The present PhD thesis describes the synthesis and characterization of novel planarchiral 1,2-P,O-ferrocenes and their application in the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. It was especially focused on the development of a new synthetic pathway to this type of substitution pattern by applying the anionic phospho-Fries rearrangement in ferrocene chemistry. Starting from hydroxy ferrocene, a high diversity of Fc–O–P- type (Fc = (n5-C5H5)(n5-C5H4)) compounds were synthesized, whereby the electronic properties of the phosphorus fragments were varied. The anionic phospho-Fries rearrangement successfully occurred subsequent to an ortho-lithiation with a non-nucleophilic base giving the 1,2-P,O-ferrocenes in up to quantitative yields. The usage of chiral pool-based alcohols for the synthesis of chiral ferrocenyl phosphates allowed a diastereoselective proceeding, giving single isomers in up to 95% de. Temperature-dependent investigations of mixed ferrocenyl-, phenyl- and Nheterocyclicphosphates revealed a limitation of ferrocenyl-based rearrangements per reaction step, contrary to phenyls. 1,2-P,O-ferrocenyl phosphonates could successfully be converted into phosphines by applying Stelzer P,C cross-coupling reactions on ferrocenes for the first time. Their usage as ligands for C,C cross-coupling reactions was confirmed by the synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls in high yields at 70°C with a low catalyst loading of 1 mol-% Pd. Functionalization of the 1,2-P,O -structural motif could be achieved by applying nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions (SNAr) as an alternative pathway for the synthesis of ferrocenyl aryl ethers. Subsequent to a Fries rearrangement sterically-demanding 1,3-di-orthosubstituted aryloxy ferrocenes could be obtained. Multi SNAr reactions of hydroxyferrocenes at polyfluorinated arenes gave up to pentaferrocenyl-functionalized aryl ethers, whose electrochemical properties were investigated. The reaction of CH2-enlarged ferrocenylmethanols gave α-ferrocenylcarbenium ions instead of phosphates, while treating them with chlorophosphates. Enantiopure 2-P(S)Ph2-substituted derivatives of these ions underwent a subsequent intermolecular “S2−“ migration, resulting in thioethers, for example (Sp,Sp)-(2-(P(S)Ph2)FcCH2)2S, in a unique mechanism. Instead, the presence of electronrich arenes gave electrophilic aromatic substituted benzenes bearing chiral ferrocenylmethyl backbones. These type of ligands gave biaryls with up to 26 % ee. / Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Synthese und Charakterisierung von neuartigen planar-chiralen 1,2-P,O-ferrocenen sowie deren Anwendung in der Pd-katalysierten Suzuki-Miyaura Reaktion. Dabei lag der Focus in der Anwendung anionischer phospho-Fries Verschiebungen auf Ferrocene um dieses spezielle Substitutionsmuster erhalten zu können. Ausgehend von Hydroxyferrocenen wurde so eine Vielzahl neuer Verbindungen des Typs Fc–O–P (Fc = (n5-C5H5)(n5-C5H4)) synthetisiert, wobei die elektronischen Eigenschaften des Phosphor-tragenden Fragmentes variiert wurden. Die anionische phospho-Fries Verschiebung erfolgte im Anschluss einer ortho-Lithiierung mit einer nicht-nucleophilen Base, was 1,2-P,O-Ferrocene nahezu quantitative ergab. Durch die Verwendung von chiral-pool basierten Alkoholen für die Synthese chiraler Ferrocenylphosphate konnte eine diastereoselective 1,3-O->C Umlagerung mit Isomerenreinheiten von bis zu 95 % erreicht werden. Untersuchungen von gemischten Ferrocenyl-, Phenyl- und N-heterocyclischen Phosphaten bei verschiedenen Temperaturen zeigte eine Limitierung Ferrocenyl-basierter Umlagerungen pro Reaktionsschritt im Gegensatz zu denen von Phenylen. Die erhaltenen 1,2-P,O-Ferrocenylphosphate wurden erstmals mittels Stelzer P,C Kreuz-Kupplungsreaktionen erfolgreich in Phosphane umgesetzt. Deren Verwendung als Ligand in