Luminescent Ag<SUB>7</SUB> and Ag<SUB>8</SUB> clusters by interfacial synthesis

Interfacial etching of silver nanoparticles and separation of the products by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis afforded Ag8 and Ag7 clusters with red and blue-green fluorescence emission, respectively (see picture). The strongly temperature-dependent emission of the clusters suggests potential applications, whilst their facile phase transfer to organic media facilitates further studies

Supported quantum clusters of silver as enhanced catalysts for reduction

Quantum clusters (QCs) of silver such as Ag7(H2MSA)7, Ag8(H2MSA)8 (H2MSA, mercaptosuccinic acid) were synthesized by the interfacial etching of Ag nanoparticle precursors and were loaded on metal oxide supports to prepare active catalysts. The supported clusters were characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. We used the conversion of nitro group to amino group as a model reaction to study the catalytic reduction activity of the QCs. Various aromatic nitro compounds, namely, 3-nitrophenol (3-np), 4-nitrophenol (4-np), 3-nitroaniline (3-na), and 4-nitroaniline (4-na) were used as substrates. Products were confirmed using UV-visible spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The supported QCs remained active and were reused several times after separation. The rate constant suggested that the reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The turn-over frequency was 1.87 s-1 per cluster for the reduction of 4-np at 35°C. Among the substrates investigated, the kinetics followed the order, SiO2 > TiO2 > Fe2O3 > Al2O3

Reference point based multi-objective optimization using evolutionary algorithms

Evolutionary multi-objective optimization (EMO) methodologies have been amply applied to find a representative set of Pareto-optimal solutions in the past decade and beyond. Although there are advantages of knowing the range of each objective for Pareto-optimality and the shape of the Pareto-optimal frontier itself in a problem for an adequate decision-making, the task of choosing a single preferred Paretooptimal solution is also an important task which has received a lukewarm attention so far. In this paper, we combine one such preference-based strategy with an EMO methodology and demonstrate how, instead of one solution, a preferred set of solutions near the reference points can be found parallely. We propose two approaches for this task: (i) a modified EMO procedure based on the elitist non-dominated sorting GA or NSGAII [1] and (ii) a predator-prey approach based on original grid based procedure [2]. On two-objective to 10-objective optimization test problems, the modified NSGA-II approach shows its efficacy in finding an adequate set of Pareto-optimal points. On two and three-objective problems, the predator-prey approach also demonstrate its usefulness. Such procedures will provide the decision-maker with a set of solutions near her/his preference so that a better and a more reliable decision can be made

Exploring the crystal landscape of 3-methyl-2-phenylbutyramide: crystallization of metastable racemic forms from the stable conglomerate

In the solid state (±)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutyramide 1 spontaneously resolves into a conglomerate (Form I) that crystallizes in a racemic form (Form II) upon evaporation from the melt, a rarely reported phenomenon. An additional racemic polymorph, Form III, has been characterized, and the thermodynamic relationship between the three forms established by a variety of computational and experimental methods including grinding, slurry crystallization and seeding techniques. Both racemic Forms II and III are metastable and readily convert to the more stable conglomerate, Form I. Density Functional Theory calculations of the different polymorphs of 1 show that the enantiomers of 1 (R & S) are more stable than both racemic forms

Novel co-crystals of the nutraceutical sinapic acid

Sinapic acid (SA) is a nutraceutical with known anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-anxiety properties. Novel co-crystals of SA were prepared with co-formers belonging to the category of GRAS [isonicotinic acid (INC), nicotinamide (NIA)], non-GRAS [4-pyridinecarbonitrile (PYC)], and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) [6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)] list of compounds. Structural study based on the X-ray crystal structures revealed the intermolecular hydrogen-bonded interactions and molecular packing. The crystal structure of sinapic acid shows the anticipated acid-acid homodimer along with discrete hydrogen bonds between the acid carbonyl and the phenolic moiety. The robust acid-acid homodimer appears to be very stable and is retained in the structures of two co-crystals (SA[middle dot]NIA and SA[middle dot]PYC). In these cases, co-crystallization occurs via intermolecular phenol O-H[three dots, centered]Naromatic hydrogen bonds between the co-formers. In the SA[middle dot]PTU[middle dot]2MeCN co-crystal the acid-acid homodimer gives way to the anticipated acid-amide heterodimer, with the phenolic moiety of SA hydrogen-bonded to acetonitrile. Attempts at obtaining the desolvated co-crystal led to lattice breakdown, thus highlighting the importance of acetonitrile in the formation of the co-crystal. Among the co-crystals examined, SA[middle dot]INC (5 weeks), SA[middle dot]NIA (8 weeks) and SA[middle dot]PYC (5 weeks) were found to be stable under accelerated humidity conditions (40 [degree]C, 75% RH), whereas SA[middle dot]PTU[middle dot]2MeCN decomposed after one week into individual components due to solvent loss

