An iodine-mediated radical cyclization of 1,6-enynones with sulfonyl hydrazides using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant has been developed for the synthesis of iodo-sulfonylated-succinimide derivatives. The notable advantages of the...

The separation of minor actinides in their dioxocation (i.e., actinyl) form in high-valent oxidation states requires efficient ligands for their complexation. In this work, we evaluate the complexation properties of...

The development of chemosensors for selective detection of specific biologically important analytes continues to be of great attention in contemporary analytical chemistry. Among the several biologically important analytes, selective detection...

The sudden COVID-19 outbreak has obstructed the conventional method of teaching causing a mandated shift to virtual platforms. A developing country like India which predominantly depended on conventional methods of teaching and learning in the pre-COVID era is gradually gaining success in effectively transitioning into virtual classrooms with the aid of digital programs and online platforms to resume theoretical education. However, chemistry education, in particular, which involves the physical approach to experimentation in conventional laboratories, requires a practical and effective alternative in the virtual arena. Though the country’s digital progress has provided virtual experiments that can be helpful in laboratory learning, only very few instructors/teachers are aware of such opportunities. The adaptability and accessibility to virtual laboratories in the Indian context also remain unclear due to various factors that influence the transition from conventional laboratories to virtual laboratories. Therefore, we attempted to evaluate the learning prospects of students by taking up the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) screen experiments for virtual titration as an example. This article aims to reflect information from the feedback of students on their first virtual laboratory experience and after completing an academic year to record learning outcomes in comparison to their prior experience on conventionally carrying out titration experiments and to highlight the features of the virtual laboratories that were preferred by students. Among the various components of the virtual laboratory, students state that the quiz is a component that is engaging and ensures knowledge progression. Conclusively, the students perceive that virtual laboratory experiments should be an integrated part of the laboratory curriculum for enhanced learning. In summary, our work throws light on the need for virtual laboratories in chemistry education in India and its prospect in the postpandemic period.

The minor actinides Am/Cm show multiple possibilities for coordination, providing great opportunities for their extraction and adsorption separation. Herein, we report complexation in an aqueous medium of AmIII/CmIII in the DOTA (H4DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) cavity with axial ligands (OH–, F–, and H2O), based on the energetics and electronic structure properties using density functional theory (DFT). The formation and substitution reactions of OH–-capped complexes are more likely to occur due to their enhanced hydration Gibbs free energies, followed by F–, and then H2O. Both the longer An–ODOTA bond lengths and the larger bite angle (∠O–An–O) in the OH–-capped complexes reflect the enhanced coordination provided by the axial ligand, slightly less so for F–. Energy decomposition analysis based on the electronic structure supports the preference for OH–-capped complexes with a near-perfect balance between attractive and repulsive contributions toward the interaction. Furthermore, molecular orbital analysis revealed that the frontier molecular orbitals of Am and Cm complexes are substantially different; that is, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) compositions of the Am complexes are all contributed by 5f, while the HOMO and LUMO compositions of the Cm complexes are derived from 5f and 6d, respectively. Finally, the metal-exchange reactions demonstrate competitive complexation of DOTA toward AmIII over CmIII for the OH–-capped system. These results imply the importance of coordination chemistry in actinide chemistry in general and specifically in AmIII/CmIII solution chemistry.