Study of adsorption and preconcentration by using a new silica organomodified with [3-(2,2′-dipyridylamine)propyl] groups

In this work, a silica surface chemically modified with [3-(2,2′-dipyridylamine)propyl] groups, named [3-(2,2′- dipyridylamine)propyl]silica (Si-Pr-DPA) was prepared, characterized, and evaluated for its heavy metal adsorption characteristics from aqueous solution. To our knowledge, we are the first authors who have reported the present modification. The material was characterized using infrared spectroscopy, SEM, and NMR 29Si and 13C solid state. Batch and column experiments were conducted to investigate for heavy metal removal from dilute aqueous solution by sorption onto Si-Pr-DPA. From a number of studies the affinity of various metal ions for the Si-Pr-DPA sorbent was determined to follow the order Fe(III) > Cr(III) >> Cu(II) > Cd(II) > Pb(II) > Ni(II). Two standard reference materials were used for checking the accuracy and precision of the method. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of environmental samples. This ligand material has great advantage for adsorption of transition-metal ions from aqueous medium due to its high degree of organofunctionalization associated with the large adsorption capacity, reutilization possibility, and rapidity in reaching the equilibrium. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Synthesis and characterization of 3-[(thiourea)-propyl]-functionalized silica gel and its application in adsorption and catalysis

The objective of this research was the preparation of a silica gel functionalized successively with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (SG-PrCl) and thiourea (SG-Pr-THIO), and its application in adsorption and catalysis. The materials were characterized by 13C and 29Si NMR, FTIR, scanning electron micrographs (SEM), analysis of nitrogen and elemental analysis. Aiming at its application in adsorption, the [3-(thiourea)-propyl] silica gel (SG-Pr-THIO) was tested as an adsorbent for transition-metal ions using a batchwise process. The organofunctionalized surface showed the ability to adsorb the metal ions Cd(ii), Cu(ii), Ni(ii), Pb(ii) and Co(ii) from water, ethanol and acetone. The adsorption isotherms were fitted by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. The kinetics of adsorption of metals were performed using three models such as pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich. The Langmuir and pseudo-first order models were the most appropriate to describe the adsorption and kinetic data, respectively. With the purpose of application in catalysis, the SG-Pr-THIO was reacted with a Mo(ii) organometallic complex, forming the new material SG-Pr-THIO-Mo. Only a few works in the literature have reported this type of reaction, and none dealt with thiourea and Mo(ii) complexes. The new Mo-silica gel organometallic material was tested as catalyst in the epoxidation of cyclooctene and styrene. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.

Microwave Hydrothermal Synthesis and Photocatalytic Performance of ZnO and M:ZnO Nanostructures (M = V, Fe, Co)

ZnO and doped M:ZnO (M = V, Fe and Co) nanostructures were synthesized by microwave hydrothermal synthesis using a low temperature route without addition of any surfactant. The transition metal ions were successfully doped in small amount (3% mol) into ZnO structure. Analysis by X-ray diffraction reveals the formation of ZnO with the hexagonal (wurtzite-type) crystal structure for all the samples. The as-obtained samples showed a similar flower-like morphology except for Fe:ZnO samples, which presented a plate-like morphology. The photocatalytic performance for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation confirmed that the photoactivity of M:ZnO nanostructures decreased for all dopants in structure, according to their eletronegativity. Photoluminescence spectroscopy was employed to correlate M:ZnO structure with its photocatalytical properties. It was suggested that transition metal ions in ZnO lattice introduce defects that act as trapping or recombination centers for photogenerated electrons and holes, making it impossible for them reach the surface and promote the photocatalytical process.