C,C Kreuz-Kupplungsreaktionen wurde am Beispiel der Synthese räumlich anspruchsvoller Biaryle in hohen Ausbeuten bei nur 70°C und niedrigen Katalysatorbeladungen von 1 mol-% Pd demonstriert. Die Funktionalisierung des 1,2-P,O-Strukturmotifes konnte durch die Anwendung von nucleophilen aromatischen Substitutionsreaktionen erreicht werden, die einen alternativen Zugang zu Ferrocenylarylethern bietet. Im Anschluss an eine Fries Umlagerung konnten so sterisch anspruchsvolle 1,3-di-ortho-substituierte Ferrocenylarylether erhalten werden. Durch mehrfache SNAr Reaktionen von Hydroxyferrocenen an polyfluorierten Aromaten wurden bis zu fünf-fach substituierte Ether erhalten, deren elektrochemischen Eigenschaften untersucht wurden. Die um eine CH2-Einheit verlängerten Ferrocenylmethanole gaben bei Reaktion mit Chlorophosphaten alpha Ferrocenylcarbeniumionen anstelle der gewünschten Phosphate. Enantiomerenreine 2-P(S)Ph2-substituierte Derivate dieser Ionen durchliefen anschließend einen intermolekularen ”S2–“ Transfer in einem einzigartigen Mechanismus, was bspw. in Thioethern des Typs (Sp,Sp)-(2-(P(S)Ph2)FcCH2)2S resultierte. In Anwesenheit elektronenreicher Aromaten wurden elektrophile aromatischen Substitutuionen und die Bildung chiraler ferrocenylmethyl-substitutuierter Benzene beobachtet. Deren Einsatz als Ligand ergab Biaryle mit bis zu 26 % ee.

A brief introduction explaining phosphine ligand properties, Pd catalysed cross-coupling reactions; the importance of the steps involved in the catalytic cycle (oxidative addition, transmetalation & reductive elimination), mechanistic studies and a comparison of various reactions will give an overview of important cross-coupling reactions and their limitations. The development of a “super-concentrated” (5M) Pd catalysed Kumada type coupling reaction has been developed for coupling a range of aryl bromide and chloride substrates with the Grignard reagents ((p-CF₃-C₆H₄)MgBr)) and PhMgBr in methyl-tetrahydrofuran (Me-THF). Using a range of bidentate ligands such as bis-phosphinoferrocenyl ligands, good conversions were achieved using small amounts of solvent; up to 10 times less than typical procedures in THF. The unsymmetrical Pt complexes of the form [Pt(P-P)Br₂], [Pt(P-P)(Ph)Br] and [Pt(P-P)Ph₂] have been synthesised and characterised. The variations of substituents on the ligand system and the steric bulk have been shown to have a dramatic effect on the rate of transmetalation. The results provide one explanation why 1,1’-bis(di tert-butylphosphino)ferrocene (dtbpf), an excellent ligand for certain Suzuki reactions, is quite poor in reactions where transmetalation is more difficult. Palladium dichloride complexes of the ferrocenylphosphine based ligands 1,1’-bis- (diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), 1,1’-bis-(diisopropylphosphino)ferrocene (dippf) and 1,1’-bis-(di-tert-butylphosphino)ferrocene (dtbpf) have been shown to be active in the Hiyama cross-coupling of p-bromoacetophenone and vinyltrimethoxysilane (CHCH₂Si(OMe₃)) in the presence of TBAF under thermal heating and microwave conditions. Ligands with the optimum balance for promoting the transmetalation, oxidative addition and reductive elimination steps along the reaction pathway have been identified. Competition experiments are consistent with slow transmetalation being an issue with the Hiyama reaction relative to the Suzuki coupling. A novel protocol has been developed for the synthesis of aryl-alkyl ethers via C-O bond activation under Pd catalysed conditions. Utilising the unsymmetrical 1-bis-(ditertbutyl-1’- bis-diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dtbdppf) under optimised conditions with silicon based nucleophiles and NaOH or TBAF as an activator, the formation of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl and n-butyl ethers with a range of aryl halides was achieved in good yield.

