New Bifunctional Chelators Incorporating Dibromomaleimide Groups for Radiolabeling of Antibodies with Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Radioisotopes.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging with antibody-based contrast agents frequently uses the radioisotopes [64Cu]Cu2+ and [89Zr]Zr4+. The macrobicyclic chelator commonly known as sarcophagine (sar) is ideal for labeling receptor-targeted biomolecules with [64Cu]Cu2+. The siderophore chelator, desferrioxamine-B (dfo), has been widely used to incorporate [89Zr]Zr4+ into antibodies. Here, we describe new bifunctional chelators of sar and dfo: these chelators have been functionalized with dibromomaleimides (dbm), that enable site-specific and highly stable attachment of molecular cargoes to reduced, solvent-accessible, interstrand native disulfide groups. The new sar-dbm and dfo-dbm derivatives can be easily conjugated with the IgG antibody trastuzumab via reaction with reduced interstrand disulfide groups to give site-specifically modified dithiomaleamic acid (dtm) conjugates, sar-dtm-trastuzumab and dfo-dtm-trastuzumab, in which interstrand disulfides are rebridged covalently with a small molecule linker. Both sar- and dfo-dtm-trastuzumab conjugates have been radiolabeled with [64Cu]Cu2+ and [89Zr]Zr4+, respectively, in near quantitative radiochemical yield (>99%). Serum stability studies, in vivo PET imaging, and biodistribution analyses using these radiolabeled immunoconjugates demonstrate that both [64Cu]Cu-sar-dtm-trastuzumab and [89Zr]Zr-dfo-dtm-trastuzumab possess high stability in biological milieu. Dibromomaleimide technology can be easily applied to enable stable, site-specific attachment of radiolabeled chelators, such as sar and dfo, to native interstrand disulfide regions of antibodies, enabling tracking of antibodies with PET imaging.

Unique Noncontact Monitoring of Human Respiration and Sweat Evaporation Using a CsPb2Br5-Based Sensor.

Respiration monitoring and human sweat sensing have promising application prospects in personal healthcare data collection, disease diagnostics, and the effective prevention of human-to-human transmission of fatal viruses. Here, we have introduced a unique respiration monitoring and touchless sensing system based on a CsPb2Br5/BaTiO3 humidity-sensing layer operated by water-induced interfacial polarization and prepared using a facile aerosol deposition process. Based on the relationship between sensing ability and layer thickness, the sensing device with a 1.0 µm thick layer was found to exhibit optimal sensing performance, a result of its ideal microstructure. This sensor also exhibits the highest electrical signal variation at 0.5 kHz due to a substantial polarizability difference between high and low humidity. As a result, the CsPb2Br5/BaTiO3 sensing device shows the best signal variation of all types of breath-monitoring devices reported to date when used to monitor sudden changes in respiratory rates in diverse situations. Furthermore, the sensor can effectively detect sweat evaporation when placed 1 cm from the skin, including subtle changes in capacitance caused by finger area and motion, skin moisture, and contact time. This ultrasensitive sensor, with its fast response, provides a potential new sensing platform for the long-term daily monitoring of respiration and sweat evaporation.

Multifunctional Quaternary Phosphorus/Bromoargentate Hybrids: The Achievement of Greenish Blue Luminescence, Repeatable Photocurrent Responses and Durable Antimicrobial Activities with Enhanced Water Stability.

BACKGROUND: The realization of multifunction in one bulk material is fascinating for developing a new generation of devices. Quaternary phosphorus salts were seldom utilized as templates in haloargentate systems, and the hybridization of alkyl(triphenyl)phosphonium with halometallate will be a good strategy for the development of multifunctional material, especially for biological material. METHODS: Under the template of (triphenyl)phosphonium-based quaternary phosphorus salts with different spacer lengths (n=2, 3, 4), three bromoargentate hybrids were constructed via the solution method, ie, (1,2-DBTPP)(Ag2Br4) (1), {(1,3-DBTPP)2(Ag7Br11)]∙CH3CN∙H2O} n (2), and {[(1,4-DBTPP)(Ag5Br7)](CH3CN)2∙H2O} n (3) (1,2-DBTPP2+=ethane-1,2-diylbis (triphenyl)phosphonium, 1,3-DBTPP2+=propane-1,3-diylbis (triphenyl)phosphonium, 1,4-DBTPP2+=butane-1,4-diylbis (triphenyl)phosphonium)). RESULTS: The (Ag7Br11) n 4n- chain in 2 is a new type of 1-D bromoargentate chain constructed from cubane-like Ag4Br4 nodes, AgBr4 tetrahedrons and AgBr3 triangles. Interestingly, by elongating spacer n from 2 to 4, argentophilicity interactions are weakened, and the hydrogen bonds are strengthened. Consequently, their water stabilities and photocurrents are improved, in which the Ag-4d/Br-4p to π* anti-bonding orbital of the quaternary phosphorus transfer is facilitated. Furthermore, the greenish blue emissions can be detected. Finally, high inhabitation rates against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans can be observed in 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: In all experiments, by elongating the spacer lengths of quaternary phosphorus salts, multifunctions were integrated in the quaternary phosphorus/bromoargentate hybrids, including greenish blue luminescence, repeatable photocurrent responses and durable antimicrobial activities with enhanced water stability. This work could provide a theoretical guide for the design of new biologically multifunctional materials.

