We demonstrate here a green and efficient biogenic synthesis of copper­(II) oxide nanoparticles using easily available Ocimum Sanctum leaf extract at room temperature. The biogenic copper oxide nanoparticles have shown excellent activity on N-arylation of cyclic and acyclic amides with aryl and styryl halides. Broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, and high yields were observed. This protocol is also extended for the N-arylation of substituted aryl amines and nitrogen heterocycles including pyrole, indole, imidazole, benzimidazole, and carbazole. The catalyst was characterized by EPR, UV, FT-IR, BET, AAS, TGA analysis, XPS, XRD, and HR-TEM.

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Nanosized niobium oxide powders were synthesized with a yield of approximately 87% using a simple and facile soft-chemical process. Niobium pentachloride (Nb2Cl5) was used as the precursor which was first converted into niobium ethoxide and then hydrolysed with water to synthesize niobia nanopowder. The synthesized powder was calcined at 500 degrees C for phase conversion to end-centered monoclinic as confirmed by diffraction studies and elemental analysis with a chemical composition in the ratio of Nb:O as 1:2.5. The molecular framework of Nb-O-Nb stretching and asymmetric frequency was confirmed by FT-IR, UV-visible and Raman spectroscopic studies. The size, shape and surface morphology of the powders were observed by SEM and TEM which indicated particle sizes of approximately 20 nm. The surface area of 20 m2/g, pore volume of 0.0538 cm2/g and the average pore size of 6.5 nm2 for the calcined sample were obtained with the help of nitrogen adsorption/desorption method using the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) method which indicates that the synthesized powder can be used for catalysis and other surface sensitive applications.

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A novel method was designed for the synthesis of polyphenol capped amorphous iron oxide nanoparticles (ION) using an agro waste (peanut skin). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by absorption spectroscopy, TEM, SEM, IR, Raman and XRD. An increased rate of formation of the nanoparticles is observed upon low dose gamma irradiation. ION shows specific spectral features with perchlorate anion even in presence of other anions selected for the anion sensing study. The nanoparticles formed in presence of irradiation was found even more sensitive to lower concentration of perchlorate owing to its finely dispersed nature and increased surface area.