Engineering and Characterization of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes for Nitrogen-Atom Transfer Reactions

The creation of novel enzyme activity is a great challenge to protein engineers, but nature has done so repeatedly throughout the process of natural selection. I begin by outlining the multitude of distinct reactions catalyzed by a single enzyme class, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. I discuss the ability of cytochrome P450 to generate reactive intermediates capable of diverse reactivity, suggesting this enzyme can also be used to generate novel reactive intermediates in the form of metal-carbenoid and nitrenoid species. I then show that cytochrome P450 from Bacillus megaterium (P450_BM3) and its isolated cofactor can catalyze metal-nitrenoid transfer in the form of intramolecular C–H bond amination. Mutations to the protein sequence can enhance the reactivity and selectivity of this transformation significantly beyond that of the free cofactor. Next, I demonstrate an intermolecular nitrene transfer reaction catalyzed by P450_BM3 in the form of sulfide imidation. Understanding that sulfur heteroatoms are strong nucleophiles, I show that increasing the sulfide nucleophilicity through substituents on the aryl sulfide ring can dramatically increase reaction productivity. To explore engineering nitrenoid transfer in P450BM3, active site mutagenesis is employed to tune the regioselectivity intramolecular C–H amination catalysts. The solution of the crystal structure of a highly selective variant demonstrates that hydrophobic residues in the active site strongly modulate reactivity and regioselectivity. Finally, I use a similar strategy to develop P450-based catalysts for intermolecular olefin aziridination, demonstrating that active site mutagenesis can greatly enhance this nitrene transfer reaction. The resulting variant can catalyze intermolecular aziridination with more than 1000 total turnovers and enantioselectivity of up to 99% ee.

Mechanism and applications of the photochemistry of Bis(η^5-cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclobutanes

The photochemically induced reductive elimination of cyclopropanes from bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclobutanes has been examined. Stereochemical labelling studies indicate that the cyclopropane is initially formed in a 6±1:1, ratio favoring retention of stereochemistry. The starting titanacyclobutane is isomerized during the course of the reaction. The isomerization of the starting material results from metal-carbon bond homolysis to yield a 1,4-biradical, which can either close to give the starting material or generate cyclopropane. The 1,4-biradical can be observed through a cyclopropyl carbinyl rearrangement employing 2-bis(η⁵- cyclopentadienyl)titana-5,5-dimethylbicyclo[2.1.0]pentane, to give the titanium alkylidene, 1-bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)titana-3,3-dimethyl-1,4- pentadiene, which can be observed directly by NMR at low temperature.

The oxidation of titanacyclobutanes by chemical and electrochemical methods also yields cyclopropanes. Reduction of the metal center does not yield cyclopropanes. Depending on the oxidant, stereochemically labelled titanacyclobutanes yield cyclopropanes that are between 7:1 and 100:1 retention:isomerization. The fragmentation reaction resembles the photochemically induced reductive elimination. Both result from formal oxidation of a metal-carbon bond, which then results in very rapid formation of cyclopropane.

The titanocene generated photochemically reacts with a variety of substrates even at low temperature. Titanocene can be generated in a glass at 77 K. The titanocene can be trapped in noncoordinating solvents in high yield with bulky internal acetylenes to give monoacetylene adducts of titanocene. Less bulky acetylenes give the titanacyclopentadienes. The titanocene can be trapped with olefins to give less stable adducts, which appear by NMR analysis to be intermediate in structure between a titanacyclopropane and an η² olefin adduct of titanocene. Reaction of titanocene with butadiene gives a stable product, which appears to be the s-trans butadiene adduct of titanocene. It does not isomerize on heating. Titanocene reacts with epoxides to give titanocene-µ-oxo polymer and olefin. Stereochemically labelled epoxides and episulfides yield isomerized olefin upon deoxygenation by titanocene. The observations are rationalized as a result of a 1,4-biradical formed by stepwise insertion of titanocene into a carbon-oxygen bond.