The labelling of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), an oxygenate additive used extensively in gasoline blending, as an environmentally harmful chemical has led to the banning and subsequent phasing-out of this additive in California (USA). In response, the global petroleum industry is currently considering replacement strategies, which include the use of tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) or ethanol. Subsequently, SASOL (South African Coal and Oil Limited), a local petrochemical company, in its capacity as an environmentally responsible player in the global petroleum and aligned chemical markets, has commissioned this investigation into the environmental fate of the fuel oxygenates: TAME, ethanol and MTBE. In order to evaluate the environmental fate of the oxygenates, this dissertation has formed a three-tiered approach, using MTBE as a benchmark. The first tier assessed the general fate behaviour of the oxygenates using an evaluative model. A generic evaluative model, developed by Mackay et al. (l996a), called the Equilibrium Criterion (EQc) model was used for this purpose. This fugacity based multimedia model showed MTBE and TAME to have similar affinities for the water compartment. Ethanol was demonstrated to have a pre-disposition for the air compartment. Parameterisation of the EQC model to South African conditions resulted in the development of ChemSA, which reiterated the EQC findings. The second tier quantified the persistence (P), bioaccumulation (B) and long-range transport (LRT) potential of the additives. This tier also included a brief toxicity (T) review. MTBE and ethanol were demonstrated to be persistent and non-persistent, respectively, according to three threshold limit protocols (Convention on the Long Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution Persistent Organic Chemical Protocol; the United Nations Environment Programme Global Initiative; and the Track 1 criteria as defined by the Canadian Toxic Substances Management Policy, as referred to by the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999). These protocols were not unanimous in the persistence classification of TAME. Further investigation of persistence was conducted using a persistence and long-range transport multimedia model, called TaPL3, developed by Webster et al. (1998) and extended by Beyer et al. (2000). TaPL3 reiterated the conclusions drawn from the threshold limit protocols, indicating that TAME's classification worsened from non-persistent to persistent on moving from an air emission to a water emission scenario. This served to emphasise the negative water compartment affinity associated with TAME. Using classification intervals defined by Beyer et al. (2000), TaPL3 demonstrated that the long-range transport potential of the oxygenates increased in the order of TAME, ethanol and MTBE; however, it was concluded that none of the oxygenates were expected to pose a serious long-range transport threat. Bioaccumulation was not expected to be a pertinent environmental hazard. As expected, the oxygenates were dismissed as potential bioaccumulators by the first level of a screening method developed by Mackay and Fraser (2000); as well as by the threshold limit protocols listed above. Simulation of biomagnification, using an equilibrium food chain model developed by Thomann (1989), demonstrated that none of the oxygenates posed a biomagnification threat. A review of toxicity data confirmed that none of the three oxygenates are considered particularly toxic. LDso values indicated the following order of increasing toxicity: ethanol, MTBE and TAME. The third tier focussed on oxygenate aqueous behaviour. A simple equilibrium groundwater model was used to analyse the mobility of the oxygenates in groundwater. TAME was found to be 21 % less mobile than MTBE. Ethanol was shown to be very mobile; however, the applicability of the equilibrium model to this biodegradable alcohol was limited. An analysis of liquid-liquid equilibria comprised of oxygenate, water and a fuel substitution chemical was performed to investigate fuel-aqueous phase partitioning and the co-solvency effects of the oxygenates. Ethanol was shown to partition appreciably into an associated water phase from a fuel-phase. Moreover, this alcohol was shown to act as a co-solvent drawing fuel chemicals into the water phase. MTBE was found to partition sparingly into the water phase from a fuel-phase, with TAME partitioning less than MTBE. Neither ether was shown to act as a co-solvent. It was concluded that TAME and ethanol pose less of a burden to the environment than MTBE. Ethanol was assessed to be environmentally benign; however, it was concluded that ethanol's air compartment affinity and the extent of its co-influence on secondary solutes justified the need for further investigation before its adoption as a fuel additive. This project showed sufficient variation in the environmental behaviour of TAME and MTBE to justify the abandonment of the axiom that MTBE and TAME behave similarly in the environment. However, as MTBE is a significant water pollutant, and TAME has been shown to share a similar water affinity, it is cautiously recommended that the assumption of environmental similarity be discarded, except for the water compartment. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

A study was conducted to evaluate the sorption characteristics of six disinfection byproducts (DBPs) on four sorbents. To investigate sorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), specially designed experimental batch and continuous flow modules were developed. The investigated compounds included: chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), bromate and bromide ions. Sorbents used included light weight aggregate (LWA), an inorganic porous material with unique surface characteristics, Amberlite® XAD-16, a weakly basic anion exchange resin, Amberjet®, a strongly basic anion exchange resin, and granular activated carbon (GAC). Batch experiments were conducted on spiked Milli-Q® and lake water matrices. Results indicate considerable sorption of TCE (68.9%), slight sorption of bromate ions (19%) and no appreciable sorption for the other test compounds on LWA. The sorption of TCE increased to 75.3% in experiments utilizing smaller LWA particle size. LWA could be a viable medium for removal of TCE from contaminated surface or groundwater sites. Amberlite® was found unsuitable for use due to its physical characteristics, and its inability to efficiently remove any of the test compounds. Amberjet® showed an excellent ability to remove the inorganic anions (>99%), and BDCM (96.9%) from aqueous solutions but with considerable elevation of pH. Continuous flow experiments evaluated GAC and Amberjet® with spiked Milli-Q® and tap water matrices. The tested organic compounds were sorbed in the order of their hydrophobicity. Slight elevation of pH was observed during continuous flow experiments, making Amberjet® a viable option for removal of BDCM, bromate and bromide ions from water. The continuous flow experiments showed that GAC is an excellent medium for removal of the tested VOCs and bromate ion. Each of the test compounds showed different breakthrough and saturation points. The unique design of the continuous flow apparatus used in the study proved to be highly beneficial to assess removal of volatile organic compounds from aqueous solutions.