Selective Late-Stage Sulfonyl Chloride Formation from Sulfonamides Enabled by Pyry-BF4.

Reported here is a simple and practical functionalization of primary sulfonamides, by means of a pyrylium salt (Pyry-BF4 ), with nucleophiles. This simple reagent activates the poorly nucleophilic NH2 group in a sulfonamide, enabling the formation of one of the best electrophiles in organic synthesis: a sulfonyl chloride. Because of the variety of primary sulfonamides in pharmaceutical contexts, special attention has been focused on the direct conversion of densely functionalized primary sulfonamides by a late-stage formation of the corresponding sulfonyl chloride. A variety of nucleophiles could be engaged in this transformation, thus permitting the synthesis of complex sulfonamides, sulfonates, sulfides, sulfonyl fluorides, and sulfonic acids. The mild reaction conditions and the high selectivity of Pyry-BF4 towards NH2 groups permit the formation of sulfonyl chlorides in a late-stage fashion, tolerating a preponderance of sensitive functionalities.

Theoretical Investigations on Mechanisms and Pathways of C2H5O2 with BrO Reaction in the Atmosphere.

In this work, feasible mechanisms and pathways of the C2H5O2 + BrO reaction in the atmosphere were investigated using quantum chemistry methods, i.e., QCISD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2p) levels of theory. Our result indicates that the title reaction occurs on both the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PESs). Kinetically, singlet C2H5O3Br and C2H5O2BrO were dominant products under the atmospheric conditions below 300 K. CH3CHO2 + HOBr, CH3CHO + HOBrO, and CH3CHO + HBrO2 are feasible to a certain extent thermodynamically. Because of high energy barriers, all products formed on the triplet PES are negligible. Moreover, time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculation implies that C2H5O3Br and C2H5O2BrO will photolyze under the sunlight.

New Type of Halogen Bond: Multivalent Halogen Interacting with π- and σ-Electrons.

MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ calculations were performed for complexes of BrF3 and BrF5 acting as Lewis acids through the bromine centre, with species playing a role of Lewis base: dihydrogen, acetylene, ethylene, and benzene. The molecular hydrogen donates electrons by its σ-bond, while in remaining moieties-in complexes of hydrocarbons; such an electron transfer follows from π-electrons. The complexes are linked by a kind of the halogen bond that is analyzed for the first time in this study, i.e., it is the link between the multivalent halogen and π or σ-electrons. The nature of such a halogen bond is discussed, as well as various dependencies and correlations are presented. Different approaches are applied here, the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules, Natural Bond Orbital method, the decomposition of the energy of interaction, the analysis of electrostatic potentials, etc.

Enantiospecific Solvolytic Functionalization of Bromochlorides.

Herein, we report that under mild solvolytic conditions, enantioenriched bromochlorides can be ionized, stereospecifically cyclized to an array of complex bromocyclic scaffolds, or intermolecularly trapped by exogenous nucleophiles. Mechanistic investigations support an ionic mechanism wherein the bromochloride serves as an enantioenriched bromonium surrogate. Several natural product-relevant motifs are accessed in enantioenriched form for the first time with high levels of stereocontrol, and this technology is applied to the scalable synthesis of a polycyclic brominated natural product. Arrays of nucleophiles including olefins, alkynes, heterocycles, and epoxides are competent traps in the bromonium-induced cyclizations, leading to the formation of enantioenriched mono-, bi-, and tricyclic products. This strategy is further amenable to intermolecular coupling between cinnamyl bromochlorides and a diverse set of commercially available nucleophiles. Collectively, this work demonstrates that enantioenriched bromonium chlorides are configurationally stable under solvolytic conditions in the presence of a variety of functional groups.