Synthesis, Oxidation and Photophysics of Perfluoroborated Tetrakis(pyrophosphito)diplatinate (II) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) Study of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction by Mn Catalysts

In the first part of this thesis (Chapters I and II), the synthesis, characterization, reactivity and photophysics of per(difluoroborated) tetrakis(pyrophosphito)diplatinate(II) (Pt(POPBF₂)) are discussed. Pt(POP-BF₂) was obtained by reaction of [Pt₂(POP)₄]^4- with neat boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BF₃·Et₂O). While Pt(POP-BF₂) and [Pt₂(POP)₄]^4- have similar structures and absorption spectra, they differ in significant ways. Firstly, as discussed in Chapter I, the former is less susceptible to oxidation, as evidenced by the reversibility of its oxidation by I2. Secondly, while the first excited triplet states (T₁) of both Pt(POP-BF₂) and [Pt₂(POP)₄]^4- exhibit long lifetimes (ca. 0.01 ms at room temperature) and substantial zero-field splitting (40 cm^-1), Pt(POP-BF₂) also has a remarkably long-lived (1.6 ns at room temperature) singlet excited state (S₁), indicating slow intersystem crossing (ISC). Fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield (QY) of Pt(POP-BF₂) were measured over a range of temperatures, providing insight into the slow ISC process. The remarkable spectroscopic and photophysical properties of Pt(POP-BF₂), both in solution and as a microcrystalline powder, form the theme of Chapter II.

In the second part of the thesis (Chapters III and IV), the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to CO by [(L)Mn(CO)₃]^- catalysts is investigated using density functional theory (DFT). As discussed in Chapter III, the turnover frequency (TOF)-limiting step is the dehydroxylation of [(bpy)Mn(CO)₃(CO₂H)]^0/- (bpy = bipyridine) by trifluoroethanol (TFEH) to form [(bpy)Mn(CO)₄]^+/0. Because the dehydroxylation of [(bpy)Mn(CO)₃(CO₂H)]^- is faster, maximum TOF (TOF_max) is achieved at potentials sufficient to completely reduce [(bpy)Mn(CO)₃(CO₂H)]⁰ to [(bpy)Mn(CO)₃(CO₂H)]^-. Substitution of bipyridine with bipyrimidine reduces the overpotential needed, but at the expense of TOF_max. In Chapter IV, the decoration of the bipyrimidine ligand with a pendant alcohol is discussed as a strategy to increase CO₂ reduction activity. Our calculations predict that the pendant alcohol acts in concert with an external TFEH molecule, the latter acidifying the former, resulting in a ~ 80,000-fold improvement in the rate of TOF-limiting dehydroxylation of [(L)Mn(CO)₃(CO₂H)]^-.

An interesting strategy for the co-upgrading of light olefins and alkanes into heavier alkanes is the subject of Appendix B. The proposed scheme involves dimerization of the light olefin, operating in tandem with transfer hydrogenation between the olefin dimer and the light alkane. The work presented therein involved a Ta olefin dimerization catalyst and a silica-supported Ir transfer hydrogenation catalyst. Olefin dimer was formed under reaction conditions; however, this did not undergo transfer hydrogenation with the light alkane. A significant challenge is that the Ta catalyst selectively produces highly branched dimers, which are unable to undergo transfer hydrogenation.

Copolimerização de 1,3-butadieno e alfa-olefinas com catalisadores à base de versatato de neodímio

Nesta Dissertação, foram realizadas reações de copolimerização de 1,3-butadieno com diferentes alfa-olefinas (1-hexeno, 1-octeno e 1-dodeceno) utilizando-se um sistema catalítico do tipo Ziegler-Natta ternário constituído por versatato de neodímio, hidreto de diisobutilalumínio e cloreto de t-butila. O sistema catalítico também foi avaliado em reações de homopolimerização com cada alfa-olefina. As condições reacionais, tanto da síntese do catalisador como das reações de polimerização, foram mantidas constantes. Foi estudada a influência de diferentes teores de cada alfa-olefina (1, 3, 5, 10, 20 e 30 % em relação ao 1,3-butadieno) sobre a conversão da polimerização, a microestrutura, a massa molar, as propriedades viscosimétricas e a estabilidade térmica dos polímeros obtidos. Foi avaliada, ainda, a influência do tamanho da cadeia da alfa-olefina sobre as características da polimerização. Os polímeros foram caracterizados por espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), cromatografia por exclusão de tamanho (SEC), viscosimetria capilar e termogravimetria (TG). A microestrutura dos polímeros, praticamente, não variou com a adição das alfa-olefinas. A massa molar numérica média (Mn) não sofreu alterações significativas, enquanto que a massa molar ponderal média (Mw) apresentou tendência ao aumento, quanto maior foi a incorporação de comonômero. A viscosidade intrínseca não apresentou uma tendência com a adição da alfa-olefina na reação, permanecendo na faixa de 2,015 a 3,557 dL/g. A estabilidade térmica do copolímero mostrou uma tendência a aumentar com a incorporação das alfa-olefinas