Este trabalho aponta os caminhos distintos que foram utilizados historicamente para a obtenção da expressão hoje denominada força de Lorentz e analisa os conceitos de força propostos por Newton e Mach e os vários significados já propostos para campo. Além disso, realiza uma comparação entre as teorias de Lorentz e Einstein sobre o Eletromagnetismo, descreve um modelo de éter do início do século XX que parece não ter sido ainda refutado, e faz um esboço das concepções de alguns renomados físicos sobre o éter. Como conclusões gerais, constatamos que por vezes os fundamentos da Dinâmica e do Eletromagnetismo não são exatamente apresentados de uma perspectiva histórica nos livros didáticos, que ocorrem alguns equívocos históricos nestes livros, e que a hipótese de existência de um éter merece maiores estudos. / In this work the Lorentz\'s force historical backgrounds was investigated. Moreover, the concepts of force as proposed by Newton and Mach were analyzed, and the several already proposed meanings for field were also compared. A comparison between the theories of Lorentz and Einstein on the foundations of Electromagnetism was also carried out. A model of ether proposed in the beginning of the century XX was discussed and it seems it has not been refuted so far. Outlines of the conceptions of famous physicists on ether had been supplied. As general conclusions we observe that sometimes the bases of the Dynamic and the Electromagnetism in nowadays text books do not seem to be exactly presented from a historical perspective, that some historical mistakes are found within these books, and that the hypothesis about the existence of some kind of ether deserves more studies.

O Pinguim-de-Magalhães, Spheniscus magellanicus, é o mais abundante dos pinguins que vivem em regiões temperadas da América do Sul, sendo um bom indicador de poluição ambiental. Poluentes orgânicos persistentes (POPs) foram detectados em fígado de Pinguins-de-Magalhães encontrados debilitados ou mortos nas praias do Brasil (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul) entre 2008 - 2012 e, do Uruguai e do Chile, em 2011. Os bifenilos policlorados (PCBs) predominaram em relação aos pesticidas organoclorados (DDTs ∼ HCB ∼ Drins) e aos éteres difenilos polibromados (PBDEs). O contaminante emergente fipronil não foi detectado apesar de seu uso na América do Sul. Entre os PCBs predominaram os congeneres penta, hexa e heptaclorados. Concentrações de POPs foram similares entre as áreas de migração e reprodução exceto para os PCBs que foram relativamente maiores na área de reprodução. Avaliação temporal (2008 - 2012) de POPs apresentou constância para os pesticidas organoclorados e tendência ao declínio para os PCBs. A glândula uropigiana de Pinguim-de-Magalhães mostrou-se um tecido alternativo adequado para análise de POPs em aves debilitadas. No geral, as regiões de reprodução e migração dos pinguins na América do Sul apresentam baixas concentrações de POPs com tendência constante ou indícios de declínio. / The Magellanic Penguin , Spheniscus magellanicus, is the most abundant penguin that live in temperate regions of South America and a good indicator of environmental pollution in that region. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were detected in the liver of Magellanic penguins found debilitated or dead on the beaches of Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) between 2008 - 2012, and in Uruguay and Chile in 2011. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were more prevalent than organochlorine pesticides (DDTs ∼ HCB ∼ Drins) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Fipronil, an emerging contaminant, was not detected despite its use in South America. Among PCBs, the congeners penta, hexa and heptaclorados were predominant. Concentrations of POPs are similar between the migration and reproduction areas except for PCBs that are relatively higher in the breeding area. At this time point (2008 - 2012) POPs showed constancy for organochlorine pesticides and PCBs tendency to decline. The Magellanic penguin uropygian gland has proved to be a suitable alternative for POPs tissue analysis in debilitated birds. Overall, southern South America has low concentrations of POPs with constant trend or decline evidence.

