TABLE OF CONTENTS

Four new curcuminoid analogues (HL) and their copper complexes [CuL₂] were synthesized and characterized by UV, IR, ¹H NMR, ESR and mass spectral data. The compounds were investigated for their possible cytotoxic and antitumour activities. The copper complex of 1a with hydroxyl group in the phenyl ring was found to be most active towards L929cells (1 mg/ml produced 43.3 ± 1.3% cell death).

The Ce(III) and Nd(III) complexes of 5-aminoorotic acid were synthesized and determined by means of spectral data (IR, Raman, NMR) and elemental analysis. The ligand and the complexes were tested for the cytotoxic activities on the chronic myeloid leukemia-derived-562, and the non-Hodgkin lymphoma derived DOHH-2, cell lines. The tested compounds exerted a considerable activity upon the evaluated cell lines.

New amphiphilic sorbents having the structure illustrated, h values being in the range 8.6-76.8% have been synthesized by the crosslinking of the chloromethyl side-functionalized polysiloxanes with piperazine. Correlations between structure and morphology of the polymeric matrix, as well as their swelling capacity in solvents having different polarities, have been discussed.

A photocatalytic membrane was success-fully prepared using an efficiently high surface area TiO₂ catalyst, dispersed into polyacrylonitrile matrix. The photocatalytic degradation of 4-NP increases with increasing percentage of TiO₂ loaded in the polyacrylonitrile membrane.

The ferrocenyl ligand L, 1,1-bis[1,5-methyl-4H-(1,3,4)-thiadiazolo(2,3-c)(1,2,4)triazin-4-one]ferrocene, was prepared from the reaction of 1,1-diacetylferrocene with 4-amino-2,3-dihydro-6-methyl-3-thioxo[1,2,4]triazin-5(4H)one. The ligand L forms 1:1 complexes with Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) in good yields. Studies of the biocidal activity of the ligand and its complexes carried out against standard strains of Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum, Fusarium moniliforme, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus indicate that the complexes are biologically more active than the free ligand.

Four new curcuminoid analogues (HL) and their copper complexes [CuL₂] were synthesized and characterized by UV, IR, ¹H NMR, ESR and mass spectral data. The compounds were investigated for their possible cytotoxic and antitumour activities. The copper complex of 1a with hydroxyl group in the phenyl ring was found to be most active towards L929cells (1 mg/ml produced 43.3 ± 1.3% cell death).

The novel binuclear complexes [Mn₂^{(III, III)}(BINOL)₃L₂]2H₂O, where, L = 2,2-bipyridine (Bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) and BINOL = 1,1-bi-2-naphthol were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility and various spectral methods. The catalytic activity of these complexes was studied for the epoxidation reaction of unfunctionalized olefins like styrene, 1-hexene, 1-octene and 1-decene. The products thus obtained were analyzed by GC. The epoxidation reactions were carried out, in the presence of catalyst with different oxidants, to study the effect of the nature of the oxidant on the reactions. The different oxidants used were the peroxide oxygen donor (e.g. TBHP and H₂O₂), mono oxygen donor (e.g. PhIO) and dioxygen donor (e.g. molecular O₂). TBHP was found to be the best oxidant for the epoxidation reaction. To study effect of nature of solvent on the epoxidation, the reactions were carried out in different media like a polar media (e.g. with CH₃OH as solvent), non polar media (e.g. with CH₂Cl₂ and C₆H₆ as solvents) and coordinating solvent (e.g. CH₃CN). The maximum epoxide formation is observed in CH₂Cl₂ media. The epoxidation reactions with optically active BINOL catalysts under optimum established conditions were carried out to examine the enantioselectivity of the catalysts. The complexes are however, found not to be enantioselective.

An AlSiNC precursor has been prepared via hydrosilylation between [Me(H)SiNH]₄ and [HAIN(allyl)]_m[HAIN(ethyl)]_n. Possible cross-linking reactions during pyrolysis of the precursor are dehydrocoupling between the AlH and NH groups (below 200 °C), hydrosilylation and polymerization of the CC bonds in the allyl groups (200-400 °C), and dehydrocoupling between the SiH and NH groups (above 400 °C). The residue pyrolyzed at 1700 °C consists of crystalline AIN, 2H-SiC, -SiC and -Si₃N₄ and amorphous carbon