Analysis of soils and sediments for organic pollutants

20 samples of soil or sediment (7 of which were predominantly sand) from various locations were received for analysis of their content of organic pollutants. These analyses were performed using a capillary column gas chromatograph equipped with an electron impact (E.I.) mass spectrometer as detector and using computerised data storage. In addition to the target compounds, the full scan data were examined to determine the composition of natural organic products and a series of diagnostic fragment ions was used to search for additional anthropogenic products. Organic-rich environmental samples are notoriously difficult to analyse for pollutant organics owing to the presence of high concentrations of many natural organic compounds. A single procedure for extraction and clean-up was adopted. It was designed for chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and other pesticides containing acidic functional groups and was based on published methods for the determination of organic pollutants in soils and sediments. 4 soils and 2 sands showed levels of one or two groups of PCBs slightly in excess of the detection limit, one sample showed a similar level of 2,4-D and 3 samples contained dieldrin at or just above the detection limit.

Nanocomposites de Poliuretanos Elastoméricos y Nanotubos de Carbono Multipared

218p. -- Tesis con mención "Doctor europeus" realizada en el periodo de Octubre 2005-Mayo 2010, en el Grupo "Materiales+Tecnologías" (GMT).

Complexity and Uniqueness of the Aromatic Profile of Smoked and Unsmoked Herreno Cheese

In this work, the volatile fraction of unsmoked and smoked Herreno cheese, a type of soft cheese from the Canary Islands, has been characterized for the first time. In order to evaluate if the position in the smokehouse could influence the volatile profile of the smoked variety, cheeses smoked at two different heights were studied. The volatile components were extracted by Solid Phase Microextraction using a divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber, followed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. In total, 228 components were detected. The most numerous groups of components in the unsmoked Herreno cheese were hydrocarbons, followed by terpenes and sesquiterpenes, whereas acids and ketones were the most abundant. It is worth noticing the high number of aldehydes and ketones, and the low number of alcohols and esters in this cheese in relation to others, as well as the presence of some specific unsaturated hydrocarbons, terpenes, sesquiterpenes and nitrogenated derivatives. The smoking process enriches the volatile profile of Herreno cheese with ketones and diketones, methyl esters, aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, hydrocarbons, terpenes, nitrogenated compounds, and especially with ethers and phenolic derivatives. Among these, methylindanones or certain terpenes like a-terpinolene, have not been detected previously in other types of smoked cheese. Lastly, the results obtained suggest a slightly higher smoking degree in the cheeses smoked at a greater height.

Composição, origem e distribuição de hidrocarbonetos em sedimentos marinhos nas principais regiões portuárias da costa sudeste brasileira

Regiões onde existem atividades portuárias estão mais susceptíveis à contaminação por hidrocarbonetos devido ao trânsito de embarcações e as operações de carga/descarga e, consequentemente, estão mais vulneráveis a sofrer impactos ambientais. Este trabalho avaliou a composição, distribuição e origem de hidrocarbonetos em oito regiões portuárias da costa sudeste brasileira: Santos-SP, São Sebastião-SP, Angra dos Reis-RJ, Itaguaí-RJ, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Arraial do Cabo-RJ, Macaé-RJ e Vitória-ES. Foram coletadas amostras de sedimentos marinhos superficiais (02 cm) em duas campanhas (2009 e 2010). Para a análise dos hidrocarbonetos alifáticos e dos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) foram utilizadas cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de ionização de chama e cromatografia em fase gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas, respectivamente. As concentrações médias e os desvios-padrão do Total de nalcanos (μg g-1), Total de Alifáticos (μg g-1), HPAs Totais (ng g-1) e 16 HPAs prioritários (ng g-1) encontrados foram 6,55 4,52, 123,16 86,12, 1470,24 958,41 e 653,93 482,81 na região do porto de Santos-SP; 2,69 1,16, 35,29 15,22, 756,25 350,28 e 142,35 142,35 na região do porto de São Sebastião-SP; 3,11 2,34, 56,99 78,39, 777,62 821,32 e 82,33 84,62 na região do porto de Angra dos Reis-RJ; 5,58 3,28, 26,55 12,19, 1221,15 1070,87 e 92,28 93,14 na região do porto de Itaguaí-RJ; 5,09 2,03, 179,22 108,16, 3547,27 3081,18 e 1879,05 1792,69 na região do porto do Rio de Janeiro; 1,63 2,15, 51,54 39,50, 366,26 222,89 e 194,83 141,65 na região do porto de Arraial do Cabo-RJ; 3,92 2,69, 50,42 81,30, 643,97 637,61 e 182,46 265,87 na região do porto de Macaé-RJ; e 4,78 4,05, 45,31 32,84, 868,78 874,56 e 258,84 142,89 na região do porto de Vitória-ES, respectivamente. O nível de contaminação por hidrocarbonetos nas regiões estudadas variou de baixo a muito alto, mostrando que estes níveis não são diretamente compatíveis com o tamanho e o desenvolvimento urbano em torno de cada porto. Para a avaliação das fontes de contaminação foram usadas razões diagnósticas selecionadas da literatura. A mistura de fontes (pirolítica e petrogênica) foi considerada predominante na maioria das áreas, indicando a influência das atividades dos portos e dos aportes de entradas de contaminação por vias urbanas, industriais e atmosféricas.