Tensoativo aniônico com amplo espectro de utilização, o álcool laurílico etoxilado sulfatado (SLES) é um dos álcoois graxos mais consumidos nos segmentos de cosméticos e detergentes. Da forma como esse processamento ocorre no Brasil, a cadeia de produção compreende transformações nos segmentos agrícola e industrial, cujos consumos de recursos e geração de rejeitos podem proporcionar impactos ambientais significantes, que devem ser conhecidos e dimensionados. Este estudo realizou uma avaliação do desempenho ambiental da produção de SLES para o arranjo tecnológico médio praticado no país, utilizando, para tanto, a metodologia de Avaliação de Ciclo de Vida (ACV). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os estágios responsáveis por impactos ambientais mais significativos são: (i) processamento de álcool laurílico a partir de óleo de palmiste produzido na Ásia; (ii) geração de energia térmica a partir de queima de combustíveis fósseis para uso em operações diversas nos processos industriais; e (iii) a produção de óxido de etileno a partir de ativos petroquímicos. A partir desta avaliação foram então concebidas e modeladas alternativas de processo cuja introdução na cadeia de produção resultaria, ao menos em tese, em melhoria do desempenho ambiental global do processamento de SLES. Cada solução foi então organizada dentro de um cenário específico; são eles: Cenário I: obtenção de SLES a partir de óleo de palmiste produzido no Brasil; Cenário II: produção de SLES a partir de álcool laurílico sintético; Cenário III: geração de energia térmica para os estágios industriais de processo a partir de queima de biomassa; e Cenário IV: produção de SLES tendo como ativo de formulação óxido de etileno derivado de cana-de-açúcar. A técnica de ACV foi, mais uma vez aplicada à situação com vistas a examinar os efeitos, em âmbito sistêmico, proporcionados pelas modificações. O estudo conclui que a substituição do óleo de palmiste importado da Ásia por equivalente produzido no Brasil ou mesmo, por forma alternativa derivada de fonte sintética traria melhorias no desempenho ambiental em praticamente todas as categorias de impacto analisadas. Já a alternativa de uso de biomassa para produção de energia térmica apresenta melhores desempenhos em termos de Mudanças Climáticas e Depleção de Recursos Fósseis, mas resultam em efeitos negativos em termos de Ocupação do Solo, Eutrofização e Ecotoxicidade em comparação à situação original. Por fim, a incorporação de óxido de etileno de origem renovável ao processo não se reverteu em vantagens expressivas para o desempenho ambiental global do processo em nenhuma das categorias de impacto avaliadas. Uma análise ampla efetuada em termos de Balanço de CO2 para os cinco cenários avaliados demonstrou que a incorporação de ativos de fonte renovável resulta em alteração do perfil de impactos quanto à categoria de Mudanças Climáticas entre os cenários com relação às estimativas originais. Isso se deve essencialmente à incorporação ao balanço de parcelas referentes à fixação de CO2 do ar via fotossíntese e emissões de CO2 biogênico ocorridas durante o estágio agrícola, que passaram a ser consideradas por conta desta análise. / Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), a multi-purpose anionic surfactant, is one of the most used fatty alcohols for cleaning and personal care products. The chain of production in Brazil involves transformations in the agricultural and industrial sectors, tapping resources and generating waste, and can lead to significant environmental impact yet to be known and quantified. The present study assessed the environmental performance of the production of SLES for the average technological disposition in Brazil, using the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Results show that the stages responsible for the most significant environmental impact are: (i) processing of lauryl alcohol from palm kernel oil produced in Asia; (ii) generation of thermal energy from burning fossil fuel in various operations of the industrial process; and (iii) production of ethylene oxide from petrochemical sources. From this assessment, we designed alternative processes that if introduced in the chain of production, would in theory result in better global environmental performance of SLES processing. Each solution was then organized within specific scenarios, namely: Scenario I: obtainment of SLES from palm kernel oil produced in Brazil; Scenario II: production of SLES from synthetic lauryl alcohol; Scenario III: generation of thermal energy for the industrial stages of processing from burning biomass; and Scenario IV: production of SLES from ethylene oxide derived from sugarcane. LCA modeling was applied to examine the systemic effects made by these modifications. The study concludes that environmental performance improvements in virtually all impact categories analyzed could be achieved by replacing palm kernel oil imported from Asia by an equivalent produced in Brazil, or even by an alternative form derived from a synthetic source. The use of biomass for thermal energy, on the other hand, has better performance in terms of Climate Change and Fossil Depletion, but negative effects in terms of Agricultural Land Occupation, Eutrophication, and Ecotoxicity when compared to the original scenario. Finally, the incorporation of renewable origin ethylene oxide did not lead to expressive advantages for global environmental performance in any of the categories. A wide analysis of CO2 Balance for the five analyzed scenarios showed that the incorporation of renewable sources would result in improvements in Climatic Change when compared to the original estimations. This is due, essentially, to the incorporation of the balance of percentages of air CO2 fixation through photosynthesis and biogenic CO2 emissions that occur during the agricultural stage, which are taken into account in this analysis.