Local Structure of Hydrogen-Bonded Liquids

Ordinary yet unique, water is the substance on which life is based. Water seems, at first sight, to be a very simple molecule, consisting of two hydrogen atoms attached to one oxygen. Its small size belies the complexity of its action and its numerous anomalies, central to a broad class of important phenomena, ranging from global current circulation, terrestrial water and CO2 cycles to corrosion and wetting. The explanation of this complex behavior comes from water's unique ability to form extensive three-dimensional networks of hydrogen-bonds, whose nature and structures, in spite of a great deal of efforts involving a plethora of experimental and theoretical techniques, still lacks a complete scientific understanding. This thesis is devoted to the study of the local structure of hydrogen-bonded liquids, with a particular emphasis on water, taking advantage of a combination of core-level spectroscopies and density functional theory spectra calculations. X-ray absorption, in particular, is found to be sensitive to the local hydrogen-bond environment, thus offering a very promising tool for spectroscopic identification of specific structural configurations in water, alcohols and aqueous solutions. More specifically, the characteristic spectroscopic signature of the broken hydrogen-bond at the hydrogen side is used to analyze the structure of bulk water, leading to the finding that most molecules are arranged in two hydrogen-bond configurations, in contrast to the picture provided by molecular dynamics simulations. At the liquid-vapor interface, an interplay of surface sensitive measurements and theoretical calculations enables us to distinguish a new interfacial species in equilibrium with the gas. In a similar approach the cluster form of the excess proton in highly concentrated acid solutions and the different coordination of methanol at the vacuum interface and in the bulk can also be clearly identified. Finally the ability of core-level spectroscopies, aided by sophisticated density functional theory calculations, to directly probe the valence electronic structure of a system is used to observe the nature of the interaction between water molecules and solvated ions in solution. Water around transition metal ions is found to interact with the solute via orbital mixing with the metal d-orbitals. The hydrogen-bond between water molecules is explained in terms of electrostatic interactions enhanced by charge rehybridization in which charge transfer between connecting molecules is shown to be fundamental.

A study of nitronyl and imino nitroxide radicals attached to heterocyclic cores

Stabile organische Radikale mit zusätzlichen Funktionalitäten wie Donor/Akzepotor Eigenschaften und Ligandeneignung für Übergangsmetallkomplexierung repräsentieren eine synthetische Herausforderung beim Streben nach der Konstruktion hochdimensionaler heterospin Strukturen. In diesem Hinblick wurden acht neue Hochspinbiradikal-Moleküle zusammen mit ihren Monoradikal- Pendants in dieser Arbeit hergestellt. Die Wahl der Liganden als organische Distanzhalter der Radikaleinheiten wurde auf stickstoffhaltige Heterozyklen (Pyridin und Pyrazol) gelenkt. Diese wurden weiterhin mit den stabilen Spinträgern Nitronylnitroxid- (NN) und Iminonitroxidfragmenten (IN) dekoriert. Ihre Synthese beinhaltete mehrstufige Umsetzungen (Brominierung, Iodierung, N- und Carbaldehyd Schutzgruppen, Stille-Kupplung, Grignard Reaktion, etc.) um die Mono- und Dicarbaldehyd-heterocyclenderivate als Schlüsselvorläufer der Radikaleinheiten zu gewinnen. Die Carbaldehyd-Zwischenstufen wurden Kondensationsreaktionen mit 2,3-Dimethyl-2,3-bis(hydroxylamino)-butan unterworfen (üblicherweise in Dioxan unter Argon für ~ 7 Tage), gefolgt von der Oxidation der Bis-hydroxylimidazolidin-Vorläufer unter Phasentransferkatalyse (NaIO4/H2O). Die Radikalmoleküle wurden mit verschiedenen spektroskopischen Methoden untersucht (FT/IR, UV/Vis/ EPR etc.) und ihre Einkristalle mit Röntgenstrahlbeugung gemessen. Die UV/VIS- Lösungsspektren zeigten in einem breiten Bereich verschiedener Lösungsmittelpolaritäten keine spezifische Wechselwirkung zwischen Lösungsmittel und Radikaleinheit, während ihre Stabilitäten in protischen Lösunsgmitteln wie MeOH stark abnahmen. Als Pulver konnten sie jedoch im Kühlschrank an der Luft für eine Jahr gelagert werden, ohne sich zu zersetzen. Die spektroskopischen Fingerabdrücke der Radikale wurden eindeutig identifiziert and erschienen stark abhängig vom Typ des pi-Ringsystems an das die Spinträger gekoppelt wurden. Basierend auf diesen Informationen wurde ein schnelles Protokoll etabliert, das eine direkte Zuordnung der Art der Radikale und ihrer Anzahl ermöglicht, sowie ihre Reinheit und Verunreinigungen zu definieren. In Lösung bestätigte die Analyse der EPR Spektren der Biradikale die starke Austauschwechselwirkung J zwischen den Radikalfragmenten über die Kopplungseinheiten (J >> an, an ist die Stickstoffhyperfeinkopplungskonstante). Dies wurde weiter unterstützt durch die Beobachtungen in gefrorener Lösung über die Nullfeldaufspaltungen und verbotenen Halbfeldübergänge (Δms = 2). Die Temperaturabhängigkeiten der Δms = 2 - EPR Signale wurden bis herunter auf 4 K gemessen und das exakte Vorzeichen und die Größe von J ermittelt. Diese Arbeit unterstreicht die Möglichkeit über synthetische Chemie eine Feineinstellung der „through bond“ Austauschwechselwirkung zwischen verwandten pi- und sigma- konjugierten Heterozyklen zu erreichen, in denen der S = 1 Grundzustand angenommen wird. Zusätzlich zeigten diese Resultate, dass die Übertragung der Spinpolarisation durch verschiedene Koppler sehr effektiv war.