Part I. Coenzyme B12 as a hydroformylation-type catalyst. Part II. Mechanisms of hydrogen transfer in the methylmalonyl coenzyme a mutase reaction

Part I

The mechanism of the hydroformylation reaction was studied. Using cobalt deuterotetracarbonyl and 1-pentene as substrates, the first step in the reaction, addition of cobalt tetracarbonyl to an olefin, was shown to be reversible.

Part II

The role of coenzyme B₁₂ in the isomerization of methylmalonyl coenzyme A to succinyl coenzyme A by methylmalonyl coenzyme A mutase was studied. The reaction was allowed to proceed to partial completion using a mixture of methylmalonyl coenzyme A and 4, 4, 4-tri-²H-methylmalonyl coenzyme A as substrate. The deuterium distribution in the product, succinyl coenzyme A, was shown to best fit a model in which hydrogen is transferred from C-4 of methylmalonyl coenzyme A to C-5’ of the adenosyl moiety of coenzyme B₁₂ in the rate determining step. The three hydrogens at the 5’-adenosyl position of the coenzyme B₁₂ intermediate are then able to become enzymatically equivalent before hydrogen is transferred from the coenzyme B₁₂ intermediate to form succinyl coenzyme A.

Modular integration and on-chip sensing approaches for tunable fluid control polymer microdevices

228 p.

On-demand generation and removal of alginate biocompatible microvalves for flow control in microfluidics

[EN] This paper describes, for the first time, the use of alginate hydrogels as miniaturised microvalves within microfluidic devices. These biocompatible and biodegradable microvalves are generated in situ and on demand, allowing for microfluidic flow control. The microfluidic devices were fabricated using an origami inspired technique of folding several layers of cyclic olefin polymer followed by thermocompression bonding. The hydrogels can be dehydrated at mild temperatures, 37◦C, to slightly open the microvalve and chemically erased using an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) solution, to completely open the channel, ensuring the reusability of the whole device and removal of damaged or defective valves for subsequent regeneration.

Síntese e caracterização de filmes de nanopartículas de prata dispersas em poli(uretano-ureia) para separação de gases petroquímicos

A utilização de novos materiais aplicados aos processos de separação por membranas tem sido objeto de constante pesquisa acadêmica e tecnológica. Na permeação de gases petroquímicos, a modificação de estruturas poliméricas e o uso de membranas de transporte facilitado por adição de sais contendo metais ou nanopartículas destacam-se dentre as opções disponíveis. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar alterações químicas, estruturais e térmicas na matriz polimérica de poli(uretano-ureia) (PUU) provocadas pela adição de nanopartículas de prata (AgNps) e obter dados de pemeabilidade de gases petroquímicos (C2H4, C2H6, CO2 e N2) para avaliar a influência das AgNps no transporte desses gases através do filme polimérico. Alterações nos espectros de FTIR nas bandas de estiramento das ligações C-O-C e C=O (uretânica e ureica), e deslocamentos nos picos de difração, demonstram que houve interação entre as AgNps e o oxigênio éter do PUU. A interação com as AgNps diminuiu a estabilidade térmica dos domínios flexíveis do polímero, região onde são encontrados os grupos éteres. As imagens de TEM mostraram que houve baixa dispersão das Nps na matriz polimérica. A interação das AgNps com o grupo éter diminuiu a permeabilidade de todos os gases, porém a redução da permeabilidade do CO2 e do C2H4 foi muito mais significativa, mostrando a interferência das AgNps na sorção desses dois gases. O transporte facilitado de olefinas através dos filmes poliméricos não foi observado, em parte, causado pela baixa dispersão das AgNps na matriz polimérica. Apesar da interação, não foi possível responder se a superfície das Nps estava ativada para o transporte facilitado. Contudo, através dos resultados do trabalho foi possível propor um mecanismo de interação entre as AgNps e o PUU, e verificar como a presença das Nps pode alterar a interação da matriz polimérica com gases petroquímicos

