Molecular determinants of Neu5Ac binding to a tripartite ATP independent periplasmic (TRAP) transporter - Goyal, Parveen; Dhanabalan, KanagaVijayan; Scalise, Mariafrancesca; Friemann, Rosmarie; Indiveri, Cesare; Dobson, Renwick C. J.; Vinothkumar, Kutti R.; Ramaswamy, Subramanian (Elife, 2025)
<i style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">N -Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is a negatively charged nine-carbon amino sugar that is often the peripheral sugar in human cell-surface glycoconjugates. Some bacteria scavenge, import, and metabolize Neu5Ac or redeploy it on their cell surfaces for immune evasion. The import of Neu5Ac by many bacteria is mediated by tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP) transporters. We have previously reported the structures of SiaQM, a membrane-embedded component of the <i style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Haemophilus influenzae TRAP transport system, (Currie et al., 2024). However, none of the published structures contain Neu5Ac bound to SiaQM. This information is critical for defining the transport mechanism and for further structure-activity relationship studies. Here, we report the structures of <i style="box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Fusobacterium nucleatum SiaQM with and without Neu5Ac. Both structures are in an inward (cytoplasmic side) facing conformation. The Neu5Ac-bound structure reveals the interactions of Neu5Ac with the transporter and its relationship with the Na<span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em; color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">+ binding sites. Two of the Na<span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em; color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: BlinkMacSystemFont, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">+-binding sites are similar to those described previously. We identify a third metal-binding site that is further away and buried in the elevator domain. Ser300 and Ser345 interact with the C1-carboxylate group of Neu5Ac. Proteoliposome-based transport assays showed that Ser300-Neu5Ac interaction is critical for transport, whereas Ser345 is dispensable. Neu5Ac primarily interacts with residues in the elevator domain of the protein, thereby supporting the elevator with an operator mechanism. The residues interacting with Neu5Ac are conserved, providing fundamental information required to design inhibitors against this class of proteins.

Molecular insights into the oleic acid accumulation in safflower - Salunke, Gayatri; Badhe, Yogesh; Singh, Vrijendra; Ghorpade, Prakash; Hegde, Mahabaleshwar; Kadoo, Narendra (Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, 2025)
Most of the Indian safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) varieties produce oil rich in linoleic acid (LA, similar to 75%) and low in oleic acid (OA, similar to 15%). In the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, the fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) enzyme converts OA to LA. Safflower is reported to have 12-20 FAD2 genes. Gene expression analysis of four FAD2 genes during seed development in a high LA variety, PBNS-12, revealed high expression of FAD2-1 at 21 days after flowering (DAF), correlating with high LA accumulation. Fatty acid profiling of 448 Indian safflower germplasm accessions revealed four lines to have high (58%-77%) OA content, with NASF-39 having the highest OA content. Interestingly, all four high OA lines showed the same mutation in the FAD2-1 gene. The DNA sequence of FAD2-1 from the four high OA lines showed a deletion of C at the +606 position, resulting in a premature stop codon at the +733 position and a truncated protein of 244 amino acids. Hence, despite the high expression levels of FAD2-1 in NASF-39 at 18-21 DAF, it exhibited high OA (77%). The dysfunctional nature of the truncated FAD2-1 in NASF-39 was evident in molecular docking studies with 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine. We also sequenced FATB, a thioesterase responsible for releasing stearic acid from acyl carrier protein for further desaturation to oleic acid, where an A773G substitution was observed. This resulted in E258G substitution in NASF-39 FATB compared to that of PBNS-12. This probably made the acyl-binding pocket of NASF-39 FATB unstable, contributing to high OA accumulation. Thus, the outcomes of this study can help develop super and ultra-high oleic safflower varieties through various genetics and genomics approaches.
Keywords: Carthamus tinctorius; FAD2; FATB; Fatty acid desaturase; fatty acid thioesterase; linoleic acid

Molecular interactions of the pioneer transcription factor GATA3 With DNA - Gharui, Sowmomita; Sengupta, Durba (Proteins-Structure Function and Bioinformatics, 2025)
The GATA3 transcription factor is a pioneer transcription factor that is critical in the development, proliferation, and maintenance of several immune cell types. Identifying the detailed conformational dynamics and interactions of this transcription factor, as well as its clinically important population variants will allow us to unravel its mode of action. In this study, we analyze the molecular interactions of the GATA3 transcription factor bound to dsDNA as well as three clinically important population variants by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. We identify the effect of the variants on the DNA conformational dynamics and delineate the differences compared to the wildtype transcription factor that could be related to impaired function. We highlight the structural plasticity in the binding of the GATA3 transcription factor and identify important DNA-protein contacts. Although the DNA-protein contacts are persistent and appear to be stable, they exhibit nanosecond timescale fluctuations and several binding/unbinding events. Further, we identify differential DNA binding in the three variants and show that the N-terminal binding is reduced in two of the variants. Our results indicate that reduced minor groove width and DNA diameter are important hallmarks for the binding of GATA3. Our work is an important step towards understanding the functional dynamics of the GATA3 protein and its clinically significant population variants.
Keywords: DNA-protein interactions; GATA protein; Molecular dynamics simulations; molecular mechanism; population variants; transcription factor

Monitoring influenza A (H1N1, H3N2), RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 using wastewater-based epidemiology: A 2-year longitudinal study in an Indian megacity covering omicron and post-omicron phases - Pramanik, Rinka; Nannaware, Kiran; Malik, Vinita; Shah, Priyanki; Sangewar, Poornima; Gogate, Niharika; Shashidhara, L. S.; Boargaonkar, Radhika; Patil, Dhawal; Kale, Saurabh; Bhalerao, Asim; Jain, Nidhi; et al. (Food and Environmental Virology, 2025)
{The bourgeoning field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for the surveillance of several respiratory viruses which includes Influenza A, H1N1pdm09, H3N2, respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is of interest for public health concerns. However, there are few long-term monitoring studies globally. In this study, respiratory viruses were detected and quantified from 11 sewer sheds by utilizing reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis in Pune city, India, from Jan 2022 to Dec 2023. The RNA fragments of respiratory viruses were detected in sewage samples before clinical cases were reported, underscoring the potential of WBE for early detection and monitoring within the population. The Spearman correlation of wastewater viral copies was positively and significantly correlated with the clinically positive case of H1N1pdm09 (rho = 0.55
Keywords: Influenza A; Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR; Respiratory viruses; SARS-CoV-2; Wastewater-based epidemiology

Multifunctional NiO/Ti3+-TiO2 for concurrent water reduction and glycerol oxidation to value added products by sunlight driven photocatalysis - Rajendran, Sivaraj; Saju, Simi; Mani, Sunesh S.; Asoka, Anantha Krishnan; Saha, Arindam; Arun, Pushkaran S.; Ghosh, Biplab; Mathew, Thomas; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2025)
The present work describes the synthesis of bifunctional-mesoporous-self-doped Ti3+ containing NiO/TiO2 photocatalysts for concurrent utilization of e- and h+ to produce H2 and value-added products (VAPs), respectively, from aqueous glycerol. UV-vis diffuse reflectance results and band gap analysis revealed an improved light absorption due to integration of Ni2+ with Ti3+/TiO2. Various electrochemical, PL and TRPL spectral analyses demonstrate p-n heterojunction formation between NiO and Ti3+-TiO2, which enhances charge separation and helps in achieving improved activity. HRTEM analysis of NiO/Ti3+-TiO2 nanocomposites revealed that NiO is highly dispersed on TiO2 with interfacial heterojunctions between them. XPS results demonstrate the partial reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+ and Ni-Ti synergetic interaction in NiO/TiO2 to form NiO/Ti3+-TiO2 nanocomposites. EXAFS studies show that the Ni-O bond distance is similar to that of NiTiO3 suggesting electronic integration of components of the photocatalyst by forming a Ni2+-O-Ti3+/Ti4+ lattice network. Ni2+/Ti3+-TiO2 nanocomposites as a bifunctional photocatalyst exhibited significantly enhanced activity in H2 production and conversion of glycerol to VAPs, namely, glycolaldehyde, 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, and formic acid; formation of these products highlights not only oxidation, but also C-C cleavage of glycerol. The NiO/Ti3+-TiO2 photocatalysts fabricated in thin film form displayed higher photocatalytic efficiency than their powder counterpart. Among NiO/Ti3+-TiO2 nanocomposites NiT-3 exhibits the highest H2 yield at 15.62 mmol h-1 g-1, which is 38 times higher than that of bare TiO2. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the high charge carrier density, the synergistic interaction between Ni2+ and Ti3+-TiO2, formation of a p-n heterojunction at the interface between NiO and Ti3+-TiO2 and effective utilization of charge carriers for redox reactions.

Multifunctional NiO/Ti3+–TiO2 for concurrent water reduction and glycerol oxidation to value added products by sunlight driven photocatalysis - Rajendran, Sivaraj; Saju, Simi; Mani, Sunesh S.; Asoka, Anantha Krishnan; Saha, Arindam; Arun, Pushkaran S.; Ghosh, Biplab; Mathew, Thomas; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2025)
The present work describes the synthesis of bifunctional-mesoporous-self-doped Ti3+ containing NiO/TiO2 photocatalysts for concurrent utilization of e− and h+ to produce H2 and value-added products (VAPs), respectively, from aqueous glycerol. UV-vis diffuse reflectance results and band gap analysis revealed an improved light absorption due to integration of Ni2+ with Ti3+/TiO2. Various electrochemical, PL and TRPL spectral analyses demonstrate p–n heterojunction formation between NiO and Ti3+–TiO2, which enhances charge separation and helps in achieving improved activity. HRTEM analysis of NiO/Ti3+–TiO2 nanocomposites revealed that NiO is highly dispersed on TiO2 with interfacial heterojunctions between them. XPS results demonstrate the partial reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+ and Ni–Ti synergetic interaction in NiO/TiO2 to form NiO/Ti3+–TiO2 nanocomposites. EXAFS studies show that the Ni–O bond distance is similar to that of NiTiO3 suggesting electronic integration of components of the photocatalyst by forming a Ni2+–O–Ti3+/Ti4+ lattice network. Ni2+/Ti3+–TiO2 nanocomposites as a bifunctional photocatalyst exhibited significantly enhanced activity in H2 production and conversion of glycerol to VAPs, namely, glycolaldehyde, 1,3-dihydroxyacetone, and formic acid; formation of these products highlights not only oxidation, but also C–C cleavage of glycerol. The NiO/Ti3+–TiO2 photocatalysts fabricated in thin film form displayed higher photocatalytic efficiency than their powder counterpart. Among NiO/Ti3+–TiO2 nanocomposites NiT-3 exhibits the highest H2 yield at 15.62 mmol h−1 g−1, which is 38 times higher than that of bare TiO2. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the high charge carrier density, the synergistic interaction between Ni2+ and Ti3+–TiO2, formation of a p–n heterojunction at the interface between NiO and Ti3+–TiO2 and effective utilization of charge carriers for redox reactions.

Multiphasic heterojunctions: a strategic approach to enhance the charge transfer dynamics of titania for superior solar photocatalytic hydrogen production - Ningthoukhongjam, Pujita; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S.; Nair, Ranjith G. (International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025)
Multiphasic titania has been prepared to study the role of multiple heterojunctions on the charge transfer dynamics and resultant photocatalytic hydrogen production. Through an acid regulated hydrothermal method, four materials with following phase compositions were prepared viz. single phase anatase and rutile, biphasic anatase-rutile and triphasic anatase-brookite-rutile. The phase compositions of the materials were confirmed through XRD and HRTEM studies. The biphasic and triphasic materials were found to be highly nanoparticulate in nature while forming numerous and diverse heterojunctions. In the triphasic material, various binary and ternary heterojunctions were observed. These heterojunctions performed in harmony to ensure efficient charge transport as shown by the low charge transfer resistance and high electron lifetime. This subsequently ensured a high reduction capability and photocurrent response. This all culminated into the triphasic material outperforming all other materials in solar photocatalytic hydrogen production. The H2 yield from the triphasic material was 81% and 40% higher than the pristine anatase and the biphasic material respectively. Additionally, by using the triphasic material in thin film form, a 4-fold increase in the hydrogen yield with a high apparent quantum efficiency of 8.2 % was achieved over the particulate form. The superior charge transport and photocurrent response due to the greater varied heterojunction formation in the anatase-rutile-brookite material as opposed to that in the biphasic material led to this superior performance. Thus, multiple heterojunctions, in this case, a triphasic heterojunction of anatase, rutile and brookite phases opens up a new avenue of research for efficient green hydrogen production.
Keywords: Green hydrogen production; heterojunction; Photocatalysis; Photoelectrochemical analysis; thin film; titania

MYB proteins: Versatile regulators of plant development, stress responses, and secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways - Bhatt, Preshita A.; Gurav, Tanuja P.; Kondhare, Kirtikumar R.; Giri, Ashok P. (International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025)
MYB proteins are ubiquitous in nature, regulating key aspects of plant growth and development. Although MYB proteins are known for regulating genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, particularly phenylpropanoids, their roles in terpenoid, glucosinolate, and alkaloid biosynthesis remain less understood. This review explores the structural and functional differences between activator and repressor MYB proteins along with their roles in plant growth, development, stress responses, and secondary metabolite production. MYB proteins serve as central hubs in protein-protein interaction networks that regulate expression of numerous genes involved in the adaptation of plants to varying environmental conditions. Thus, we also highlight key interacting partners of MYB proteins and their roles in these adaptation mechanisms. We further discuss the mechanisms regulating MYB proteins, including autoregulation, epigenetics, and post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications. Overall, we propose MYB proteins as versatile regulators for improving plant traits, stress responses, and secondary metabolite production.
Keywords: Activator; defense; Development; MYB protein; Repressor; Secondary metabolites

Mycobacteria-specific prodrug to overcome phenotypic AMR in mycobacterium tuberculosis - Kumar, T. Anand; Birua, Shalini; Mallojjala, Sharath Chandra; Mukherjee, Piyali; Singh, Samsher; Kaul, Grace; Ramachandran, Aparna; Akhir, Abdul; Chopra, Sidharth; Gadgil, Chetan J.; Hirschi, Jennifer S.; Singh, Amit; et al. (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2025)
Most front-line tuberculosis (TB) drugs are ineffective against hypoxic nonreplicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), largely due to poor permeability, leading to reduced drug accumulation and target engagement. To overcome this phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR), we developed nitroheteroaryl prodrugs for Moxifloxacin (MXF), a front-line TB drug. These prodrugs are activated by bacterial nitroreductases (NTR), which are overexpressed in hypoxic Mtb. NTR-mediated electron transfer and protonation facilitate rapid cleavage of the protective group, releasing active MXF. The lead prodrug exhibited comparable efficacy to MXF in replicating Mtb and significantly enhanced lethality in nonreplicating Mtb. Drug accumulation studies confirmed a modest but significant increase in MXF levels in nonreplicating Mtb treated with the prodrug, suggesting improved permeability. A mathematical model integrating growth and drug-killing kinetics further elucidated how permeability differences impact lethality. Together, these findings highlight enzyme-activated prodrugs as a promising strategy to address phenotypic AMR in Mtb

Nano-springe enriched hierarchical porous MOP/COF hybrid aerogel: efficient recovery of gold from electronic waste - Majumder, Dipanjan; Fajal, Sahel; Shirolkar, Mandar M.; Torris, Arun; Banyla, Yashasvi; Biswas, Kishalay; Rasaily, Sagarmani; Ghosh, Sujit K. (Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2025)
Extraction of gold from secondary resources such as electronic waste (e-waste) has become crucial in recent times to compensate for the gradual scarcity of the noble metal in natural mines. However, designing and synthesizing a suitable material for highly efficient gold recovery is still a great challenge. Herein, we have strategically designed rapid fabrication of an ionic crystalline hybrid aerogel by covalent threading of an amino-functionalized metal-organic polyhedra with an imine-linked chemically stable covalent organic framework at ambient condition. The hierarchically porous ultra-light aerogel featuring imine-rich backbone, high surface area, and cationic sites have shown fast removal, high uptake capacity (2349 mg/g), and excellent selectivity towards gold sequestration. Besides, the aerogel can extract ultra-trace gold-ions from different terrestrial water bodies, aiming towards safe drinking water. This study demonstrates the great potential of the composite materials based on a novel approach to designing a hybrid porous material for efficient gold recovery from complex water matrices.
Keywords: Aerogel; COF; E-waste; Gold; MOP

Navigating the challenges of engineering composite specialized metabolite pathways in plants - Gharat, Sachin A.; Tamhane, Vaijayanti A.; Giri, Ashok P.; Aharoni, Asaph (Plant Journal, 2025)
Plants are a valuable source of diverse specialized metabolites with numerous applications. However, these compounds are often produced in limited quantities, particularly under unfavorable ecological conditions. To achieve sufficient levels of target metabolites, alternative strategies such as pathway engineering in heterologous systems like microbes (e.g., bacteria and fungi) or cell-free systems can be employed. Another approach is plant engineering, which aims to either enhance the native production in the original plant or reconstruct the target pathway in a model plant system. Although increasing metabolite production in the native plant is a promising strategy, these source plants are often exotic and pose significant challenges for genetic manipulation. Effective pathway engineering requires comprehensive prior knowledge of the genes and enzymes involved, as well as the precursor, intermediate, branching, and final metabolites. Thus, a thorough elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway is closely linked to successful metabolic engineering in host or model systems. In this review, we highlight recent advances in strategies for biosynthetic pathway elucidation and metabolic engineering. We focus on efforts to engineer complex, multi-step pathways that require the expression of at least eight genes for transient and three genes for stable transformation. Reports on the engineering of complex pathways in stably transformed plants remain relatively scarce. We discuss the major hurdles in pathway elucidation and strategies for overcoming them, followed by an overview of achievements, challenges, and solutions in pathway reconstitution through metabolic engineering. Recent advances including computer-based predictions offer valuable platforms for the sustainable production of specialized metabolites in plants.
Keywords: Biosynthetic pathway; Enzyme activity; Gene expression; Metabolic engineering; Metabolites

Nigericin-induced apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia via mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress - Arun, Bhavyadharshini; Gopinath, Prarthana; Jha, Anup; Tripathi, Nishtha; Dastager, Syed G.; Hasan, Syed K. (Oncology Research, 2025)
Background: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a highly aggressive clonal hematological malignancy with limited treatment options. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of nigericin, a polyether ionophore derived from Streptomyces DASNCL-29, as a mitochondrial-targeted agent for AML treatment. Methods: Nigericin was isolated from Streptomyces DASNCL-29 and characterized via chromatography and NMR. Its cytotoxicity was tested in MOLM13 (sensitive and venetoclax-resistant) and HL60 (sensitive and cytarabine-resistant) cells using the MTT assay. Mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (Arum), and mitochondrial mass. Apoptosis was evaluated with Annexin V/PI assays and immunoblotting, while proteomic analysis was conducted using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify differentially regulated proteins. Results: Nigericin demonstrated potent cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 57.02 nM in MOLM13-sensitive, 35.29 nM in MOLM13-resistant, 20.49 nM in HL60-sensitive, and 1.197 nM in HL60-cytarabine-resistant cells. Apoptosis was confirmed by Annexin V/PI staining and caspase-3/PARP cleavage, along with MCL-1 downregulation. Mitochondrial dysfunction was evident from increased ROS, reduced Arum, and decreased mitochondrial mass. Proteomic profiling identified 264 dysregulated proteins, including a 3.8-fold upregulation of Succinate Dehydrogenase [Ubiquinone] Flavoprotein Subunit A (SDHA). Conclusion: Nigericin induces apoptosis in AML cells by disrupting mitochondrial function and enhancing oxidative stress. Its nanomolar potency highlights the need for further mechanistic studies and in vivo evaluations to explore its potential in AML treatment.
Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML); Antineoplastic agents; Apoptosis; Mitochondrial dysfunction; Nigericin