Structure-flexoelastic properties of bimesogenic liquid crystals.

In this paper, we report on the flexoelastic and viscoelastic ratios for a number of bimesogens compounds with the same generic structure. Values are obtained indirectly by measuring the flexoelectro-optic response in the chiral nematic phase. By varying the molecular structure we alter the bend angle, transverse dipole moment, and length of the molecule. First, to examine the influence of the bend angle we use a homologous series whereby the only alteration in the molecular structure is the number of methylene units in the aliphatic spacer, n . Results show that the flexoelastic ratio, e/K , and the effective flexoelectric coefficient, e , both exhibit an odd-even effect with values for n=odd being greater than that for n=even . This is understood in terms of an increase in the bend angle of the molecule and an increase in the transverse dipole moment. Second, in order to investigate the impact of the dipole moment, we have altered the mesogenic units so as to vary the longitudinal dipole moment and used different linkages in the aliphatic spacer in an attempt to alter the transverse dipole moment. Qualitatively, the results demonstrate that the odd-spaced bimesogen with larger transverse dipole moments exhibit larger flexoelastic ratios.

Protocols for conducting dolphin capture-release health assessment studies

Marine mammals, such as dolphins, can serve as key indicator species in coastal areas by reflecting the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors. As such they are often considered sentinels of environmental and ecosystem health (Bossart 2006; Wells et al. 2004; Fair and Becker 2000). The bottlenose dolphin is an apex predator and a key component of many estuarine environments in the southeastern United States (Woodward-Clyde Consultants 1994; SCDNR 2005). Health assessments of dolphins are especially critical in areas where populations are depleted, show signs of epidemic disease and/or high mortality and/or where habitat is being altered or impacted by human activities. Recent assessments of environmental conditions in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (IRL) and the estuarine waters surrounding Charleston, South Carolina (CHS) highlight the need for studies of the health of local bottlenose dolphins. While the condition of southeastern estuaries was rated as fair in the National Coastal Condition Report (U.S. EPA 2001), it was noted that the IRL was characterized by poorer than expected benthic communities, significant sediment toxicity and increased nutrient concentrations. Similarly, portions of the CHS estuary have sediment concentrations of aliphatic aromatic hydrocarbons, select inorganic metals, and some persistent pesticides far in excess of reported bioeffect levels (Hyland et al. 1998). Long-term trends in water quality monitoring and recent scientific research suggest that waste load assimilation, non-point source runoff impacts, contaminated sediments, and toxic pollutants are key issues in the CHS estuary system. Several ‘hot spots’ with high levels of heavy metals and organic compounds have been identified (Van Dolah et al. 2004). High concentrations of anthropogenic trace metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) and pesticides have been found in the sediments of Charleston Harbor, as well as the Ashley and Cooper Rivers (Long et al. 1998). Two superfund sites are located within the CHS estuary and the key contaminants of concern associated with these sites are: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), lead, chromium, copper, arsenic, zinc and dioxin. Concerns related to the overall health of IRL dolphins and dermatologic disease observed in many dolphins in the area (Bossart et al. 2003) initiated an investigation of potential factors which may have impacted dolphin health. From May-August 2001, 35 bottlenose dolphins died in the IRL during an unusual mortality event (MMC 2003). Many of these dolphins were diagnosed with a variety of skin lesions including proliferative ulcerative dermatitis due to protozoa and fungi, dolphin pox and a vesicular dermatopathy of unknown etiology (Bossart et al. 2003). Multiple species from fish to dolphins in the IRL system have exhibited skin lesions of various known and unknown etiologies (Kane et al. 2000; Bossart et al. 2003; Reif et al. 2006). On-going photo-identification (photo-ID) studies have documented skin diseases in IRL dolphins (Mazzoil et al. 2005). In addition, up to 70% of green sea turtles in the IRL exhibit fibropapillomas, with the highest rates of occurrence being seen in turtles from the southern IRL (Hirama 2001).

