Volume 11, Issue 6

This review article includes over three hundred and sixty heterotrinuclear platinum complexes of the composition Pt2M (205 examples), PtM2 (132 examples) and PtMM (24 examples). The heterometals include the non-transition and transition metals. Three metal atoms form a wide variability of frameworks: M3 triangular, dicapped M3 triangular, V shaped M3, M3 linear, five-, six- and seven- metallocycles and unique structures of which triangular and linear are the most common. This has led to a rich chemistry of platinum not only from variability of metals, but also from their framework and stereochemistry. The shortest Pt-M (non-transition) and Pt-M (transition) bonds are 2.315(1) Å for Pt-Ga and 2.4896(9) Å for Pt-Co. The shortest Pt-Pt bond distance is 2.581(1) Å. Two complexes exist in two isomeric forms and several others contain crystallographically independent molecules. All are typical examples of distortion isomerism. Correlations between structural parameters, heterometal and ligand donor atoms are developed and discussed.

The treatment of chromium tanned sheepskins with poly(hydroxyl urethane) and dispersion of chemically synthesized nanosilver showed the best resistance to fungi and bacterial exposure tests. These collagen-based materials containing different amounts of nanosilver were investigated by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. The influence of sheepskins treated with silver nanoparticles on the wound healing process was assessed and the nanoparticles concentration seems to have a positive effect up to 370 ppm and does not influence the inflammatory process above this concentration.

The activity of monometallic Pd, Ru, Ni and Cu catalysts supported on spinel ZnAl2O4 for water gas shift reaction (WGS) was investigated. The physicochemical properties of each catalyst was studied by XRD, TPR, BET and chemisorption methods. The highest activity was obtained for Cu/ZnAl2O4 among the catalysts tested. The activation process carried out in a reducing atmosphere 5%H2-95%Ar in the case of Cu/ZnAl2O4 system lead to the catalytic activity improvement. In the case of copper catalysts, the water gas shift reaction proceeded by the redox surface mechanism between Cu0/Cu+. The PdZn alloy formation after reduction at 350°C was shown.

The Co3O4/LiNbO3 composites were synthesized by impregnation of LiNbO3 in an aqueous solution of cobalt nitrate and next by calcination at 400°C. The activity of produced samples has been investigated in the reaction of photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The crystallographic phases, optical and vibronic properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance (DR) UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopic techniques, respectively. The influence of cobalt content (range from 0.5 wt.% to 4 wt.%) on the photocatalytic activity of Co3O4/LiNbO3 composites for photocatalytic hydrogen generation has been investigated. Co3O4/LiNbO3 composites exhibited higher than LiNbO3 photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation. The highest H2 evolution efficiency was observed for Co3O4/LiNbO3 composite with 3 wt.% cobalt content. The amount of H2 obtained in the presence of LiNbO3 and Co3O4/LiNbO3 (3 wt.% of cobalt content) was 1.38 µmol/min and 2.59 µmol min−1, respectively.

The lipophilicity of thirty-two novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors — 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine and 2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]quinoline derivatives was studied by thin layer chromatography. The analyzed compounds were chromatographed on RP-18, RP-8, RP-2, CN and NH2 stationary phases with dioxane — citric buffer pH 3.0 binary mobile phases containing different proportions of dioxane. RM values for pure water were extrapolated from the linear Soczewiński-Wachtmeister equation and six compounds with known literature log P values were used as reference calibration data set for computation of experimental log P values. The obtained results were compared with computationally calculated partition coefficients values (AlogPs, AClogP, AlogP, MlogP, KOWWIN, XlogP2, XlogP3) by PCA and significant differences between them were observed.

The main goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of silver and gold ions on cholinesterases (ChEs) activity due to increasing application of these metals in a wide variety of nanomaterials. A chromogenic assay using the substrate o-nitrophenyl acetate/butyrate made it possible to conclude unmistakably that both metals inhibit ChEs. Addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) indicates that binding of metal ions to albumin could serve to scavenge metals and consequently reduce their amount for reaction with ChEs. The effects of metal ions on ChE should be taken into consideration when using this enzyme as an environmental biomarker.

Gas sensor material was prepared by encapsulation of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) into a gas-permeable polymer poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP). A phenylhydrazino group was used for the functionalization of SWCNTs to improve their solubility and compatibility with polymers. Syntheses were carried out in aqueous surfactant solutions and in pure phenylhydrazine without surfactant. Two different temperatures (24 and 50°C) and two surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate and tricaprylmethylammonium chloride — Aliquat®336) were compared. Functionalized SWCNTs were characterized by X-ray photoelectron (XPS), Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Analyses showed that the synthesis at higher temperature in pure phenylhydrazine resulted in the highest functionalization yield. Phenylhydrazine itself proved to be a good solvent for SWCNTs. The functionalized nanotubes were soluble in organic solvents that under the same conditions were appropriate solvents for polymers. The sensitivity of functionalized SWCNT-PTMSP thin film composite to NO2 gas at room temperature was significantly higher than that of the similar sensor material containing the pristine SWCNTs.

