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Our group is interested in developing various Metal Organic Framework based Porous Nanostructures for Applications in Energy and Environment. 

A series of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) based on trimesic acid (btc) have been synthesized using a solvothermal procedure which exhibits excellent catalytic fixation of CO₂. Cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxide to produce cyclic carbonates is quite promising. The chemical fixation of CO₂ reported here is solvent free and carried out under moderately mild conditions. All the MOFs [Zn-btc (1), Co-btc (2), Ni-btc (3), Cu- btc (4)] were synthesized under same experimental conditions yet possess different structural and catalytic properties. All the catalysts follow first-order kinetics, and Zn-btc (1) proved to be the most catalytically active catalyst among all with ~100% yield with a total turnover number of 18,845 per mole of catalyst and an initial TOF (hour^-1) of 946 with respect to Cyclic carbonate. All MOFs (1 – 4) show almost 100% conversion in these reactions. Same reaction using other metal (Co, Ni, Cu)-btc compounds have also yielded product more than 94 % creating an extra impact on the importance of the work.

Nicotine, being a major constituent of Second Hand Smoke (SHS) or Cigarette smoke, is quite harmful for human health because of its carcinogenic potential. Hence, its detection in air becomes very significant. Herein, for the first time, a Metal Organic Nanotube (MONT) is being used for detection of nicotine from cigarette smoke at room temperature. MONT is a unique class of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) where independent one-dimensional tubular structures are formed. MONT, [Zn₃(btc)₂(µ3-OH)(DMF)].H₂O (1), reported here, possesses distinctive structural features i.e. three differently shaped porous channels (circular, star and oval), formed by periodic linkage of btc with Zn, giving rise to the formation of highly porous framework structure. When exposed to cigarette smoke in the presence of sunlight, this MONT display gasochromic effect i.e. significant color change from light yellow to dark pink in just 20 seconds. A high sensitivity with low detection limit of ~23.3 μM was witnessed. The significance of this work lies in the visible light assisted, fast, easy, naked eye specific sensing of nicotine from cigarette smoke, which is first of its kind.

For more details please visit:  https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.9b00314

https://dst.gov.in/visible-light-assisted-gasochromic-sensing-nicotine-cigarette-smoke-metal-organic-nanotube?fbclid=IwAR1EEsdu7AvEy4cHR9Rx1L1DT_FiYTa8idGg4a3jwInEjvbOJ9ky0GDIVwQ

A novel Strandberg type polyoxomolybdate based organic–inorganic hybrid solid, [{4,4′-H2bpy}{4,4′-Hbpy}2{H2P2Mo5O23}]·5H2O (1) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The structure consists of a discrete type phosphomolybdate cluster, [H2P2Mo5O23]4−, connected with three protonated 4,4′-bipyridine molecules by strong hydrogen bonding interactions. The In vitro anti-tumoral activity of compound (1) was tested against human breast cancer (MCF-7), human lung cancer (A549) and human liver cancer (HepG2) cells. The Strandberg type cluster was used against the MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells for the first time hitherto. It shows considerable inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 33.79 μmol L−1, 25.17 μmol L−1, and 32.11 μmol L−1 against HepG2, A549 and MCF-7 respectively. The anti-tumoral activity of 1 was also found to be comparable with that of a routinely used chemotherapeutic agent, methotrexate (MTX), with an IC50 value of 42.03 μmol L−1 for HepG2, 26.93 μmol L−1 for A549 and 49.79 μmol L−1 for MCF-7. The anti-proliferation activity is mediated by the arrest of the A549 and HepG2 cells in the S phase and MCF-7 in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle as suggested by flow cytometry. Results suggest that apoptosis and necrosis pathways ultimately lead to the death of the cancer cells.

For more details please visit:    https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/dt/d0dt01042a/unauth#!divAbstract
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