Our research group is implicated on the design and synthesis of supramolecular structures based on self-assembling cyclic peptides, particularly alpha,gamma-cyclic peptides (CPs). Most of these structures: dimer, nanotubes, fiber, etc, are based on beta-sheet type interactions. The CPs form structures that have allowed preparing a large variety of structures with applications in ion channels, electron and energy transfer process, molecular tweezers and so on. Here, we present the formation of spheres, hollow spheres, fibers, bars, etc. by a hierarchical supramolecular process from alpha,gamma-cyclic peptides with pyridine derivate ligands attached to one of its side chains, that additionally, are able to coordinate metals (Cu, Pd, etc.), entrap molecules, etc. which give to these structures a great potential for catalysis and drug delivery.

Ferrite spinels may also contain mixture of two divalent metal ions, in which ratio of these divalent metal ions may vary, are called mixed ferrite. The cations distribution of mixed ferrite significantly affects the surface properties of ferrospinels making them catalytically active. Because of their small size and large number of cations, for co-ordination sites, nanocrystallites are capable of enhancing the rate of chemical reactions and are increasingly gaining popularity as reactive nanocrystallites [1]. Among the various methods, microwave combustion technique is probably opted for homogeneity, high purity and improved characteristics. The microwave energy is an internal means of heat energy generation and conversion. The microwave energy is transformed into heat energy by strong inter- molecular friction and rises the temperature of the precursor materials suddenly. The use of microwave energy as heating source, speeds up the chemical reaction and kinetics, improve the economical viability, and reduces the energy loss [2]. Complexant organic agents can effectively chelate metal ions with varying ionic sizes. They also serve as reductant being oxidized by nitrate ions, thus working as fuel in a synthetic method named auto combustion sol-gel. Citric acid (C6H8O7) is most frequently used in producing in large variety of ferrites. It is inexpensive and is a more effective complexing agent than other complexant producing fine ferrite powder with smaller particle size [3, 4]. In this present study, NiCuFe2O4 nanoparticles was prepared by microwave assisted sol-gel auto-combustion method employing nickel nitrate, copper nitrate, iron nitrate, ammonia and citric acid as an organic chelate agent. The nanostructured samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, DRS and FT-IR. X-ray and the FT-IR revealed the formation of cobalt ferrite cubic spinel type structure. The direct band gap was estimated using Kubelka-Munk method and is obtained from the DRS.

The effect of ZnO-doping (0.04-0.08 mol) on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of CuO/MgO catalyst calcined at 350-650^oC was investigated. Pure and doped catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation method. The prepared solids were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), N₂-adsorption at -196 ^oC and the methanol conversion as the catalytic probe reaction. The results revealed an observed decrease in the crystallite size of CuO phase by doping with amounts < 0.08 mol ZnO.  Increasing the calcination temperature from 350 to 650 °C increased the crystallite size of CuO (4.7 to 25 nm). The specific surface area (S_BET) and the catalytic activity of un-doped catalyst increased by increasing the amounts of ZnO up to certain extent reaching to a maximum at 7.07 wt % ZnO, above this concentration catalytic activity decreased. The catalytic activity of pure and doped solids was affected by increasing the calcination temperature. The prepared catalysts are selective towards formaldehyde and methyl formate formation.

Copper and zinc mixed oxides system having the formula 0.25 CuO/ZnO was prepared by coprecipitation method followed by calcination at 400 and 800 ^oC. This system was doped with MgO (0.75- 3 mol %). The techniques employed were XRD, EDX, N₂-adsorption at -196 ^oC, H₂O₂ decomposition at 20-40 ^oC and conversion of 2-propanol at 100-275 ^oC. The obtained results revealed that the crystallite sizes and surface concentrations of the phases in nanosized CuO-ZnO oxide system were influenced by calcination temperature and MgO-doping.  Formation of MgO-CuO solid solution enhanced the splitting of CuO crystallites. Doping the investigated system calcined at 400°C with 1.5 mol % MgO increased its S_BET (72%). The conversion of iso-propanol is improved by MgO treatment. The investigated solids behaved mainly as dehydrogenation catalysts yielding acetone.