To get expandable graphite (EG) flame retardant for Liner Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) with low initial expansion temperature and high dilatability, the effects of various factors on dilatability were investigated including the dosages of oxidant KMnO4, intercalating reagent H2SO4, assistant intercalating reagent acetic acid (HAc) and reaction temperature. Feasible conditions were obtained according to the results of L9 (34) experiments and single factor experiments. EG with an initial expansion temperature of 160°C and expansion volume of 460 mL g−1 could be prepared according to the mass ratio of material graphite C: KMnO4: 100% H2SO4: HAc = 1.0: 0.4: 5.0: 1.0 (H2SO4 should be diluted to the mass concentration of 75% before the intercalation reaction); the reaction time was 1.0 hour at 25°C. It was found that reaction temperature and H2SO4 dosage were the most important influence factors for dilatability. The limiting oxygen index could be improved to 28.1% by adding 30% of the prepared EG to LLDPE, and the synergistic anti-flame capability of 20% EG with 10% Ammonium polyphosphate (APP) (I) can reach to 33.9%. According to thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis results, 70% LLDPE /10% APP (I) /20% EG synergistic anti-flame system shows higher residual carbon and thermal stability.

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is an electric generator, operating based on electrochemical reaction converting gaseous fuel to electricity and heat. It is characterized by the high electrical efficiency of up to 70% with cogeneration and negligible emission of pollutants. Syngas from the biomass gasification is considered to be a possible fuel for solid oxide fuel cell systems. However, high level of contaminants such as H2S, HCl, alkali metals, tars and particulates, in addition to possibility of carbon deposition and high temperature gradients due to internal reforming of hydrocarbons requires cleaning and conditioning of the syngas stream. The current status of the effect of contaminants on the SOFC performance has been reviewed and effects of single contaminants (H2S, HCl) has been tested. It has been found that anode supported solid oxide fuel cell (AS-SOFC) with Ni/YSZ cermet anode can tolerate up to 1 ppm H2S and up to 10 ppm HCl without significant performance degradation.

The present work describes the development of a nanocomposite system and its application in construction of a new amperometric biosensor applied in the determination of total polyphenolic content from propolis extracts. The nanocomposite system was based on covalent immobilization of laccase on functionalized indium tin oxide nanoparticles and it was morphologically and structural characterized. The casting of the developed nanocomposite system on the surface of a screen-printed electrode was used for biosensor fabrication. The analytical performance characteristics of the settled biosensor were determined for rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and catechol (as laccase specific substrate). The linearity was obtained in the range of 1.06×10−6 − 1.50×10−5 mol L−1 for rosmarinic acid, 1.90×10−7 − 2.80×10−6 mol L−1 for caffeic acid and 1.66×10−6 − 7.00×10−6 mol L−1 for catechol. A good sensitivity of amperometric biosensor 141.15 nA µmol−1 L−1 and fair detection limit 7.08×10−8 mol L−1 were obtained for caffeic acid. The results obtained for polyphenolic content of propolis extracts were compared with the chromatographic data obtained by liquid-chromatography with diode array detection.

The application effect of aluminium and their alloys and mixtures with nickel was studied for the complete hydrodebromination of 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP) to phenol in aqueous NaOH solution at room temperature. It was found that the Raney Al-Ni alloy can rapidly transform TBP to phenol. Removal efficiency of 25 mM TBP solution in aqueous NaOH (15 g L−1) solution at the end of 1h reaction was 100% using 4 g L−1 Al-Ni. The hydrodebromination is accompanied by the dissolution of aluminium and formation of soluble Al(OH)4−1 anions under these reaction conditions. After completion of the hydrodebromination reaction removal of the dissolved metals was achieved by precipitation of appropriate hydroxides by adjustment of the pH value and filtration, the filtrate was treated with Pseudomonas or Rhodococcus bacterial strains to degrade dissolved phenol. The combined application of both (chemical-biological) treatments produced degradations of 100% of aromatic compounds.

It is important to apply sorbent materials for purification of water from arsenic contamination due to serious arsenic pollution worldwide. We have developed new sorbents based on natural materials that provide a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative. For the first time, peat modified with iron compounds and iron humates were tested for sorption of arsenic compounds. The highest sorption capacity was found in peat modified with iron compounds. We have found that sorption of different arsenic speciation forms was strongly dependent on solution pH, reaction time and temperature. Calculations of the sorption process using thermodynamic parameters indicate the spontaneity of sorption process and its endothermic nature. Sorption kinetics showed that most arsenates are removed within 2 hours, and the kinetics of arsenate sorption on modified peat can be described by the pseudo-second order mechanism.

Two novel complexes of CuCN were characterized by using a single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique and Raman spectroscopy. In the structure of 2CuCN·DMSO ligand molecule demonstrates unique bridging mode, being bound to two CuI centers via oxygen and sulfur atoms. The bridging role of both CN groups and DMSO molecules results in the formation of (CuCN·DMSO)n framework. Along the channels of the network are running infinite zig-zag (CuCN)n chains, which are bound to the framework by elongated Cu…(CN) bonds. A mixed-valence [CuII(DMSO)6][CuI 6(CN)8] compound is composed of 3-D [CuI 6(CN)8]n anionic framework and located in the channels of partially disordered [CuII(DMSO)6]2+ cations.

A series of new ruthenium(II) complexes were synthesized with Schiff bases derived from salicylaldehyde / o-hydroxyacetophenone/ o-vanillin / 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with thiosemicarbazide and acetyl furan. They are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, electronic, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral studies. The elemental analysis suggests the stoichiometry to be 1:1 (metal:ligand). Four of these complexes were tested for its binding with CT-DNA using absorption spectroscopic studies and two of these complexes exhibit efficient DNA cleavage activity.

Amination by organic azides has been carried out to provide aminobarbiturates by fusion of a triazole ring to the 5,6-positions of barbituric acid followed by cleavage and thermal elimination of nitrogen, whereas aza-Wittig reaction gave phosphoranylidene barbituric acid salts.