Synthesis and aplication of linear and macrocyclic nitrogen ligand

Linear and macrocyclic nitrogen ligands have been found wide application during the years. Nitrogen has a much strong association with transition-metal ions because the electron pair is partucularly available for complexing purposes. We started our investigation with the synthesis of new chiral perazamacrocycles containing four pyrrole rings. This ligand was synthesized by the [2+2]condensation of (R,R)-diaminocyclohexane and dipirranedialdehydes and was tested, after a complexation with Cu(OAc)2, in Henry reactions. The best yields (96%) and higher ee’s (96%) were obtained when the meso-substituent on the dipyrrandialdehyde was a methyl group. The positive influence of the pyrrole-containing macrocyclic structure on the efficiency/enantioselectivity of the catalytic system was demonstrated by comparison with the Henry reactions performed using analogous ligands. Henry product was obtain in good yield but only 73% of ee, when the dialdehyde unit was replaced by a triheteroaromatic dialdehye (furan-pyrrol-furan). Another well known macrocyclic ligand is calix[4]pyrrole. We decided to investigate, in collaboration with Neier’s group, the metal-coordinating properties of calix[2]pyrrole[2]pyrrolidine compounds obtained by the reduction of calix[4]pyrrole. We focused our attention on the reduction conditions, and tested different Pd supported (charcoal, grafite) catalysts at different condition. Concerning the synthesis of linear polyamine ligands. We focused our attention to the synthesis of 2-heteroaryl- and 2,5-diheteroarylpyrrolidines. The reductive amination reaction of diarylketones and aryl-substitutedketo-aldehydes with different chiral amines was exploited to prepare a small library of diastereo-enriched substituted pyrrolidines. We have also described a new synthetic route to 1,2-disubstituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrrole[1,2-a]pyrazines, which involves the diastereoselective addition of Grignard reagents to chiral oxazolidines. The best diastereoselectivity (98:2) was dependent on the nature of both the chiral auxiliary, (S)-1-phenylglycinol, and the nature of the organometallic reagent (MeMgBr).

Multiple pathways of neuroprotection against oxidative stress and excitotoxic injury in immature primary hippocampal neurons

In the immature brain hydrogen peroxide accumulates after excitotoxic hypoxia-ischemia and is neurotoxic. Immature hippocampal neurons were exposed to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), a glutamate agonist, and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and the effects of free radical scavenging and transition metal chelation on neurotoxicity were studied. alpha-Phenyl-N-tert.-butylnitrone (PBN), a known superoxide scavenger, attenuated both H(2)O(2) and NMDA mediated toxicity. Treatment with desferrioxamine (DFX), an iron chelator, at the time of exposure to H(2)O(2) was ineffective, but pretreatment was protective. DFX also protected against NMDA toxicity. TPEN, a metal chelator with higher affinities for a broad spectrum of transition metal ions, also protected against H(2)O(2) toxicity but was ineffective against NMDA induced toxicity. These data suggest that during exposure to free radical and glutamate agonists, the presence of iron and other free metal ions contribute to neuronal cell death. In the immature nervous system this neuronal injury can be attenuated by free radical scavengers and metal chelators.

The Design and Synthesis of Versatile Molecular Building Blocks: Working Towards the Controlled Self-Assembly of Novel Functional Materials

Our research goals are focused on the preparation of novel molecule-based materials that possess specifically designed properties in solution or in the solid state e.g. self-assembly, magnetism, conductivity and spin crossover phenomena. Most of our systems incorporate paramagnetic transition metal ions and the search for new molecule-based magnetic materials is a prominent theme. Specific areas of research include the preparation and study of oxalate based 2D and 3D magnets, probing the versatility of octacyanometalate building blocks as precursors for new molecular magnets, and the preparation of new tetrathiafulvalene (TIF) derivatives for applications in molecular and supramolecular chemistry.

