Australian Journal of Chemistry

1,2-Diaryl-1,2-disodioethanes are easily prepared, versatile, and tunable diorganometals finding application in 1,2-reductive eliminations as well as in the degradation of several persistent organic pollutants as homogeneous synthetic equivalents of a highly reactive form of Na metal. Further applications as dinucleophiles and bases are also described.

A tetrapyridyl-substituted tetraphenylethylene (TPy-TPE) works as a good fluorescent visualiser for specific staining for cellular imaging and as a DNA marker.

Several indeno[1,2-c]pyridazines were efficiently synthesised using the one-pot, three-component reaction of substituted indanones, arylglyoxalmonohydrates, and hydrazine in the presence of 1,5-diazabicyclo[4,3,0]non-5-ene (DBN) in water at room temperature.

A series of novel PA6-PEG/Li composites were developed by melt blending the PA6-PEG copolymer (10 wt-% PEG) with three different kinds of colourless lithium salts (LiCl, C₁₈H₃₅LiO₂, LiAc). The PA6-PEG/LiCl composite showed an excellent static dissipation performance of 2.71 × 10⁸ Ω square^–1.

The fluorescence intensity of CB[7]–PAL, CB[7]–BER, or CB[7]–COP system decreased with increasing amounts of oxaliplatin (l-OHP) added. The trend is attributed to the competition between l-OHP and PAL, BER, or COP molecules for occupancy of the CB[7] cavity.

Cope rearrangement of bicycle[5.1.0]octa-2,5-diene and its 8-hetero- (N,O,P) and 4,8-dihetero-analogues has been investigated in the gas phase at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level. The results reveal that relative stabilities of the three-membered ring undergoing opening and the three-membered ring being formed as a result of the Cope rearrangement determine the feasibility and rate of the rearrangement.

Hierarchical HZSM-5 were synthesised by controlled desilication in alkaline medium and used as catalyst for the selective oxidation of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol to 2,3,5-trimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone. The combined studies suggested that the nature of the solvent, intrinsic acidity, and shape selectivity of the hierarchical structure ensured high catalytic properties.

The extraction yield of citral from lemon myrtle using cellulose-dissolving ionic liquids was up to 2.1 times higher than that obtained using ethanol. The ionic liquid could be recycled and reused nine times for the extraction of citral.

The probe developed in the present study can selectively detect Hg²⁺ ions in live cells and living tissues without interference from other metal ions and the membrane-bound probes, and its quenching constant is 8.73 × 10⁵ M^–1.

The particle diameter distributions of PLLA show that the stabilizer S131 with short lipophilic segment could improve the particle diameter distribution range, compared with the long lipophilic segment of stabilizer S121. With increasing concentration of the stabilizer S131, the particle size decreased and particle distribution became narrow.

In this paper, we introduce a novel aptasensor for fast detection of oxytetracycline (OTC), based on a triple helix molecular switch (THMS) complex formation. The limit of detection (LOD) of this sensor was 1.67 and 6.44 nM in phosphate buffer and milk samples, respectively. The sensor also showed a high selectivity towards OTC.

The RO–H/H–Si cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of alcohols and hydrosilanes with high yield (up to 99 %) and chemoselectivity for the production of silyl ethers using alkali metal salts [MN(SiMe₃)₂] (M = Li, Na, K) as pre-catalysts and under ambient conditions is presented.

Lignocellulose has gained much interest as a potential renewable energy resource. However, it is hardly soluble. In this study, a non-thermal plasma was applied to dissolution of lignocellulose to ionic liquids. Chemically active species, which were generated by the plasma, induced decomposition of the lignin network, and consequently dissolution of biomass into ionic liquids was accelerated.

Degradable polyanhydride-based nanoparticles are synthesized using thiol–ene ‘click’ polymerization followed by emulsification and solvent evaporation. These nanoparticles have tuneable degradation times, can be easily functionalized, and encapsulate payloads that can then be released upon degradation. Such degradable polymer nanoparticles have potential in many nano/bio-theranostic applications.

Ilimaquinone is a biologically active sesquiterpene isolated from Dactylospongia sponges. An intriguing diastereomeric ratio is observed based on an impressive collection of samples. Biosynthetic and ecological considerations stem from this study.

The catalytically and geochemically relevant rates of water exchange of four new Co^II and one new Mn^II 2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline complexes have been determined using the temperature-dependent line broadening of the ¹⁷O NMR signal from the solvent water.

An integrated device is developed that incorporates a sensor, readout system, and battery on paper. The electrochromic readout system allows the pH range of a sample solution to be determined visually rather than using an LCD display or voltmeter. The integrated potentiometric sensor and readout system provides a cost-effective and lightweight solution for pH monitoring.

Aerial oxidation of Cd(TCNQ)₂ during slow recrystallization in tetrahydrofuran produced a dicarboxylate ligand–Cd complex, with the N 1s XPS spectrum showing that this chemical transformation is complete.

A simple and highly sensitive method for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in food samples was developed by electrodepositing Cu and MnO₂ onto a g-C₃N₄ coated glassy carbon electrode. The sensor exhibits high selectivity, good stability, and reproducibility.

Different aminoalcohol ligands (TEA, DEA, and MEA) were found to affect the size and optical properties (band gap and emission peak) of ligand-stabilized ZnO quantum dots. Ligands of higher polarity and larger molar volume produce smaller, more monodisperse ZnO quantum dots. As the size of ZnO quantum dots decrease, the optical properties are blue-shifted.

SnFe₂O₄ has been widely used as a magnetic material or catalyst for the oxidative removal of organic pollutants, but never used as an electrode material in lithium ion batteries. In this study, binder-free SnFe₂O₄-rGO hybrid films with both horizontal and vertical channels were fabricated through electrophoretic deposition to present excellent electrochemical performance of lithium ion batteries.

Heterocycles fused to quinoline frameworks widely occur in many biologically active natural products and in medicinally important drugs. Our strategy represents the first collective synthetic concise and efficient entry to nine novel condensed tetracyclic quinolinones by Friedel–Crafts cycliacylations. The simplicity and wide variability of the procedures highlights the efficiency of the methodology for constructing complex fused-ring systems.

The attempted synthesis of a β-keto imidazolidinone nitroxide by oxidation of the β-hydroxy imidazolidinone precursor led to an unexpected ring-opening reaction. A β-fragmentation mechanism is suggested, rather than a Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement.

A simple procedure for the condensation of the bio-derived furfurals, 5-(methyl)furfural (MF) and 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF), with primary amines is described. The experiments were conducted in both batch and flow conditions, with reaction times as short as 60 s. Mild reaction conditions were necessary for CMF in order to selectively react on the aldehyde and not the methyl-chlorine group.

Orpiment (As₂S₃) quantum dots (QDs) were first synthesised through top-down and bottom-up routes, and exhibit strong blue photoluminescence emission. They were effective against murine melanoma B16 cells through induction of apoptosis. Moreover, self-assemblies of orpiment QDs were fabricated by destroying the protective surface ligand layer surrounding the inner orpiment cores by addition of an acid.

The ability of gold anti-arthritic agents and gold nanoparticles to alter production in RAW264.7 macrophages of a number of cellular mediators of inflammation, including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, interleukin-10 and tumour necrosis factor, have been compared.

In this research, relatively high surface area mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles have been synthesised using two different media. The mechanism of the by-product assisted synthesis of the prepared mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles in EtOH has been investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption, and FT-IR spectroscopy analyses.

A custom-designed liquid–liquid countercurrent chromatographic instrument (above left), based on the J-type centrifuge, in which at least one phase contains an ionic liquid, is capable of the separation of inorganic (above right), organic, or bio-based materials on the 0.1–10 g scale.

A series of all-trans acceptor–π-donor (acceptor) compounds were conveniently synthesised via the three-step synthetic method Arbuzov reaction, solvent-free Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction, and Mizoroki–Heck reaction. They all exhibit obvious solvatochromic effects, strong two-photon excited fluorescence, and large two-photon absorption cross-sections.

A polymer, β-MEA, was synthesised from β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), 3-chloro-2-methylpropene (MAC), epoxysuccinic acid (ESA), and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS). Its structure, molecular weight, thermal stability, inhibition performance, and mechanism were investigated. The results showed that β-MEA achieves better scale and corrosion inhibition efficiencies compared with poly(aspartic acid) (PASP).

A novel MoO₂ composite supported on mesoporous graphene oxide (m-MoO₂/GO) is successfully synthesised. The introduction of a mesoporous structure into GO sheets not only promotes the catalytic activity, but also makes m-MoO₂/GO more effective in catalysing olefins with a long carbon chain and large ring size.

A novel series of 3D Ln^III–Cu^I heterometallic coordination polymers {[Ln₂Cu₄I₃(ina)₇(DMA)₂]_n·nDMA were synthesised by a solvothermal reaction, comprising of inorganic Cu₄I₃ clusters linked by Ln₂(ina)₇(DMA) rod units. The luminescent properties of partial compounds have been investigated in detail.

Crystalline neutral red accelerates microbial methane generation from coal. Industrial scale-up requires knowledge of crystalline polymorphs that may behave differently with methanogens. Temperatures in the dark, subterranean environments where methanogenesis occurs range from 50–70°C, conditions where neutral red crystallises or transforms to a new polymorph.

The fluorescence and Raman intensity of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-coated gold nanoparticle arrays with different particle sizes and interparticle distances were enhanced in comparison with pristine P3HT due to electromagnetic field enhancement based on localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The fluorescence and Raman signals of P3HT on gold nanoparticle arrays were gradually enhanced with increasing nanoparticle diameter/interparticle distance ratio.

Bifunctional magnetic–luminescent Fe₃O₄@Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺, Li⁺ composite particles were prepared with Y₂O₃ co-doped with Eu³⁺ and Li⁺ ions as a shell to enhance their luminescence intensity and saturation magnetisation through a urea homogeneous precipitation method.

The present review summarises the latest developments on the ultrasound-assisted synthesis of biologically relevant N-heterocycles at ambient temperature.

The photocatalytic reaction of prepared Bi₂WO₆/g-C₃N₄ composite materials followed a direct solid-state Z-scheme mechanism, which facilitated charge transfer and effectively reduces the recombination of photoinduced electrons and holes, resulting in an enhanced photodegradation efficiency under visible light irradiation.

Unique self-assembled nanoparticles with sea urchin-like pointed edges were synthesized by a solvothermal approach. The high value of the apparent rate constant, k_app, is due to the unique morphology of the Co₃O₄ nanoparticles.

Different adsorbents (Tenax TA, Porapak Q, and Hayesep Q, among others) were evaluated in a headspace dynamic system containing a mixture of insect semiochemicals. The results demonstrated that Porapak Q and Porapak Rxn RP were able to produce similar ratios of compounds to that of a standard solution with the highest recovery yields.

The simultaneous α-iodination and N^β-arylation mechanism of 5-alkyoxy-4-phenylamino-2(5H)-furanone by (diacetoxyiodo)benzene was investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT), selecting 4-(diphenylamino)-5-methoxy-3-iodo-2(5H)-furanone as the calculation model.

The determination of enantiomeric purity is frequently required in synthetic chemistry. NMR can be used for this purpose if suitable chiral solvating agents are available. Nine new (+)-dehydroabietylimidazolium salts were synthesised and used as efficient chiral solvating agents for resolving several racemic aromatic and non-aromatic carboxylate salts.

The first azulenyl squaraine dye was reported in 1966, but little activity in the scientific literature has given the impression that they remain unexplored. However, much has been recorded in the patent literature and it is the purpose of this review to bring this record to the attention of researchers.

Four dual BODIPY-carbazole conjugates (BDPa–d) with various linkers were synthesized. The results suggest that the linkers have significant effect on the photophysical and electrochemical properties of the conjugates. The conjugates show intensive absorption, remarkable Stocks shifts, and suitable HOMO–LUMO energy levels, which are promising for photovoltaic applications.

Methylene violet 3RAX 1 and its derivatives 2–5 were synthesised and characterised. The binding mode between the synthesised compounds and DNA and their DNA photocleavage ability were investigated. The results suggest that the binding mode between methylene violet 3RAX and DNA, its ability to generate singlet oxygen, and DNA photocleavage activity could be changed through modification of the amino group on methylene violet 3RAX.

Cross-linked poly(acrylamide) microspheres, PAMBA, with mean diameters ranging from 169.7 to 525.2 nm were successfully prepared by dispersion polymerisation of acrylamide in an aqueous ammonium sulfate solution with N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) as the cross-linking agent and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the stabiliser. The mean diameter of the PAMBA microspheres can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of the stabiliser.

Two luminescent functionalised supramolecular coordination polymers based on an aromatic carboxylic acid ligand exhibit efficient luminescence sensing for Hg²⁺ ions.

A 3D heterometal–organic framework was synthesised. The compound is 2-fold interpenetrating. It displayed good thermal and solvents stability and exhibited high sensitive and qualitative luminescent detection of nitrobenzene. The present study is the first report on the use of an interpenetrating heterometallic metal–organic framework as a luminescent probe for nitrobenzene

The recovery of platinum from acidic solutions was examined and consists of two steps. For each reaction within a step, the rate constants were determined. The first two reactions in step 1 were diffusion controlled unlike the third reaction in step 2 step, which took place at the surface of activated carbon. The results were in excellent agreement to the assumed model.

Lanthanide phosphate nanoparticles were produced under continuous flow in a vortex fluidic device in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. Changes in the morphology of the dandelion-shaped nanoparticles were possible by varying the chain length of PVP, and the rotational speed and tilt angle of the tube in the vortex fluidic device.

The Ru₂ double bond in (RuPz)₂, composed of one σ bond and one π bond, is unravelled by DFT (B3LYP) and WFT (CASSCF and NEVPT2) calculations. The ground state shows a Ru–Ru distance of 2.38 Å, a stretching frequency of 202 cm^-1, and a bonding energy of 30.7 kcal mol^-1. This agrees with experimental results.

Simultaneous temperature measurement by external and internal sensors revealed hidden inhomogeneities within the reaction mixtures of a debated microwave-assisted benzylation involving a 2-substituted pyridine reagent. Rate enhancement could be explained by macroscopic-scale localized heating in the boundary layers close to the vessel surface.

Homologous series of 4,5-disubstituted 2H-[1,2,3]-triazole derivatives were synthesized from chalcones and sodium azide via CuI-catalyzed oxidative cycloaddition reaction in order to characterize their liquid crystalline properties by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry.

Is formate an energy source? We achieve formate electrooxidation in a practical and convenient way. The precursor of the oxidation is free HCOO^– in fuel liquid rather than Pt-HCOOH. Formate is able to bypass the undesirable poisoning path to alternatively form carbon dioxide.