Regioselective thermal [3+2]-dipolar cycloadditions of α-diazoacetates with α-sulfenyl/sulfinyl/sulfonyl-β-chloroacrylamide derivatives to form densely functionalised pyrazoles

Highly regioselective synthetic methodology leading to densely functionalised C(3), C(4) and C(5) substituted pyrazoles 10a–q, 14a‐i and 16a–g via thermal [3+2]‐dipolar cycloaddition, of α‐diazoacetates and α‐thio‐β‐chloroacrylamides, at the sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone levels of oxidation, is described. This method allows access to C(4)‐sulfenyl or sulfonyl pyrazoles, through migration of the sulfur substituent at the sulfide and sulfone oxidation levels, while elimination of the sulfinyl group leading to 3,5‐disubstituted pyrazoles, is observed. While the sulfide migration is readily rationalised, the carbon to carbon 1,2‐sulfonyl migration is unprecedented and mechanistically intriguing. The synthetically versatile generation of densely functionalised pyrazoles containing substituents amenable to further modification offers advantages over alternative synthetic routes. Isolation of the N‐alkylated pyrazoles 11a and 12a as by‐products from the cycloaddition through further reaction of the pyrazoles 10 with excess α‐diazoacetate, proved useful in rationalising the tautomeric behaviour evident in the NMR spectra of the pyrazoles, with the position of tautomeric equilibrium influenced by solvent and substituents

Synthesis of 1,2,5-oxathiazole-S-oxides by 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions of nitrile oxides to α-oxo sulfines

Synthetic methodology for the generation of novel 1,2,5-oxathiazole-S-oxides from cycloaddition of nitrile oxide dipoles with α-oxo sulfines generated in situ via the α-sulfinyl carbenes derived from α-diazosulfoxides is described. Experimental evidence and mechanistic rationale for the unanticipated interconversion of the diastereomeric 1,2,5-oxathiazole-S-oxide cycloadducts are discussed. Notably, using rhodium acetate as a catalyst at 0 °C under traditional batch conditions led to the selective formation and isolation of the kinetic isomers, while, in contrast, using continuous flow thermolysis, optimal conditions for the synthesis and isolation of the thermodynamic isomers were established

Efficient S-acylation of thiourea

Efficient S-acylation of thiourea using a variety of acid chlorides is reported. Structurally diverse aryl and alkyl substrates are compatible with this methodology. Confirmation that acylation occurs exclusively­ on the sulfur atom of thiourea is provided by single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis

Isoquinolinequinone N-oxides as anticancer agents effective against drug resistant cell lines

The isoquinolinequinone (IQQ) pharmacophore is a privileged framework in known cytotoxic natural product families, caulibugulones and mansouramycins. Exploiting both families as a chemical starting point, we report on the structured development of an IQQ N-oxide anticancer framework which exhibits growth inhibition in the nM range across melanoma, ovarian and leukaemia cancer cell lines. A new lead compound (16, R6 = benzyl, R7 = H) exhibits nM GI50 values against 31/57 human tumour cell lines screened as part of the NCI60 panel and shows activity against doxorubicin resistant tumour cell lines. An electrochemical study highlights a correlation between electropositivity of the IQQ N-oxide framework and cytotoxicity. Adduct binding to sulfur based biological nucleophiles glutathione and cysteine was observed in vitro. This new framework possesses significant anticancer potential

Dirhodium carboxylate catalysts from 2-fenchyloxy or 2-menthyloxy arylacetic acids: enantioselective C-H insertion, aromatic addition and oxonium ylide formation/rearrangement

A new class of dirhodium carboxylate catalysts have been designed and synthesized from 2-fenchyloxy or 2-menthyloxy arylacetic acids which display excellent enantioselectivity across a range of transformations of alpha-diazocarbonyl compounds. The catalysts were successfully applied to enantioselective C-H insertion reactions of aryldiazoacetates and alpha-diazo-beta-oxosulfones affording the respective products in up to 93 % ee with excellent trans diastereoselectivity in most cases. Furthermore, efficient desymmetrization in an intramolecular C-H insertion was achieved. In addition, these catalysts prove highly enantioselective for intramolecular aromatic addition with up to 88% ee, and oxonium ylide formation and rearrangement with up to 74% ee