Comparative toxicity of some detergents on an estuarine fish, Ambassis commersonii

The comparative toxicity was evaluated using four detergents, viz, linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), branched alkylbenzene sulfonate (BAS), sodium sulfonate (SS) and alfa-olefin sulfonate (AOS) on an estuarine fish, Ambassis commersonii, abundant in Kali estuarine system. Standard toxicity bioassay method was followed as per APHA (1980). AOS concentration in "Mega" soap was determined by the standard MBAS method described in APHA (1980). The results indicate that LAS was the most toxic detergent to fish relative to the other types and the other of toxicity was LAS > AOS > SS > BAS. A significant correlation was seen between observed and calculated mortalities for all the detergents. Some behavioural responses of fishes to all detergents were also observed.

新型吡咯亚胺钒烯烃聚合催化剂的研究

本文的主要工作和研究结果如下： 1. 合成与表征了一系列吡咯亚胺钒(III)配合物。在Et2AlCl的活化下，它们能高效催化乙烯聚合，活性可高达48.6 kg PE/mmolVhbar，得到高分子量且分子量分布单分散的线性聚乙烯。吡咯亚胺钒催化体系具有较好的高温耐受性，即使在70 C下聚乙烯催化活性仅比50 C时下降30-40%，并且仍然比VCl3.(THF)3活性高,且分子量分布在70 C仍能保持2.5以下，说明催化剂是单活性基的。与单配的水杨醛亚胺钒催化剂相比，吡咯亚胺钒配合物具有更高的乙烯催化活性，得到具有更窄分子量分布的聚乙烯，说明具有五元环N,N螯合的吡咯亚胺配体能更好的稳定钒活性中心，增加催化剂的活性。 2. 通过采用烷基铝预先对功能性基团进行保护的方法，我们用吡咯亚胺钒/Et2AlCl催化体系实现了乙烯与一系列功能性单体如十一烯醇、十一烯酸甲酯、烯丁醇的共聚合。与其他共聚单体相比，十一烯醇的插入率更高。在温和条件下十一烯醇的插入率可以轻松达到15.8%，活性仍能保持1.4 kg/molVh。通过控制Al/V、共聚单体浓度、聚合温度等反应参数，共聚反应的活性、功能性单体插入率、以及共聚物的分子量可在很大范围内进行调控。 3．合成并表征了一系列双吡咯亚胺钒(Ⅲ)配合物，并初步研究了其乙烯聚合行为。在Et2AlCl和三氯乙酸乙酯的存在下，这些配合物具有优异的催化乙烯聚合的能力，其聚合活性可达28.8 kg PE/mmolVh。双吡咯亚胺钒(Ⅲ)配合物比单配的吡咯亚胺钒(Ⅲ)配合物具有更好的温度耐受性，随着温度的升高，乙烯聚合活性升高，70C时活性与50C时相当或者更高。 关键词：钒催化剂，乙烯聚合，乙烯与功能性单体共聚合