Novel bifunctional inhibitor of protease and α-amylase from Clitorea ternatea restricts the growth and development in Spodoptera frugiperda - Dongare, Pratiksha M.; Madage, Varsha A.; Deshpande, V. Neha; Joshi, Rakesh S.; Giri, Ashok P.; Pawar, Pankaj K. (International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025)
An inhibitor molecule capable of inhibiting a wide range of digestive enzymes without affecting endogenous enzymes is always desirable. We report characterization of CteTAI (M.W. 14 kDa), a bifunctional inhibitor (BFI) protein from the seeds of Clitoria ternatea capable of inhibiting trypsin and alpha-amylase. It retains trypsin inhibition activity up to 60 degrees C and alpha-amylase inhibition up to 40 degrees C. Trypsin inhibition is stable across pH 1-12, while alpha-amylase inhibition is stable between pH 3-7. CteTAI is a noncompetitive inhibitor of trypsin and an uncompetitive inhibitor of alpha-amylase. It selectively inhibits proteases and alpha-amylases from various sources, without affecting alpha-amylase from human saliva and Bacillus spp. Proteomic analysis identified CteTAI as a bifunctional inhibitor exhibiting 41 % similarity to a bifunctional inhibitor from Sesbania bispinosa. Feeding Spodoptera frugiperda larvae with CteTAI-infused diet impaired energy metabolism, resulting in undernourished larvae and malformed adults incapable of flight and mating. Key nutritional indices (RGR, RCR, %ECI, %FDI) were severely reduced, indicating that CteTAI disrupts growth and development by inhibiting multiple protease and alpha-amylase isoforms. Biochemical characterization of newly identified CteTAI suggests its potential application in crop protection.
Keywords: alpha-Amylase inhibitors; Bifunctional inhibitor; Clitoria ternatea; Protease inhibitors; Spodoptera frugiperda

Novel extruded palm tree wood-derived activated carbon-based SrTiO3 for wastewater treatment in continuous system: evaluation of synthesis condition, LHSV, and pH - Ghandour, Raymond; Ali, Ali B. M.; Kadhum, Abdul Amir H.; Diab, M. A.; El-Sabban, Heba A.; Shah, Mumtaj; Nagar, Harsha (Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2025)
SrTiO3 is a potential photocatalyst, while its wide band gap hinders sufficient adsorption of visible light and decreases the photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, activated carbon (AC) derived from palm tree wood was functionalized with varying weight percentages (10, 20, and 30 wt%) of SrTiO3 nanoparticles and evaluated for its efficiency in the photodegradation of Cefixime (CFX) in a continuous system. The effects of activation temperature on the morphological properties of AC, along with operational parameters such as Liquid Hourly Space Velocity (LHSV) (3, 4, and 5 h- 1) and the pH of the initial CFX solution (4, 6.5, and 9), were examined to optimize the photocatalytic performance. The photocatalyst activated at 900 degrees C with 30 wt% SrTiO3 exhibited the highest activity, and were characterized by XRD, BET, FE-SEM, and UV-Vis analyses. Optimal conditions for CFX degradation were found at pH of 6.5 and LHSV of 5 h- 1. Additionally, hydroxyl (center dot OH) and superoxide (center dot O2-) radicals were identified as key species in CFX photodegradation process. Hence, these findings contribute to the design and development of highly-active continuous photocatalytic system.
Keywords: antibiotic; Continuous Photocatalytic Degradation; environmental remediation; Risk Management; Wastewater treatment

Optimisation of metallic bismuth nanoparticle supported Pt-Bi(x%)/C hybrid electrocatalyst for cost effective and efficient hydrogen production in alkaline media - Dokhe, Revati; Ugale, Atul; Dube, Onkar; Varpe, Vaibhav; Galave, Chaitanya; Hattale, Gangadhar; Kadam, Rutuja; Virole, Vishal; Kumar, Ajay; Husale, Sudhir; Natu, Varun; Shevate, Rahul; et al. (International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025)
The present study employed a simple mechanochemical method followed by 24-h ultrasonication to synthesize oxide-free metallic bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles. This was further used to synthesize a Pt-Bi(x%)/C (NC-x) hybrid electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements reveal, Bi modifies the electronic structure and surface morphology of the Pt/C electrocatalyst, thus enhancing reaction kinetics and active site availability. The relative three-electrode study reveals that optimised NC-20 electrocatalyst reduces the overpotentials by 10.44 % and enhances the current density by 53 % compared to commercial Pt/C. The practical applicability of the NC-20 electrocatalyst was studied with the 13 cm2 single cell anion exchange membrane electrolyser. The catalyst demonstrates promising performance where the current density of NC-20//IrO2 relatively increases by 22.6 % compared to standard Pt/ C//IrO2, and shows continuous production and stable performance when monitored for 30 h.
Keywords: AEM; Bismuth nanoparticles; electrocatalyst; Full cell electrolysis; hydrogen evolution reaction; water electrolysis

Oxidase-like nanozyme activity of ultrathin copper metal–organic framework nanosheets with high specificity for catechol oxidation - Singh, Ajit Kumar; Sharma, Deepika; Singh, Devesh Kumar; Sarraf, Sonu; Basu, Aviru Kumar; Ganesan, Vellaichamy; Saha, Avishek (ChemCatChem, 2025)
In nature, catechol oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of o-diphenol to o-quinone to produce a series of highly important polyphenolic natural products. Although mimicking the functionality of natural enzyme using a nanozyme was found to be beneficial, attaining a high specificity is challenging. Herein, we have explored the thickness-dependent oxidase activity and specificity of Cu-metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets. The unique synthetic method offers control over the thickness of the Cu-MOF nanosheets. The ultrathin (4 nm) Cu-MOF (Cu-UMOF) nanosheets as an oxidase nanozyme exhibit high specificity for catechol oxidation without having any peroxidase activity. Interestingly, the thicker (20–30 nm) Cu-MOF nanosheets showed poor catechol oxidase and peroxidase activity. The binuclear Cu-center, coordinative, and electronic unsaturation tuned electronic structure in Cu-UMOF, resulting in higher specificity for catechol oxidation than thicker Cu-MOF.

Pair of dinuclear Fe(II) enantiomers: syntheses and structures of ΛΔ/ΔΛ-Bis(Dihydridoborate) complexes - Kaur, Urminder; Gayen, Sourav; Sharma, Himanshu; Vanka, Kumar; Ghosh, Sundargopal (CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, 2025)
In our effort to establish a direct synthetic approach for bis(dihydridoborate) complexes of first-row transition metals, we have investigated the reactivity of [Cp*Fe(dppe)Cl] (dppe =1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) with Na[BH3L] (L =2-mercaptopyridine (mp) and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (mbz)) that led to the formation of iron(II) dihydridoborate complexes, [Cp*Fe{kappa 3-S,H,H-(H2BH(L))}] 1 a-b (L=mp (1 a) and L=mbz (1 b)). Further, in an attempt to isolate the bis(dihydridoborate) complex of iron by the insertion of borane into the kappa 2-N,S-chelated iron complex, [(dppe)Fe{kappa 2-N,S-(mp)}2] (2), we have isolated and structurally characterized a rare example of dimeric iron bis(dihydridoborate) complex, [Fe{kappa 3-S,H,H-(H2BH(mp))}2]2, Lambda Delta/Delta Lambda-3 as pair of enantiomers. Interestingly, these enantiomers Lambda Delta/Delta Lambda-3 have two trans-[Fe{kappa 3-S,H,H-(H2BH(mp))}2] moieties bridged through sulfur atoms of 2-mercaptopyridinyl ligands, where the iron centres are hepta-coordinated. The natural bond-orbital (NBO) analyses of Lambda Delta-3 and Delta Lambda-3 show considerable electron donation from the filled sigma B-H bonding orbital to vacant dz2 \${{d}_{{z}<\^>{2}}}\$ orbital of iron with a substantial contribution from the hydrogen atoms. The localized orbital bonding analysis (LOBA) method suggests that all the iron centres are in +2 oxidation state.
Keywords: B-H activation; Bis(dihydridoborate); Enantiomer; Heptacoordinate; iron

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective C(4)-H fluoroalkoxylation of indoles through weak chelation assistance - Vijaykumar, Muniyappa; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Punji, Benudhar (ChemCatChem, 2025)
Installing fluoroalkyl motifs into biorelevant indoles is particularly interesting due to their ubiquitous presence in drug molecules. Herein, we demonstrate the regioselective C4 fluoroalkoxylation of indoles using fluoroalcohols via palladium-catalyzed chelation-assisted C & horbar;H activation. The weak chelating benzoyl moiety at the C3 position acts as a directing group for remote C(4)& horbar;H fluoroalkoxylation of diversely substituted indoles. This methodology demonstrates a high level of regioselectivity and tolerates a range of crucial functional groups, yielding diverse trifluoroalkoxylated indoles in moderate to good yields. Removal of directing/protecting groups and further functionalization established the synthetic utility of the methodology. A preliminary mechanistic investigation is conducted by isolating the palladacycle intermediate and performing the deuterium scrambling study. The regioselective C4 fluoroalkoxylation of indoles with various fluoroalcohols is achieved by the palladium-catalyzed weak chelation assistance strategy. The reaction is compatible for a range of important functionalities and proceeds via the intermediacy of a six-membered palladacycle following a Pd(II)/Pd(IV) pathway. image
Keywords: C-H activation; indoles; Palladium; Regioselective; Trifluoroalkoxylation

Palladium(II)-catalyzed desymmetrization of 2-alkynylbenzoate-tethered cyclohexadienones for the synthesis of polycyclic compounds - Rai, Archana; Bajpai, Priyam; Gamidi, Rama Krishna; Vanka, Kumar; Das, Utpal (Organic Letters, 2025)
Pd-catalyzed cascade cyclization of 2-alkynylbenzoate-tethered cyclohexadienone was developed for the single step synthesis of isocoumarin-fused dihydrochromenones. This highly atom economical method proceeds via 6-endo-dig cyclization of tert-butyl benzoate with a tethered alkyne. By modulating the reaction solvent and metal catalyst, the methodology was diverted for the purposeful synthesis of either of the E/Z tetra-substituted alkenes.

Post-functionalizable and reusable biobased polyhydroxyurethane adhesives with pendant furyl groups - Ghuge, Gorakh Hiraman; Nair, Kiran Sukumaran (Reactive & Functional Polymers, 2025)
Polyurethane hot melt adhesives (PU-HMAs) are essential in various industries due to their fast-setting properties, strong adhesion, and versatility across a wide range of substrates. However, conventional fossil-based PUHMAs face significant challenges, including reliance on non-renewable resources, high environmental impact, and the use of hazardous isocyanates, which pose health and safety concerns. To address these issues, this study focuses on developing sustainable, high-performance PHU-HMAs containing pendant furyl groups for metal bonding. A series of adhesives were developed utilizing varying proportions of two biobased dicarbonates derived from lignin and sugar: one featuring a pendant furyl group (BGF-PF-DC) and another without the pendant group (BGF-DC), in conjunction with Priamine 1074. The study comprehensively examined the effects of these formulations on the physio-mechanical, thermal, and adhesive properties. The results demonstrated an impressive renewable carbon content of 89-90 %, high adhesion strength of up to 9.27 MPa on aluminum and 9.43 MPa on stainless steel, excellent underwater adhesion, and outstanding reusability. Furthermore, the postmodifiability of pendant furyl in PHU6-PF100 was evaluated through cross-linking via the Diels-Alder reaction with bismaleimides (BMI). This study also examined the effects of these modifications on both the adhesive performance and thermal characteristics of the modified PHUs. However, the postmodified PHU/BMI network showed a decrease in adhesion but exhibited a higher glass transition temperature and improved adhesion stability at 50 degrees C compared to PHU6-PF100. This study emphasizes the sustainable and high-performance potential of PHU-based hot melt adhesives, establishing them as a viable alternative to traditional isocyanate-based systems. Furthermore, it introduces new opportunities for incorporating Diels-Alder (DA) chemistry into PHU adhesives, which allows for stable adhesion at elevated temperatures and broadens their applicability across various industries. Additionally, this research can serve as a foundation for future studies to investigate thermoreversibility in thermosetting PHUs, potentially expanding their range of applications even further.
Keywords: Biobased polyhydroxyurethanes; Diels-Alder reaction; Hot melt adhesives; Lap shear strength; Pendant furyl

Precision integrated identification of predictive first-trimester metabolomics signatures for early detection of gestational diabetes mellitus - Sharma, Sapna; Subrahmanyam, Yalamanchili Venkata; Gupta, Payal; Vadivel, Sangeetha; Deepa, Mohan; Tandon, Ansh; Sreedevi, Sreekumar; Ram, Uma; Narad, Priyanka; Parmar, Dharmeshkumar; Anjana, Ranjit Mohan; Raghunathan, Anu; et al. (Cardiovascular Diabetology, 2025)
Background and aimGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy-related metabolic disorder, often goes undiagnosed until the second trimester, limiting early intervention opportunities. Given the higher prevalence of GDM in India, there is a critical need to investigate metabolomic biomarkers among Asian Indians, who exhibit greater insulin resistance and are predisposed to developing type 2 diabetes at an earlier age. This study aimed to identify early pregnancy metabolomic signatures predictive of GDM. MethodsAmong 2115 pregnant women from the STratification of Risk of Diabetes in Early pregnancy (STRiDE) study, we performed untargeted metabolomic profiling using UPLC-MS/MS at early pregnancy (< 16 weeks) plasma samples from 100 women-comprising 50 with GDM and 50 normal (without GDM) based on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks. Statistical and machine learning approaches, including logistic regression and random forest (RF), were applied to identify GDM-associated metabolites and construct predictive models. Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted using KEGG database annotations. ResultsA total of 49 metabolites were significantly associated with GDM, primarily involving lipid classes such as phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins, and triacylglycerols. RF analysis identified a panel of eight metabolites that achieved best predictive performance (AUC 0.880; 95% CI: 0.809-0.951) for GDM. When combined with conventional clinical risk factors, the integrated model showed comparable prediction of GDM with AUC 0.88;: 95% CI: 0.810-0.952). Enrichment analysis highlighted dysregulated pathways including glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, autophagy, and insulin resistance. ConclusionThis study demonstrates the utility of early-pregnancy metabolomic profiling for predicting GDM in Indian women. The eight-metabolite panel offers a promising tool for early risk stratification of GDM, warranting validation in diverse populations.
Keywords: First trimester; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Indian women; Mass spectrometry; Metabolomics; Prediction

Quality by design-based development and validation of a stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for quantitative estimation of enzalutamide in eutectic mixtures - Wannur, Vishal Irappa; Patil, Archana S.; Sawadi, Bhavana; Koli, Rahul; Shaligram, Parth Shailendra; shet, Nagabhushan; Gonnade, Rajesh G. (SSC Plus, 2025)
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer presents a significant clinical challenge, with Enzalutamide—an androgen receptor inhibitor—serving as a standard therapeutic agent. Despite its efficacy, poor aqueous solubility (Biopharmaceutics classification system Class II) limits its bioavailability, necessitating advanced formulation strategies. This study reports a robust and validated Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method for quantifying enzalutamide in bulk and eutectic formulations. A Quality by Design framework employing a Box–Behnken design was used to optimize chromatographic parameters: 60% acetonitrile, 1 mL/min flow rate, 30°C column temperature, and 234 nm detection wavelength. The method exhibited strong linearity (2–12 µg/mL, r2 = 0.9985) with a limit of detection and limit of quantification of 0.464 and 1.40 µg/mL, respectively. Validation per International Council for Harmonisation Q2 (R1/R2) confirmed accuracy, precision, robustness, and system suitability. Forced degradation studies verified its stability-indicating capability. Eutectic mixtures with succinic acid, caffeine, and ferulic acid were prepared via liquid-assisted grinding and characterized using powder x-ray diffraction, confirming crystalline eutectic formation. Recovery ranged from 96.7% to 99.8%, supporting the method's applicability in routine analysis and formulation development. Greenness evaluation using various tools confirmed the method's low environmental impact and high operational feasibility. This validated RP-HPLC method enables reliable quantification of enzalutamide, supporting the development of novel bioavailability-enhancing formulations for effective prostate cancer management.

Recommendations for sample selection, collection and preparation for NMR-based metabolomics studies of blood - Emwas, Abdul-Hamid; Zacharias, Helena U.; Alborghetti, Marcos Rodrigo; Gowda, G. A. Nagana; Raftery, Daniel; Mckay, Ryan T.; Chang, Chung-ke; Saccenti, Edoardo; Gronwald, Wolfram; Schuchardt, Sven; Leiminger, Roland; Merzaban, Jasmeen; et al. (Metabolomics, 2025)
BackgroundMetabolic profiling of blood metabolites, particularly in plasma and serum, is vital for studying human diseases, human conditions, drug interventions and toxicology. The clinical significance of blood arises from its close ties to all human cells and facile accessibility. However, patient-specific variables such as age, sex, diet, lifestyle and health status, along with pre-analytical conditions (sample handling, storage, etc.), can significantly affect metabolomic measurements in whole blood, plasma, or serum studies. These factors, referred to as confounders, must be mitigated to reveal genuine metabolic changes due to illness or intervention onset.Review objectiveThis review aims to aid metabolomics researchers in collecting reliable, standardized datasets for NMR-based blood (whole/serum/plasma) metabolomics. The goal is to reduce the impact of confounding factors and enhance inter-laboratory comparability, enabling more meaningful outcomes in metabolomics studies.Key conceptsThis review outlines the main factors affecting blood metabolite levels and offers practical suggestions for what to measure and expect, how to mitigate confounding factors, how to properly prepare, handle and store blood, plasma and serum biosamples and how to report data in targeted NMR-based metabolomics studies of blood, plasma and serum.
Keywords: Blood; Metabolites; Metabolomics; NMR; Plasma; Serum; Standardization

Recycling textile dyeing effluent through ozonation: an environmentally sustainable approach for reducing freshwater and chemical consumption and lowering operational costs - Deogaonkar-Baride, Smita; Koli, Mitesh; Ghuge, Santosh P. (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025)
Dyeing operations in textile industries require large quantities of freshwater, which creates handling challenges and generates wastewater with high organic load that is difficult to treat and incurs high treatment costs. Minimizing freshwater consumption is essential for adopting sustainable practices. A limited number of studies are available in the literature exploring the possibility of recycling dyeing effluent through ozonation as an ecofriendly approach. Therefore, in the present work, the recycling of effluents obtained after dyeing with Reactive Red 198 (RR198) and Reactive Blue 21 (RB21) dyes through ozonation treatment has been studied. Nearly complete decolourization with COD removal efficiency of 32 % was obtained for both dye effluents after 15 min of ozonation. The qualities of recycled dyed fabrics were compared to fresh water-dyed fabrics through spectrophotometric analysis and colour fastness tests. These qualities for both dyed fabrics with recycled effluent were found to be either in excellent or good category after each recycle. Comparative analysis of freshwater and chemical requirements, along with cost savings, was conducted over four dyeing attempts. The study revealed significant savings with recycled effluent dyeing including 60 % reduction in fresh water usage and 75 % in salt consumption compared to conventional freshwater dyeing. Thus, recycling textile dyeing effluent through ozonation treatment was found to be a resource efficient approach. This approach not only significantly reduces wastewater volumes but also freshwater demand without compromising the colour-related qualities of dyed fabrics. Additionally, it minimizes operational expenses, thereby, supporting textile industry's shift toward sustainable practices.
Keywords: Chemical saving; Freshwater consumption; Ozonation; Recycling; Textile industry effluent

Regioisomeric π-extended nanographene with long-lived phosphorescence afterglow - Kumar, Viksit; Venugopal, Geethu; Jadhav, Ashok Badrinarayan; Dongre, Sangram D.; Gonnade, Rajesh; Kumar, Jatish; Ruer, Paul C.; Hupp, Benjamin; Steffen, Andreas; Babu, Sukumaran Santhosh (Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2025)
The cutouts of graphene sheets, particularly those with a nonplanar topology, present vast opportunities for advancement. Even a slight deviation from the planar structure can lead to intriguing (chiro)optical features for helically twisted nanographenes. In this context, we introduce two regioisomeric pi-extended nanographenes that exhibit distinct excited-state characteristics. The helicene structure and the photophysical features can be easily tuned by changing the connecting position of the nanographene to the carbazole core (2,7- and 3,6-). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of nanographenes with bent and helical conformations. Both derivatives exhibited thermally activated delayed fluorescence at room temperature and phosphorescence at low temperatures. Notably, the nanographene with the bent structure displayed an impressive red afterglow lasting over 30seconds, in contrast to the very weak afterglow observed in the helical structure. DFT calculations revealed the existence of an isoenergetic higher triplet state (T-8) and comparatively weak spin-orbit coupling (T-1-S-0), thereby enabling the bent nanographene to exhibit a long-lived component and strong afterglow. Our findings highlight the significance of regioisomeric nanographenes with exceptional optical properties and offer a deeper understanding of the structure-property relationship in nonplanar nanographenes.
Keywords: Afterglow; CPL; Helicenes; nanographene; Phosphorescence; TADF

Revealing the functional importance of tyrosine and tryptophan of human hemoglobin for development of structural templates representing protein microenvironment - Chakraborty, Madhurima; Sen Banerjee, Nineesha; Ghosh, Deborin; Bhattacharya, Prabuddha; Ganguly, Tapan (Computational and Theoretical Chemistry, 2025)
Microenvironment surrounding Tyrosine (Tyr) / Tryptophan (Trp) and heme appear to characterize the UV-vis absorption spectra of human hemoglobin (HHb). Structural elucidation of HHb using multiple tools, that may contribute to its spectral properties, then indicate greater structural stability of subunit A and the significance of its heme, Tyr42 and Trp14. Mutagenesis of Tyr42 and Trp14 of subunit A to Glycine (Gly) further validate their contribution in determining the structural stability, physicochemical properties, functional properties, and secondary structure of HHb. Accordingly, the use of structural coordinates of Tyr42 and heme as the first cluster and Trp14, Tyr42 and heme as the second cluster to represent the microenvironment of HHb is assessed for the first time. The calculated (DFT) absorption and FTIR properties of both the clusters are in well agreement with experimental absorption and FTIR characteristics of whole HHb suggesting prospective biomedical applications of these clusters.
Keywords: Heme; Human hemoglobin; Nano-peptide cluster; Representative template; Trp14; Tyr42

Rongalite-promoted self-dimerization of 3-acylidene-2-oxindoles: a diastereoselective route to synthesis of bispirooxindoles - Chaudhari, Suryakant S.; Nichinde, Chandrakant B.; Patil, Baliram R.; Girase, Amardipsing S.; Kaulage, Sandeep H.; Kinage, Anil K. (Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 2025)
A facile and efficient one-pot rongalite-mediated self-dimerization of 3-acylidene-2-oxindoles has been developed for the diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalized dispirocyclopentanebisoxindoles. The reaction proceeds via a domino sequence involving intermolecular Michael addition followed by intramolecular aldol cyclization under basic conditions. Rongalite, an inexpensive and readily available reagent (similar to\$0.03 per g), plays a crucial role in promoting the transformation, offering significant advantages such as operational simplicity, step economy, scalability to gram-scale synthesis, and potential for post-functionalization. This methodology provides an efficient route to structurally complex oxindole frameworks with high stereocontrol, demonstrating broad synthetic utility.

