New Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Catechol-Grafted with Bis(amidoxime)s for Uranium(VI) Depletion of Aqueous Solution.

Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals constitutes a serious public health problem. In the case of uranium depletion, amidoxime groups are important because of their high affinity for uranium(VI). New series of bis(amidoxime)s with catechol-derived anchor groups were tested (b-AMD-1 and b-AMD-2). The catechol groups were designed to bind to the surface of maghemite nanoparticles (MNPs), and two nanohybrid devices MNP-b-AMD-1 and MNP-b-AMD-2 were obtained. This strategy makes for efficient removal of U(VI) via its complexation with the bis(amidoxime)s (b-AMD) and also its extraction from aqueous solution by magnetic harvesting of the MNPs. The assynthesized and b-AMD-grafted MNPs were characterized by several techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrophotometry (XPS), thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Sorption tests were run at pH 6.5, which corresponds to the highest affinity and selectivity of b-AMD for U(VI). After magnetic separation, the chelation ability and the selectivity of MNP-b-AMD-1 and MNP-b-AMD-2 towards U(VI) were evaluated by measuring the residual U(VI) concentration in the supernatant by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The data were plotted according to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms; the maximal sorption capacity (qmax) was 29 and 60 mg U g-1 for MNP-b-AMD-1 and MNP-b-AMD-2, respectively. This confirms that bis(amidoxime) groups are good candidates for uranium depletion of aqueous solution.

Synthesis and antioxidant properties of pulvinic acids analogues.

The synthesis of three types of pulvinic acid analogues, using a diversity-oriented strategy starting from a single compound, dimethyl l-tartrate, is described. Lacey-Dieckmann condensation, alcohol dehydration and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings were employed in the course of the analogues syntheses. The evaluation of the antioxidant properties of the 28 synthesized analogues was carried out using antioxidant capacity assays (protection of thymidine and ß-carotene) and free radical scavenging assays (DPPH radical and ABTS radical cation). This allowed to assess the relative influence of the groups bonded to the tetronic ring and to the exocyclic double bond on the activity, as well as the importance of this exocyclic double bond. It was shown that the presence of an electron-donating group on the 3-position of the tetronic ring had a beneficial effect. It was shown in several assays that the presence of the exocyclic bond was not crucial to the activity.

Norbadione a: kinetics and thermodynamics of cesium uptake in aqueous and alcoholic media.

Norbadione A (NbA) is a mushroom pigment, which is assumed to be involved in (137)Cs accumulation all over Europe during the Chernobyl nuclear accident. NbA bears seven acid-base functional groups, among which are two enolic and two carboxylic acid moieties. This work deals with complex formation of Cs(+) and NbA in ethanol, ethanol/water (9:1) (M1), and water with, when required, the support of two Cs(+) ionophore probes, calix[4]arene-bis(crown-6-ether)dioxycoumarine (A1) and its tetrasuslfonated form (A2). In ethanol, two Cs(+) complexes are formed, with the affinity constants K(1EtOH) = (1.1 ± 0.25) × 10(5) and K(2EtOH) = (2.1 ± 0.4) × 10(3). In M1, a single Cs(+) complex occurs when only the enols are deprotonated, whereas a bicomplex is formed when both enols and carboxylic acids are deprotonated: K(1M1) = (1.5 ± 0.3) × 10(5) and K(2M1) = (4 ± 2) × 10(3). These data are confirmed by stopped-flow and T-jump kinetics. In ethanol, a fast Cs(+) exchange occurs between NbA and A1: direct rate constant, k(1) = (3.1 ± 0.1) × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1); reverse rate constant k(-1) = (2.8 ± 1) × 10(5) M(-1) s(-1); and Cs(+) exchange constant, K(1Exchange) = (9 ± 4) × 10(-3). In M1, the quenching of A2 fluorescence by NbA is used to determine the kinetics of complex formation with Cs(+): k(2) = (1.8 ± 0.4) × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1); k(-2) = (1.80 ± 0.15) × 10(4) s(-1); and K(1M1) = (1.5 ± 0.5) × 10(5). The affinity of NbA for Cs(+) is probably the result of the particular structure in which the two pulvinic acid arms adopt a conformation that forms two complexation sites composed of the two enolates and/or the two carboxylates. This renders the efficiency in Cs(+) uptake comparable to that of some calixarenes or crown ethers.

Kinetics, thermodynamics, and modeling of complex formation between calix[4]biscrowns and cesium.