Identification of the prooxidant site of human ceruloplasmin: A model for oxidative damage by copper bound to protein surfaces

Free transition metal ions oxidize lipids and lipoproteins in vitro; however, recent evidence suggests that free metal ion-independent mechanisms are more likely in vivo. We have shown previously that human ceruloplasmin (Cp), a serum protein containing seven Cu atoms, induces low density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro and that the activity depends on the presence of a single, chelatable Cu atom. We here use biochemical and molecular approaches to determine the site responsible for Cp prooxidant activity. Experiments with the His-specific reagent diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) showed that one or more His residues was specifically required. Quantitative [14C]DEPC binding studies indicated the importance of a single His residue because only one was exposed upon removal of the prooxidant Cu. Plasmin digestion of [14C]DEPC-treated Cp (and N-terminal sequence analysis of the fragments) showed that the critical His was in a 17-kDa region containing four His residues in the second major sequence homology domain of Cp. A full length human Cp cDNA was modified by site-directed mutagenesis to give His-to-Ala substitutions at each of the four positions and was transfected into COS-7 cells, and low density lipoprotein oxidation was measured. The prooxidant site was localized to a region containing His426 because CpH426A almost completely lacked prooxidant activity whereas the other mutants expressed normal activity. These observations support the hypothesis that Cu bound at specific sites on protein surfaces can cause oxidative damage to macromolecules in their environment. Cp may serve as a model protein for understanding mechanisms of oxidant damage by copper-containing (or -binding) proteins such as Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase, and amyloid precursor protein.

Copper sensitivity of cueO mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 and the biochemical suppression of this phenotype

The cueO gene of Escherichia coli encodes a multi-copper oxidase, which contributes to copper tolerance in this bacterium. It was observed that a cueO mutant was highly sensitive to killing by copper ions when cells were grown on defined minimal media. Copper sensitivity was correlated with accumulation of copper in the mutant strain. Growth of the cueO mutant in the presence of copper could be restored by addition of divalent zinc and manganese ions or ferrous iron but not by other first row transition metal ions or magnesium ions. Copper toxicity towards a cueO mutant Could also be suppressed by addition of the superoxide quencher 1,2-dihydroxybenzene-3,5-disulfonic acid (tiron), suggesting that a primary cause of copper toxicity is the copper-catalyzed production of superoxide anions in the cytoplasm. (C) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The geochemistry of radioactive waste disposal

The present study attempted to identify the significant parameters which affect radionuclide migration from a low level radioactive waste disposal site located in a clay deposit. From initial sorption studies on smectite minerals, increased Kd with decreasing initial cation concentration was observed, and three sorption mechanisms were identified. The observation of anion dependent sorption was related to the existence of a mechanism in which an anion-cation pair are bound to the clay surface through the anion. The influence of competing cations, typical of inorganic groundwater constituents, depended on: (1) Ni/Co:Mn+(Mn+ = competing cation) ratio, (2) nature of M^n+, (3) total solution ionic strength. The presence of organic material in groundwater is well documented, but its effect on cation sorption has not been established. An initial qualitative investigation involving addition of simple organic ligands to Ni(Co)-hectorite samples demonstrated the formation of metal complexes in the clay interlayers, although some modified behaviour was observed. Further quantitative examination involving likely groundwater organic constituents and more comprehensive physical investigation confirmed this behaviour and enabled separation of the organic compounds used into two classes, according to their effect on cation sorption; (i) acids, (ii) amine compounds. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Mossbauer spectroscopy were used to investigate the nature of transition metal ions sorbed onto montmorillonite and hectorite. Evidence strongly favoured the sorption of the hexaaquo cation, although a series of sorption sites of slightly different chemical characteristics were responsible for broadened peak widths observed in XPS and Mossbauer investigations. The surface sensitivity of XPS enabled recognition of the two surface sorption sites proposed in earlier sorption studies. Although thermal treatment of Fe^3+/Fe^2+-hectorite samples left iron atoms bonded to the silicate sheet structure, Mossbauer evidence indicated the presence of both ferric and ferrous iron in all samples.

Recent advances in spin crossover research

Thermal spin transition (spin crossover), one of the most fascinating dynamic electronic structure phenomena occurring in coordination compounds of third row transition metal ions, mostly of iron(II), iron(III) and cobalt(II) with critical ligand field strengths competing with the spin pairing energy, has attracted increasing attention by many research groups. One of the reasons is the promising potential for practical applications. In this chapter we intend to cover essential recent work, primarily accomplished within the European research network on “Thermal and Optical Switching of Molecular Spin States (TOSS)”. New spin crossover compounds and their thermal spin transition behaviour, also under applied pressure, novel effects observed by irradiation and magnetic field, will be discussed. Progress in theoretical treatments of spin crossover phenomena, particularly cooperativity, will be briefly outlined. The chapter concludes with a summary of research highlights published by the partner laboratories of the TMR network TOSS.