Selective anodic transformation of glycerol with ZnCo 2 O 4 2D nanoplates: sustainable coproduction of carbon-negative green hydrogen and formic acid - Saha, Arindam; Murugiah, Vasantharadevi; Kollenteakathootu, Jayalakshmi; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2025)
In the pursuit of sustainable green hydrogen production, the electrooxidation of abundantly available carbon-containing molecules at a significantly low voltage presents a promising pathway, helping to reduce the cost of hydrogen generation while simultaneously yielding value-added chemicals/fuels. In the current study, we report the template-free green synthesis of ZnCo2O4 directly on Ni-foam (NF), demonstrating anodic stability and bifunctional electrocatalytic activity toward alkaline (1 M KOH) glycerol oxidation over an extended duration of 230 h at 50 mA cm- 2. The catalyst's high electrochemical surface area contributes to its remarkable performance, enabling sustained high current density. Compared with monometallic (ZnO or Co3O4) oxides, ZnCo2O4 oxide reveals superior catalytic performance. The two-electrode electrolyzer setup (ZnCo2O4 oxide/NF || ZnCo2O4 oxide/NF) operates at a significantly low cell potential of 1.9 V to achieve 100 mA cm- 2 in 0.2 M glycerol, which is 180 mV lower than that of conventional 1 M KOH solution. The three-electrode setup achieved 1 A/cm2 current density at 1.907 V vs RHE. Both anodic and cathodic processes exhibit high Faradaic efficiency, achieving 98% efficiency for H2 and 90% selectivity toward formate generation, along with significant methanol production. This demonstrates efficient C-C bond cleavage capability with glycerol to predominantly C1-products. The electrocatalytic formate production from alkaline glycerol using ZnCo2O4 offers an energy-efficient pathway, facilitating carbon-negative green hydrogen generation, thus contributing to a cleaner and sustainable energy landscape.
Keywords: energy conversion; Formic acid; glyceroloxidation; green H-2; water electrolysis

Separation of isomers of chiral thiourea derivatives via spontaneous resolution and rationale of molecular recognition - Dwivedi, Astha M.; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Sahoo, Suban K.; Bedekar, Ashutosh V. (CrystEngComm, 2025)
Enrichment of enantiomers during crystallization of racemic thiourea derivatives was investigated. The spontaneous resolution of a chiral thiourea derivative via preferential crystallization is attributed to thermodynamic stability when molecules of identical chirality bind with each other in the crystal lattice. Single crystal X-ray analysis reveals the interactions responsible for self-recognition of molecules of the same chirality in the unit cell. The tendency of the thiourea derivative to form a conglomerate is supported by IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and computational studies.

Sequential nitro-michael addition and reductive cyclization cascade reaction for diastereoselective synthesis of multifunctionalized 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-spirooxindoles - Nichinde, Chandrakant B.; Bhati, Meema; Girase, Amardipsing S.; Patil, Baliram R.; Chaudhari, Suryakant S.; Gamidi, Rama Krishna; Joshi, Kavita; Kinage, Anil K. (European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2025)
In this investigation, we elucidated, one-pot two stage efficient synthesis of multifuctionalized spiro[oxindole -3,3 `-pyrrolidine]. The methodology proceeds via organocatalyzed nitro-Michael addition reaction between indolylidenecyanoesters and nitroalkanes to formed nitro-Michael adduct which transformed into multifunctionalized 3,3 `-pyrrolidinyl-spirooxindoles by metal catalyzed reductive cyclization cascade. DFT investigations were conducted to elucidate the mechanism underlying the preferential reduction of the nitro group, with subsequent attack on the nitrile and ester groups remain inert throughout the reaction process. The approach is operationally simple, easily scalable, exhibits compatibility with readily accessible starting material and catalysts, thereby emphasizing cost-effectiveness.
Keywords: 3 `-pyrrolidinyl spirooxindoles; DFT study for regioselective cyclization; Diastereoselective 3; organocatalysis; Pd/C catalysed partial reductive spirocyclization

Shola: a 3D porous hydrophobic-oleophilic lignocellulosic material for efficient oil/water separation - Mondal, Keya; Advani, Kushagra; Ghosh, Snigdha; Shanmugnathan, Kadhiravan; Kulsi, Goutam; Sivaram, Swaminathan; Sen Gupta, Sayam (Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2025)
Transitioning from the fossil fuel era to a sustainable future requires increasing adoption of high-performing renewable materials in industrial applications. Natural polymers derived from lignocellulosic materials are often considered more environmentally friendly than their petroleum-based synthetic analogs. Aeschynomene aspera, commonly known as Shola, has been found to be a large source of amorphous cellulose and a useful sorbent for the removal of oil from water. The Shola pith, the pure white inner stem, is rich in cellulose and has an exquisite three-dimensional and hierarchical porous architecture created by nature. The pith consists of about 70 wt% cellulose as the main chemical component, which is much higher than what is found in other lignocellulosic sources. In addition, the pith has about 12 wt% hemicellulose, 2-3 wt% pectin, 10 wt% lignin, 2.5 wt% wax, and 2 wt% protein as other chemical components. It was observed that water has a high contact angle (135 degrees) on the surface of the pith, while oil droplets instantly spread on the surface, indicating excellent hydrophobic-oleophilic properties. Further studies reveal that the Shola pith exhibits a fast and high sorption capacity of 40-60 g/g for various oils and organic liquids. Silicone oil shows a sorption capacity of about 166 g/g. When applied to oil-floating-over-water, the Shola pith exhibits high selectivity for oil over water; almost all oil on the surface could be removed, leaving no trace of oil on the water surface. The Shola pith can also efficiently separate oil from an oil-in-water emulsion. This behavior is unprecedented in natural sorbents. The used material sorbs a considerable volume of the oil even after the 7th cycle. Furthermore about 95% of sorbed oil could be recovered from the material by solvent extraction. This study reveals for the first time some of the unique and interesting properties of Shola, a widely found biomass native to the eastern parts of the Indian subcontinent, and opens up possibilities of exploiting it for valuable applications.

Sila[1]ferrocenophanes with Bulky Substituents - Ajithkumar, V. S.; Bisai, Milan Kumar; Yuvaraj, K.; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Sen, Sakya S. (European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025)
In this study, sila[1]ferrocenophanes with sterically bulky groups such as tris(trimethylsilyl) or N-heterocyclic iminato located at the bridging silicon atom are synthesized. The reactions of silicon-bound chloride in Fe(eta 5-C5H4)2SiCl2 (1) with K[Si(SiMe3)3] and silylated N-heterocyclic imine result in sila[1]ferrocenophanes 2 and 3 with bulky silicon- and nitrogen-based substituents at the ansa-bridge via elimination of KCl and Me3SiCl. Subsequently, the reduction of 1 is attempted using 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-dihydropyrazine (popularly known as Mashima reagent), which leads to the elimination of Me3SiCl and generation of 1,4-dihydropyrazine-spanned sila[1]ferrocenophanes (4). All the compounds are structurally characterized.
Keywords: ansa-bridges; ferrocenophanes; hypersilyls; Mashima reagents; N-heterocyclic imines

Stimulant immobilized bioactive film of functionalized egg albumin blend for wound healing - Gautam, Tripurari Rao; Patel, Pratikshkumar R.; Singam, Amarnath R.; Jagtap, Ashish S.; Desai, Prasad; Gundloori, Rathna V. N.; Pawar, Anil; Dastager, Syed G. (International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2025)
Wound healing materials with advanced properties that facilitates higher collagen deposition, improved angiogenesis and quick tissue regeneration are crucial for clinical wound management. To meet the requirement, for the first time, our studies focus on engineering bio-originated natural materials, which are tested in combination with the active agents, ascorbic acid (AA), a stimulant and metronidazole (Mtz), an anti-microbial drug. Accordingly, a dual drug (AA, and Mtz) loaded film of functionalized egg albumin (FEA)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was fabricated following the solution casting method. The film was characterized for its morphology and physicochemical properties using various analytical tools. The potential of the film as a wound healing material was evaluated, by in vitro drug release, degradation, cell viability, antimicrobial studies, in vivo wound healing, and histopathological analyses. In vitro degradation studies confirmed their degradability in enzymatic and soil burial conditions. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated their non-toxicity, and the antimicrobial investigations showcased that the material was antibacterial. On the 14th day, the wound closure percentage of the wound induced control group, GI (without treatment) was notably higher at 95 % compared to the test formulation group, GV [FEA-PVA (30/70 w/w) loaded with Mtz and AA (10 % w/w of the total polymer weight), respectively], which exhibited a wound closure of 83 %. Furthermore, the histopathological examinations revealed that the inner wound healing in GV was comparatively better than in GI in terms of angiogenesis, epidermal remodeling, higher collagen deposition, coherency, and tissue regeneration. Consequently, the formulated film can be deemed a suitable wound dressing material.
Keywords: collagen; Dual drug release; Functionalized egg albumin; Polymer blend films; Stimulant; wound Healing

Structure and properties of the cellulose fibres spun from imidazolium-based carboxylate functionalized zwitterionic liquid - Jadhav, Sachin; Singh, Dhirendra; Gupta, Deepika; Ganvir, Vivek; Singh, Madan Kumar; Shanmuganathan, Kadhiravan (CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS, 2025)
Keywords: cellulose; Direct dissolution; Zwitterionic liquid

Studies on the stereoselective synthesis of sacubitril via a chiral amine transfer approach - Sadanande, Megha V.; Thorat, Sagar S.; Sharma, Himanshu; Singh, Geetika; Vanka, Kumar; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Kontham, Ravindar (Chemistry-An Asian Journal, 2025)
We present a comprehensive account of our efforts directed towards the synthesis of sacubitril, a neprilysin inhibitor used in combination with valsartan and marketed as Entresto (TM). Our initial approach to the formal synthesis of sacubitril employed a chiral pool strategy, utilizing (S)-pyroglutamic acid as a key building block and Cu(I)-mediated Csp2-Csp3 cross-coupling as a key transformation. Further investigations led to the development of chiral amine transfer (CAT) reagents-based stereoselective synthesis. This involved the E-selective construction of gamma-ylidene-butenolide from readily available biphenyl bromide and 4-pentynoic acid, the conversion of this butenolide to its ene-lactam using chiral amine, and substrate-controlled diastereoselective reduction of ene-lactam using Et3SiH or Pd/C, H2 (overall chiral amine transfer) as key transformations. Antipodal lactam intermediates were synthesized using corresponding chiral amines, and the stereochemical outcomes during the ene-lactam reduction with Et3SiH were rationalized by DFT studies.
Keywords: Chiral Amine Transfer (CAT) approach; Chiral pool approach; Sacubitril; stereoselective synthesis

Sustainable biodiesel production: importance of feedstock resources and production methods - Mhetras, Nutan; Gokhale, Digambar (RSC Advances, 2025)
Biodiesel made from renewable feedstock can be considered as a renewable and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. This review briefly covers the historical background on biodiesel and discusses the various renewable feedstock sources for biodiesel production. It also emphasizes the importance of not only the feedstock quality but also on biodiesel quality that satisfies the ASTM D6751 and EN 1421 standards. In addition, the review describes various methods for biodiesel production with major thrust on transesterification, which is the key process. It also highlights the use of different types of catalysts including acidic, basic, bi-functional, and enzymes in the transesterification reaction. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of pursuing further research and development to address the challenges in developing low cost and eco-friendly processes for biodiesel production.

Synergistic effect of acidic-basic features of copper-doped layered double hydroxides nanocatalysts in valorization of biomass-derived furfural to biofuels - Gode, Nilesh G.; Nagpure, Atul S.; Rewatkar, Suresh B.; Bhagat, Shailesh K.; Deshmukh, Ganpat D.; Saini, Ajay (ChemPlusChem, 2025)
Valorization of biomass-derived chemicals into high-quality compounds and biofuels is enormously fundamental to diminish dependence on fossil-based resources. Furfural is a bio-based valuable compound which can be proficiently upgraded to 4-(2-furyl)-3-buten-2-one (FAc) and 1,4-pentadiene-3-one, 1,5-di-2-furanyl (F 2 Ac) via aldol condensation of furfural with acetone. In the present work, efficient Cu-doped Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanocatalysts are fabricated by coprecipitation and are exploited for furfural conversion to obtained FAc and F 2 Ac. The structure-activity relationship is scrutinized by characterizing fresh and spent nanocatalysts via numerous techniques. The good correlation between the amount of weak acidic-weak basic catalytic sites and nanocatalysts performance is established. The superior performance of Cu-0.1 nanocatalyst (Cu-content = 1.85 wt%) in aldol condensation is attributed to the presence of optimum weak acidic sites (0.21 mmol g-1) and weak basic sites (0.36 mmol g-1), synergistic acidic-basic effect, nano-sized Cu(OH) 2 nanoparticles (1.6 nm), high BET surface area (181 m2 g-1), and mesoporous architecture of material. Cu-0.1 nanocatalyst delivered 98% FAc selectivity with 100% furfural conversion at 85 degrees C. Furthermore, at 100 degrees C, the nanocatalyst gives 55% F 2 Ac selectivity with 73% furfural conversion. The catalyst displays good recyclability (7 recycles) and stability. Plausible mechanistic pathway for transformation of furfural to FAc and F 2 Ac is proposed.
Keywords: Aldol condensation; biofuels; biomass valorization; nanocatalysis; synergistic effect

Synergistic improvement of narrow bandgap PbS quantum dot solar cells through surface ligand engineering, near-infrared spectral matching, and enhanced electrode transparency - Sharma, Anjali; Shinde, Dipak Dattatray; Mahajan, Chandan; Dambhare, Neha V.; Biswas, Arindam; Mitra, Anurag; Girade, Vrushali S.; Rath, Arup K. (ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2025)
The tunability of the energy bandgap in the near-infrared (NIR) range uniquely positions colloidal lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) as a versatile material to enhance the performance of existing perovskite and silicon solar cells in tandem architectures. The desired narrow bandgap (NBG) PbS QDs exhibit polar (111) and nonpolar (100) terminal facets, making effective surface passivation through ligand engineering highly challenging. Despite recent breakthroughs in surface ligand engineering, NBG PbS QDs suffer from uncontrolled agglomeration in solid films, leading to increased energy disorder and trap formation. The limited NIR transparency of commonly used indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) electrodes and inadequate NIR radiation from commercially available solar simulators further compromise the true performance of NBG PbS QDs in solar cells. Here, we employ a hybrid ligand strategy based on inorganic cadmium halide and organic thiol molecules, leading to the partial substitution of surface Pb atoms with Cd heteroatoms. This hybrid ligand strategy substantially reduces undesired QD fusion in solid films, improving the photophysical and electronic properties. By modulating the thickness of the ITO layer and managing refraction loss through a ZnO layer coating, we improved NIR transparency to above 80%. We combine an NIR light source with a solar simulator to achieve near-ideal spectral matching for a broader range with standard AM1.5G illumination. Enhancements in surface passivation of QDs, improvements in NIR transparency of electrodes, and a spectral matched light source setup help us achieve solar cell power conversion efficiencies of 12.4%, 4.48%, and 1.37% under AM 1.5G, perovskite filter, and silicon filter illuminations, respectively. A record open-circuit voltage (V oc) of 0.54 V and short-circuit current density (J sc) of 38.5 mA/cm2 are achieved under AM 1.5G illumination. We attribute these advancements in photovoltaic parameters to the reduction in Urbach tail states and intermediate trap density originating from superior surface passivation of QDs.
Keywords: lead sulfide; ligand passivation; near-infrared; quantum dots; solar cell; tandem solarcell

Synthesis and concomitant polymorphs of green fluorescence protein chromophore-anthracene-based fluorescent analogue - Mali, Bhupendra P.; Dabke, Niteen B.; Dash, Soumya R.; Biswas, Anupam; Vanka, Kumar; Manoj, Kochunnoonny; Gonnade, Rajesh G. (Crystal Growth & Design, 2025)
Controlled variations in fluorescence properties hold significant promise for applications in optical sensors, bioimaging, and advanced display devices. However, constructing multicolor fluorescent systems remains a challenge. In this study, we demonstrate the development of multicolor fluorescence by generating polymorphs of a novel green fluorescent protein chromophore analogue, which exhibits distinct photoluminescence emissions in the solid state. The observed emission variations are attributed to differences in molecular conformation due to variations in pi-stacking interactions between the polymorphs. This offers a novel approach to designing materials with tunable fluorescence properties.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel aza-aromatics as dual 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor agonists - Adhikari, Amit Singh; Yadav, Annu; Pandit, Soumen; Kumar, Suresh; Pandey, Vinay Kumar; Maurya, Arvind Kumar; Umrao, Deepmala; Chand, Diwan; Maity, Debalina; Gayen, Jiaur R.; Srivastava, Kinshuk Raj; Yadav, Prem N.; et al. (ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2025)
The 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors are key therapeutic targets for CNS disorders. We investigated whether a nonhallucinogenic dual 5-HT2A/5-HT2C agonist could offer novel treatment potential. Large screening of in-house structurally diverse compounds revealed centhaquin, an FDA-approved hypovolemic shock drug, as a selective 5-HT2C agonist (EC50: 35 nM). We then synthesized 22 aza-aryl analogs with modified piperazine groups, and identified two dual agonists, 3ci and 3dh (EC50 < 1 mu M), with no 5-HT2B activity up to 10 mu M. Molecular docking highlighted critical interactions with Ser159 (5-HT2A) and Ser138 (5-HT2C) on the upper side of the orthosteric binding pocket. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice demonstrated that 3ci was rapidly absorbed in the plasma and brain (T-max = 0.08 h; C-max = 936.4 ng/mL plasma, 2446.8 ng/g brain). Both compounds (3ci and 3dh, 20 mg/kg, i.p.) triggered a head-twitch response but were less potent than the hallucinogenic control 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine, suggesting a reduced hallucinogenic liability. These results highlight 3ci as a promising lead for developing 5-HT2A/2C dual agonists to treat CNS disorders.
Keywords: 5-HT2A; 5-HT2C; Centhaquin; GPCR; Head Twitch Response; Serotonin Receptor

