Methanol oxidation on carbon-supported Pt---Sn electrodes in silicotungstic acid

Electro-oxidation of methanol was studied on carbon-supported Pt-Sn/C electrodes in silcotungstic acid (SiWA) at various concentrations. The porous-carbon electrodes employing Pt-Sn/C catalyst have been characterized using chemical analyses, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in conjunction with electrochemistry. The presence of Pt-Sn and Pt3Sn alloys along with Pt and SnO2 phases in the catalyst were identified by XRD. XPS analysis showed a lower amount of PtO species in the Pt-Sn/C catalyst with respect to the corresponding Pt/C sample. From the steady-state galvanostatic polarization data on Pt-Sn/C electrodes in SiWA, it is inferred that a one-electron process is the rate determining step. The performance of the electrodes in 0.084 M SiWA was better than in 2.5 M H2SO4 under similar conditions up to load currents of about 100 mA cm-2 indicating the promoting behaviour of the electrolyte. At currents larger than 100 mA cm-2, the performance of the electrodes in 0.084 SiWA was poorer than that in 2.5M H2SO4 mainly due to the dominance of mass polarization in the former owing to the large size of Keggin units associated with the structure of SiWA. This aspect was supported by cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance studies on Pt-Sn/C electrodes. Simulation of the electrochemical impedance response for the oxidation of methanol in SiWA was carried out using the equivalent electrical circuit model.

Synthesis, glucose uptake activity and structure-activity relationships of some novel glitazones incorporated with glycine, aromatic and alicyclic amine moieties via two carbon acyl linker

Three series of novel glitazones were designed and prepared by using appropriate synthetic schemes to incorporate glycine, aromatic and alicyclic amines via two carbon linker. Compounds were synthesized both under conventional and microwave methods. Nineteen out of twenty four synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro glucose uptake activity using isolated rat hemi-diaphragm. Compounds, 6, 9a, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13f and 13h exhibited significant glucose uptake activity. Illustration about their synthesis and in vitro glucose uptake activity is described along with the structure activity relationships. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.