Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite and its biocatalytic application

In this report, a novel chemical synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite is explored using ionic liquid (IL) 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate. The direct chemical synthesis of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite was initiated via the spontaneous oxidation of aniline by AuCl4 − in IL. A nearly uniform dispersion of polyaniline/Au particles with a diameter of 450 ± 80 nm was produced by this method, which indicates that this method is more suitable for controlling particle dimensions. It was also found that the electrical conductivity of the polyaniline/gold nanocomposite was more than 100 times higher than that of the pure polyaniline nanoparticles. The polyaniline/gold nanocomposite displays superior function in the biocatalytic activation of microperoxidase-11 because of the high surface area of the assembly and the enhanced charge transport properties of the composite material. We also report the possible application of polyaniline/gold nanocomposite as a H2O2 biosensor.

Recent advances in catalytic/biocatalytic conversion of greenhouse methane and carbon dioxide to methanol and other oxygenates

Methane gas has been identified as the most destructive greenhouse gas (Liu et al., 2004). It was reported that the global warming potential of methane per molecule relative to CO2 is approximately 23 on a 100-year timescale or 62 over a 20-year period (IPCC, 2001). Methane has high C-H bond energy of about 439 kJ/mol and other higher alkanes (or saturated hydrocarbons) also have a very strong C-C and C-H bonds, thus making their molecules to have no empty orbitals of low energy or filled orbitals of high energy that could readily participate in chemical reactions as is the case with unsaturated hydrocarbons such as olefins and alkynes (Crabtree, 1994; Labinger & Bercaw, 2002)...

Kinetic resolution of iodophenylethanols by Candida antarctica lipase and their application for the synthesis of chiral biphenyl compounds

The kinetic resolution of (+/-)-iodophenylethanols was carried out using lipase from Candida antarctica and in some cases the enantiomeric excesses were high (up to >98%). Enantiomerically enriched (S)-iodophenylethanols produced by the enzymatic resolution process were used in the synthesis of chiral biphenyl compounds by the Suzuki reaction with good yields (63-65%). (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.