INVESTIGATIONS ON THE SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND LUMINESCENCE OF LANTHANOIDS WITH MIXTURES OF HETEROCYCLIC β- DIKETONE S AND VARIOUS NEUTRAL OXO-DONORS

The thesis entitled “ Investigations on the solvent extraction and luminescence of lanthanoids with mixtures of heterocyclic β-diketone S and various neutral oxo-donors” embodies the results of investigations carried out on the solvent extraction of trivalent lanthanoids with various heterocyclic β-diketones in the presence and absence of neutral oxo-donors and also on the luminescent studies of Eu3+-heterocyclic β-diketonate complexes with Lewis bases. The primary objective of the present work is to generate the knowledge base, especially to understand the interactions of lanthanoid-heterocyclic β-diketonates with various macrocyclic ligands such as crown ethers and neutral organophosphorus extractants , with a view to achieve better selectivity. The secondary objective of this thesis is to develop novel lanthanoid luminescent materials based on 3-phenyl-4-aroyl-5-isoxazolones and organophosphorus ligands, for use in electroluminescent devices. In the beginning it describes the need for the development of new mixed-ligand systems for the separation of lanthanoids and the development and importance of novel luminescent lanthanoid- β-diketonate complexes for display devices. The syntheses of various para substituted derivatives of 4-aroyl-5-isoxazolones and their characterization by various spectroscopic techniques are described. It also investigate the solvent extraction behaviour of trivalent lanthanoids with 4-aroyl-5-isoxazolones in the presence and absence of various crown ethers such as 18C6, DC18C6, DB18C6 and B18C6. Elemental analysis, IR and H NMR spectral studies are used to understand the interactions of crown ethers with 4-aroyl-5-isoxazolonate complexes of lanthanoids. The synergistic extraction of trivalent lanthanoids with sterically hindered 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-pivaloyl-5-pyrazolone in the presence of various structurally related crown ethers are studied. The syntheses, characterization and photyphysical properties of Eu3+-4-aroyl-5-isoxazolonate complexes in the presence of Lewis bases like trictylphosphine oxide or triphenylphosphine oxide were studied.

Novel Strategies for Heterocyclic Constructions via 1, 4-Dipolar Intermediates

In the thesis entitled " Novel Strategies for Heterocyclic Constructions via 1 ,4-Dipolar Intermediates"Synthesis of a complex organic molecules essentially involves the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Various synthetic methods are available for these processes involving ionic, pericyclic and radical reactions. Among the pericyclic reactions, dipolar cycloaddition reactions, introduced by Huisgen, have emerged as a very powerful tool for heterocyclic construction. Heterocyclic compounds remain an important class of organic molecules due to their natural abundance and remarkable biological activity, thus constituting an intergral part of pharmaceutical industry. In this respect, developing newer synthetic methodology for heterocyclic construction has been an area of immense interest. In recent years, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions proved to be efficient routes to a wide variety of five membered heterocycles, as attested by their application in the total synthesis of various complex organic molecules. However, the potential application of similar 1,4- dipolar cycloaddition reactions for the construction of six memebered heterocycles remained underexploited. In this context, a systematic investigation of the reactivity of 1,4-dipoles generated from nitrogen heterocycles (pyridine and its analogues) and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxy!ate (DMAD) towards various dipolarophiles has been carried out and the results are embodied.

Two new fluorescent heterocyclic perimidines: first syntheses, crystal structure and spectral characterization

An efficient one-pot synthesis of two new heterocyclic perimidines 4-(2,3-dihydro-1H-perimidin-2-yl)-2-methoxyphenol and 2-(quinoxalin-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-perimidine in good yields is presented. This methodology provides a simple, straightforward synthetic route to these interesting classes of heterocycles. Crystal structure, solvatochromism and antibacterial activity of these organic compounds are discussed.