非茂过渡金属烯烃聚合催化剂的研究

本论文合成、表征了一系列以镍、钦为中心离子的非茂过渡金属配合物，研究了这些配合物催化烯烃聚合的反应行为。主要工作和结论如下：1．合成、表征了一系列水杨醛亚胺中性镍配合物。在改性甲基铝氧烷（MMAO）的活化下，这些中性镍配合物可高效催化降冰片烯伽BE）的加成聚合，在优化条件下，催化活性高达7.1×107 gPNBE／molNi.h，聚降冰片烯的分子量高达1.5×106g／mol。2．合成、表征了三种新型p一二酮单亚胺中性镍配合物。X-射线分析表明，这些中性镍配合物的空间构型为扭曲的平面四边形。在Ni（CO）2的活化下，这些中性镍配合物可催化乙烯聚合生成以甲基支化为主的支化聚乙烯。在MMAO的活化下，这些中性镍配合物是降冰片烯加成聚合的高效催化剂，在优化条件下，催化活性高达4.5×107gPNBE／molNi.h，聚降冰片烯的分子量高达1.1×106g／mol。另外，这些中性镍配合物在MMAO的活化下，可催化甲基丙烯酸甲酷（MMA）聚合，生成富间规的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酷（rr一70％）。令人惊讶的是，这些中性镍配合物／MMAO体系还能催化乙烯和MMA的共聚合反应，生成乙烯与MMA的无规共聚物，极性单体的插入率可达16.7 mol％。3．合成、表征了一系列新型β-二酮单亚胺钦配合物。X-射线分析表明，这些钦配合物的立体构型为含有一个CZ轴的变形八面体。常温下，这些钦配合物在MMAO的活化下，可以高效催化乙烯活性聚合，催化活性可达1.3×l06g PE/molTi-h，生成无支链的线性聚乙烯。常温下，这些钦配合物瓜IMAO体系还能高效催化乙烯和降冰片烯的活性共聚合反应，催化活性高达3.2×106gpolymer／molTi'h，所得聚合物为乙烯与降冰片烯的交替共聚物（COC）。利用该催化体系的活性聚合性质，制备了包含半晶和无定形两种结构片段的新型A-B二嵌段共聚物（PE-b1ock-COC）。4．合成、表征了一系列新型β-二亚胺钦配合物。在MMAO的活化下，这些钦配合物可以常温催化乙烯聚合，在优化条件下，催化活性可达4.6×105 gPe／molTi-h，生成双峰分布的聚乙烯，重均分子量高达6.6×105g／mol。

过渡金属烯烃聚合催化剂的研究

本论文合成、表征了一系列以铁、钻、镍、铬为中心离子的非茂过渡金属配合物，研究了这些配合物催化烯烃聚合的反应行为。主要工作和结论如下：1，合成、表征了一系列苯环邻、对位含取代基的毗咤双亚胺铁、钻乙烯聚合催化剂。在改性甲基铝氧烷（MMAO）的活化下，这些配合物可高效催化乙烯聚合。在优化条件下，研究了邻、对位取代基电子效应对催化活性的影响。对于铁催化剂来说，不仅邻位取代基体积的大小对乙烯的插入及所得聚合物的分子量有微调作用，对位取代基的电子效应也对催化活性和聚合物分子量影响也很大。2．我们在单核毗咤双亚胺铁催化剂的基础上，设计合成了环状三核铁催化剂。这种环状三核铁催化剂的活性中心位于环状结构的内部。在有机铝的活化下，可高效催化乙烯聚合。新的催化剂展示出更长的催化剂寿命，与单核铁催化剂相比，性能上得到非常大的改善，不但能防止催化剂分子间的失活，还可有效抑制链转移反应的发生。3．在MMAO的活化下，吡啶双亚胺铁可催化（甲基）丙烯酸酷的聚合。催化MMA的聚合时，得到低分子量、窄分布的间规PMMA；催化BMA的聚合时，活性很高，得到无规、低分子量的PBMA；催化丙烯酸酷聚合时，不仅活性高，而且易得到高分子量的聚合物。催化活性、聚合物产率、立构规整度、分子量及分子量分布都会受到反应参数、催化剂结构及助催化剂的性质的影响。4．合成、表征了一系列带有不同取代基的份二亚胺镍催化剂。在MMAO的活化下，这些镍配合物可以高效催化乙烯聚合。不仅邻位取代基体积的大小对乙烯的插入及所得聚合物的分子量有微调作用，对位取代基的电子效应也对催化活性、聚合物分子量及其支化度也有很大的影响。5．合成、表征了一系列新型二苯硫醚双亚胺铬催化剂。在MMAO的活化下，这些铬配合物可常温催化乙烯聚合，生成具有宽分布的聚乙烯。配体结构以及聚合条件对催化剂的活性及所得聚合物的性质有很大影响。

Design of Topas photonic bandgap fiber with high birefringence and low confinement loss

A highly birefringent hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber based on Topas cyclic olefin copolymer is designed. The rhombic hollow-core with rounded corners is formed by omitting four central air holes of the cladding structure. The guided modes, birefringence and confinement loss of the fiber are investigated by using the full-vector finite element method. A high phase birefringence of the order of 10(-3), a group birefringence of the order of 10(-2) and confinement loss less than 0.1 dB/km are obtained at the central wavelength (1.55 mu m) range of the bandgap for fiber with seven rings of air holes in the cladding region. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.