Humic acids in sediments of North-Central Arabian Sea, west coast of India

Sediment samples (28) collected during the ORV Sagar Kanya cruise-29, were analysed for humic acid (HA) concentration from the North-Central Arabian Sea. Generally oceanic samples had more HA concentration than the continental shelf (< 200 m depth) samples. The photo-acoustic infrared spectra of shelf sediment HA indicated the presence of more C-H saturated aliphatic chains, while oceanic HA had few peaks for the above groups. Both the IR spectra indicated the absence of aromatic C = C, carbonyl, ketonic groups. Clayey-silt sediment generally had higher concentration of HA compared to sandy-silt type of sediment.

Effects of natural gas pipeline condensate and crude oil spills, and comments on remediation, with emphasis on south Louisiana salt marshes: a review

This report reviews some of the natural ecological processes at work within a salt marsh as they relate to a spill of natural gas condensate - a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, n-hexane, benzene, toluene, and xylene. It also reviews the environmental impacts of some of the components of natural gas condensate as well as related compounds (crude oil, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarons - PAHs, linear alkyl-benzenes - LABs, etc.) on salt marsh ecosystems in southern Louisiana and elsewhere in the world. The behavior and persistence of these compounds once they have entered the environment is also considered.

Water solubility enhancement of phthalates by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and beta-cyclodextrin

Water solubility enhancements of six phthalates (five aliphatic phthalates and one phenyl phthalate) by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) were studied at 25 degreesC. The solubilities of these plithalates are remarkably enhanced by CTAB solutions above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Only marginal enhancement of phthalate solubility was observed in solutions containing CTAB below its cmc and beta-CD at low concentrations (less than 5 mM). The solubility enhancements of the plithalates are proportional to the added amount of CTAB and beta-CD. Partition coefficients of the plithalates between monomeric CTAB surfactant and water (K-MN) and between CTAB micelle and water K-MC) were estimated from the experimental data. The mechanisms of solubility enhancements by CTAB and beta-CD were discussed. A log-linear equation was proposed and evaluated for the solubilization by CTAB below cmc, while the previously proposed linear partitioning model was questioned. The structures of the complexes formed between plithalates and beta-CD were proposed, and the formation constants were estimated. The values of log K-MC, log K-MN, and log Kbeta-CD of the plithalates were found to correlate linearly with the log K-OW of plithalates, with the exception of the solid phenyl phthalate.

一价铜催化Ullmann 反应合成联苯醚和芳基烷基醚的研究

联苯醚和芳基烷基醚类化合物是天然产物和聚合物材料中的重要的片段结构，研究其合成具有重要意义。近年来，过渡金属催化形成碳-氧键已成为制备联苯醚和芳基烷基醚类化合物的重要方法。钯体系虽然成功，但由于其属于贵金属，价格昂贵，而且反应所必须的有机膦配体，毒性较大，对环境危害较大，所以其应用受到了限制。 本论文通过利用空气稳定的Cu(bpy)2BF4 配合物，使得苯酚和烷基醇有效地进行偶合得到联苯醚产物。该方法可以在不使用昂贵弱碱Cs2CO3 的情况下，取得很好的产率，并且在较低的催化剂载入量的情况下，可以很好地适应各种官能团取代的底物。 本论文通过配体的扫描筛选，使得溴代苯和烷基醇的偶合反应得到了发展。更重要的是，使用该体系时分子间和分子内的碳-氧键都可以形成。通过该方法合成了一系列苯并环醚类化合物，这也是一价铜体系催化制备该类化合物的首次报道。

