Volume 39, Issue 2

This review presents a comprehensive summary of the research progress on the synthesis of rare earth fluoride nanomaterials using the most common methods of synthesis. Special focus is on syntheses utilising ionic liquids, which is a new and promising way of preparing nanomaterials without the use of dangerous organic solvents (toxic, flammable, or combustive). Rare earth fluoride nanoparticles can be obtained with a high yield, purity, and crystallinity, and with different morphologies and luminescent properties depending on the selected method of synthesis.

The useful aspects of nitric oxide (NO) are nowadays widely known. Due to the need for this molecule in the maintenance of homeostasis, NO-releasing compounds are tested every year to optimize its levels in a patient suffering from low NO production. This manuscript is an update of some important historical concerns about nitrosyl complexes having the ability to act as NO-releasing compounds under the influence of different chemically modified environments. At present, the search for efficient and less harmful NO-releasing molecules at desirable targets and concentrations has gained considerable momentum in nitrosyl chemistry. Iron, ruthenium, and manganese nitrosyls have been investigated elitely to disentangle their electronic transition (excitation) under visible light to act as NO donors without harming the healthy cells of a target. There is much evidence supporting the increase of NO lability if amino acids are used as complexing ligands, the design of a reduction center close to an NO grouping, and the development of porphyrin system-based nitrosyl complexes. From the overall survey, it may be concluded that the desirable properties of such scaffolds need to be evaluated further to complement the biological milieu.

This review is a gentle introduction toward Schiff bases with special attention to bioinorganic aspects. Depending on the nature of condensation moieties (ketonic or aldehydic) with primary amine, a large number of novel compounds are reported every year with applicability in various material science aspects. Herein, a burgeoning literature overview is presented to provide a salient discussion of the current status of these molecular systems. Schiff bases are designed depending on the particular desirable properties. For instance, to enlighten a biologically relevant molecule, it is always appreciated when a prepared compound shows biological membrane crossing and nucleic acid linking potential. Under such purview, the Schiff base functional group can serve as an enhancer of biomembrane traversing capability. In addition to various other catalytic aspects, the type of disease to be encountered also matters. Nowadays, theoretical chemistry is applied before synthesizing a compound of this sort and fruitful results are first depicted and, if found feasible, a suitable synthetic route is followed to synthesize Schiff base compounds. Molecular charge topology analysis under theoretical expression is analyzed generally to predict the biological relevance of a molecule.