Complex formations between calix[4]arene-bis(crown-6-ether) calix-COU2 (A1) and the tetrasulfonated species calix-COUSULF (A2) with Cs(+) are investigated in water and ethanol, and in 9:1 (M1) and 1:9 (M2) H(2)O/EtOH v:v mixtures, by chemical relaxation and molecular modeling. In ethanol and M2, two Cs(+) are included in A1 in two kinetic steps, whereas complex formation in M1 becomes controlled by a slow first-order kinetic process, which is accompanied by very fast Cs(+) inclusions, second-order rate constant: k'(1) = (3.4 +/- 0.8) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1). In water and M1, A2 forms 1:1 and 1:2 cesium complexes in a single kinetic step, whereas in M2, two Cs(+) are included in two kinetic steps. The rate and thermodynamic constants involved are reported. They show that the second-order rate constants increase with the ethanol-to-water ratio, e.g., A2, second-order rate constant for the first Cs(+) in water: k(1A2water) = (9.7 +/- 0.3) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) and in M2: k(1A2M2) = (6.3 +/- 0.4) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). The affinities of both A1 and A2 for Cs(+) also increase with the ethanol-to-water ratio, e.g., first inclusion of A1 in M1: K(1A1M1) = (5 +/- 1.3) x 10(3) and in ethanol: K(1A1EtOH) = (7 +/- 3) x 10(6). The deviation from the expected mechanism of complex formation with alkali is attributed to the comparatively more difficult access of Cs(+) to the inclusion cavity of the capped calixarene. An analysis of calix-COU2 and calix-COUSULF and their Cs(+) complexes with only one rim capped by the crown ether confirms the thermodynamic and kinetic results, by showing that the inclusion cavity of calix-COUSULF is more adapted to Cs(+) than that of calix-COU2. This added to the presence of the shielding effect of the negative sulfonates can explain that the affinity of calix-COUSULF for Cs(+) is higher than that of calix-COU2. These results can be of interest in the search of an efficient Cs(+) decontaminant.

Synthesis, antioxidant properties and radioprotective effects of new benzothiazoles and thiadiazoles.

In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of new compounds derived from benzothiazoles and thiadiazoles. We observed that structural modifications on these skeletons affected the antioxidant activity. Thiol and aminothiol compounds derived from thiadiazoles and benzothiazoles showed an interesting antioxidant property. The radioprotective activity has also been evaluated in mice. Some of these compounds could be good radioprotectors.

Total synthesis of norbadione A.

A short, convergent synthesis of the mushroom pigment norbadione A is described. The construction of an appropriately substituted naphtholactone intermediate involved a regioselective Diels-Alder reaction between a bis(triisopropylsilyloxy)diene and 2,6-dichlorobenzo-1,4-quinone. A double Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling between a diboronate and two identical enol triflates was another key feature of the synthesis.

Uncatalyzed reaction of silyl ketene acetals with oxalyl chloride: a straightforward preparation of symmetrical pulvinic acids.

[reaction: see text] Several natural pulvinic acids were synthesized. Silyl ketene acetals derived from methyl arylacetates (4 equiv) reacted with oxalyl chloride at -78 degrees C, without the need of adding a catalyst. After treatment of the crude diketones with DBU and acidification with hydrochloric acid, symmetrical pulvinic acids methyl esters were obtained. Saponification of the methyl esters afforded the corresponding pulvinic acids in 60-70% overall yields from oxalyl chloride.

Photocatalytic degradation of 2-phenethyl-2-chloroethyl sulfide in liquid and gas phases.

This work explores the ability of photocatalysis to decontaminate water and air from chemical warfare agent mustard using its simulant 2-phenethyl 2-chloroethyl sulfide (PECES). PECES like mustard slowly dissolves in water with hydrolysis, forming 2-phenethyl 2-hydroxyethyl sulfide (PEHES). Irradiation of TiO2 suspension containing PECES with the unfiltered light of a mercury lamp (lambda > or = 254 nm) decomposed all PECES mostly via photolysis. Reaction under filtered light (lambda > 300 nm) proceeds mainly photocatalytically and requires longer time. Sulfur from starting PECES is completely transformed into sulfuric acid at the end of the reaction. Detected volatile, nonvolatile, surface products, and the suggested scheme of degradation are reported. The main volatile products are styrene and benzaldehyde, nonvolatile--hydroxylated PEHES, surface--2-phenethyl disulfide. Photolysis of PECES produced the same set of volatile products as photocatalysis. Photocatalytic degradation of gaseous PECES in air results in its mineralization but is accompanied by TiO2 deactivation. The highest rate of mineralization with minimum deactivation was observed at about room temperature and a water concentration of 27,500 ppm. No gaseous products except CO2 were detected. The main extracted surface product was styrene. It was concluded that PECES photocatalytic degradation proceeds mainly via C-S bond cleavage and further oxidation of the products. Hydrolysis of the C-S bond was detected only in gas-phase photocatalytic degradation. The quantum efficiency of gas-phase degradation (0.28%) was much higher than that of liquid-phase degradation (0.008%). The results demonstrate the ability of photocatalysis to decontaminate an aqueous and especially an air environment