The preparation of novel NIR fluorescent carbon based nanomaterials, consisting of boron difluoride azadipyrromethene fluorophores covalently attached to carbon nano-onions, is demonstrated. In addition, the analysis of the new nanomaterial is presented. The fluorescent nano-derivative properties are customized such that their emission can be reversibly on/off modulated in response to pH, which is demonstrated in solution and in cells. The in vitro imaging of HeLa Kyoto cells is carried out and the cellular uptake of the carbon nano-onion NIR fluorophore conjugates is verified

A series of nitrile-functionalized pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquids have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography. The application of these new ionic liquids as reaction media for Suzuki and Stille C-C cross-coupling reactions has been investigated and compared with related imidazolium and pyridinium systems (including those with and without nitrile functionalities). The nature of the ionic liquid strongly influences the catalyzed reaction and it would appear that, in addition to the nitrile group, the strength of anion-cation pairing in the ionic liquid and the viscosity of the ionic liquid play critical roles. Nanoparticles are also detected following catalysis and their role, and the influence of the ionic liquid on them, is assessed. The ability to use the nitrile-functionalized pyrrolidinium-based ionic liquids diluted in other (non-functionalized) ionic liquids is also described.

A new water-soluble methyl-imidazolium-based ionic polymer was synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization that was subsequently used to prepare aqueous gold nanoparticle solutions which were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The aqueous gold nanoparticle solutions were employed as catalysts in the reduction of p-nitrophenol and in the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde and were found to exhibit excellent activity under mild conditions.