Molecular simulations have become an important tool within the last few decades to understand physical processes in the microscale and customize processes in the macroscale according to the understanding developed at the molecular level. We present results from molecular simulations we performed to study the adsorption of hazardous organics in nanoporous materials. Adsorption of water in silicalite, a hydrophobic material, and the effect of defects were investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. Silanol nests were found to have a big impact on the hydrophobicity of silicalite. Even the presence of one silanol nest per unit cell caused a significant amount of water adsorption. We also investigated the effect of four different cations, H+, Li+, Na+, and Cs+. Their presence in silicalite increased the amount of water adsorbed. Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations of MTBE adsorption in silicalite, mordenite, and zeolite beta with different Na+ cation loadings were carried out. The results revealed the importance of the pore structure on the adsorption of MTBE. Although these three zeolites have similar pore volumes, zeolite beta, with its pore structure which is mostly accessible to MTBE molecules, is predicted to adsorb significantly more MTBE than silicalite and mordenite. The Na+ cation loading, up to four cations does not have a significant effect on the adsorption capacity of the zeolites studied here, however, for silicalite and zeolite beta increasing the Na+ content increases the amount adsorbed at very low pressures. A new force field was developed by Monte Carlo simulations for 1,4-Dioxane, an important industrial solvent which has emerged as a potentially significant threat to human health. The objective was to develop reliable atom-atom interaction parameters to use in the simulations of the adsorption of 1,4-Dioxane in different adsorbent materials. Predictions of critical point data, liquid and vapour densities, heats of vaporization with our new force field were in good agreement with experimental data and outperformed predictions from simulations with other force field parameters available in literature. To obtain the isotherms of MTBE and 1,4-Dioxane adsorption from water in silicalite Monte Carlo simulations were performed. First we optimized the interaction parameters between the atoms of silicalite and the atoms of MTBE and 1,4-Dioxane. Using these optimized parameters we simulated the adsorption of MTBE and 1,4-Dioxane from water in silicalite. Despite the agreement of simulated and experimental isotherms of pure components, simulated isotherms of MTBE and 1,4-Dioxane adsorption from water in silicalite did not yield satisfactory results. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to investigate the affinity between two hazardous materials, PFOA and 1,1-DCE; and four different zeolites. Binding energies and Henry's constants were computed. For both PFOA and 1,1-DCE zeolite-beta had the highest affinity. The affinity between activated carbon with polar surface groups and water, and 1,4-Dioxane were investigated to shed light on why activated carbon is ineffective to remove 1,4-Dioxane from water. Results showed that presence of polar surface groups increased the affinity between water and activated carbon, while the affinity between 1,4-Dioxane and activated carbon was not effected by the presence of polar surface groups.