Synthesis and structural studies of ammonium exchanged synthetic analogue of disordered aluminosilicate natrolite - Gavhane, Manjusha J.; Jha, R. K.; Nam, Kyung-Wan; Bhange, Deu S. (Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2025)
The current article reports preparation and structural analysis of NH4+ exchanged form of synthetic natrolite zeolite (NH4-natrolite) with disordered structure wherein Si and Al occupies all the tetrahedral (T) sites in the zeolite framework. Structural data is used to gain insight into the structural parameters those influence thermal stability of its proposed H-form. NH4-natrolite is prepared by ion-exchange method from K-natrolite (which was also obtained by ion-exchange with Na-natrolite). Na-natrolite, K-natrolite and NH4-natrolite prepared in this study were tested for their structural, morphological and thermal analysis. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction data was utilized to estimate the crystal structures of hydrated forms of Na-natrolite, K-natrolite and NH4-exchanged natrolites. Thermal analysis of NH4-natrolite revealed that the dehydration is followed by removal of ammonia during calcination. The role of the size (radius) and nature (either divalent or monovalent) of the exchangeable cations present in the channels, the framework chemical content and extent of `T' atom ordering have been collectively discussed and correlated with the structural behaviour of calcined NH4-natrolite to explain its thermal stability in better way.
Keywords: Crystal structure of natrolite; Disordered framework; zeolite

Synthesis, characterization and theoretical investigations of the newly developed molecular salts of an anti-psychotic drug (Penfluridol) - Kenguva, Gowtham; Rout, Smruti Rekha; Kar, Ananya; Giri, Lopamudra; Mahapatra, Sanat Kumar; Shaikh, Tabrez R.; Baidya, Debjani; Shelke, Nikita; Dandela, Rambabu (Journal of Molecular Structure, 2025)
Penfluridol (PEN) is a clinically relevant antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia; nevertheless, its bioavailability is limited due to its poor solubility. To address this issues, new molecular salts of PEN are being produced utilizing an array of GRAS (Generally Recognised AS Safe) salt formers such as oxalic acid (OXA), malonic acid (MAL), maleic acid (MAE), and an artificial sweetener (saccharin (SAC)). A variety of solid-state analytical techniques were used to identify and characterize the resulting molecular salts. Moreover, PEN and its novel salts' solubility were assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the data revealed that among all the adducts PEN.MAL exhibited a significantly higher solubility which is similar to 15 times more than the parent drug PEN. Furthermore, in order to enhance comprehension of the hydrogen bonding interaction, the Hirshfeld surface (HS), frontier molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO), non-covalent interaction plots (NCIs), and electrostatic potential maps (ESP) investigations are discussed. Additionally, the stability of the synthesized adducts was evaluated over a 2-week period under accelerated humidity (90 % +/- 5 % RH, 40 +/- 1 degrees C) and it was observed that all the adducts demonstrated excellent stability. In light of the aforementioned observations, we expect that the latest discovery will be a superior alternative for refining and strengthening the pharmacological features of PEN.
Keywords: Anti-psychotic drug; Hydrogen bond; Liquid-assisted grinding (LAG); solubility

Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 5-methyl-2-[(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]-1,3,4-thiadiazole - Kinshakova, Ekaterina; Torambetov, Batirbay; Bharty, Manoj K.; Atashov, Aziz; Rasulov, Abdusamat; Kadirova, Shakhnoza; Gonnade, Rajesh G. (Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications, 2025)
The title compound, C<span style="color-scheme: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; position: revert; position-anchor: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; appearance: revert; color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: Cambria, "Cambria Math", Charter, "Times New Roman", Times, stixgeneral, serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-language-override: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-size-adjust: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-emoji: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variant-position: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; position-area: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-spacing-trim: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; writing-mode: revert; zoom: revert; accent-color: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; anchor-name: revert; anchor-scope: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border: revert; border-radius: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; inset: revert; box-decoration-break: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-animation: revert; caret-color: revert; caret-shape: revert; clear: revert; clip: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-rendering: revert; columns: revert; column-fill: revert; gap: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; contain: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; container: revert; content: revert; content-visibility: revert; corner-shape: revert; corner-block-end-shape: revert; corner-block-start-shape: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; dynamic-range-limit: revert; empty-cells: revert; field-sizing: revert; fill: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; filter: revert; flex: revert; flex-flow: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; grid: revert; grid-area: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; interactivity: revert; interest-delay: revert; interpolate-size: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin: revert; margin-inline: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline: revert; outline-offset: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-block: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-inline: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overlay: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding: revert; padding-inline: revert; page: revert; page-orientation: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective: revert; perspective-origin: revert; pointer-events: revert; position-try: revert; position-visibility: revert; print-color-adjust: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; reading-flow: revert; reading-order: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-align: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-initial-target: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-marker-group: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scroll-target-group: revert; scroll-timeline: revert; scrollbar-color: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; scrollbar-width: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-autospace: revert; text-box: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-justify: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; text-wrap-style: revert; timeline-scope: revert; touch-action: revert; transform: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-timeline: revert; view-transition-class: revert; view-transition-group: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; border-spacing: revert; -webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert;">6H<span style="color-scheme: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; position: revert; position-anchor: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; appearance: revert; color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: Cambria, "Cambria Math", Charter, "Times New Roman", Times, stixgeneral, serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-language-override: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-size-adjust: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-emoji: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variant-position: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; position-area: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-spacing-trim: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; writing-mode: revert; zoom: revert; accent-color: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; anchor-name: revert; anchor-scope: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border: revert; border-radius: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; inset: revert; box-decoration-break: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-animation: revert; caret-color: revert; caret-shape: revert; clear: revert; clip: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-rendering: revert; columns: revert; column-fill: revert; gap: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; contain: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; container: revert; content: revert; content-visibility: revert; corner-shape: revert; corner-block-end-shape: revert; corner-block-start-shape: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; dynamic-range-limit: revert; empty-cells: revert; field-sizing: revert; fill: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; filter: revert; flex: revert; flex-flow: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; grid: revert; grid-area: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; interactivity: revert; interest-delay: revert; interpolate-size: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin: revert; margin-inline: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline: revert; outline-offset: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-block: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-inline: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overlay: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding: revert; padding-inline: revert; page: revert; page-orientation: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective: revert; perspective-origin: revert; pointer-events: revert; position-try: revert; position-visibility: revert; print-color-adjust: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; reading-flow: revert; reading-order: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-align: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-initial-target: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-marker-group: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scroll-target-group: revert; scroll-timeline: revert; scrollbar-color: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; scrollbar-width: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-autospace: revert; text-box: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-justify: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; text-wrap-style: revert; timeline-scope: revert; touch-action: revert; transform: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-timeline: revert; view-transition-class: revert; view-transition-group: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; border-spacing: revert; -webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert;">5N<span style="color-scheme: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; position: revert; position-anchor: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; appearance: revert; color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: Cambria, "Cambria Math", Charter, "Times New Roman", Times, stixgeneral, serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-language-override: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-size-adjust: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-emoji: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variant-position: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; position-area: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-spacing-trim: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; writing-mode: revert; zoom: revert; accent-color: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; anchor-name: revert; anchor-scope: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border: revert; border-radius: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; inset: revert; box-decoration-break: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-animation: revert; caret-color: revert; caret-shape: revert; clear: revert; clip: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-rendering: revert; columns: revert; column-fill: revert; gap: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; contain: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; container: revert; content: revert; content-visibility: revert; corner-shape: revert; corner-block-end-shape: revert; corner-block-start-shape: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; dynamic-range-limit: revert; empty-cells: revert; field-sizing: revert; fill: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; filter: revert; flex: revert; flex-flow: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; grid: revert; grid-area: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; interactivity: revert; interest-delay: revert; interpolate-size: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin: revert; margin-inline: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline: revert; outline-offset: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-block: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-inline: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overlay: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding: revert; padding-inline: revert; page: revert; page-orientation: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective: revert; perspective-origin: revert; pointer-events: revert; position-try: revert; position-visibility: revert; print-color-adjust: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; reading-flow: revert; reading-order: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-align: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-initial-target: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-marker-group: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scroll-target-group: revert; scroll-timeline: revert; scrollbar-color: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; scrollbar-width: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-autospace: revert; text-box: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-justify: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; text-wrap-style: revert; timeline-scope: revert; touch-action: revert; transform: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-timeline: revert; view-transition-class: revert; view-transition-group: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; border-spacing: revert; -webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert;">3S<span style="color-scheme: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; position: revert; position-anchor: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; appearance: revert; color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: Cambria, "Cambria Math", Charter, "Times New Roman", Times, stixgeneral, serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-language-override: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-size-adjust: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-emoji: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variant-position: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; position-area: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-spacing-trim: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; writing-mode: revert; zoom: revert; accent-color: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; anchor-name: revert; anchor-scope: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border: revert; border-radius: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; inset: revert; box-decoration-break: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-animation: revert; caret-color: revert; caret-shape: revert; clear: revert; clip: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-rendering: revert; columns: revert; column-fill: revert; gap: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; contain: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; container: revert; content: revert; content-visibility: revert; corner-shape: revert; corner-block-end-shape: revert; corner-block-start-shape: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; dynamic-range-limit: revert; empty-cells: revert; field-sizing: revert; fill: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; filter: revert; flex: revert; flex-flow: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; grid: revert; grid-area: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; interactivity: revert; interest-delay: revert; interpolate-size: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin: revert; margin-inline: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline: revert; outline-offset: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-block: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-inline: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overlay: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding: revert; padding-inline: revert; page: revert; page-orientation: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective: revert; perspective-origin: revert; pointer-events: revert; position-try: revert; position-visibility: revert; print-color-adjust: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; reading-flow: revert; reading-order: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-align: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-initial-target: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-marker-group: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scroll-target-group: revert; scroll-timeline: revert; scrollbar-color: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; scrollbar-width: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-autospace: revert; text-box: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-justify: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; text-wrap-style: revert; timeline-scope: revert; touch-action: revert; transform: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-timeline: revert; view-transition-class: revert; view-transition-group: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; border-spacing: revert; -webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert;">3, consists of two biologically relevant heterocyclic units, suggesting potential biological activity and possible use as a ligand in metal complexation. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2<span style="color-scheme: revert; forced-color-adjust: revert; mask: revert; math-depth: revert; position: revert; position-anchor: revert; text-size-adjust: revert; appearance: revert; color: rgb(27, 27, 27); font-family: Cambria, "Cambria Math", Charter, "Times New Roman", Times, stixgeneral, serif; font-feature-settings: revert; font-kerning: revert; font-language-override: revert; font-optical-sizing: revert; font-palette: revert; font-size: revert; font-size-adjust: revert; font-stretch: revert; font-synthesis: revert; font-variant-alternates: revert; font-variant-east-asian: revert; font-variant-emoji: revert; font-variant-numeric: revert; font-variant-position: revert; font-variation-settings: revert; position-area: revert; text-orientation: revert; text-rendering: revert; text-spacing-trim: revert; -webkit-font-smoothing: revert; -webkit-locale: revert; -webkit-text-orientation: revert; -webkit-writing-mode: revert; writing-mode: revert; zoom: revert; accent-color: revert; place-content: revert; place-items: revert; place-self: revert; alignment-baseline: revert; anchor-name: revert; anchor-scope: revert; animation-composition: revert; animation: revert; app-region: revert; aspect-ratio: revert; backdrop-filter: revert; backface-visibility: revert; background-attachment: revert; background-blend-mode: revert; background-clip: revert; background-image: revert; background-origin: revert; background-position: revert; background-repeat: revert; background-size: revert; baseline-shift: revert; baseline-source: revert; block-size: revert; border-block: revert; border: revert; border-radius: revert; border-collapse: revert; border-end-end-radius: revert; border-end-start-radius: revert; border-inline: revert; border-start-end-radius: revert; border-start-start-radius: revert; inset: revert; box-decoration-break: revert; box-shadow: revert; box-sizing: revert; break-after: revert; break-before: revert; break-inside: revert; buffered-rendering: revert; caption-side: revert; caret-animation: revert; caret-color: revert; caret-shape: revert; clear: revert; clip: revert; clip-path: revert; clip-rule: revert; color-interpolation: revert; color-interpolation-filters: revert; color-rendering: revert; columns: revert; column-fill: revert; gap: revert; column-rule: revert; column-span: revert; contain: revert; contain-intrinsic-block-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-size: revert; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: revert; container: revert; content: revert; content-visibility: revert; corner-shape: revert; corner-block-end-shape: revert; corner-block-start-shape: revert; counter-increment: revert; counter-reset: revert; counter-set: revert; cursor: revert; cx: revert; cy: revert; d: revert; display: revert; dominant-baseline: revert; dynamic-range-limit: revert; empty-cells: revert; field-sizing: revert; fill: revert; fill-opacity: revert; fill-rule: revert; filter: revert; flex: revert; flex-flow: revert; float: revert; flood-color: revert; flood-opacity: revert; grid: revert; grid-area: revert; height: revert; hyphenate-character: revert; hyphenate-limit-chars: revert; hyphens: revert; image-orientation: revert; image-rendering: revert; initial-letter: revert; inline-size: revert; inset-block: revert; inset-inline: revert; interactivity: revert; interest-delay: revert; interpolate-size: revert; isolation: revert; lighting-color: revert; line-break: revert; line-height: revert; list-style: revert; margin-block: revert; margin: revert; margin-inline: revert; marker: revert; mask-type: revert; math-shift: revert; math-style: revert; max-block-size: revert; max-height: revert; max-inline-size: revert; max-width: revert; min-block-size: revert; min-height: revert; min-inline-size: revert; min-width: revert; mix-blend-mode: revert; object-fit: revert; object-position: revert; object-view-box: revert; offset: revert; opacity: revert; order: revert; outline: revert; outline-offset: revert; overflow-anchor: revert; overflow-block: revert; overflow-clip-margin: revert; overflow-inline: revert; overflow-wrap: revert; overflow: revert; overlay: revert; overscroll-behavior-block: revert; overscroll-behavior-inline: revert; overscroll-behavior: revert; padding-block: revert; padding: revert; padding-inline: revert; page: revert; page-orientation: revert; paint-order: revert; perspective: revert; perspective-origin: revert; pointer-events: revert; position-try: revert; position-visibility: revert; print-color-adjust: revert; quotes: revert; r: revert; reading-flow: revert; reading-order: revert; resize: revert; rotate: revert; ruby-align: revert; ruby-position: revert; rx: revert; ry: revert; scale: revert; scroll-behavior: revert; scroll-initial-target: revert; scroll-margin-block: revert; scroll-margin: revert; scroll-margin-inline: revert; scroll-marker-group: revert; scroll-padding-block: revert; scroll-padding: revert; scroll-padding-inline: revert; scroll-snap-align: revert; scroll-snap-stop: revert; scroll-snap-type: revert; scroll-target-group: revert; scroll-timeline: revert; scrollbar-color: revert; scrollbar-gutter: revert; scrollbar-width: revert; shape-image-threshold: revert; shape-margin: revert; shape-outside: revert; shape-rendering: revert; size: revert; speak: revert; stop-color: revert; stop-opacity: revert; stroke: revert; stroke-dasharray: revert; stroke-dashoffset: revert; stroke-linecap: revert; stroke-linejoin: revert; stroke-miterlimit: revert; stroke-opacity: revert; stroke-width: revert; tab-size: revert; table-layout: revert; text-align-last: revert; text-anchor: revert; text-autospace: revert; text-box: revert; text-combine-upright: revert; text-decoration-line: revert; text-decoration-skip-ink: revert; text-emphasis: revert; text-emphasis-position: revert; text-justify: revert; text-overflow: revert; text-shadow: revert; text-underline-offset: revert; text-underline-position: revert; text-wrap-style: revert; timeline-scope: revert; touch-action: revert; transform: revert; transform-box: revert; transform-origin: revert; transform-style: revert; transition: revert; translate: revert; user-select: revert; vector-effect: revert; vertical-align: revert; view-timeline: revert; view-transition-class: revert; view-transition-group: revert; view-transition-name: revert; visibility: revert; border-spacing: revert; -webkit-box-align: revert; -webkit-box-decoration-break: revert; -webkit-box-direction: revert; -webkit-box-flex: revert; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: revert; -webkit-box-orient: revert; -webkit-box-pack: revert; -webkit-box-reflect: revert; -webkit-line-break: revert; -webkit-line-clamp: revert; -webkit-mask-box-image: revert; -webkit-rtl-ordering: revert; -webkit-ruby-position: revert; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: revert; -webkit-text-combine: revert; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: revert; -webkit-text-fill-color: revert; -webkit-text-security: revert; -webkit-text-stroke-color: revert; -webkit-user-drag: revert; width: revert; will-change: revert; word-break: revert; x: revert; y: revert; z-index: revert;">1/c and features non-classical intermolecular C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, along with π–π stacking interactions that contribute to the crystal cohesion. Hirshfeld surface analysis highlights significant intermolecular interactions including, among others, N⋯H/H⋯N, S⋯H/H⋯S, and S⋯C/C⋯S contacts.

Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of bis[2-amino-5-(ethylsulfanyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-3-ium] bis(perchlorato-κO)bis(picolinato-κ2N,O)copper(II) - Khojabaeva, Gulnaz; Torambetov, Batirbay; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Uzakbergenova, Zamira; Rasulov, Abdusamat; Kadirova, Shakhnoza (Acta Crystallographica Section E, Crystallographic Communications, 2025)

Synthesis, crystal structure, DFT calculation and catalytic activity of a polymer complex of zinc(II) succinate with 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole - Nuralieva, Guzal; Alieva, Mushtariy; Torambetov, Batirbay; Leslee, Denzil Britto Christopher; Senthilkumar, Beeran; Kaur, Simranjeet; Dabke, Niteen B.; Vanka, Kumar; Ashurov, Jamshid; Kadirova, Shakhnoza; Gonnade, Rajesh G. (Journal of Molecular Structure, 2025)
A polymer complex of zinc(II) succinate with a 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadialole ligand, denoted as [Zn2L2(suc)2]n, was synthesized and characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, FTIR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy, TGA, and X-ray crystallography. The polymer complex crystallizes in the orthorhombic noncentrosymmetric Pna21 space group and features a five-coordinate zinc ion in a distorted spherical square pyramidal geometry. The Hirshfeld surface analysis was carried out to evaluate the intermolecular interactions. Additionally, computational studies were also conducted to assess the stability of the Zn polymer complex and analyze the electron density distribution of the HOMO and LUMO. The catalytic activity of our complex was tested, interestingly, that showed good results for Biginelli reactions with distinct substrate scope in good to high yield at mild reaction conditions.
Keywords: DFT; Dihydropyrimidinones; Polymer complex; succinate; Thiadiazole; zinc

Synthesis of amine-loaded styrene–divinylbenzene copolymers for carbon dioxide capture - Nande, Smita S.; Garnaik, Baijayantimala (ACS Engineering Au, 2025)
Carbon dioxide capture by various tertiary amines and quaternary bulky ammonium salts loaded in cross-link hybrid polymer (styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer) was explored. These polymeric materials were prepared by suspension polymerization in one pot using monomers like styrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of various amines to obtain uniform spherical beads. The homopolymer was separated from the cross-link hybrid product by Soxhlet extraction. The synthetic strategy is cost-effective and user-friendly, can be easily scaled up for production, and confirms better mechanical strength. The amine-loaded microporous polymeric spheres displayed a microsphere size of 5.2 nm with a high surface area of ∼25–310 m2 g–1. These hydrophobic polymeric spherical beads were thermally stable up to 200 °C. The quaternary ammonium group salt (bulky)-loaded beads presented high carbon dioxide uptake (up to ∼16.4 wt % at 273 K /1.0 bar) due to the presence of lone pair electrons of the heteroatom, which might improve the interaction between the polymeric matrices and CO2 molecules through local-dipole/quadruple interactions. In the case of tertiary amines, a high uptake of carbon dioxide (up to ∼15.2 wt % at 273 K /1.0 bar) was achieved, which is attributed to the formation of bicarbonate, as there may be the possibility of the presence of little moisture in the system, which facilitates the interaction. These hybrid polymeric materials exhibited a better storage capacity of CO2.

Synthesis of diamido N-heterocyclic imines (DAC = NH) via staudinger or reductive N-N bond cleavage approach - Balayan, Kajal; Sharma, Himanshu; Vanka, Kumar; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Sen, Sakya S. (Organometallics, 2025)
This report communicates the first examples of N-heterocyclic imines based on electrophilic diamido carbenes (DACs). While 2 is prepared by classical Staudinger synthesis, 4 is obtained via an unusual reductive N-N bond cleavage of an azine by HCl. The exocyclic C=N bond lengths in 2 and 4 are substantially shorter than those based on N-heterocyclic carbenes and cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene reflecting the electrophilic character of DACs.

Synthesis of Pd-integrated carbon Dot@TiO2 thin film for photocatalytic glycerol reforming reaction for producing hydrogen - Abraham, Athira; Salgaonkar, Kranti N.; Nivedhitha, Thazhath R.; Ekal, Vishal Ashok; Kondhekar, Deepali; Chakraborty, Shubhankar; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S.; Saha, Avishek (Chemistry-an Asian Journal, 2025)
A series of thin-film photocatalysts comprising TiO2 modified with carbon dots (CDs) dispersed either with palladium (Pd-CD/TiO2) or nickel (Ni-CD/TiO2) were synthesized via solid-state and wet-impregnation methods. Morphological characterization (HR-TEM, SEM-EDS) confirmed the anatase phase of TiO2 and the atomic dispersion of metal-integrated CDs on its surface. UV-vis DRS and XPS analyses revealed a marginal red shift in band-gap and the presence of sp2-hybridized graphitic carbon, and metal-carbon interactions, indicating enhanced light absorption and charge separation through Schottky junctions. Under direct sunlight illumination, Pd-CD/TiO2 thin film exhibited superior hydrogen yield (1167 mu mol g-1 h-1) and maintained stability over 25 h, outperforming Ni-CD/TiO2 (494 mu mol g-1 h-1) and bare TiO2 (166 mu mol g-1 h-1) photocatalyst thin films. Concurrent glycerol oxidation at neutral pH (pH similar to 7) yields glycolaldehyde (41% selectivity), formic acid, and dihydroxyacetone as value-added products. Enhanced photocurrent density and lower impedance of Pd-CD/TiO2 corroborate improved charge carrier separation and dynamics. The results demonstrate that Pd-CD synergistically improves the photocatalytic performance of the Pd-CD/TiO2 for sustainable hydrogen generation and selective biomass valorization.
Keywords: Glycerol oxidation; Graphitic carbon dots; hydrogen production; Photocatalysis; titania

Thermal properties of polyethylene-grafted sheetlike silsesquioxanes - Sharma, Vivek; Paulbudhe, Uday; Gupta, Poonam; Zalte, Akshat Shirish; Chikkali, Samir H.; Kumaraswamy, Guruswamy (ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2025)
Polyethylene-grafted layered silsesquioxanes, termed polyethylene-clays (PEC), are nanocomposites comprising polyethylene chains tethered to inorganic sheets with a phyllosilicate-like structure. Here, we report that these nanocomposites show two-stage crystallization on cooling, qualitatively different from previous reports on polyethylene nanocomposites. We employ differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to study the melting and crystallization of PEC. End tethering of the polyethylene chains to a nanosheet strongly influences the manner in which PEC crystallizes from the melt on cooling. PEC exhibits two-step crystallization, characterized by a sharp high-temperature exotherm, followed by a broader exotherm at lower temperatures, in contrast to a single sharp exotherm for neat polyethylene. SAXS indicates that lamellar stacks form at high temperatures and that the low-temperature exotherm corresponds to the formation of additional lamellae and their insertion within these stacks. PEC exhibits lower peak melting temperature, lower crystallinity, and a wider melting range relative to polyethylene. We show that the progress of crystallization of PEC is determined by its ultraslow relaxation dynamics. In contrast, PEC in xylene solution exhibits a significantly shorter relaxation time than the melt PEC. Such systems exhibited a single exotherm on cooling and SAXS structure factor peaks with peak positions in a ratio of 1:2. We hypothesize that the high melt viscosity inhibits the crystallization-induced decrease in the specific volume of PEC, resulting in tensile internal stresses that determine the observed thermal behavior.
Keywords: clay; Crystallization; Nanocomposite; Polyethylene; silsesquioxane

Thin-film approach for scalability and enhancement of solar hydrogen production with CNT integrated Ce-doped-TiO2 composite in direct sunlight - Vijayarengan, Preethi; Maria, Anthony Raja; Ashadevi, K. S.; Nalajala, Naresh; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (Materials Today Catalysis, 2025)
<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Solar hydrogen production by photocatalysis has long been considered as an important energy option. Whichever photocatalyst succeeds, methods should be available to scale-up in a most sustainable and cost-effective manner, and the present work addresses this specific issue. In the present study, Ce-doped in the TiO<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> lattice (Ce-TiO<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">) and the same integrated with CNT (CNT-Ce-TiO<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">; (CCT)) composite was synthesized and characterized. Current study demonstrates the synergistic integration of Ce-TiO₂ as a light absorber and charge generator with CNTs as efficient charge separation at heterojunctions as well as charge transporter in a thin-film configuration (lab-scale (4.7 cm<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">), bench-scale (500 cm<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">)). Improved H<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> generation under direct sunlight demonstrated in thin film form, than in particulate suspension, is attributed to efficient light absorption, particularly for electron-hole pair separation and their dispersion to redox sites. Additionally, the role of the binder is highlighted for improving H<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> yield and the sustainability of the thin-film form of photocatalyst. ∼200 mg (1 g) CCT coated over 500 cm<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> (2500 cm<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; top: -0.5em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">) photocatalyst produced 21.6 mmol/h (102 mmol/h) H<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> in sunlight. Present results provides a proof of concept that the thin film form of photocatalyst displays, at least 10 times, higher H<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> yield than its powder counterpart, depending on the measurement conditions. A non-linear enhancement in H<span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; bottom: -0.25em; color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif;">2<span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31); font-family: ElsevierGulliver, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, STIXGeneral, "Cambria Math", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Microsoft Sans Serif", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Arial Unicode MS", serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> yield with small and large area thin-film indicates complex underlying factors and highlights the scope for further improvements.

Thrombin immobilized hemocompatible radiopaque polyurethane microspheres for topical blood coagulation - Naik, Sonali S.; Torris, Arun; Ghuge, Gorakh Hiraman; Karthika, V. K.; Joseph, Roy; Nair, Kiran Sukumaran (JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A, 2025)
Keywords: ALGINATE MICROSPHERES; ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT; PRECISE LOCALIZATION

Total biocatalytic synthesis of capsaicinoids using ferulic acid: a versatile two-step strategy for natural product diversification - Khobragade, Taresh P.; Giri, Pritam; Patil, Mahesh D.; Joo, Sangwoo; Cho, Sunga; Kim, Yechan; Ghosh, Rohan; Jeong, Sanghun; Maeng, Minyeong; Song, Min-Ho; Park, Jeong-Min; Lee, Eun Ho; et al. (Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2025)
The wide-ranging application of capsaicinoids, the active compounds in chili peppers, has driven increasing interest in the development of sustainable production strategies. However, capsaicinoid synthesis remains a challenge. The objective of this pioneering study is to report the total biocatalytic synthesis of structurally diverse capsaicinoids from bio-based ferulic acids. An X-ray crystallographic study elucidated the structural basis for the exceptional potential of a novel transaminase from Phaeobacter porticola (PPTA) to transform the highest ever reported concentration of vanillin (100-200 mM) to vanillylamine, with >99% conversion and modest conversion ranging from 48% to 79% for 300 to 500 mM substrate. Using PPTA in tandem with phenolic acid decarboxylase (PAD) and aromatic dioxygenase (ADO) further enabled the direct synthesis of vanillylamine from ferulic acid with >99% conversion. Furthermore, the integration of a multi-enzymatic cascade with carboxylic acid reductases (CARs) successfully synthesized structurally diverse capsaicinoids via amide bond formation between vanillylamine and free fatty acids, with excellent conversions ranging from 72% to >88%. A 50-mM enzymatic reaction afforded 95% and 80% conversion of vanillylamine and capsaicin, respectively.
Keywords: Capsaicinoids; Carboxylic acid reductase; Transaminase; Vanillylamine

Towards improved activity and stability in RWGS reaction: Dispersed copper in mesoporous alumina matrix as a strategy for enhanced performance - Saju, Simi; Rajendran, Sivaraj; Oztas, Ulviye; Ruiz, Sergio Carrasco; Reina, Tomas Ramirez; Ghosh, Biplab; Sree, Sreeprasanth Pulinthanathu; Meena, Raghavendra; Li, Guanna; Bobadilla, Luis F.; Vinod, Chathakudath P.; Mathew, Thomas; et al. (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025)
The development of highly performing Cu-based catalysts with high dispersion of Cu species in nanocrystalline form on a suitable oxide support is significant in reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. We report a simple and robust one-pot sol-gel synthesis of mesoporous Al10-xCuxOy (m gamma-Al10-xCux-SG) catalysts with Cu species in a highly dispersed nanocrystalline form in the gamma-Al2O3 matrix and its high catalytic performance in RWGS reaction. The lack of long range structural order of copper species in m gamma-Al10-xCux-SG catalysts evidenced from Cu-K edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies illustrates the fine distribution of copper species in mesoporous gamma-Al2O3 lattice. Activity study revealed that m gamma-Al10-xCux-SG catalysts showed significantly high CO2 conversion to CO and excellent catalytic stability compared to gamma-Al10-xCux-I prepared by conventional impregnation method. Mesoporous Al9Cu1 (m gamma-Al9Cu1) displayed a CO2 conversion of 45 % at 500 degrees C, which is about 2.8 times higher activity than conventional gamma-Al9Cu1-I catalyst with almost same Cu loading as that of m gamma-Al9Cu1 catalyst. Stability study at 500 degrees C over a period of 50 h revealed that m gamma-Al10-xCux-SG catalysts at low Cu loading (m gamma-Al9.9Cu0.1) showed excellent catalytic stability. The strong copper-alumina interaction in m gamma-Al10-xCux-SG catalysts with enhanced number of active sites at the copper-alumina interface as evidenced from field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical characterization, and Cu-K edge EXAFS analysis enhances the activity and stability of the catalyst. Density functional theory (DFT) studies and the Operando DRIFTS-MS analysis of RWGS over m gamma-Al9Cu1 catalyst revealed that the mechanism of RWGS reaction to CO formation on m gamma-Al10-xCux-SG catalysts is preceded through the formation of a hydroxycarbonyl (OCOH) intermediate. The present synthesis strategy provides an opportunity for producing Cu-based catalysts with further enhanced activity and stability in RWGS reaction by suitable modification of the catalyst.

Triple G-C-T base-coded nucleobase self-assembling monomers featuring polymerizable groups for 3D printing - Gawande, Akshay J.; Kamble, Ganesh N.; Singh, Dharmendra; Sanjayan, Gangadhar. J.; Nair, Kiran Sukumaran (ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2025)
Self-assembling monomers (SAMs) offer a versatile strategy for enhancing the performance of photoresins in Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing. In this work, we report the design and synthesis of two photoprintable, nucleobase-inspired SAMs featuring a triple G-C-T base-coded hydrogen-bonding motif. This SAM was formulated using 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA), 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), and diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (TPO) to prepare UV-curable resins suitable for high-resolution DLP printing. Remarkably, the printed samples exhibited supramolecular self-assembly, facilitated by dynamic hydrogen bonding, demonstrating a notable enhancement in thermal and mechanical performance when compared to the control sample. Thermal properties evaluated by a differential scanning calorimeter revealed an increase in the glass transition temperature (T-g) from 15 degrees C to 54 degrees C for SAM-incorporated printed materials. Mechanical testing demonstrated a >200% increase in toughness and >150% improvement in tensile strength relative to the unmodified resin while maintaining or exceeding the original elongation at break (up to similar to 74%). Variable-temperature FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of thermally responsive supramolecular interactions. Notably, self-healing behavior was observed in both GCT-A 15 wt % and GCT-S 15 wt % formulations, indicating partial recovery of mechanical integrity under mild thermal conditions due to reversible hydrogen bonding. These findings demonstrate the potential of SAMs as functional additives for developing robust, thermally stable, and self-healing DLP-printed materials for advanced engineering applications.
Keywords: 3D printing; hydrogen bonding; Self-assembly; Self-healing; Triple G-C-T nucleobase

Triple G-C-T base-coded self-assembling water-soluble nucleobase monomers with a broad scope for biomaterial and protein bioconjugation applications - Singh, Dharmendra; Gone, Nilu V.; Bandi, Kiran; Davis, Disiya; Nair, Kiran Sukumaran; Sanjayan, Gangadhar J. (Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2025)
We report self-assembling water-soluble nucleobase monomers with a broad scope for biomaterial and protein bioconjugation applications. These nucleobase monomers are adorned with nature-inspired triple G-C-T nucleobases featuring three recognition sites: DDA (G mimic), DAA (C mimic), and ADA (T mimic). Using readily accessible starting materials, these monomers can be synthesized in excellent yields, making them good choices for diverse applications. Their unique structural features, coupled with their water solubility, may offer exciting opportunities for the creation of new biomaterials.

Tunable, amine-functionalized porous silica catalyst for CO2 transformation into cyclic organic carbonates at atmospheric pressure - Gorai, Twinkle; Thanasekar, Chandragopal; Kumar, Pawan; Babu, Athira; Kurungot, Sreekumar; Vinod, C. P. (Chemistry-A European Journal, 2025)
A silica catalyst with characteristic features of broad pore size distribution, large pore width and tunable basic sites was synthesized by a one-step green co-condensation synthesis method analogous to SBA-15 synthesis. The surface chemical features of the above catalyst were explored by XPS, N-2 and CO2 adsorption and desorption experiments. The catalyst showed 90% conversion of styrene oxide (SO) with nearly complete selectivity toward styrene carbonate (SC) in 7 hours under a solvent-free condition at a temperature of 120 degrees C with the aid of co-catalyst tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB). Moreover, the catalyst demonstrates versatility with various epoxide substrates, providing valuable insights into the cycloaddition reaction under ambient pressure conditions involving carbon dioxide. The mechanistic details of the catalytic conversion were investigated by the in-situ DRIFT studies and reported here.
Keywords: CO2 fixation; cyclic organic carbonates; heterogeneous catalysis; in-situ FTIR

Ultrabroad near infrared emitting perovskites - Saikia, Sajid; Gopal, Animesh; Rathod, Radha; Joshi, Aprajita; Priolkar, K. R.; Saha, Surajit; Santra, Pralay K.; Shanmuganathan, Kadhiravan; Nag, Angshuman (Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2025)
Phosphor converted light emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) have revolutionized solid-state white lighting by replacing energy-inefficient filament-based incandescent lamps. However, such a pc-LED emitting ultrabroad near-infrared (NIR) radiations still remains a challenge, primarily because of the lack of ultrabroad NIR emitting phosphors. To address this issue, we have prepared 2.5 % W4+-doped and 2.8 % Mo4+-doped Cs2Na0.95Ag0.05BiCl6 perovskites emitting ultrabroad NIR radiation with unprecedented spectral widths of 434 and 468 nm, respectively. Upon band-edge excitation, the soft lattice of the host exhibits broad self-trapped exciton (STE) emission covering NIR-I (700 nm), which then nonradiatively excites the dopants. The <img alt="mathematical equation" class="fallback__image" src="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/cbbb8722-f036-4e98-91f1-f78348f240a5/anie202415003-math-0001.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", icomoon, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /> –donor ligand Cl− reduces the energy of dopant d–d transitions emitting NIR-II with a peak at ~950 nm. Vibronic coupling broadens the dopant emission. The large spin-orbit coupling and local structural distortion might possibly enhance the dopant emission intensity, leading to an overall NIR photoluminescence quantum yield ~40 %. The composite of our ultrabroad NIR phosphors with biodegradable polymer polylactic acid could be processed into free-standing films and 3D printed structures. Large (170<img alt="mathematical equation" class="fallback__image" src="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/62119a49-ef5d-4b17-a727-798978412727/anie202415003-math-0002.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", icomoon, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /> 170 <img alt="mathematical equation" class="fallback__image" src="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/cms/asset/3d2c08c0-4ab8-436a-bc69-603df5328723/anie202415003-math-0003.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-style: none; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: "Open Sans", icomoon, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /> ), robust, and thermally stable 3D printed pc-LED panels emit ultrabroad NIR radiation, demonstrating NIR imaging applications.

Ultrasound emulsification: effect of additives on dispersed phase volume and droplet size - Gaikwad, Shashank G.; Pandit, Aniruddha B. (Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2025)
Ultrasonic emulsification of oil and water was carried out to observe the effect of addition of a minimal amount of surfactant. The effect of ultrasound irradiation time, power, and physicochemical properties of oil on the dispersed phase volume and dispersed phase droplet size has been studied. The increase in the irradiation time increases the dispersed phase volume, while it decreases the dispersed phase droplets size. With an increase in the ultrasonic irradiation power, there is an increase in the fraction of volume of the dispersed phase, while the droplet size of the dispersed phase decreases over the same irradiation time. The fractional volume of the dispersed phase is higher for the case of the groundnut oil-water system, while it is low for the paraffin (heavy) oil-water system. The droplet size of soyabean oil dispersed in water is found to be small, while that of paraffin (heavy) oil is found to be large. These variations could be explained on the basis of varying physicochemical properties of the system, i.e., viscosity of oil and the interfacial tension. During the ultrasonic emulsification, a coalescence phenomenon which is relatively weak has also been observed, which can be attributed to the collision of small droplets when the droplet concentration increases (higher dispersed phase hold-up) and the acoustic streaming strength is higher.

An ultrasound-assisted green synthesis of 1,3-diphenyl pyrazole-based spirooxindolo-1,2,4-oxadiazoles: their in vitro anti-tubercular activity and in silico molecular dynamics - Baddepuri, Sravanthi; Gamidi, Rama Krishna; Kumari, Jyothi; Sriram, Dharmarajan; Gangarapu, Kiran; Basavoju, Srinivas (Chemistryselect, 2025)
A simple base-mediated one-pot synthetic green methodology has been successfully employed for the synthesis of 1,3-diphenylpyrazole-based spirooxindolo-1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives. The newly synthesized analogues were tested for their in vitro anti-tubercular activity (anti-TB) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain, and the results were reported as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 3.125 to 25 mu g/mL. Especially, the five compounds 3a, 3f, 3k, 3q, and 3v exhibited good to moderate anti-TB activity with MIC of 3.125 mu g/mL when compared to the reference drug ethambutol (MIC: 1.56 mu g/mL). In silico Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations of the protein-ligand complex (3a, 3f, 3k, and 3v) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis DprE1 (PDB ID: 5OEQ) of M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain revealed that these four compounds could be promising anti-mycobacterial candidates, as evident from the binding results and stability of the docked-ligand complexes with considerable least binding energies. ADME parameters were also studied to assess the drug likeness, which clearly shows that the newly developed compounds might be useful for the future development of novel anti-tubercular drugs.
Keywords: 1; 2; 4-oxadiazoles; In silico molecular dynamic studies; In vitro anti-tubercular activity; ultrasonication

Unified photoredox-catalyzed aerobic oxidative dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation for C-N atropoisomers mediated by chiral organophosphites - Saikia, Pinku; Aarthika, M.; Bhattacharjya, Ayantika; Maity, Susmita; Bajpai, Priyam; Bera, Asish; Saha, Arindam; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Vanka, Kumar; Maity, Pradip (Organic Letters, 2025)
The synthesis of anilides with a chiral C(=O)-N axis has relied on direct installation of the chiral C(sp2)-N(sp2) bond or enantioselective modification of the peripheral groups. However, these methods are constrained by the size and type of functional groups compatible with each strategy. Herein, we report a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DYKAT) for the aerobic oxidation of iminium ions to access C(=O)-N axial chirality that addresses those limitations. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for any auxiliary functional groups, which enables us to develop a unified method for the synthesis of atroposelective isoquinolone, lactam, and amide.

An unique microwave-assisted approach for synthesis of nanosized Fe3O4 as a catalyst in transfer hydrogenation of furfural - Bhatkar, Akash; Yadav, Akash; Gehlot, Bhavika; Rathod, Rutik; Mane, Samruddhi; Gawande, Vaishnavi; Bhosale, Hrtivik; Raja, Thirumalaiswamy; Bhatte, Kushal D. (Research on Chemical Intermediates, 2025)
In this manuscript, we report an unique, one pot, one step synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The protocol for synthesis of nanosized Fe3O4 was developed using only Benzyl Amine and Fe(II)acetate precursor via microwave route. Microwave route enables the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in short duration and eliminates the need of several chemicals. These salient features make the entire synthetic process environment benign as per green chemistry principles. The morphology and other properties of synthesized nanoparticles were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and High-Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). As-synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibit efficient catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural using isopropanol as the solvent and hydrogen source, and provide furfuryl alcohol in good yield. This nanosized Fe3O4 was easily removable using magnet and exhibits good reusability. It is observed that acidic-basic sites of nanosized Fe3O4 play a vital role in catalytic transfer hydrogenation reaction.
Keywords: catalytic transfer hydrogenation; Furfural to furfuryl alcohol; green synthesis; Magnetically separable catalyst; Nanosize Fe3O4

Unravelling the Cu-Co nanoparticle synergy over Ceria-Zirconia support toward efficient reverse water gas shift (RWGS) conversion under H2 lean conditions - Jagtap, Anuradha Vijay; Bamnia, Mahesh Kumar; Maibam, Ashakiran; Bajpai, Jyotsna Paliwal; Gupta, Sharad; Thomas, Sharon K.; Dabke, Niteen B.; Vinod, C. P. (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025)
CO2 emissions leading to global warming and environmental and socio-economic issues have propelled the research community to develop technologies capable of capturing and converting CO2 into valuable products. Controlling the selectivity toward platform molecules like CO, methanol, or methane is a fundamental challenge in CO2 hydrogenation. Supported cobalt nanoparticles are known for hydrocarbon production through FischerTropsch (FT) reaction, and Cu-based catalysts are known for reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. Here, we show that d-band centre can be carefully modulated by making bimetallic combinations of Cu and Co for a highly active RWGS catalyst. An oxygen vacancy-rich nanostructured ceria-zirconia (CZ) support with Cu nanoparticles (2 wt%) modified with as low as 0.05 wt% Co shows excellent conversion for CO2 hydrogenation and selectivity for CO below 500 degrees C. The optimized catalyst shows CO2 conversion even under hydrogen lean conditions (H2/ CO2 ratio 0.5:1), with a breakthrough rate of 206023 mmol/gmetal/h for CO at 600 degrees C, having H2 utilization of 80% for the RWGS process.
Keywords: Bimetallic catalyst; Ceria-zirconia; CO 2 hydrogenation; Cobalt catalyst; Copper catalyst; Reverse water gas shift (RWGS); synergistic effect

Upcycling of postconsumer recyclate polypropylene into low warping and high toughness 3D printable filaments - Gopal, Animesh; Patil, Prashant; Pol, Harshawardhan; Shanmuganathan, Kadhiravan (ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2025)
Polypropylene (PP) is widely used in commodity applications owing to its chemical stability, mechanical properties and low cost. However, almost 50% of the produced PP ends up as postconsumer waste (PCW) within a short period of usage. Being a non-biodegradable polymer, recycling PCW PP is important to mitigate plastic waste in landfills. Nonetheless, recycling or upcycling postconsumer recyclate (PCR) PP into valuable resources without deterioration in physical and mechanical properties is a challenge. This report presents an approach to upcycle PCR polypropylene (rPP) into high quality 3D printing filament that not only prints with very low warpage but with significantly high elongation at break and toughness. Incorporation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) along with maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) in specific proportions led to a significant enhancement in mechanical properties, miscibility, crystallization behavior, and 3D printability. rPP/PBAT blends with 20 wt % PBAT and 10 wt % MAPP exhibited a 62-fold enhancement in elongation at break over rPP (from 1.88 to 118.29%) and a 72-fold increase in toughness (from 2 to 143.60 kJ/m3) with almost similar tensile strength. The final printed components had better layer adhesion and structural stability with a dramatic decrease in warpage, from 25.82% for pristine rPP to only 7.86% for rPP/PBAT blend. Isothermal crystallization studies and data analysis using the Avrami equation showed that crystallization half-time (t 1/2), which measures the duration needed for half of the total crystallinity to form, increased from 12.6 s for rPP to 66 s for the rPP/PBAT blend. This report demonstrates an approach to upcycle PCR PP, a positive step toward realizing the goals of circular economy and sustainable additive manufacturing.
Keywords: Crystallization; FFF 3D printing; polypropylene/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)blends; toughness; warpage

Upgradation of biomass-derived furfural by nanostructured layered double hydroxides: Influence of stirring rate on structural features of materials - Bhagat, Shailesh K.; Nagpure, Atul S.; Lanjewar, Mamata R.; Gode, Nilesh G.; Deshmukh, Ganpat D.; Saini, Ajay (Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 2025)
The proficient conversion of biomass-derived compounds into the high-quality platform chemicals and bio-fuels is enormously imperative to decrease dependence on fossil feedstock. Furfural is a significant bio-based chemical which can be efficiently converted to valuable 4-(2-furyl)-3-buten-2-one (FAc) via aldol condensation. In this work, we have developed prominent layered double hydroxides (LDHs) catalysts for mild aldol condensation of furfural and acetone to acquired high performance with admirable FAc selectivity. Various nanostructured Mg-Al LDHs were synthesized through co-precipitation procedure under different stirring rate conditions. The structural, morphological and optical attributes of materials as well as recyclability aspect and structure-activity relationship was examined by characterizing the fresh and spent catalysts via numerous techniques (XRD, N2 sorption, DLS, CO2-TPD, NH3-TPD, FT-IR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, TGA, SEM, TEM, ICP-OES, 27Al NMR spectroscopy, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, etc). Several reaction parameters were also optimized. Among the catalysts tested, LDH-1200 catalyst exhibits outstanding performance by delivering 100% furfural conversion with 99% FAc selectivity. Moreover, catalyst illustrates excellent recyclability and stability. The mechanistic insight for aldol condensation was also investigated by monitoring the intermediates at different stages and intervals during the course of the reaction. This study confirms that stirring rate has significant influence on physico-chemical attributes of materials and the amount of weak basic sites plays imperative role in catalytic performance.
Keywords: Aldol condensation; Biomass-derived compounds; Flower-shaped nanocrystals; heterogeneous catalysis; Nanostructured mesoporous LDH

Utilizing nature's endowment: artificial leaf concept for methane activation to C-C coupled ethanol or ethylene - Kanungo, Subhashree S.; Mishra, Abhaya Kumar; Avani, Mangaladasan J.; Bajpai, Himanshu; Salgaonkar, Kranti N.; Javaregowda, Bharathkumar H.; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 2025)
Methane activation (MA) to platform chemicals under ambient conditions still remains an open challenge to be fully realised. The present work shows the fabrication of CeVO4 quantum dots (CV-QDs) by a bottom-up approach; they are assembled from Ce3+ and metavanadate ions, and structurally and electronically integrated into the micro-/meso-pores of TiO2 (CV-QD-TiO2 (CVT)), demonstrating the conversion of MA to ethanol/ethylene by visible light-driven photocatalysis. CV-QDs in confined pores modify the quantum confinement effects and are characterized by physicochemical methods. The current synthetic strategy is potentially scalable and results in sub-quadrillion heterojunctions in a 1 mg CVT photoanode spread over 1 cm2. MA with CVT under one-sun conditions demonstrates similar to 100% selectivity to ethanol, yielding 4.36 mu mol h-1 cm-2, with a solar-to-fuel efficiency (STFE) of 0.56. Further, by employing a co-catalyst, significant STFE (5.08) and yield (39.5 mu mol h-1 cm-2) are achieved selectively towards ethylene. A deliberate addition of methanol increases the rate of ethanol production by 17.2 times, indicating that the methyl-methoxy interaction is the origin of C-C coupling. Weight is normalized to a gram of CV-QDs in a large area CVT photoanode to yield 109 mmol h-1 gCV-QD-1 of ethanol and 988 mmol h-1 gCV-QD-1 of ethylene. Enhanced activity and selectivity towards the C2-product is attributed to band-edge modulation and trillions of heterojunctions, which in turn facilitate charge separation and charge transfer for effective charge utilisation at redox sites.

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic glycerol oxidation to value-added and highly selective glyceric/lactic acid - Kulkarni-Sambhare, Mukta; Salgaonkar, Kranti N.; Saha, Avishek; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (ChemiCatChem, 2025)
Achieving economical and sustainable artificial photosynthesis (APS) in direct sunlight for liquid fuel production with high efficiency remains an important challenge. A major obstacle in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation of organic compounds is attaining high selectivity with the desired product(s). This study introduces a novel strategy by integrating BiVO4 quantum dots (BVQDs), structurally and electronically, into the nanopores of commercial TiO2 (BVT for BVQDs integrated in pores of TiO2) to improve solar-driven photocatalysis. The band gap of the BVT photoanode decreases to 2.53 eV as compared to pure TiO2 (3.2 eV), which enhances visible light absorption and charge separation. BVT with Pt as a co-catalyst acts as an APS system, which selectively oxidizes glycerol into lactic acid (100% selectivity at 1 mM glycerol) and glyceric acid (98% selectivity at 100 mM), while simultaneously generating green hydrogen. Selectivity of the product can be further controlled by anaerobic or aerobic conditions as well as the length of the reaction time. Direct integration of BVQDs into TiO2 mesopores significantly enhances charge separation as well as utilization at redox sites. Current work provides key insights into optimizing photocatalytic conditions for highly selective value-added chemical production, which highlights the sustainability and efficacy of TiO2-based semiconductors with quantum dot integration.
Keywords: energy conversion; Energy storage; Photocatalysis; Quantum material; solar energy

Water-driven modulation of multiresponsive properties in acylhydrazone-based crystals - Manoharan, Deepak; Bhowmik, Aritra; Mishra, Manish Kumar; Ghosh, Soumyajit (Chemical Communications, 2025)
A pyrene-substituted acylhydrazone (PyAc) crystal undergoes a water-driven transition from elasticity to thermoplastic bending. The hydrated crystal remains two-dimensional (2D) elastic until heating, after which it becomes brittle and bent upon dehydration. While the hydrated crystal is non-photoresponsive, the anhydrous form exhibits photomechanical bending due to favorable E-Z photoisomerization. These distinct properties, governed by solvent channels, molecular packing, and non-covalent interactions, demonstrate PyAc's potential for smart actuators and photoswitchable devices.

Zincke-derived viologen covalent organic framework as a high-performance cathode for aqueous zinc-iodine batteries - Das, Gobinda; Shivade, Rajkiran; Pandey, Priyanshi; Varghese, Sabu; Rajput, Nitul; Matouk, Zineb; Martinez, Jose Ignacio; Straubinger, Rainer; Benyettou, Farah; Gandara, Felipe; Olson, Mark A.; Aouad, Samer; et al. (Small, 2025)
Aqueous zinc-iodine (Zn-I2) batteries are among the most promising energy storage technologies, offering high energy density, low cost, and intrinsic safety. However, their practical deployment is hindered by the polyiodide shuttle effect, leading to rapid capacity fading and poor cycling performance. This work demonstrates the application of a crystalline viologen-based covalent organic framework (TAB-DNP-BP COF), synthesized via a one-pot Zincke reaction, as an efficient iodine host material. The cationic backbone of the TAB-DNP-BP COF effectively confines iodine (I2) species and electrostatically traps polyiodides, suppressing their migration and protecting the zinc anode. Zinc-iodine batteries assembled with an I2-enriched TAB-DNP-BP COF (TAB-DNP-BP COF@I2) cathode deliver a high specific capacity of 337 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C, surpassing the performance of most reported COF-, MOF-, and cage-based systems, while exhibiting excellent cycling stability over 5000 cycles. This work highlights the potential of ionic COFs for stabilizing iodine chemistry and offers a promising strategy toward the development of high-performance, durable aqueous Zn-I2 batteries.
Keywords: iCOF; iodine confinement; viologen; zinc-iodine batteries; Zincke reaction

Chirality transfer from covalent organic framework nanotubes to covalent organic framework films via chirality induction crystallization - Bag, Saikat; Chatterjee, Debasmita; Mahapatra, Rohan; Sasmal, Himadri Sekhar; Khatua, Arindam; Giri, Madhurima; Paul, Satyadip; Shelke, Ankita; Almasoud, Najla; Alomar, Taghrid S.; Ajithkumar, Thalasseril G.; Sen Gupta, Sayam; et al. (Advanced Materials, 2026)
We report the synthesis of homochiral crystalline covalent organic framework (COF) films that combine rigidity and porosity, offering significant promise for heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis. We prepared enantiopure COF films from achiral diamine and trialdehyde precursors using a chiral induction crystallization strategy. A Schiff-base reaction, catalyzed by a chiral acid, namely (R)- and (S)-camphorsulfonic acids (CSA) generated a beta-ketoenamine backbone with induced chirality. (R)- and (S)-camphorsulfonic acids direct the diamine-trialdehyde condensation and induce chirality during the nucleation of COF nanotubes, enabling their periodic arrangement and the formation of homochiral thin films. We successfully synthesized six distinct COF films with three different backbone functionalities: R-, S-TpAzo; R-, S-TpDPP; and R-, S-TpBDMe2, using the two enantiomers of the chiral camphorsulfonic acids. All films displayed strong circular dichroism signals and pronounced Cotton effects, confirming their enhanced enantiopurity. Both R- and S-TpAzo films exhibited the highest crystallinity, long-range order, and permanent porosity, making them particularly well-suited for catalytic applications. To demonstrate their utility, we encapsulated a bioinspired catalyst, (Et4N)2[FeIII(Cl)bTAML], within the chiral channels of the R- and S-TpAzo films. The resulting composite created a robust heterogeneous catalytic platform for the asymmetric epoxidation of alkenes, achieving excellent activity and enantioselectivity under ambient conditions.
Keywords: chiral induction; covalent organic framework nanotube; covalent organic framework thin film; heterogeneous catalysis

Concurrent glycerol oxidation and hydrogen production on Ce-Co oxide/carbon for sustainable biomass valorization - Jana, Jayasmita; Chowdhury, Somnath; Saha, Avishek; Kang, Sung Gu; Hur, Seung Hyun; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2026)
Integrating glycerol oxidation with water electrolysis offers a sustainable route for hydrogen production while enabling concurrent generation of industrially relevant C1-C3 value-added materials. This system replaces kinetically sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) simultaneously delivering H-2 at the cathode with high turnover frequency, thereby lowering the overall cell voltage and enabling the valorization of glycerol, a major by-product of the biodiesel industry. However, the development of an efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts capable of driving cathodic as well as anodic half-cell reactions remains a key challenge. Herein, we present a cerium-cobalt oxide composite modified with an amorphous carbon layer (Ce,Co-O/C) as an effective bifunctional catalyst for glycerol-assisted water electrolysis. The interfacial electron distribution across the Co-Ce oxide heterojunction generated abundant redox-active sites and accelerates reaction kinetics, while the conductive carbon layer facilitates rapid charge transfer and imparts improved stability. Consequently, the Ce, Co-O/C catalyst exhibited high formate selectivity at 1.4 V (vs RHE) at room temperature and delivers a low cell voltage of 1.90 V at 100 mA cm(-2) in a symmetric Ce,Co-O/C vertical bar vertical bar Ce,Co-O/C system, maintaining operational stability over 100 h. This work provides a promising interface-engineering for designing self-supported bifunctional electrocatalysts toward integrated biomass assisted co-electrolysis systems.
Keywords: Amorphous carbon; biomass valorization; electrocatalysis; energy conversion; green hydrogen

Divergent synthesis of meyers' lactams and medium lactams via cyclocondensation of γ-ylidene-butanolides with chiral amino alcohols - Sadanande, Megha V.; Sharma, Paridhi; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Kontham, Ravindar (Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2026)
A novel methodology for constructing Meyers' lactams (pyrrolidino-oxazolidines), related to biologically potent natural and synthetic scaffolds, has been developed via an unprecedented tandem cyclocondensation of chiral 2-amino alcohols and gamma-ylidene-butanolides. The process proceeds through the initial formation of an ene-lactam intermediate, followed by a Bro/nsted acid (PPTS)-catalyzed ring closure. Under stoichiometric amounts of a Lewis acid (TiCl4), the same set of building blocks affords medium lactams featuring eight-membered ring systems with an exo-enol ether segment. This divergent synthetic strategy enables the efficient generation of a library of Meyers' lactams and medium lactams with good yields and diastereoselectivity.

Exploring the interplay of electron density distribution and electrostatic potential in the interaction of nilutamide and flutamide with androgen receptors using quantum crystallography - Balasubramanian, Hemalatha; Poomani, Kumaradhas; Kandasamy, Saravanan; Hathwar, Venkatesha R.; Gonnade, Rajesh G. (RSC Advances, 2026)
Prostate cancer is a malignant disease commonly found in men. Androgens support the growth and survival of prostate cancer cells. To control this growth and the spread of cancer cells, anti-androgen drugs are necessary to block androgen activity. Effective blocking of androgens depends mainly on the structure, intermolecular interactions and charge density distribution, electrostatic potential (ESP) and binding affinity of drug molecules. Nilutamide (NIL) and flutamide (FLU) are two structurally related non-steroidal anti-androgen drugs (NSAAs) which exhibit serious side effects. The present study explores the charge density distribution, electrostatic potential and intermolecular interactions of NIL and FLU determined from a high-resolution X-ray diffraction experiment and a solid-state quantum chemical theoretical study. Topological analysis of charge density reveals the electron density at the bond critical points of chemical bonds and intermolecular interactions. The electrostatic potential derived from the charge density distribution of both molecules in the crystal has been mapped, which allows a prediction of how the electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces govern the binding of these two drug molecules with the androgen receptor at the electronic level. The ESP of interacting groups of both molecules in the androgen active site is approximated to the ESP of those groups in the crystals. The charge density distribution and the electrostatic potential of both molecules were compared. The difference in charge density is reflected in the ESP of NO2, CF3 and NH groups and the aromatic ring of both molecules, which is important for drug binding, metabolic stability and toxicity. A molecular docking simulation of both molecules with androgen receptors shows the difference in interactions and binding affinity in the binding pocket of the androgen receptor. The results of the high-resolution X-ray experiment and the advanced computational charge density study of NIL and FLU allows us to understand drug binding and is useful to relate their differing biological effects and toxicities at the electronic level. This information pertains to the design of a new potential androgen inhibitor with improved binding affinity and fewer side effects.

Fast self-healing in a layered molecular crystal mediated by stress-induced symmetry breaking - Ghosh, Ishita; Biswas, Rabindra; Tanwar, Manushree; Bhunia, Surojit; Das, Kaustav; Torris, Arun; Mondal, Amit; Raghunathan, Varun; Kumar, Rajesh; Reddy, C. Malla (Nature Communications, 2026)
In recent years, symmetry-breaking has emerged as a powerful tool for significantly altering various physical properties in 2D layered materials. However, the breaking of symmetry by means of mechanical stress in organic crystals remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate a simple approach to engineer symmetry-breaking through mechanical stress fields in a layered molecular crystal, resulting in autonomous and fast self-healing under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. Fracture mechanics analysis reveals that the crystal adheres to an elasto-plastic model, with formation of a plastic zone at the crack tip, which prevents further crack propagation, facilitating the self-healing process. Spatially resolved Raman mapping reveals that the crack formation is accompanied by a distinct symmetry-breaking mechanism at the microstructural level. A six-fold increase in non-linear second harmonic (SH) activity, triggered by mechanical perturbation, further validates the local symmetry breaking in an otherwise centrosymmetric crystal. Furthermore, symmetry is restored following successful healing, as evidenced by the disappearance of the SH signal in the healed regions. This study not only broadens the scope of self-healing mechanisms viable in molecular materials but also offers key insights into the role of symmetry breaking and its potential for related technological applications.

Green synthesis of PLGA and fabrication of topotecan and thymoquinone dual anticancer drug loaded PLGA nanoparticles: a controlled release study for cancer therapy - Srilatha Cheekuramelli, Naga; Muhammed, Hasin N.; Garnaik, Baijayantimala; Sukumaran Nair, Kiran (Journal of Macromolecular Science Part A-Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2026)
Cancer therapy is often hindered by poor solubility, low bioavailability, drug resistance, and tumor microenvironmental barriers associated with conventional chemotherapeutics. Polymeric nano-drug delivery systems offer a promising strategy to overcome these limitations, particularly for synergistic multi-drug delivery. In this study, a biodegradable and biocompatible PLGA copolymer (70:30, M-w approximate to 14,500) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization using zinc proline complex as an initiator through a green route. The copolymer's potential for delivering topotecan (TPT), a water-soluble chemotherapeutic, thymoquinone (TQ), a poorly water-soluble chemotherapeutic, and their combination (TPT+TQ) for cancer treatment was investigated. These nanoparticles demonstrateda consistent particle size < 200 nm high encapsulation efficiency along with desirable controlled-release attributes. Moreover, they exhibited specific release characteristics and cytotoxic effects against HeLa cells, achieving an IC50 value of 20.88 M for the combination therapy (TPT+TQ). Additionally, cytocompatibility testing on L929 fibroblasts confirmed over 98% cell viability for blank PLGA nanoparticles. Additionally, confocal imaging studies confirmed efficient cellular uptake and nuclear localization of the nanoparticles. Overall, the PLGA based dual drug loaded nanoparticles presents a promising approach for targeted, synergistic co-delivery, potentially improving efficacy and reducing toxicity in cancer therapy.
Keywords: Biodegradation; dual drug-loading; PLGA copolymer; thymoquinone; Topotecan

H5IO6, as an efficient reagent for the aromatization of tetrahydro-β-carbolines: total synthesis of norharman, harmane, harmine, kumujian-C, and orthoscuticellines B - Sabane, Jagjivan K.; Gaikwad, Sunil V.; Gajbhiye, Jayant M.; Kumar, Pradeep (ChemistrySelect, 2026)
A new method is reported for the synthesis of beta-carbolines and their derivatives using H5IO6 in DMSO solvent. The method is mild and efficient for oxidative decarboxylation and aromatization of tetrahydro beta-carbolines (TH beta C), resulting in good to excellent yields (70% to 88%) of beta-carbolines. This protocol has further been utilized for the synthesis of beta-carbolines based natural products, for examples, norharmane, harmane, harmine, Kumujian-C, and Orthoscuticellines A and B.
Keywords: aromatization; beta-carboline; H5IO6; Harmine; orthoscuticellines; Oxidative

Kekule diradicaloid with a naphthalene spacer - Kundu, Gargi; Pramanik, Debjit; Dash, Soumya Ranjan; Kumar, Ravi; Tothadi, Srinu; Ghosh, Aryya; Vanka, Kumar; Sen, Sakya S. (Organometallics, 2026)
The availability of a diverse array of carbenes led to the generation of a catalog of carbene based Kekule diradicaloids, but the linker in such molecules is mostly limited to phenylene or biphenylene. Here we have prepared a closed-shell Kekule diradicaloid (2) separated by a naphthalene moiety and stabilized by two capping 5-SIDipp [5-SIDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazolin-2-ylidene] from the reduction of the corresponding dication (1). The combined experimental and computational studies confirm that 2 is in a closed-shell singlet state exhibiting a singlet-triplet energy difference (Delta ES-T) of 18.7 kcal/mol, which is considerably lower than Thiele's version (29.1 kcal/mol).