Oxidation Kinetics of Bromophenols by Nonradical Activation of Peroxydisulfate in the Presence of Carbon Nanotube and Formation of Brominated Polymeric Products.

This work demonstrated that bromophenols (BrPs) could be readily oxidized by peroxydisulfate (PDS) activated by a commercial carbon nanotube (CNT), while furfuryl alcohol (a chemical probe for singlet oxygen (1O2)) was quite refractory. Results obtained by radical quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy further confirmed the involvement of nonradical PDS-CNT complexes rather than 1O2. Bicarbonate and chloride ion exhibited negligible impacts on BrPs degradation by the PDS/CNT system, while a significant inhibitory effect was observed for natural organic matter. The oxidation of BrPs was influenced by solution pH with maximum rates occurring at neutral pH. Linear free energy relationships (LFERs) were established between the observed pseudo-first-order oxidation rates of various substituted phenols and the classical descriptor variables (i.e., Hammett constant σ+, and half-wave oxidation potential E1/2). Products analyses by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry clearly showed the formation of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hydroxylated polybrominated biphenyls on CNT surface. Their formation pathway possibly involved the generation of bromophenoxyl radicals from BrPs one-electron oxidation and their subsequent coupling reactions. These results suggest that the novel nonradical PDS/CNT oxidation technology is a good alternative for selectively eliminating BrPs with alleviating toxic byproducts in treated water effluent.

Novel Concepts of MS-Cleavable Cross-linkers for Improved Peptide Structure Analysis.

The chemical cross-linking/mass spectrometry (MS) approach is gaining increasing importance as an alternative method for studying protein conformation and for deciphering protein interaction networks. This study is part of our ongoing efforts to develop innovative cross-linking principles for a facile and efficient assignment of cross-linked products. We evaluate two homobifunctional, amine-reactive, and MS-cleavable cross-linkers regarding their potential for automated analysis of cross-linked products. We introduce the bromine phenylurea (BrPU) linker that possesses a unique structure yielding a distinctive fragmentation pattern on collisional activation. Moreover, BrPU delivers the characteristic bromine isotope pattern and mass defect for all cross-linker-decorated fragments. We compare the fragmentation behavior of the BrPU linker with that of our previously described MS-cleavable TEMPO-Bz linker (which consists of a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy moiety connected to a benzyl group) that was developed to perform free-radical-initiated peptide sequencing. Comparative collisional activation experiments (collision-induced dissociation and higher-energy collision-induced dissociation) with both cross-linkers were conducted in negative electrospray ionization mode with an Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer using five model peptides. As hypothesized in a previous study, the presence of a cross-linked N-terminal aspartic acid residue seems to be the prerequisite for the loss of an intact peptide from the cross-linked products. As the BrPU linker combines a characteristic mass shift with an isotope signature, it presents a more favorable combination for automated assignment of cross-linked products compared with the TEMPO-Bz linker. ᅟ.

Probing and Comparing the Photobromination and Photoiodination of Dissolved Organic Matter by Using Ultra-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Photochemical halogenation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) may represent an important abiotic process for the formation of natural organobromine compounds (OBCs) and natural organoiodine compounds (OICs) within surface waters. Here we report the enhanced formation of OBCs and OICs by photohalogenating DOM in freshwater and seawater, as well as the noticeable difference in the distribution and composition pattern of newly formed OBCs and OICs. By using negative ion electrospray ionization coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, various OBCs and OICs were identified during the photohalogenation processes in sunlit waters. The respective number of OBCs and OICs formed in artificial seawater (ASW) under light radiation was higher than that in artificial freshwater (AFW), suggesting a possible role of the mixed reactive halogen species. OBCs were formed mainly via substitution reactions and addition reactions accompanied by other reactions and distributed into three classes: unsaturated hydrocarbons with relatively low oxygen content, unsaturated aliphatic compounds, and saturated fatty acids and carbohydrates with relatively high hydrogen content. Unlike the OBCs, OICs were located primarily in the region of carboxylic-rich alicyclic molecules composed of esterified phenolic, carboxylated, and fused alicyclic structures and were generated mainly through electrophilic substitution of the aromatic proton. Our findings call for further investigation on the exact structure and toxicity of the OBCs and OICs generated in the natural environment.