Depuis plusieurs dizaines d'années, les matériaux hybrides organiques-inorganiques constituent une classe de matériaux particulièrement bien adaptée aux applications en optique intégrée. Le réseau minéral, élaboré par procédé sol-gel, confère au matériau la tenue mécanique. Quant au réseau organique, qui est réticulable par voie photochimique, il permet la formation des systèmes guidants. Des travaux antérieurs réalisés au sein de notre laboratoire ont montré le potentiel d'un matériau à base d'un précurseur hybride 2-(3,4 epoxycyclohexylethyltrimethoxysilane) (EETMOS) pour l'application en optique intégrée. Bien que la qualité des composants réalisés à 1,31µm se soit révélée satisfaisante, un problème subsiste : une trop forte atténuation à 1,55 µm. La transmission optique autour de ces longueurs d'ondes est limitée par la présence des groupements OH et CH aliphatiques.L'objectif principal de ce travail est de développer une nouvelle génération de matériaux hybrides avec une très grande réactivité et de diminuer la quantité de groupements impliqués dans l'atténuation. Nous avons choisi la fonction vinyl éther comme fonction organique grâce à sa grande réactivité par voie cationique en comparaison avec la fonction époxyde. Nous avons étudié la double fonctionnalité de polymérisation du nouveau matériau hybride à base d'un vinyl éther silane. En premier lieu, les réactions d'hydrolyse et de polycondensation du sol ont été suivies par la spectroscopie RMN liquide du Si-29 en fonction du temps, de la température et du pH de l'eau impliquée dans l'hydrolyse. Le but était d'obtenir le plus haut taux d'oligomère multifonctionnel possible et le minium de groupement OH. La photopolymérisation de type cationique de la fonction vinyl éther a ensuite été étudiée, en utilisant la spectroscopie d'absorption dans l'infrarouge moyen. En présence du photoamorceur diaryliodonium, la photopolymérisation a été étudiée en suivant l'évolution de la bande d'absorption de la double liaison vinyl éther avant et après irradiation. La photopolymérisation cationique est rapidement initiée dès le début de l'exposition aux UV, ce qui prouve la réactivité important de la fonction vinyl éther. En utilisant la spectroscopie d'absorption dans le proche infrarouge, les résultats montrent des niveaux d'atténuation très prometteurs pour l'utilisation de ce matériau en optique intégré à 1,31 et 1,55 µm. / In the last few years, organic-inorganic hybrid materials were particularly attractive for integrated optical circuits. Hybrid network could be prepared by the formation of inorganic and organic network simultaneously through sol-gel technique and photopolymerization process.A composition based on [2-(3, 4 epoxycyclohexylethyltrimethoxysilane)] has already allowed the fabrication of optical integrated devices. The organic polymerization is on a cationic way. Results show the contributions of OH and aliphatic CH groups to the attenuation in the third telecommunication window located at 1,55 µm.The main objective of this work is to remove this difficulty by developing a new generation of hybrid materials with a very high reactivity and low amount of groups involved in the attenuation. We have chosen vinyl ether function as an organic part because of their well known high polymerization rates via cationic way which are faster than the epoxide function and which lead to no OH groups generation and a very low aliphatic CH groups introduction.In this work, we study the dual functional structure of a new vinyl ether alkoxysilane hybrid precursor. Firstly, hydrolysis and polycondensation of vinyl ether based solution are followed by liquid and solid Si-NMR spectroscopy. The kinetic reaction is followed as a function of time, temperature and pH of the water involved in the hydrolysis, in order to obtain the highest reactive multifunctional oligomer and the lowest OH groups. Secondly, results of the cationic photopolymerization of vinyl ether- based monomers are also reported, using middle infrared spectroscopy. In the presence of diaryliodonium photoinitator, the photopolymerization is studied by monitoring the absorption band of vinyl ether double bond before and after irradiation. The cationic photopolymerization occurs rapidly upon UV-exposure and vinyl ether monomers proved to be very effective monomers. Using near infrared spectroscopy, results show promising attenuation for the use of this material in integrated optic at 1,31 µmand 1,55 µm.

3-Diazonium- 4-(trifluorovinyloxy) - perfluorobutanesulfonyl benzenesulfonimide zwitterionic monomer (see figure 1) is proposed to be polymerized and further act as a new electrolyte for Polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). One reason is that, the aromatic trifluorovinyl aryl ether (TFVE) group can easily be homopolymerized to aromatic perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) polymer. Furthermore, the diazonium moiety in the monomer is expected to covalently attach the electrolyte to the carbon electrodes support. The perfluoroalkyl(aryl) sulfonimide (PFSI) pendant provides good chemical and mechanical stability as well as better proton conductivity. Several multi-step synthetic schemes are designed to obtain such monomer from perfluoroalkyl(aryl) sulfonimide (PFSI). Among them, the purified coupling product 4-OCF2CF2Br-3-NO2-PhSO2(M) SO2C4F9 from the first approach was successfully completed. The next stages of the work will involve dehalogenation, reduction, and diazotization to achieve the targeting monomer. All the intermediates were characterized by 1H and 19F NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy.