Manganese Dioxide (α-MnO2) and Graphene Oxide (GO) Nanocomposites: An Efficient Promotor for the Oxidative Deprotection of Trimethylsilyl, Tetrahydropyranyl and Methoxymethyl Ethers.

Manganese dioxide (α-MnO2) and graphene oxide (GO nanocomposites were prepared and successfully characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), field emission scanning-electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping methods and Xray diffraction (XRD) analyses. This reagent is an efficient catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of trimethylsilyl (TMS), tetrahedropyranyl (THP), and methoxymethyl ethers (MOM) to their corresponding carbonyl compounds in the presence of K2CO3. All reactions were performed in n-hexane under mild and completely heterogeneous reaction conditions. Our novel method has the advantages of excellent yields, short reaction times, availability and reusability of the catalyst and simple and easy work-up procedure compared to the conventional methods reported in the literature.

Magnetic Fe3O4/Graphene Oxide/Copper-Based Nanocomposite as a Reusable Catalyst for the Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol.

In the present investigation, Fe3O4/Graphene oxide/Pr-NH2-CuII was reported as a novel magnetically recoverable nanocomposite and characterized using various analytical techniques such as FT-IR spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). The catalytic performance of the synthesized catalyst was evaluated in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by an excess amount of sodium borohydride as the source of hydrogen in aqueous solution. The reaction was monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy at ambient temperature. Magnetic nature of the catalyst led to its simple recovery by a permanent magnet and excellent recyclability without appreciable loss of the catalytic activity.

A review on antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity of curcumin.

Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae family) and its polyphenolic compound curcumin have been subjected to a variety of antimicrobial investigations due to extensive traditional uses and low side effects. Antimicrobial activities for curcumin and rhizome extract of C. longa against different bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites have been reported. The promising results for antimicrobial activity of curcumin made it a good candidate to enhance the inhibitory effect of existing antimicrobial agents through synergism. Indeed, different investigations have been done to increase the antimicrobial activity of curcumin, including synthesis of different chemical derivatives to increase its water solubility as well ass cell up take of curcumin. This review aims to summarize previous antimicrobial studies of curcumin towards its application in the future studies as a natural antimicrobial agent.