Lanthanide-activated single-phosphor white light emission via Bi3+ → Eu3+ energy transfer in Ca2Ga2GeO7 for next-generation LEDs - Chethana, K. N.; Kanojiya, Nitesh S.; T.Parayil, Reshmi; Sreevalsa, S.; Das, Subrata; Mishra, Manish Kumar; Gupta, Santosh K. (Materials Letters, 2026)
{We report the design and fabrication of Bi3+ and Eu3+ co-doped Ca2Ga2GeO7 (CGGO) phosphors for highperformance warm-white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The phosphor exhibits efficient Bi3+ -> Eu3+ energy transfer, as evidenced by spectral overlap, enhanced Eu3+ emission, and quenching of Bi3+ emission with increasing Eu3+ content. The emission color shifts from blue to red with increasing Eu3+, achieving near-white emission at 3% Eu3+ (x = 0.33
Keywords: Bi3+/Eu3+ co-doping; Ca2Ga2GeO7 phosphors; Energy Transfer; UV-excited LEDs; White light emission

Methoxy substituted furan chalcones: an insight into anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and molecular docking studies - Ghorpade, Sujay A.; Kulkarni, Arati S.; Dandge, Padma B.; Chaugule, Hanmant N.; Ingle, Snehal S.; Bavi, Rohit S.; Bhosale, Raghunath B.; Peerzade, Nargisbano A.; Zaki, Magdi E. A.; Masand, Vijay H.; Patil, Nita R.; Jadhav, Shravan Y. (ChemistrySelect, 2026)
A series of methoxy-substituted furan-based chalcones (5a-m) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antibacterial activities. Among the series, compounds 5l, 5j, 5h, 5a, 5g, 5f, 5c, 5k, and 5e showed remarkable anti-inflammatory activity when compared to diclofenac sodium. The compounds 5k, 5e, 5m, 5h, and 5l showed outstanding activity in the DPPH free radical scavenging experiment, along with remarkable ferric ion reducing power activity in comparison to standard ascorbic acid. Compounds 5l, 5m, and 5g demonstrated significant alpha amylase inhibitory activity, comparable to that of the standard drug Acarbose, suggesting their potential as effective antidiabetic agents along with a good antibacterial profile against S. aureus and E. coli. The molecular docking studies revealed that compounds 5f and 5c showed the best docking profiles with BSA, while 5l and 5m demonstrated superior binding characteristics with amylase, highlighting their potential as promising bioactive candidates.
Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antibacterial; antidiabetic; Antioxidant; methoxy substituted furan chalcones; Molecular docking

Morphological characteristics of antennal microstructure and its ecological significance in xanthopimpla pedator (hymenoptera: ichneumonidae: pimplinae): insights into cocoon-concealed host detection - Gathalkar, Ganesh B.; Sharma, V. Pooja; Barsagade, Deepak D. (Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2026)
Xanthopimpla pedator (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) is a specialist solitary pupal endoparasitoid of the tropical Tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), causing significant ecological and economic losses each year. Female oviposits into cocoon-concealed pupae of A. mylitta, where the developing larva consumes the host, ultimately killing it. During host searching, females rely on their antennae as the principal sensory organs to detect and evaluate host suitability, although sensory structures on the ovipositor may also contribute to oviposition decisions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed nine distinct microstructure/sensilla types: trichodea, basiconica, chaetica, placodea, grooved peg sensilla, campaniformia, microtrichia, B & ouml;hm's bristles, and glandular pores, including their respective subtypes. Additional microstructures, such as apical pegs, cuticular pores, and cuticular folds, were also observed. Sensilla trichodea were most abundant, followed by placodea, chaetica, and basiconica. Apical pegs at the antennal apex in both sexes are hypothesized to function in vibrational sounding during antennal tapping. Minimal sexual dimorphism in antennal sensilla was observed, limited to antennal length and flagellomere counts. These antennal features, including chemosensory and mechanosensory sensilla, are likely essential for host detection, discrimination, and oviposition, providing insights that could inform the development of semiochemical-based pest management tactics.
Keywords: antennal sensilla; endoparasitoid; host detection; scanning electron microscopy; tasar silkworm; ultrastructure

(NHC-olefin)-nickel(0) nanoparticles: an efficient and selective catalyst for hydrogenation reactions at low temperature and pressure - Avello, Marta G.; Singh, Geetika; Truong-Phuoc, Lai; Vidal, Loic; Papaefthimiou, Vasiliki; Chesse, Matthieu; Gruber, Nathalie; Chetcuti, Michael J.; Vanka, Kumar; Ritleng, Vincent; Pham-Huu, Cuong; Michon, Christophe (Journal of Catalysis, 2026)
The reduction of a NHC-cinnamyl nickel(II) organometallic complex through the use of different MeMgBr or MeMgCl reagents led to two types of NHC-olefin-coordinated nickel nanoparticles. Both of these unsupported nickel-NHC based nanomaterials behaved under hydrogen pressure as effective and selective catalysts operating at low temperature (<= 80 degrees C), pressure (<= 20 bar) and loading (<= 6 mol%) for the reductions of broad scopes of alkenes, alkynes, imines and heterocycles, including a challenging tetra-substituted alkene. Among these two nickel-NHC nanocatalysts, the one generated with MeMgCl showed a significant high catalytic activity with high yields and could stand the comparison with Raney nickel and state-of-the-art nickel nanocatalysts. For example, by studying the hydrogenation of 1-phenylcyclohexene in ethanol at 60 degrees C under 10 bar of H2, 3 mol% of this catalyst achieved the reaction within a single hour on a 5 mmol/0.8 g substrate scale with a yield of 96 %, a turnover number (TON) of 32 and a turnover frequency (TOF) of 32. Characterizations confirmed the coordination of the NHC-olefin ligands to the nickel nanoparticles, the reduced state of the nickel and the (poly-) crystallinity of the nanoparticles.
Keywords: alkenes; Alkynes; heterocycles; Hydrogenation; imines; N -heterocyclic carbene ligand; nanocatalysis; Nickel

Noncanonical regulation of the plasma membrane copper transporter CTRL through modulation of membrane mechanical properties - Chatterjee, Subhendu K.; Kar, Sumanta; Nikte, V, Siddhanta; Dash, Tisha; Ghosh, Tanmoy; Paul, Mrittika; Maji, Saptarshi; Sengupta, Durba; Sinha, Bidisha; Gupta, Arnab (Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2026)
We describe a noncanonical, membrane receptor-like regulation of the human copper transporter-1 (CTR1) in response to copper stimuli. CTR1 is the sole high-affinity trimeric plasma-membrane copper-importing channel that self-regulates by undergoing endocytosis to limit copper uptake. We observed that preceding copper-induced endocytosis, CTR1 forms clusters on the plasma membrane, a phenomenon that is typically observed in membrane receptors. We deciphered the mechanism of CTR1 clustering and studied its ramifications on the physical properties of plasma membranes harboring these clusters that could favor endocytosis. Membrane tension and fluctuation are fundamental regulators of pre-and post-endocytic events. Using coarse-grain molecular dynamics (MD)-simulations and coupled interference reflection microscopy-total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) we demonstrated that CTR1 clusters induce positive membrane curvature, an increase in local membrane tension, and a decrease in local membrane fluctuation; alterations that favor the formation of endocytic pits. Clustering is facilitated by copper sequestering methionine-rich extracellular amino-terminus of CTR1. MD-simulations and IRM-TIRF imaging revealed that CTR1 clustering is facilitated by membrane cholesterol, depletion of which delays CTR1 endocytosis. CTR1 clustering promotes clathrin-coated pit formation that engages recruitment of adaptor protein AP-2. To summarize, we report hitherto unknown ``pre-endocytic'' ``receptor-like'' phenomenon of ligand-induced clustering of a metal channel, which in turn regulates self-endocytosis by modulating membrane properties.

Novel cocrystal of quercetagetin: in vitro and in vivo insights into biopharmaceutical performance - Suryawanshi, Smita; Shaligram, Parth; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Patil, Sharvil (Pharmaceutical Research, 2026)
Purpose Quercetagetin (QTGN) is a naturally occurring flavonol predominantly sourced from marigold flowers and possesses notable therapeutic potential, including antidiabetic, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. However, poor aqueous solubility and in turn bioavailability restrict therapeutic utility of QTGN. Crystal engineering is one of the approaches proven to be fruitful in resolving the solubility issues of many active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Method In the present work, a cocrystal of QTGN using betaine (BET) as coformer viz. Quercetagetin & sdot;betaine & sdot;ethanol (QTGN & sdot;BET & sdot;EtOH) was synthesized using the solvent evaporation method. It was further characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and single crystal XRD (SCXRD). Result FTIR studies confirmed hydrogen bonding between QTGN and BET. PXRD studies showed formation of new crystalline phase. The prepared cocrystal had stoichiometric ratio of 1:1:1 between QTGN, BET, and ethanol forming cocrystal ethanolate and shared robust hydroxyl & ctdot;carboxylate supramolecular synthon as confirmed by TGA and SCXRD, respectively. Equilibrium solubility study and in vitro dissolution study showed a significant improvement (p < 0.0001) in aqueous solubility of QTGN upon its cocrystallization with BET. Furthermore, in vivo pharmacokinetic study revealed a 1.28-fold increase in bioavailability of QTGN when formulated as cocrystal solvate. The prepared cocrystal was found to be stable over a period of six months at 40 degrees C and 75% RH when analyzed using PXRD studies. Conclusion The current work represents a frontier in pharmaceutical formulation, providing a means to fully harness the therapeutic potential of QTGN using cocrystal approach.
Keywords: betaine; Bioavailability; cocrystal; quercetagetin; USP apparatus IV

Novel prodrug-inspired eugenol derivatives with enhanced bioavailability, anti-diabetic and anti-glycation efficacies - Kataria, Priyanka; Vairale, Shiva; Mote, Chandrashekhar; Joshi, Kaustubh; Joshi, Rakesh; Kulkarni, Mahesh J.; Giri, Ashok P.; Kontham, Ravindar; Agawane, Sachin B. (Journal of Molecular Structure, 2026)
In this study, we present the design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel eugenol analogs aimed to overcome its limited bioavailability due to insolubility in aqueous media. Thus, we re-engineered eugenol using prodruginspired structural modifications to improve pharmacokinetic properties. First, we structurally modified eugenol and synthesized its natural amino acid conjugates as esters and carbamates. These were prepared in NBoc protected, free amine, and HCl salt forms. These modifications are expected to improve the polarity and solubility of eugenol congeners in biological systems. They can also release the parent eugenol through enzymatic hydrolysis, enhancing its therapeutic potential. Next, we comprehensively screened for these derivatives through in silico studies followed by in vitro and in vivo assays. These include DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 range: 37.7 to 103.7 mu M), inhibition of (i) alpha-amylase (IC50 23.1 to 67.3 mu M), (ii) alpha-glucosidase (IC50 43.6 to 50.4 mu M), (iii) glycation (IC50 31.9 to 110.3 mu M) along with pharmacokinetic profiling and toxicity assessments. These experiments collectively demonstrated improved activity of eugenol analogs for several important parameters. Specifically, six analogs-epoxy eugenol (39), hydroxy eugenol (43), aspartate eugenol (26), isoleucinate eugenol (24), glutamate eugenol (37), and glutamate-salt eugenol (27) exhibited superior bioavailability, absorption, and distribution over to the parent compound eugenol. These analogs were found to be non-toxic and safe for oral administration. Overall, the study establishes a mechanistic and rational framework for modifying eugenol to overcome its inherent biopharmaceutical limitations, positioning them as promising candidates for treating diabetes and glycation-related conditions.
Keywords: Amino acid conjugates; Antidiabetic activity; Bioavailability enhancement; Drug design and synthesis; Eugenol analogs; In silico and in vitro studies

Novel routes for bioproduction of delta lactone aroma compounds - Srivastava, Sonali; Chandramouli, Aakash; Gupta, Payal; Manzer, Abdur Rahman; Choudhury, Rahul; Reddy, D. Srinivasa; Yazdani, Syed Shams; Kamat, Siddhesh S.; Mohanty, Debasisa; Nandicoori, Vinay K.; Gokhale, Rajesh S. (Metabolic Engineering, 2026)
Delta lactones are fatty acid-derived aroma compounds that hold tremendous commercial value. As consumer demand for natural flavours continues to rise, the bioproduction of S-lactones, including S-decalactone and S-dodecalactone, is attracting substantial interest. Our study brings forth a novel approach to the bioproduction of S-lactones from glucose, deviating from existing methods that primarily rely on the biotransformation of fatty acids. The high cost of fatty acid raw material constrains the commercial viability of this traditional approach. We engineered surface-lipid producing type I polyketide synthase (PKS) from Mycobacterium smegmatis by incorporating macrolactone thioesterase (TE) domain. Two out of three fusion constructs produced an appropriately engineered PKS-TE fusion protein that facilitated the synthesis of S-lactones. When grown on glucose as the sole carbon source, recombinant E. coli expressing the engineered PKS-TE fusion protein successfully made S-lactones ranging from C8-C18 acyl chains. Our research further highlights the potential of Mycobacterium smegmatis as a cell factory for producing fatty acid-based S-lactones. By genetically designing and engineering Mycobacterium smegmatis to express PKS-TE fusion protein, we achieved bioproduction of various S-lactones. Batch fermentation of the engineered E. coli strain fed with 2 % glucose produced 786 mg/L of S-dodecalactone and 444 mg/L of S-decalactone at 120 h, underscoring the efficacy of our approach. Thus, this study is the first to demonstrate a methodology for redirecting primary metabolic intermediates towards S-lactone biosynthesis in engineered bacteria, enabling the use of inexpensive and renewable feedstocks.
Keywords: Natural flavour; PKS engineering; S-decalactone; S-dodecalactone; S-lactone

One-pot tandem oxidative-wittig olefination of primary alcohols using spent battery material as a heterogeneous catalyst in green solvent GVL - Bankar, Shubham R.; Ghadge, Sambhaji S.; Jadhav, Vrushali H. (Catalysis Letters, 2026)
Extensive global utilization of dry cell batteries resulted in generation of huge amount of battery waste. Up-cycling of spent battery waste material as a heterogeneous catalyst is an emerging area of research. Cathode material from spent dry cell battery (Zinc-carbon) was isolated, acid leached and calcined to obtain BCM-2 which was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for one-pot tandem oxidative-Wittig olefination in & upsih;-valerolactone (GVL) a bio-based green solvent at a temperature of 50 degrees C. Reaction was found to proceed smoothly using an economical catalyst and environment friendly conditions to get olefins in good yield up-to 74%. The catalyst was found to be reusable for four cycles. The reaction was carried out two-steps in one pot using spent battery material as a catalyst in GVL as a solvent under mild reaction conditions and the applicability of catalyst was shown in 13 examples. The catalyst's effectiveness was also assessed in synthesis of (E)-3, 4 `, 5-trimethoxy-trans-stilbene, an intermediate for biologically active Resveratol.
Keywords: One-pot; Oxidation; Spent battery; Wittig olefination

Phenylpropanoid-specific glycosyltransferases from mango and their potential role in defense - Vare, Tejas; Joshi, Rakesh; Liao, Jieren; Hoffmann, Thomas; Schwab, Wilfried; Giri, Ashok (Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2026)
Alphonso mango (Mangifera indica cv. Alphonso) is a cornerstone of India's fruit industry due to its distinct aroma and shelf-life characteristics. The uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) play a crucial role in stabilising aroma and defense-related specialised metabolites in fruits. The present study explores the potential role of UGTs during mango ripening and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection. Gene expression analysis indicated that UGTs showed dynamic expression in skin and pulp during ripening. Phylogenetic analysis revealed substrate-driven divergence of UGTs, with MiUGT92A14 and MiUGT95B15 forming distinct clades associated with flavonoid glycosylation. Recombinant UGTs showed a higher preference for UDP-glucose, which is corroborated by the high accumulation of UDP-glucose during ripening. Furthermore, it was observed that MiUGT92A14 prefers phenolic acids as substrates, while MiGT95B15 shows flavonoid specificity. Spore germination assays demonstrated that both aglycones and their glycosylated derivatives suppressed early fungal morphogenesis, supporting a role for UGT-mediated glycosylation in maintaining defense-related metabolites in a bioactive yet non-toxic form during fruit ripening. Additionally, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides inhibition assays demonstrated that glycosylated products of selected UGTs exhibited equal or enhanced antifungal activity compared with their aglycone forms, indicating that glycosylation promotes the safe accumulation of antifungal compounds by reducing aglycone toxicity to the plant. These findings suggest that glycosylation of specific metabolites is a key for ripening process and to potentiate defence against fungal pathogen.
Keywords: Anthracnose; defense; Flavonoid; Glycoconjugates; Uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyl-transferase

Plant protease inhibitors induced oxidative and nutritional stress in helicoverpa armigera unveils multifaceted survival strategies: a lipidomic and metabolomic view - Dewangan, Veena; Gupta, Sonu Kumar; Deshpande, Neha; Lomate, Purushottam R.; Kumar, Yashwant; Giri, Ashok P. (ACS Omega, 2026)
Plant protease inhibitors impede insect growth and development by targeting digestive proteases. In response, insects adapt by modulating protease expression; however, their survival may not rely solely on digestive plasticity and likely involves broader physiological adjustments. To investigate this, we performed an integrated lipidomic and metabolomic analysis of Helicoverpa armigera larvae fed on the recombinant Capsicum annuum protease inhibitor (rCanPI-7), a four-domain inhibitor with potent activity against insect trypsins and chymotrypsins. The results revealed extensive metabolic reprogramming in H. armigera under rCanPI-7-induced stress, prominently affecting amino acid, glutathione, and pyrimidine metabolic pathways with distinct shifts in alanine, arginine, histidine, and branched-chain amino acid metabolism. Suppression of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle indicated reduced primary energy metabolism, while oxidative stress was evident from glutathione depletion, lipid peroxidation, and ceramide accumulation, which are hallmarks of mitochondrial dysfunction. To offset this metabolic imbalance, H. armigera mobilized triglycerides and amino acids as alternative energy sources. Reinforcing antioxidant defenses, membrane remodeling, and activating apoptotic and neuromodulatory pathways plausibly aided in restoring cellular homeostasis. Collectively, these findings reveal a tightly coordinated physiological tug of war in H. armigera, where the detrimental effects of rCanPI-7-induced oxidative and nutritional stress were countered through compensatory metabolic, structural, and signaling adjustments. This study provides the first lipidomic insight into this pest species, offering a deeper understanding of its biochemical resilience and potential metabolic vulnerabilities for targeted biopesticide strategies.