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF BROMATOMETRIC, DIAZOTIZATION AND VIS-SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHODS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MESALAZINE IN PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATION.

Three new methods were developed for the quantitative determination of mesalazine in the form of the pure substance or in the form of suppositories and tablets - accordingly: bromatometric, diazotization and visible light spectrophotometry method. Optimizing the time and the temperature of the bromination reaction (50°C, 50 min) 4-amino-2,3,5,6-tetrabromophenol was obtained. The results obtained were reproducible, accurate and precise. Developed methods were compared to the pharmacopoeial approach - alkalimetry in an aqueous medium. The validation parameters of all methods were comparable. Developed methods for quantification of mesalazine are a viable alternative to other more expensive approaches.

Reaction between CH3O2 and BrO radicals: a new source of upper troposphere lower stratosphere hydroxyl radicals.

Over the last two decades it has emerged that measured hydroxyl radical levels in the upper troposphere are often underestimated by models, leading to the assertion that there are missing sources. Here we report laboratory studies of the kinetics and products of the reaction between CH3O2 and BrO radicals that shows that this could be an important new source of hydroxyl radicals:BrO + CH3O2 → products (1). The temperature dependent value in Arrhenius form of k(T) is k1 = (2.42­0.72+1.02) × 10­14 exp[(1617 ± 94)/T] cm3 molecule­1 s­1. In addition, CH2OO and HOBr are believed to be the major products. Global model results suggest that the decomposition of H2COO to form OH could lead to an enhancement in OH of up to 20% in mid-latitudes in the upper troposphere and in the lower stratosphere enhancements in OH of 2­9% are inferred from model integrations. In addition, reaction 1 aids conversion of BrO to HOBr and slows polar ozone loss in the lower stratosphere.

Contributions of BrCl, Br2, BrOCl, Br2O, and HOBr to regiospecific bromination rates of anisole and bromoanisoles in aqueous solution.

When bromide-containing waters are chlorinated, conventional wisdom typically assumes HOBr is the only active brominating agent. Several additional and often-overlooked brominating agents (including BrCl, Br2, BrOCl, Br2O) can form in chlorinated waters, albeit at generally lower concentrations than HOBr. The extent to which these additional brominating agents influence bromination rates of disinfection byproduct precursors is, however, poorly understood. Herein, the influence of BrCl, Br2, BrOCl, Br2O, and HOBr toward rates of sequential bromination of anisole was quantified. Conditions affecting bromine speciation (e.g., pH, concentrations of chloride, bromide, and chlorine) were varied, and regiospecific second-order rate constants were calculated for reactions of each brominating agent with anisole, 2-bromoanisole, and 4-bromoanisole. The regioselectivity of anisole bromination changed with pH, consistent with the participation of more than one brominating agent. Under conditions representative of chlorinated drinking water, contributions to bromination rates decreased as BrCl > BrOCl > HOBr > Br2O (Br2 negligible). The second-order rate constant determined for net bromination of anisole by HOBr is up to 3000-times less than reported in previous studies (which assumed HOBr was the only active brominating agent). Accordingly, models that assume HOBr is the only kinetically relevant brominating agent in solutions of free bromine may be insufficient for reactions involving modestly nucleophilic organic compounds.

From charge transfer to electron transfer in halogen-bonded complexes of electrophilic bromocarbons with halide anions.

Experimental and computational studies of the halogen-bonded complexes, [R-Br, X(-)], of bromosubstituted electrophiles, R-Br, and halide anions, X(-), revealed that decrease of a gap between the frontier orbitals of interacting species led to reduction of the energy of the optical charge-transfer transition and to increase in the ground-state charge transfer (X(-) → R-Br) in their associates. These variations were accompanied by weakening of the intramolecular, C-Br, and strengthening of the intermolecular, BrX(-), bonds. In the limit of the strongest electron donor-acceptor pairs, formation of the halogen-bonded complexes was followed by the oxidation of iodide to triiodide, which took place despite the fact that the I(-) → R-Br electron-transfer step was highly endergonic and the calculated outer-sphere rate constant was negligibly small. However, the calculated barrier for the inner-sphere electron transfer accompanied by the halogen transfer, R-BrI(-) → R˙Br-I(-)˙, was nearly 24 kcal mol(-1) lower as compared to that calculated for the outer-sphere process and the rate constant of such reaction was consistent with the experimental kinetics. A dramatic decrease of the electron-transfer barriers (leading to 18-orders of magnitude increase of the rate constant) was related to the strong electronic coupling of the donor and acceptor within the halogen-bonded precursor complex, as well as to the lower solvent reorganization energy and the successor-complex stabilization.