Manifestation of Colossal Thermoelectric Power by Charge Ordered Small and Intermediate Bandwidth Manganites

Thermoelectric materials are revisited for various applications including power generation. The direct conversion of temperature differences into electric voltage and vice versa is known as thermoelectric effect. Possible applications of thermoelectric materials are in eco-friendly refrigeration, electric power generation from waste heat, infrared sensors, temperature controlled-seats and portable picnic coolers. Thermoelectric materials are also extensively researched upon as an alternative to compression based refrigeration. This utilizes the principle of Peltier cooling. The performance characteristic of a thermoelectric material, termed as figure of merit (ZT) is a function of several transport coefficients such as electrical conductivity (σ), thermal conductivity (κ) and Seebeck coefficient of the material (S). ZT is expressed asκσTZTS2=, where T is the temperature in degree absolute. A large value of Seebeck coefficient, high electrical conductivity and low thermal conductivity are necessary to realize a high performance thermoelectric material. The best known thermoelectric materials are phonon-glass electron – crystal (PGEC) system where the phonons are scattered within the unit cell by the rattling structure and electrons are scattered less as in crystals to obtain a high electrical conductivity. A survey of literature reveals that correlated semiconductors and Kondo insulators containing rare earth or transition metal ions are found to be potential thermoelectric materials. The structural magnetic and charge transport properties in manganese oxides having the general formula of RE1−xAExMnO3 (RE = rare earth, AE= Ca, Sr, Ba) are solely determined by the mixed valence (3+/4+) state of Mn ions. In strongly correlated electron systems, magnetism and charge transport properties are strongly correlated. Within the area of strongly correlated electron systems the study of manganese oxides, widely known as manganites exhibit unique magneto electric transport properties, is an active area of research.Strongly correlated systems like perovskite manganites, characterized by their narrow localized band and hoping conduction, were found to be good candidates for thermoelectric applications. Manganites represent a highly correlated electron system and exhibit a variety of phenomena such as charge, orbital and magnetic ordering, colossal magneto resistance and Jahn-Teller effect. The strong inter-dependence between the magnetic order parameters and the transport coefficients in manganites has generated much research interest in the thermoelectric properties of manganites. Here, large thermal motion or rattling of rare earth atoms with localized magnetic moments is believed to be responsible for low thermal conductivity of these compounds. The 4f levels in these compounds, lying near the Fermi energy, create large density of states at the Fermi level and hence they are likely to exhibit a fairly large value of Seebeck coefficient.

Insight into Biological Small-Molecule Activation from Enzymes, Model Complexes, and X-ray Spectroscopy

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-08

Synthesis and reactivity of rare earth metal alkyl complexes stabilized by anilido phosphinimine and amino phosphine ligands

Anilido phosphinimino ancillary ligand H2L1 reacted with one equivalent of rare earth metal trialkyl [Ln{CH2Si(CH3)(3)}(3)(thf)(2)] (Ln = Y, Lu) to afford rare earth metal monoalkyl complexes [L(1)LnCH(2)Si(CH3)(3)(THF)] (1a: Ln = Y; 1b: Ln = Lu). In this process, deprotonation of H2L1 by one metal alkyl species was followed by intramolecular C-H activation of the phenyl group of the phosphine moiety to generate dianionic species L-1 with release of two equivalnts of tetramethylsilane. Ligand L-1 coordinates to Ln(3+) ions in a rare C,N,N tridentate mode. Complex 1a reacted readily with two equivalents of 2,6-diisopropylaniline to give the corresponding bis-amido complex [(HL1)LnY(NHC(6)H(3)iPr(2)-2,6)(2)] (2) selectively, that is, the C-H activation of the phenyl group is reversible. When 1a was exposed to moisture, the hydrolyzed dimeric complex [{(HL1)Y(OH)}(2)](OH)(2) (3) was isolated. Treatment of [Ln{CH2Si(CH3)(3)}(3)-(thf)(2)] with amino phosphine ligands HL2-R gave stable rare earth metal bisalkyl complexes [(L2-R)Ln{CH2Si(CH3)(3)}(2)(thf)] (4a: Ln=Y, R=Me; 4b: Ln=Lu, R=Me; 4c: Ln=Y, R=iPr; 4d: Ln=Y, R=iPr) in high yields. No proton abstraction from the ligand was observed. Amination of 4a and 4c with 2,6-diisopropylaniline afforded the bis-amido counterparts [(L2-R)Y(NHC(6)H(3)iPr(2)-2,6)(2)(thf)] (5a: R=Me; 5b: R=iPr).