Potential tuneable glucose oxidation to selective C6 molecules and CC cleavage, and parallel green H2 production: sustainable high current density electrolysis - Chauhan, Inderjeet; Patra, Kshirodra Kumar; Vijay, Pothoppurathu M.; Nalajala, Naresh; Mehta, Shweta; Joshi, Kavita; Ravindranathan, Sapna; Gopinath, Chinnakonda S. (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2026)
Current study elucidates the electrocatalytic efficacy of palladium-nanocubes (Pd-NCs) for the selective oxidation of glucose to value-added chemicals with concomitant hydrogen evolution. The Pd-NC catalyst demonstrated exceptional activity and product selectivity, achieving nearly quantitative glucose conversion (>99 %) with high gluconic and glucaric acid yield at low anodic overpotential (0.6 V vs. RHE) in alkaline electrolyte. At not-so-high elevated potentials (1.2 V vs. RHE), oxidative CC scission prevails, yielding shorter-chain carboxylates along with C6-acids. Reaction products are thoroughly characterized and quantitatively estimated by NMR spectral methods; NMR methods also provide CC cleavage and mechanistic pathways of glucose to various products. Complementary DFT calculations delineate the thermodynamic favorability of glucose adsorption on Pd-NC surfaces (-1.83 eV) and the exergonic oxidation pathway under applied bias, corroborating experimental product distributions. In a two-electrode electrolyzer, Pd-NC anode paired with Pt/C and Ni2P cathode demonstrates 100 mA/cm(2) at 0.99 V and 1.37 V, respectively, with 48 % reduction in energy input (26.6 kWh/kg H-2) compared to conventional alkaline electrolysis; critically, H-2 production energy is lower than the usable energy (33.3 kWh/kg H-2). Sustainable chronopotentiometric assays confirm sustainability (similar to 140 h) in alkaline as well as saline electrolytes, underscoring the system's resilience against chloride-mediated corrosion. Present work establishes a proof of concept for integrated biomass-component valorization and carbon-negative green hydrogen production, merging atomic-level mechanistic insights with scalable reactor design. Optimization of reaction parameters, including potential tuning, reaction temperature and electrolyte engineering, offers a compelling strategy to further enhance C6 and fragmented product selectivity and overall system efficiency.
Keywords: biomass valorization; electrocatalysis; energy conversion; Sustainability

Recyclable l-glutamic acid-based polyester schiff base cross-linker for 3D printing applications - Kamble, Ganesh N.; Ghute, Aaditi P.; Asha, S. K. (ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 2026)
An l-amino acid-based polyester Schiff base cross-linker was developed from amine-functionalized polyester and biobased methacrylate vanillin. Vanillin, one of the few biobased and aromatic compounds readily available on an industrial scale, has recently garnered significant attention from the polymer community. The l-amino acid-based polyester Schiff base cross-linker (P3) was synthesized by condensing the aldehyde group of methacrylate vanillin with the amine group of the l-glutamic acid polyester. This polymeric cross-linker was used in resin formulations consisting of isobornyl acrylate as a reactive diluent and diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide as the photoinitiator for digital light processing (DLP) three-dimensional (3D) printing. The resulting 3D-printed parts exhibited good mechanical properties, with a Young's modulus of 1.5 GPa, and high thermal stability, with a T max of 410 degrees C. The chemical degradability of the 3D-printed materials was demonstrated in a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and diethylene triamine (1:1) at 80 degrees C for 48 h. The reusability of the recovered resin was demonstrated by adding fresh methacrylate vanillin and photoinitiator, followed by 3D printing using a DLP 3D printer. The 3D-printed parts produced from the recycled resin retained substantial mechanical properties, with a Young's modulus of 1.39 GPa, and thermal stability, with a T max of 390 degrees C.
Keywords: 3D printing; chemical degradation; covalent adaptable network; l-glutamicacid; Vanillin

Repurposed ciprofloxacin derivatives as potent autophagic-type anticancer agents - Gone, Nilu Vijay; Sharma, Tanisha; Joshi, Rakesh; Upreti, Akshita; Santra, Manas; Sanjayan, Gangadhar J. (Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2026)
Drug repurposing - also known as drug repositioning is a proven strategy for identifying new therapeutic uses for existing and pre-approved drugs with considerable success in recent years. Herein, we report the discovery of a novel class of ciprofloxacin-amino acid conjugates that are dynamically potent against different cancer cell lines. Some of the molecules reported herein displayed a strong anti-proliferative effect on MCF-7 (IC50: 6 mu M). The most active anti-proliferative molecule of this series 7a suppressed the proliferation of HCT116, A549, and MDAMB-231 cancer cell lines. Furthermore, we established that the treatment with 7a leads to DNA damage-mediated autophagic cell death in cancer cells. Our findings suggest that appropriate derivatization of the ciprofloxacin drug can yield promising anti-cancer compounds in easy synthetic operations.
Keywords: Anticancer drugs; Autophagic cell death; ciprofloxacin

Reversible twisting-induced crystalline-polycrystalline transformation in cyanoacrylate crystals - Parthasarathy, Thiyagaraj; Bhowmik, Aritra; Bhattacharya, Biswajit; Mishra, Manish Kumar; Ghosh, Soumyajit (Chemical Communications, 2026)
We report cyanoacrylate-based organic crystalline materials that exhibit reversible hand-induced helical twisting through the combined action of 1D elasticity and 2D plasticity. These crystals twist and untwist without lattice damage, retaining their elastic integrity through pi slip-stacking and Cl & ctdot;Cl, C-H & ctdot;Cl, and Me & ctdot;Me interactions. Their unique integration of elastic recovery, plastic bending, and reversible twisting highlights their potential as mechanically adaptive materials for flexible and responsive devices.

Rootless survivors in plants - Kondhare, Kirtikumar R.; Lavhale, Santosh G.; Giri, Ashok P. (Plant Science, 2026)
The root system provides anchorage, uptakes of nutrients and water, and forms different associations within soil environments that govern plant fitness, crop performance, and yield. Auxin controls almost all aspects of root development. Both shoot- and root-derived auxins contribute to formation of polar auxin transport, which is crucial for establishing and maintaining normal root architecture. The coordinated activities of auxin influx and efflux carriers establish necessary polar auxin transport. A variety of natural metabolites and synthetic compounds are shown to interfere with auxin metabolism, transporters and signaling pathways having a negative impact on root growth. In this review, we highlight the reports demonstrating the observance of rootless phenotypes in plants and associated molecular mechanisms. Rootless phenotypes can be produced under in vitro culture conditions by modulation of phytohormone combinations (especially auxin and cytokinin), and supplementation of naturally-occurring flavonoids and their glycosides or synthetic auxin transport inhibitors (1-Nnaphthylphthalamic acid and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid) or under in vivo conditions by modulation of several genes directly or indirectly associated with auxin biology. Further, we describe the crosstalk of naturallyoccurring flavonoids (e.g. kaempferol, quercetin), their glycosides, and other metabolites (e.g. azelaic acid, cis-cinnamic acid) with auxin transporters, their mobile nature, and influence on root development. Moreover, we provide evolutionary perspective on the auxin and flavonoid pathways and their possible roles in naturally rootless plants. We also emphasize the importance of rootless or reduced root growth phenotypes in modern agriculture, and the pressing needs to utilize naturally occurring auxin transport inhibitors for industrial and research applications.
Keywords: Auxin; Flavonoid; Flavonoid-glycoside; Polar auxin transport; rootless

Simple two-step gelation process to strengthen 3D printed carboxy methyl cellulose gels - Rajput, Tejas; Sathe, Asmi; Gopal, Animesh; Sharma, Aakash; Shanmuganathan, Kadhiravan (Cellulose, 2026)
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a water-soluble cellulose ether that is widely utilized in hydrogel applications due to its exceptional water absorption and biocompatibility. This study reports a simple two step strategy to make mechanically robust CMC gels without any additional chemical crosslinkers and how it could be leveraged to strengthen 3D printed CMC gels. These hydrogels, prepared through acid-induced gelation followed by freeze-thawing, exhibited a compressive modulus of 12.4 +/- 0.92 kPa and a compressive strength of 491.0 +/- 18.1 kPa. They could be leveraged for strengthening 3D printing hydrogels of intricate shapes by direct ink writing. Small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS) tests indicated an order of magnitude higher storage modulus for freeze-thawed gels (FC) as compared to only acid-induced CMC gels (HCMC). Nonetheless, stress relaxation experiments revealed that FC, as well as HCMC gels, relax at similar time scales. FC gels exhibited clear birefringence under crossed polarizers, indicating molecular ordering that is consistent with the presence of ordered/crystalline domains. Such ordered domains likely contribute to the higher elastic modulus and compressive strength observed in FC gels as compared to HCMC gels.
Keywords: 3D printing; Carboxymethyl cellulose; cellulose; Gels

Smallest acyclic tricationic molecule containing a Bis(phosphine)-stabilized low-valent triantimony-based Unit - Mukherjee, Nilanjana; Peerless, Benjamin; Nadurata, Vincent L.; Kumar, Vikas; Sangole, Mayur P.; Singh, Kirandeep; Wiedemann, Haakon T. A.; Kay, Christopher W. M.; Kruk, Robert; Weigend, Florian; Dehnen, Stefanie; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; et al. (Nature Communications, 2026)
Element-element bonded multiply charged cationic species are well known as dimers or small cyclic oligomers in the condensed phase. However, the smallest acyclic version, a trinuclear unit possessing greater than a monocationic charge, has remained elusive. Here we introduce a bis(phosphine) supported low valent triantimony-based tricationic compound as a new entrant in this field. Structural elucidation and electronic understanding reveal a W-shaped tricationic unit comprising of a three-center four-electron sigma-bonded triantimony moiety that is terminally capped by bis(phosphine) ligands, with the central antimony atom having two lone pairs of electrons. The unique counter trianion [Sb(O)2(OTf)4]3- (OTf = CF3SO3) possesses reactive polar Sb delta+-O delta- bonds, the structure of which is determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The ensemble of reactive molecular fragments found in this highly charged antimony-based compound makes it thermally unstable. Nonetheless, this fully characterized fleeting species shows a diverse reactivity profile, advancing the isolation of various novel antimony compounds, including the formation of a distinct low-valent antimony-cobalt carbonyl cluster.

Solvent and pH effects on the ionization energies of bio-organic molecules: a case study of alanine and glycine - Kumar, Ravi; Ghosh, Aryya; Vaval, Nayana (Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2026)
The ionization energies (IEs) and double ionization energies (DIEs) of the amino acids alanine and glycine have been studied in the gas phase and a polarizable continuum model (PCM) to account for solvent effects. Amino acids undergo structural modifications, particularly in their functional groups, in response to changes in their chemical environment, such as pH. Four possible different structural forms, neutral (NH2-R-COOH), zwitterionic (NH3+-R-COO-), deprotonated (NH2-R-COO-), and protonated (NH3+-R-COOH), were generated for each amino acid. In this study, we use these four forms to explore the effects of protonation and deprotonation (pH effect) on the IEs of inner-valence states. In amino acids, IEs and DIEs are essential for evaluating the energetic viability of inner-valence-initiated non-radiative decay processes, such as interatomic Coulombic decay (ICD). All IE and DIE values were calculated using the complete active space perturbation theory (CASPT2) method. A comparison is made across gas-phase and PCM environments to assess the impact of solvation. The observed variations in IE and DIE values indicate a lot about alanine and glycine's electronic structure and chemical reactivity under different physiological and environmental conditions (pH effect and solvation), hence improving our understanding of their functional roles in biochemical systems.

Solvent-assisted chemical recycling of polycarbonate using glycerol as a renewable chemical: mechanistic insights and statistical optimization - Markandeya, Nishant; Jadhav, Mayur; Gopale, Prafulla; Ramalingam, Karthick; Kamble, Sanjay (Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2026)
The rapid accumulation of polycarbonate (PC) waste has driven the development of efficient recycling methods. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of solvent-assisted chemical recycling of PC using glycerol, a renewable chemical derived from industrial waste streams. Solvent screening highlighted the critical influence of solvent properties such as dielectric constant, dipole moment and hydrogen-bond accepting ability on depolymerization efficiency. A systematic approach combining Design of Experiments (DoE) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the depolymerization process. Using a Box-Behnken design (BBD), the effects of key process parameters, including temperature, reaction time and the glycerol (GLY:PC) and dimethylformamide (DMF:PC) weight ratios, were evaluated in terms of PC conversion and bisphenol A (BPA) yield. The optimization model predicted that a reaction temperature of 171 degrees C, a reaction time of 1 h and a PC: GLY:DMF ratio of 1:5.05:7.22 would yield 100 % PC conversion and 85 % BPA yield. Experimental validation under these conditions achieved 100 % PC conversion and 83 % BPA yield, confirming the reliability of the model. Product characterization using NMR, LC-HRMS and FTIR confirmed the purity of BPA and provided insights into the reaction mechanism. The solvent recyclability across successive reaction cycles demonstrated the environmental and economic viability of the process. Overall, the energy demand calculation based on the environmental energy impact factor (xi) highlights the industrial relevance of this work and demonstrate an efficient and environmentally friendly catalyst-free route for depolymerization of polycarbonate with strong potential for industrial implementation.
Keywords: Chemical Recycling; Glycerol; Polycarbonate; Response surface methodology

Structural characterisation, anticancer properties, and BSA binding of 2,6-dipyrazinylpyridines: Insights from experiment and theory - Enumula, Sreenivasulu; Shaikh, Javed; Shaikh, Amin; Sheikh, Kounsar N.; Tambe, Pranav; Lande, Dipali N.; Gejji, Shridhar P.; Shaligram, Parth; Gonnade, Rajesh; Bhadbhade, Mohan; Ahmed, Khursheed (Journal of Molecular Structure, 2026)
The phenyl-(2,6-di-2-pyrazinyl)pyridine derivatives (L1, L2) were synthesized using a one-pot Krohnke-type method, starting from 2-acetylpyrazine and substituted benzaldehydes. Their structures were characterized using a combination of spectroscopic (NMR, HRMS) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, complemented by density functional theory (DFT). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that L1 crystallizes in the C2/c space group (T = 296 K) with its supramolecular assembly being stabilized by C-H & ctdot;N and pi-pi stacking interactions, whereas L2 facilitates C-H & ctdot;N, N-H & ctdot;pi bifurcated, and pi-pi* interactions. The bio-interaction properties of L1 were studied using fluorescence spectroscopy with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. Fluorescence studies demonstrated L1 induces static quenching of BSA, with a binding constant of 5.15 x 104 mol & sdot;dm-3. Synchronous and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra further demonstrated that L1 brings forth significant conformational changes in BSA. The compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against the HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cell line.
Keywords: 2; 6-dipyrazinylpyridines; Bovine serum albumin interaction; Cytotoxicity (HCT-116 cells); Density functional theory; Halogenated derivatives; Single-crystal X-ray diffraction

Switchable solid-state emission in GFP chromophore analogue cocrystals via competing AIE and ACQ pathways - Mali, Bhupendra P.; Dabke, Niteen B.; Sharma, Himanshu; Dash, Soumya Ranjan; Manoj, Kochunnoonny; Vanka, Kumar; Gonnade, Rajesh G. (CrystEngComm, 2026)
We present a crystal-engineering approach enabling switchable solid-state emission (green -> orange -> quenched) in GFP-chromophore analogue cocrystals. The coformer's electronic and supramolecular effect shifts the photophysical pathway: intramolecular CT in cocrystal-I (green) and cocrystal-III (quenched) and intermolecular CT in cocrystal-II, yielding orange emissions and highlighting cocrystallization's power for tunable luminophores.

Thiophenol-mediated metal-free chemoselective conjugate reduction strategy for 3-alkylidene oxindoles - Patil, Baliram R.; Nichinde, Chandrakant B.; Girase, Amardipsing S.; Chaudhari, Suryakant S.; Kinage, Anil K. (RSC Advances, 2026)
A mild and metal-free thiophenol-mediated chemoselective conjugate reduction of 3-alkylidene oxindoles via a thiol-ene-type Michael addition was effectively carried out. Thiophenol as an efficient reductant is used in DMSO, and the transformation proceeds without the need for metal catalyst, external hydrogen source, or harsh reagents. The reaction displays a broad substrate scope, accommodating both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents, and delivers 3-alkyloxindoles in high yields with excellent beta-selectivity. This sustainable and operationally simple method unveils a distinct thiol-mediated reduction mechanism, providing a green and versatile approach for accessing reduced oxindole derivatives and related Michael acceptors.

Transition metal complexes of Thiadiazole-Picolinic acid: Crystal structures, DFT insights and anticancer activity - Torambetov, Batirbay; Khojabaeva, Gulnaz; Bharty, M. K.; Gupta, Sushil K.; Kadirova, Shakhnoza; Pradeep, S.; Dastager, Syed G.; Gonnade, Rajesh G. (Journal of Molecular Structure, 2026)
Five novel transition metal complexes [Ni(H2aeth)2(Pic)2] (1), [Co(H2aeth)2(Pic)2] (2), [Ni(H2aeth)2(Pic)(HPic)] ClO4 (3), [Co(H2aeth)2(Pic)(HPic)]ClO4 (4) and [Zn(H2aeth)2 (Pic)(HPic)]ClO4 (5) were synthesized using a 2amino-5-ethylthio-1,3,4-thiadiazole (H2aeth) and picolinic acid (HPic) as co-ligands. These complexes were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis., X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TG-DTA, and single-crystal X-ray techniques. Crystallographic analysis confirmed distorted octahedral geometries around the metal centers with extensive hydrogen bonding networks promoting supramolecular assembly in the solid state. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), validated the +2 oxidation state of each metal center. Thermal studies indicated multistep decomposition processes resulting in the formation of metal oxides. Density functional theory (DFT) and timedependent DFT calculations were employed to explore electronic structures and predict UV-Vis. transitions, which showed good agreement with experimental data. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis revealed that Ni(II) complexes 1 and 3 are softer and more reactive, consistent with their observed biological activity. The anticancer potential of complexes 1-5 was evaluated in vitro using the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line and the MTT assay. Complex 1 exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity (IC50 = 26.5 mu g/mL) followed by complexes 3 (34.9 mu g/mL), 4 (46.4 mu g/mL), 2 (81.1 mu g/mL), and 5 (103.3 mu g/mL). The observed activity trends correlate with metal identity and coordination environment, underlining the role of electronic and structural factors in modulating bioactivity. These findings suggest that thiadiazole-picolinate metal complexes, particularly those based on Ni (II), are promising scaffolds for anticancer drug development.
Keywords: Anti-cancer activity; crystal structure; DFT calculation; MCF-7 cell line; Picolinic acid; Thiadiazole complexes

Unlocking efficient water splitting through Fe-induced activity enhancement in NiCo2O4 bifunctional electrocatalysts - Sankar, K. N. Amba; Mahana, Debashrita; Mohan, S.; Gupta, Suryakant B.; Hussain, Amreen A. (Journal of Materials Science, 2026)
The development of efficient, durable and inexpensive bifunctional electrocatalysts is essential for advancing overall water splitting technologies. In this study, we present a novel strategy involving dilute Fe doping in NiCo2O4 (NCO) spinel structures to enhance their electrocatalytic activity and stability. Fe was introduced at varying concentrations, and the resulting Fe-doped NCO catalysts were systematically characterized to understand their structural, morphological, and surface properties. Comprehensive structural and surface analyses revealed the successful incorporation of Fe ions into the NCO lattice without altering its intrinsic spinel framework. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis showed that the NCO-Fe1 sample exhibited the highest surface area (41.82 m2g-1) and the smallest pore size, facilitating enhanced ion diffusion and exposure of active sites. Electrochemical studies revealed a pronounced improvement in bifunctional catalytic activity for the NCO-Fe1 catalyst, which delivered low overpotentials of 228 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 274 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at 10 mAcm-2. The corresponding Tafel slopes of 151 mVdec-1 (HER) and 52.54 mVdec-1 (OER) indicate favourable reaction kinetics and efficient charge-transfer dynamics. Furthermore, the overall water-splitting device constructed using NCO-Fe1 electrodes required only 1.72 V at 10 mAcm-2 to sustain continuous operation, maintaining excellent durability over 300 h of testing without significant performance degradation. Hence, this study provides new insights into the role of dilute dopant engineering in multicomponent oxides and establishes NCO-Fe1 as a promising, high-performance, and durable bifunctional electrocatalyst for sustainable water-splitting applications.

Unveiling the reactivity of N-heterocyclic methylene hydrazines - Balayan, Kajal; Biswas, Arindam; Sharma, Himanshu; Tiwari, Prabhakar; Vanka, Kumar; Gonnade, Rajesh G.; Rath, Arup K.; Sen, Sakya S. (Dalton Transactions, 2026)
We present the first reactivity profile of N-heterocyclic methylene hydrazines, revealing distinct competition between steric and electronic control. Reactions with HCl are electronically driven, resulting in protonation at the proximal nitrogen, while the bulky Lewis acid B(C6F5)3 coordinates to the sterically accessible distal nitrogen. Additionally, we demonstrate that these scaffolds undergo spontaneous, base-free HCN elimination with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) to form highly conjugated molecules with significantly reduced HOMO-LUMO gaps.