Tridib Kumar Sarma

Synthesis of Au nanoparticle–conductive polyaniline composite using H2O2 as oxidising as well as reducing agent

We report a new method of synthesis of an Au nanoparticle-conductive polyaniline composite by using H2O2 both for reduction of HAuCl4 and polymerization of aniline in the same aqueous medium: the electrical conductivity of the composite has been measured to be two orders of magnitude higher than the polymer itself.

Annulated Isomeric, Expanded, and Contracted Porphyrins

Compared to porphyrin, its isomeric, expanded, and contracted analogues are less well explored. This contrast is found to be even more drastic in the case of their peripherally annulated counterparts. Nevertheless, the chemistry of annulated isomeric, expanded, and contracted porphyrins started flourishing recently with considerable efforts over the past few years, as evidenced by an increasing number of publications. While keeping the essence of porphyrins, these annulated versions exhibit quite unique properties that have no precedence in their nonannulated counterparts. An in-depth update of research carried out so far in this emerging area will be presented in this review.

Structure, electronic states, and anion-binding properties of cyclo[4]naphthobipyrroles.

Three octaalkyl-substituted cyclo[4]naphthobipyrroles, studied in solution in the form of their sulfates, reveal absorption and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra very similar to those of the parent cyclo[8]pyrrole. A unique feature of these systems is a strong absorption in the near IR region. The analysis of MCD patterns based on a perimeter model reveals a hard-chromophore character of cyclo[4]naphthobipyrroles, i.e., ΔHOMO ≪ ΔLUMO. Comparison of Raman spectra obtained for crystalline samples and solutions, combined with the analysis of absorption and MCD spectra based on quantum chemical calculations reveals that cyclo[4]naphthobipyrroles exist in solutions as undissociated sulfates of the doubly protonated forms.

Probing Carbocatalytic Activity of Carbon Nanodots for the Synthesis of Biologically Active Dihydro/Spiro/Glyco Quinazolinones and Aza-Michael Adducts

Herein, we report the fluorescent carbon dots as an effective and recyclable carbocatalyst for the generation of carbon-heteroatom bond leading to quinazolinone derivatives and aza-Michael adducts under mild reaction conditions. The results establish this nanoscale form of carbon as an alternative carbocatalyst for important acid catalyzed organic transformations. The mild surface acidity of carbon dots imparted by -COOH functionality could effectively catalyze the formation of synthetically challenging spiro/glycoquinazolinones under the present reaction conditions.

Carbon Dots as Nanodispersants for Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes: Reduced Cytotoxicity and Metal Nanoparticle Functionalization

The colloidal stabilization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in an aqueous medium through noncovalent interactions has potential benefits toward the practical use of this one-dimensional carbonaceous material for biomedical applications. Here, we report that fluorescent carbon nanodots can efficiently function as dispersing agents in the preparation of stable aqueous suspensions of CNTs at significant concentrations (0.5 mg/mL). The amphiphilic nature of carbon dots with a hydrophobic graphitic core could effectively interact with the CNT surface, whereas hydrophilic oxygenated functionalization on the C-dot surface provided excellent water dispersibility. The resultant CNT-C-dot composite showed significantly reduced cytotoxicity compared to that of unmodified or protein-coated CNTs, as demonstrated by cell viability and proliferation assays. Furthermore, the reducing capability of C-dots could be envisaged toward the formation of a catalytically active metal nanoparticle-CNT-C-dot composite without the addition of any external reducing or stabilizing agents that showed excellent catalytic activity toward the reduction of p-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH4. Overall, the present work establishes C-dots as an efficient stabilizer for aqueous dispersions of CNTs, leading to an all-carbon nanocomposite that can be useful for different practical applications.