Synthesis, crystal structure, vibrational spectroscopy, optical properties and theoretical studies of a new organic-inorganic hybrid material: [((CH3)2NH2)(+)]6·[(BiBr6)(3-)]2.

A new organic-inorganic hybrid material, [((CH3)2NH2)(+)]6·[(BiBr6)(3-)]2, has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy and UV-Visible absorption. The studied compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1¯ with the following parameters: a=8.4749(6)(Å), b=17.1392(12)(Å), c=17.1392(12)(Å), α=117.339(0)°, ß=99.487(0)°, γ=99.487(0)° and Z=2. The crystal lattice is composed of a two discrete (BiBr6)(3-) anions surrounded by six ((CH3)2NH2)(+) cations. Complex hydrogen bonding interactions between (BiBr6)(3-) and organic cations from a three-dimensional network. Theoretical calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) for studying the molecular structure, vibrational spectra and optical properties of the investigated molecule in the ground state. The full geometry optimization of designed system is performed using DFT method at B3LYP/LanL2DZ level of theory using the Gaussian03. The optimized geometrical parameters obtained by DFT calculations are in good agreement with single crystal XRD data. The vibrational spectral data obtained from FT-IR and Raman spectra are assigned based on the results of the theoretical calculations. The energy and oscillator strength calculated by Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) results complements with the experimental findings. The simulated spectra satisfactorily coincide with the experimental UV-Visible spectrum. The results show good consistent with the experiment and confirm the contribution of metal orbital to the HOMO-LUMO boundary.

Insights into the impact of shape and electronic properties on the enantioseparation of polyhalogenated 4,4'-bipyridines on polysaccharide-type selectors. Evidence of stereoselective halogen bonding interactions.

Starting from the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) enantioseparation data collected by using twelve polyhalogenated 2,2'-dichloro-3-substituted-5,5'-dihalo-4,4'-bipyridines as test probes on seven polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) under multimodal elution, the impact of substitution pattern, shape and electronic properties of the molecules on the separation behaviour was investigated through the evaluation of the chromatographic parameters (k, α, Rs) and molecular properties determined by means of quantum chemistry calculations. The computational/chromatographic screening furnished relevant structure-chromatographic behaviour relationships and some molecular interactions involved in the chiral discrimination process could be identified. In particular, a halogen bonding interaction (I(.)O) could reasonably explain the high enantioseparation (α=1.80, Rs=8.2) observed for the 2,2'-dichloro-3,5'-diiodo-5-bromo-4,4'-bipyridine on Lux Cellulose-1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report supporting the involvement of a stereoselective halogen bonding interaction in polysaccharide-based CSPs. Moreover, having at disposal a sufficient set of data, the unknown absolute configurations of the eluted enantiomers of 3-methyl-, 3-thiomethyl- and 3-diphenylphosphinoyl-2,2'-dichloro-5,5'-dibromo-4,4'-bipyridines could be deduced by chromatographic correlation with the enantiomer elution order (EEO) of the related compounds of known absolute configuration.

Poly(dopamine) coated gold nanocluster functionalized electrochemical immunosensor for brominated flame retardants using multienzyme-labeling carbon hollow nanochains as signal amplifiers.

An electrochemical, signal amplified immunosensor was developed to detect 3-bromobiphenyl (BBP) by using a bio-inspired polydopamine (PDOP)/gold nanocluster (AuNc) as the sensor platform and multienzyme-labeled carbon hollow nanochains as the signal amplifier. The self-polymerized dopamine membrane on the AuNc-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle and electrochemical measurements. Such PDOP/AuNc platform featured the mild cross-linking reaction with the dense immobilization of BBP-antigens (BBP-Ag). Moreover, by using multiple horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and secondary antibodies (Ab2) modified one-dimensional carbon hollow nanochains (CHNc) as the signal enhancer, it held promise for improving the sensitivity and detection limit of the immunoassay. Based on the competitive immunoassay protocol, this immunosensor showed a linear range from 1 pM to 2 nM for BBP with a detection limit of 0.5 pM. Also, it exhibited high sensitivity, wide linear range, acceptable stability and reproducibility on a promising immobilization platform using a novel signal amplifier, which may extend its application in other environmental monitoring.