钙催化剂在生物降解脂肪族聚酯合成中的应用

生物降解高分子在环境保护以及组织工程、药物控制释放、骨固定等医药领域有着广泛的应用。特别是以聚丙交酷（PLA）、聚乙交酯（PGA）、聚。一己内酯（PCL）以及它们的共聚物为代表的化学合成生物降解高分子材料，由于具有优异的性能、可以大规模生产、成本较低等优点，得到了人们广泛的关注。作为生物医用材料，对无毒性的要求很严。而现在所用的脂肪族聚酯大都是用金属盐、金属有机化合物等作为催化剂合成出来的，不可避免残留一些催化剂所用的金属元素。研究表明，即使是已经获得美国FDA批准的，现在用得最普遍的辛酸亚锡所残留的锡也可能引起一些细胞毒性。因此对毒性小且活性高的催化剂的研究是非常有意义。钙离子对人体是没有毒性的，因而这几年已引起了人们的兴趣，但文献中报道的钙催化剂，如CaHZ等，催化活性尚不够让人满意。本文对高效的钙催化剂在生物降解脂肪族聚酯中的应用进行详细的研究，得到了一些有意义的结论：1、用EO和PO处理的有机氨钙催化剂（Ca／EO和Ca／PO）聚合了CL和LLA。发现CL聚合速度很快，M／I=650时70℃反应3h后收率已达到90％以上，LLA的聚合速度比CL要慢，M／I=650、70℃反应10h后收率才达到90％以上。以上聚合反应有明显的活性聚合的特点：反应初期Mv和收率和聚合时间呈线性关系；Mv在一定范围内和M／I成线性关系。2、用红外、原子吸收和核磁共振等分析手段阐明了有机氨钙催化剂的结构：结构，而且这两个催化剂的活性中心分别是均是Ca-O键。CL和LLA的开环聚合可能是以配位一插入的机理进行的。3、用C。／PO催化剂聚合LLA时有一定程度的消旋化反应发生，曳NMR研究表明相当于88％的LLA和12％外消旋以共聚。提高反应温度到110℃时比旋光度只有-125℃说明消旋化反应比较严重。4、用C。／PO催化剂先聚合CL再聚合LLA的方法合成了PCL-PLA两嵌段共聚物，并用泊NMR，13C NMR，GPC，DSC，WAXD进行了表征。其绝对和相对分子量可以通过M／I和投料比进行控制。定量碳谱图表明有较严重的消旋化反应发生，相当于84％的LLA和16％外消旋LA共聚。DSC和似XD分析表明，PLA段的分子量小时PLA段不结晶，当PLA段的分子量达到一定程度（3000以上）后PCL一PLA嵌段共聚物有相分离现象发生。5、以各种分子量的PEG为引发剂用氨钙催化剂和开环聚合CL，合成了一系列PCL-PEG-PCL三嵌段共聚物，并用妞NMR，laCNMR，GPC，DSC，做XD进行了表征。聚合物的结构可以通过改变PEG的分子量和CL／PEG投料比来调整。从DSC和wAXD分析可以得出以下几个结论：PCL-PEG-PCL嵌段共聚物有相分离现象发生，形成PCL和PEG微相区域；PEG段的结晶行为受先结晶的PCL段的影响；PCL段的分子量越大PEG段的Tc和Tm越低，其结晶度越低。6、以各种分子量的PEG为引发剂用氨钙催化剂80℃下开环聚合LLA24小时，合成了一系列PLA-PEG-PLA三嵌段共聚物，和别的催化剂比起来温度低得多，反应时间也短得多。可以通过改变PEG的分子量和CL／PEG投料比来调整聚合物的结构。DSC和WAXD分析表明，PLA-PEG-PLA三嵌段共聚物中PEG段的结晶能力受PLA段的影响非常大：当PEG段的分子量很小时（如1000）很难结晶；即使当PEG段的分子量较大时如果PLA段的分子量达到一定程度时PEG段同样也不结晶；而且PLA段的结晶行为受本身分子量的影响比较大，其Tc和伽随着分子量增加有较大的提高。7、合成了MPEG-PLA两嵌段共聚物，发现合成PLA段的分子量大的聚合物比较困难，MPEG-PCL两嵌段共聚物很难合成。DsC和WAXD分析表明，PLA段对MPEG段结晶有一定程度的影响，但是比三嵌段共聚物的影响要小得多。8、用荧光光谱和IHNMR研究了上面合成出的几个样品的胶束行为。发现cmc由大到小的顺序为MPEG（5000）-PLA（5100），PLA（3050）-PEG（4600）-PLA（3050），PCL（2270）-PEG（5000）-PCL（2270），PCL（4600）-PEG（4600）-PCL（4600）。PCL-PEG-PCL三嵌段共聚物在水中形成了具有核一壳结构的胶束。9、以苯甲醇处理的有机氨钙催化剂开环聚合了CL。泊NMR谱图表明得到的聚合物具有苯端基。这一结果为用硝苯基乙醇代替苯甲醇制备催化剂，然后开环聚合CL或LA得到硝基苯端基的脂肪族聚酯打下了实验基础。