The impregnation method was successfully used to prepare FeMgO and transition metal (Cu²⁺,   Cr³⁺) -doped FeMgO nanomaterials calcined at 500 and 700 ^oC. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopic (EDS), specific surface areas (S_BET) and catalytic conversion of 2-propanol at 225-400 ^oC. The results showed presence of MgO spherical nanoparticles as aggregates of uniform trigonal shapes in the catalyst calcined at 500 ^oC. Doping with Cu²⁺ ions modified the morphology to much dispersed spherical iron oxide nanoparticles while doping with Cr³⁺ species increased the agglomeration of the obtained nanoparticles. Doping FeMgO  nanomaterials with Cu²⁺ ions brought about a measurable increase in its S_BET, opposite result was found in case of doping with Cr³⁺ ions. Pure and Cu²⁺-doped nanomaterials act as active dehydrogenation catalysts yielding acetone. CuFeMgO system was highly selective to methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). CrFeMgO system was highly selective to propene. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the investigated catalysts depend on both of calcination temperature, reaction temperature, and the nature dopant.

During the last decade continuous microflow processes have received an increasing amount of attention to facilitate photoredox catalyzed reactions. Indeed, under continuous flow conditions, more sustainable, safer and easier scalable processes could be developed with respect to conventional batch procedures. In such reactors, improved irradiation of the reaction medium impacts the photoredox catalyzed process. The generation of carbon-centered radicals via oxidation of alkyl-, allyl-, and benzylborates by photoredox catalysis under UV irradiation was significantly faster in continuous flow microreactors. The generated radicals smoothly react with TEMPO and electron-deficient alkenes to afford coupling products.

In the category of microorganism, fungi are considered as the special class of microbes responsible for opportunistic pathogenic infections in humans species. Due to the side effects of commercially available  antifungal drugs  and the emergence of new drug resistant fungal species in the past few years  has forced the researchers to search for  novel and efficient antifungal drug molecules. The 1,3,4-oxadiazoles scaffold is associated with diverse biological activities. The multipurpose use of the Mannich bases in pharmaceutical chemistry provoked us to prepare a new series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole Mannich bases derivatives, as antifungal agents.

Herein we report Molecular sieves and Ultrasound assisted synthesis of novel series of Mannich bases of the 5-substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thiones  by amino methylation with paraformaldehyde and substituted primary / secondary amines and their  evaluation for antifungal activity .The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were determined by IR, NMR and Mass spectral study. The synthesized compounds exhibited interesting moderate to excellent antifungal activity against Candida albicans (NCIM 3557),Candida albicans(NCIM3471), Candida glabrata(NCIM3237), Cryptococcus neoformans (NCIM 3542),Cryptococcus neoformans(NCIM 3378),Aspergillus fumigates(NCIM 902), Aspergillus niger( NCIM 628) using  Flucanazole as a standard reference drug. The synthesised compounds 6d, 6f ,6g, 6h and 6j exhibited promising antifungal activity as fungi static agents.

In present work we would like to propose a mechanism of photooxidation of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine with nitromethane in the triplet state. The point of interest in this reaction is reactivity of nitromethane, which varies in different excited states. We determined some energetic properties using MCSCF and DFT methods with 6-311G(d) basis set for all atoms. The interaction between nitromethane and 1,1-dimethylhydrazine in the triplet state proceeds very quick (the activation energy is 3.5 kcal·mol^-1) due to electrons are localized at oxygen atoms. Products of this reaction are: N-metylmethaneimine, molecular hydrogen and nitrogen and dimethylamine.

Asymmetric intramolecular aza-Michael reactions catalyzed by cinchoninium phase-transfer organocatalysts are used for the synthesis of optically active isoindolinones. Selected oligomeric cinchoninium salts proved to be efficient and selective catalysts for the intramolecular addition of alkenylated benzamide substrates. The resulting compounds are useful intermediates for the synthesis and development of benzodiazepine-receptor agonists.

A novel class of thiourea-phosphine was prepared from L-Proline as a chiral renewable resource. The original structure of the chiral framework offers an interesting potential to the construction of bifunctional organocatalysts for asymmetric transformations.