Formation of new brominated disinfection byproducts during chlorination of saline sewage effluents.

Chlorination could be the most cost-effective method for disinfecting saline sewage effluents resulting from toilet flushing with seawater. Upon chlorination, the high levels of bromide ions in saline sewage effluents (up to 32 mg/L) can be oxidized to hypobromous acid/hypobromite, which could then react with organic matter in the sewage effluents to form brominated disinfection byproducts (Br-DBPs). In this study, primary and secondary saline sewage effluents were collected and chlorinated at different chlorine doses, and a powerful precursor ion scan method using ultra performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was adopted for detection and identification of polar Br-DBPs in these samples. With the new method, 54 major polar Br-DBPs were detected in the chlorinated saline effluents and six of them were newly identified as wastewater DBPs, including bromomaleic acid, 5-bromosalicylic acid, 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2,6-dibromo-4-nitrophenol, and 2,4,6-tribromophenol. The formation of polar Br-DBPs, especially those newly detected ones, during chlorination of the saline effluents was studied. For the secondary saline effluent, various polar Br-DBPs formed and reached their maximum levels at different chlorine doses, whereas for the primary saline effluent, the formation of polar Br-DBPs basically kept increasing with increasing chlorine dose. Compared with the secondary saline effluent, the primary saline effluent generated fewer and less Br-DBPs and rarely generated nitrogenous Br-DBPs.

Reactivity of BrCl, Br2, BrOCl, Br2O, and HOBr toward dimethenamid in solutions of bromide + aqueous free chlorine.

HOBr, formed via oxidation of bromide by free available chlorine (FAC), is frequently assumed to be the sole species responsible for generating brominated disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Our studies reveal that BrCl, Br(2), BrOCl, and Br(2)O can also serve as brominating agents of the herbicide dimethenamid in solutions of bromide to which FAC was added. Conditions affecting bromine speciation (pH, total free bromine concentration ([HOBr](T)), [Cl(-)], and [FAC](o)) were systematically varied, and rates of dimethenamid bromination were measured. Reaction orders in [HOBr](T) ranged from 1.09 (±0.17) to 1.67 (±0.16), reaching a maximum near the pK(a) of HOBr. This complex dependence on [HOBr](T) implicates Br(2)O as an active brominating agent. That bromination rates increased with increasing [Cl(-)], [FAC](o) (at constant [HOBr](T)), and excess bromide (where [Br(-)](o)>[FAC](o)) implicate BrCl, BrOCl, and Br(2), respectively, as brominating agents. As equilibrium constants for the formation of Br(2)O and BrOCl (aq) have not been previously reported, we have calculated these values (and their gas-phase analogues) using benchmark-quality quantum chemical methods [CCSD(T) up to CCSDTQ calculations plus solvation effects]. The results allow us to compute bromine speciation and hence second-order rate constants. Intrinsic brominating reactivity increased in the order: HOBr ≪ Br(2)O < BrOCl ≈ Br(2) < BrCl. Our results indicate that species other than HOBr can influence bromination rates under conditions typical of drinking water and wastewater chlorination.

Simultaneous determination of brominated phenols in soils.

Brominated phenols (BPs), a widely used group of emerging flame retardants, are important environmental contaminants and exhibit endocrine disrupting potential. Method for simultaneous determination of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), tribromophenol (TBP), dibromophenols (DBPs) and monobromophenols (MBPs) in soils using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC/MS) was successfully developed. Cleanup methods for soil extracts including several solid-phase extraction cartridges and different elution solvents were compared and optimized. Florisil cartridge with dichloromethane as the elution reagent was selected for sample cleanup owing to its high and reproducible recoveries of the target analytes in soils. Derivatization conditions were tested and the optimal conditions were obtained with 20 microL silylation reagent at room temperature. The chromatographic separation was optimized with different columns and DB-XLB column was selected for its excellent separation of the analytes. The limits of detection for the target compounds were from 0.04 to 0.19 ng/g. Mean recoveries of the compounds from spiked soils exceeded 84% with a good reproducibility, excepting that the recovery of 2-bromophenol was relatively poor (lower than 55%) due to its instability. The developed method was applied to the determination of the BPs in the soils collected from e-waste sites. The contents of BPs in the soils were at ng/g levels with TBBPA and TBP the most frequently detected. To our knowledge, this is the first report for the simultaneous determination of TBBPA, TBP, DBPs and MBPs in soils.