带侧羧基的脂肪族生物降解聚合物

生物降解脂肪族聚酷如聚乙交醋（PGA）、聚丙交醋（PLA）、聚。一己内酷（PCL）以及它们的共聚物由于具有良好的生物相容性和生物降解性而在外科手术缝合线、组织工程、药物控制释放、骨固定等领域得到很多应用。但是，它们自身缺乏功能基团，亲水性差，因而在应用上受到很大限制。因此，含有功能侧基生物降解聚合物的制备在过去十年中受到大家极大的关注。功能基团的引入对于调节聚合物的性能如：亲水性、生物降解性和药物的渗透性等非常重要。需要特别指出的是，功能基团的引入为把药物和其它生物活性物质与聚合物结合进而扩大聚合物的应用范围提供了机会。本文合成了几个功能化单体并且通过共聚的方法制备了几种新型的两亲性功能化聚合物。这些改性后的聚合物可以通过化学键接上药物或者其它生物活性物质，有望作为靶向控释药物载体和智能化的组织工程支架材料。具体的研究结果如下：1．以2，2-二羟甲基丙酸节酷为功能单体，通过两步法成功合成了一系列新的带功能基团的聚酷酞胺，并通过1H NMR和FTIR对聚合物的化学结构进行了表征，DSC结果表明所合成的聚酯酰胺的Tm和Tg分别在150℃和0℃左右；2．合成了功能化的环状单体（35）-3-［（苄氧羰基）乙基」吗啉-2，5-二酮（BEMD），并以PEG作为引发剂，Sn（Oct）2作为催化剂，通过L一LA和BEMD的开环共聚合得到共聚物PLGBG-PEG-PLGBG；随后用10％铭碳催化氢化得到带有侧梭基的两亲性嵌段共聚物PLGG-PEG-PLGG和其它两亲性嵌段共聚物一样，PLGG-PEG-PLGG在水溶液中能够自组装成胶束，用花作为荧光探针，通过荧光光谱法研究了其形成胶束的过程并测定了它们的临界胶束浓度，发现在总的分子量大致相当的情况下，PLGG-PEG4600-PLGG比PLGG-PEG2000-PLGG有较高的临界胶束浓度；场发射电子显微镜表征结果显示胶束具有均一的球形特征，动态光散射结果表明该胶束具有较窄的单峰粒径分布；蛋白酶K溶液中的降解研究表明带有侧梭基的PLGG-PEG-PLGG比PLA具有更快的降解速率；人胚关节软骨细胞培养结果表明所合成的聚合物PLGG-PEG-PLGG显示出较好的细胞相容性。3．在缩合剂DCC和催化剂DMAP存在下，带有侧梭基的两亲性嵌段共聚物PLGOPEG-PLGG和紫杉醇发生缩合反应得到两亲性嵌段共聚物一紫杉醇键合药P（LGG-paclitaxel）-PEG-P（LGG-paclitaxel）。它具有两亲性嵌段共聚物的性质，能够自组装成胶束，场发射电子显微镜表征结果表明胶束具有均一的球形特征，动态光散射结果表明该胶束具有较窄的粒径分布，平均粒径为119.4nm。该胶束的药物释放具有pH敏感性，酸性环境中比生理环境中（pH＝7.4）具有较快的释放速率。P（LGG-Paclitaxel）-PEG-P（LGG-paclitaxel）胶束的壳层由良好亲水性的PEG组成，避免了胶束纳米粒子在血液循环中被人体网状内皮系统吞噬，保证有充足的时间通过EPR效应在肿瘤部位聚集，进而通过细胞内吞进入细胞并在细胞内的酸性环境中释放药物，进一步的研究工作有待深入进行。4．合成了功能化的环状碳酸酷单体MBC，以MPEG作为引发剂，ZnEt2作为催化剂，LLA和MBC发生开环共聚合，以较高的转化率，得到高分子量共聚物MPEG-b-P（LA-co-MBC）。13C NMR表明LLA和确c发生了无规共聚合；DSC征结果表明MPEG-b-P（LA-co-MBC）为无定型态聚合物，Tg在20-50℃之间，随着MBc含量的增加而降低；MPEG-b-P（LA-co-MBC）脱保护后得到带侧梭基的MPEG-b-P（LA-co-MCC），它的Tg明显提高，可能是聚合物侧梭基之间强的氢键作用力以及梭基对水解反应的催化作用造成的；脱保护前后的共聚物在蛋白酶K溶液中的降解研究表明，MPEG-b-P（LA-co-MCC）的降解速率大于MPEG-b-P（LA-co-MBC）的降解速率；人胚关节软骨细胞培养结果表明，所合成的MPEG-b-P（LA-co-MCC）是一种具有良好生物相容性的新型生物降解材料。5．利用本实验室开发的一种新型有机氨锯引发剂Sr-PO在温和的条件下通过顺序加料聚合的方法合成了新的嵌段共聚物PCL-b-PMBC。WAXD结果表明 PCL-b-PMBc中PCL的衍射峰均可观察到，只是衍射峰的强度随着PMBC含量的增加而减弱。DSC结果表明PCL-b-PMBC中PCL的Tm在57到52℃之间，并且随着PMBC含量的增加而降低。PCL-b-PMBC的玻璃化转变在-41.6 到-23.3℃之间，随着PMBC含量的增加而增加，这表明PMBC和PCL之间 有着强的相互作用，尽管两段不是完全相容的。PCL-b-PMBC的侧节醋在10％把碳催化下氢化还原为带侧梭基的PCL-b-PMCC后，衍射峰和结晶焙大大降低，说明侧梭基的存在使得分子链间有着强的氢键相互作用而不利于结晶。由以上分析可知，PCL-b-PMCC侧梭基的存在将会使共聚物的降解速度大大提高，而且因为功能梭基的存在可以使共聚物通过化学键连接上药物、短肤、寡糖或者其它生物活性物质，从而扩大该聚合物在生物医学领域的应用范围。