Studies on metal complexes with acylhydrazones based on heterocyclic carbonyl compounds

Dept.of Applied Chemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Ground and Excited State Electron Transfer Reaction Between a few Anthracene Appended Tertiary Amines and Suitable Electron Acceptors

the thesis entitled “Ground and Excited State Electron Transfer Reaction Between a few Anthracene Appended Tertiary Amines and Suitable Electron Acceptors” portrays our attempts to explore the solvent, concentration and temperature effect of the reaction between a few (anthracen-9- yl)methanamines with electron acceptors like DMAD, DBA and DBE. We have also studied the effect of solvent and percentage fluorescence quenching in the photoinduced electron transfer reactions of these ‘donor-spacer-acceptor’ systems. Finally we look in to the intramolecular electron transfer reactions of a few tertiary amine appended dibenzobarrelenes and bisdibenzobarrelenes

Exploration of Novel Organic Reactions Catalyzed by Nucleophilic Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs)

The thesis entitled “Exploration of Novel Organic Reactions Catalyzed by Nucleophilic Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs)” embodies the results of the investigations carried out to explore the synthetic potential of N–heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as organocatalyst towards various electrophiles for the synthesis of heterocyclic and carbocyclic systems. Recent investigations in the generation of homoenolates by the addition of NHCs to conjugated aldehydes have made it possible to study the reactivity of this unique three carbon synthon.

Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, Structural Studies and Biological Investigations of Transition Metal Complexes of Some Acid Hydrazones

This study concentrates the chemical properties of hydrazones due to its chelating capability and their pharmacological applications. Studies cover the preparation of different acid hydrazones and their structural studies and studies on their antimicrobial activity, synthesis and spectral characterization of different complexes of copper oxovanadium, manganese, nickel etc. Effect of incorporation of heterocyclic bases to the coordination sphere, change in the biological activity of acid hydrazones upon coordination, development of X-ray quality single crystals and its X-ray diffraction studies, studies on the redox behavior of the coordinated metal ions and correlation between the stereochemistry and biological activities.

Novel Hetrocyclic Constructions Mediated by Nucleophilic Carbenes and Related Chemistry

The thesis entitled novel heterocyclic constructions mediated by nucleophilic carbenes and related chemistry, embodies the results of the investigations carried out to explore the reactivity patterns of the 1:1 zwitterions, generated in situ from various nucleophilic carbenes and DiMethyl AcetyleneDicarboxylate(DMAD) towards aldehydes and ketones. The traditional synthesis of complex organic molecules employs stepwise formation of bonds and involves multiple steps. Besides the sequential synthesis, in several instances, the desired product can also be obtained in one pot reactions of three or more starting compounds. Such reactions in which more than two starting materials react to form a product in such a way that the majority of the atoms of the starting materials can be found in the products are called multicomponent reactions(MCRs). The results of our investigations on the application of N-heterocyclic carbenes in multicomponent reaction with DMAD and aromatic aldehydes leading to the one pot synthesis of 2-oxy-maleate and furanone derivatives. It is interesting to note that dihydrofuran and lactone motifs are present in a number of biologically active natural products and other heterocyclic compounds. It is conceivable that the novel multicomponent reactions described herein will find application in the synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic compounds, and in natural product synthesis.

Studies on the Synthesis and Transformations of a Few 2(3H)- and 3(2H)-Furanones

The thesis entitled studies on the synthesis and transformations of a few 2(3H)- and 3(2H)- furanones. Furanones represent an interesting class of heterocyclic compounds, which constitute the central ring system of many natural products. The derivatives of furan is divided, depending on their structure 2(3H)-furanones(I), 2(5H)-furanones(II), and 3(2H)-furanones(III). Systems I&II are unsatured gama lactones known as ‘butenolides’. Compounds of this type also known as ‘crotonolactones’ based on the parent crotonic acid. In conclusion a number of 2(3H)-and 3(2H)- furanones were synthesized from dibenzoylalkene precursors and were characterized on the basis of spectral analytical and X-ray data. On direct irradiation 3,3-bis(4-chloropheneyl)-5-aryl-3H-furan -2-ones underwent decarbonylation to yield the corresponding alpha, beta- unsaturated carbonyl compounds and upon sensitized irradiation they underwent dimersation arising through a 2+2 cycloaddition reaction. Our studies on 3(2H)-furanones revealed that these compounds are thermally stable, while they undergo extensive decomposition to intractable mixtures under the influence of light. Similarly, the novel dibenzoylalkenes- type systems containing hetroatomatic rings synthesized by us also underwent extensive decomposition under the influence of heat. Some of the 3(2H)-furanones synthesized by us exhibit remarkable anti-proliferative activity.

