron Transporting Layers in Organic Solar Cells.

A new series of Fischer carbenes have been synthetized and examined as hole-transporting or electron-transporting layers (HTLs or ETLs) in the fabrication of organic solar cells (OSCs). The synthesis of three Fischer aminocarbene complexes with the general formula [Cr(CO)5{C(NHCH2)Ar}] (Ar = 2-pyridyl (3a), 3-pyridyl (3b) and 4-pyridyl (3c)) is reported. The molecular structure of complex 3b has been confirmed by X-ray analysis. In order to study the possible applications of the three Fischer aminocarbenes in OSCs, thin films of these complexes were prepared using a vacuum deposition process. These organometallic films were chemically and morphologically characterized by IR spectroscopy, SEM, AFM and XRD. According to the IR and Tauc analysis, the vacuum deposition process generates thin films free of impurities with an activation energy of 4.0, 2.7 and 2.1 eV for 3a, 3b y 3c, respectively. The UV-vis spectra of the amorphous aminocarbene films show that they are practically transparent to the visible radiation of the electromagnetic spectrum. This is due to the fact that their absorption is located mainly in the ultraviolet range. Two OSCs with bulk-heterojunction configuration were manufactured in order to prove the use of the aminocarbenes as ETL o HTL. The aminocarbene [Cr(CO)5{C(NHCH2) 4-pyridyl}] (3c) proved to be suitable as ETL with a fill factor (FF) of 0.23 and a short circuit current density (JSC) of 1.037 mA/cm².

2-Ferrocenyl-2-thiazoline as a building block of novel phosphine-free ligands.

New 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenes [5(b-j), in which R = -SMe, -SPh, -SiPr, -SiMe3, -SePh, -SnBu3, -B(OH)2, -Me, -I] with a thiazoline ring in the ferrocene backbone using as key intermediate a ferrocenyl Fischer carbene complex were synthesized. The capability of the 2-thiazoline moiety as an ortho-directed metalation group was demonstrated by subsequent quenching of lithium intermediate with several electrophiles, proving to be an excellent method for synthesizing bidentate ligands. The catalytic scope of the [N,S] ligand 5b as the corresponding palladium complex 5b-PdCl(2) in a microwave-promoted Heck reaction was also tested. Results obtained showed better catalytic activity of 5b-PdCl(2) compared to other catalytic systems based on a [N,S] ferrocenyl ligand.