路易斯碱催化还原胺化反应研究

胺及其衍生物是很多重要生物活性分子的结构单元，是合成天然产物和手性药物的重要中间体。 直接还原胺化由于其合成步骤简单而成为制备二级胺和三级胺的简便方法。为了发展一种较为简便的直接还原胺化反应，我们把研究的重点放在开发一种简便实用的有机小分子催化方法上。由文献调研可知，现已报道的直接还原胺化方法大多是催化醛或酮与一级胺或者脂肪二级胺的直接还原胺化，而醛或酮与芳香二级胺的直接还原胺化却尚无报道。在本文中，我们发现用简单的四甲基乙二胺(TEMED)在室温下以二氯甲烷为溶剂即可催化三氯氢硅对酮和芳香二级胺之间的直接还原胺化反应，并取得了高达92%的收率。该反应条件温和，底物普适性广，各种类型的酮均可以与芳香二级胺进行直接还原胺化，并且得到比较满意的收率。 同时，我们从手性Sulfoximine出发，设计和合成了一系列的Sulfoximine类新衍生物，并将其应用于间接还原胺化反应中。遗憾的是我们并没有得到预期的不对称催化效果。 Amines and their derivatives are basic structural motifs in natural products and pharmaceuticals and highly versatile building blocks for various organic substrates. Direct reductive amination (DRA) is a convenient method for the preparation of secondary and tertiary amines owing to its operational simplicity. In an effort to develop a simple and convenient procedure for direct reductive amination reaction, we focused our study on search for a mild and efficient organocatalytic system. In the literature, there are many reports concerning DRA between aldehydes or ketones and either primary amines or secondary aliphatic amines. But there are no reports concerning DRA between aldehydes or ketones and secondary aromatic amines. In this study, we have developed a highly practical method for the synthesis of tertiary amines by the direct reductive amination of ketones and secondary aromatic amines with tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) as the catalyst using HSiCl3 as the reducing agent in dichloromethane (affording up to 92% yield). This method can be carried out under mild conditions and is compatible with many functional groups. A variety of ketones were efficiently aminated with secondary aromatic amines to afford the corresponding amines in good to excellent yields. Starting from chiral sulfoximine, we designed and synthesized a series of new sulfoximine derivatives and tested their efficiencies as asymmetric organocatalysts for the reduction of imines, which, unfortunately, only exhibited low catalytic activity and enantioselectivity.