NEUROBIOLOGY OF PYRIDOXINE

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) is the major coenzymatic form of pyridoxine. There are over one hundred known pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent reactions, most of which are involved in the metabolism of various amino acids . Pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate can function in aminotransf erase reactions by the cyclic regeneration of the two active phosphate forms. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent reactions studied in the nervous system are involved in the catabolism of various amino acids. The putative neurotransmitters , dopamine, norepinephrine , serotonin , histamine , aminobutyric acid and taurine , as well as the sphingoiipids and poly amines are synthesized by PLP-dependent enzymes. Of these enzymes, three ( glutamic acid decarboxylase , 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase and crnithine decarboxylase) seem to have crucial roles (Fig. '). The clinical effects of pyridoxine deficiency can be explained on the basis of the known decreases in the activities of these enzymes

Model Compound Studies on the Devulcanization of Natural Rubber Using 2, 3-Dimethyl-2-Butene

The mechanism of devulcanization of sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber with aromatic disulfides and aliphatic amines has been studied using 23-dimethyl-2-butene (C5H1,) as a low-molecular weight model compound. First C6H12 was vulcanized with a mixture of sulfur, zinc stearate and N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazylsulfenamide (CBS) as accelerator at 140 °C, resulting in a mixture of addition products (C(,H 1 i-S,-C5H 1 i ). The compounds were isolated and identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with respect to their various sulfur ranks. In it second stage, the vulcanized products were devulcanized using the agents mentioned above at 200 °C. The kinetics and chemistry of the breakdown of the sulfur-hridges were monitored. Both devulcanization agents decompose sulfidic vulcanization products with sulfur ranks equal or higher than 3 quite effectively and with comparable speed. Di phenyldisulfide as devulcanization agent gives rise to a high amount of mono- and disulfidic compounds formed during the devulcanization, hexadecylamine, as devulcanization agent, prevents these lower sulfur ranks from being formed.

Synergistic solvent extraction of Thorium(IV) and Uranium(VI) with β-diketones in presence of oxo-donors

The thesis entitled “Synergistic solvent extraction of Thorium(IV) and Uranium(VI) with β-diketones in presence of oxo-donors” embodies the results of the investigations carried out on the extraction of thorium(IV) an uranium(VI) with heterocyclic β-diketones in the presence and absence of various macrocyclic ligands and neutral organophosphorus extractants. The objective of this work is to generate the knowledge base to achieve better selectivity between thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) by understanding the interactions of crown ethers or neutral organophosphorus extractants with metal-heterocyclic β-diketonate complexes. Para-substituted 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-aroyl-5-pyrazolones, namely,1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)-5-pyrazolone (HPMFBP) and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-(4-toluoyl)-5-pyrazolone (HPMTP) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and H NMR spectral data. The synthesized ligands have been utilized for the extraction of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) from nitric acid solutions in the presence and absence of various crown ethers. Thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) complexes with HPMPP(1-Phenyl-3-methyl-4-pivaloyl-5-pyrazolone) and neutral organophosphorus extractants were synthesized and characterized by IR and P NMR spectral data to further understand the interactions of neutral organophosphorus extractants with metal-chelates. Solid complexes of thorium(IV) and uranium(VI) with para-substituted 4-aroyl-5-isoxazolones and crown ethers were isolated and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques to further clarify the nature of the extracted complexes.