Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-123).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Carleton University, 1993. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 1981. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-213).

Thesis (doctoral)--Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität zu Münster. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-121).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-138). Also available via the Internet.

Os éteres de bifenilas polibromados (PBDEs) são largamente usados como retardadores de chama e têm sido detectados no sangue humano, tecido adiposo e leite materno devido às suas propriedades físico-químicas e bioacumuladoras e à sua elevada persistência no meio ambiente. Muitos estudos têm relatado toxicidade hepática relacionada à exposição aos PBDEs. Como efeitos citotóxicos são frequentemente associados à disfunção mitocondrial,no presente estudo, investigamos a toxicidade do BDE-47 em mitocôndrias isoladas de fígado de rato. Nos seguintes parâmetros: potencial de membrana mitocondrial, consumo de oxigênio, interação com a membrana mitocondrial, liberação de cálcio, inchamento mitocondrial e os níveis de ATP da suspensão mitocondrial com a finalidade de observar a capacidade do composto em interferir com a bioenergética da organela. Avaliou-se ainda a formação de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS), dos níveis de GSH/GSSG, níveis mitocondriais de grupos sulfidrila de proteínas e níveis mitocondriais de NAD(P)H com o intuito de analisar o estado redox mitocondrial. Os congêneres BDE-47 e BDE-99 foram avaliados em concentrações que variaram entre 0,1 e 50 ?mol/L. Os dois congêneres de PBDEsapresentaram toxicidade mitocondrial afetando todos os parâmetros que avaliam a bioenergética mitocondrial culminandoum uma depleção do ATP. Por outro lado, nos ensaios de avaliação do estresse oxidativo os PBDEs estudados não demonstraram qualquer efeito, no entanto, afetaram a cadeia respiratória mitocondrial, o que normalmente reflete em um acúmulo de espécies reativas de oxigênio. Estes resultados são explicados pelo mecanismo de ação destes compostos como retardante de chama, pois durante a combustão os retardantes de chama bromados realizam a neutralização de radicais livres (OHo e Ho). Conclui-se assim que os PBDEs podem levar à disfunção bioenergética e assim induzir a morte celular pela diminuição do ATP. Observou-se ainda que BDE-47 apresentou maior toxicidade do que o BDE-99 sobre os parâmetros estudados. / Polybrominated biphenyls ethers (PBDE) , widely used as flame retardants, have been detected in human blood, adipose tissue and breast milk due to their physicochemical and high bioaccumulative properties and environmental persistence. Many studies have reported liver toxicity related to exposure to PBDEs. As cytotoxic effects are often associated with mitochondrial dysfunction,in the present study, we investigated the toxicity of the BDE-47 and BDE-99 on isolated rat liver mitochondria. Assessing mitochondrial membrane potential, oxygen consumption, interaction with the mitochondrial membrane, calcium release, mitochondrial swelling and ATP levels of the mitochondrial suspension in order to observe the ability of the compounds to interfere with the bioenergetic organelle, and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), GSH/GSSG levels, mitochondrial sulfhydryl groups and levels of mitochondrial NAD(P)H in order to analyze mitochondrial redox state. The congeners BDE-47 and BDE -99 were evaluated at concentrations ranging between 0.1 and 50 ?mol/L. Both PBDEs congeners showed mitochondrial toxicity affecting all parameters that assess mitochondrial bioenergetics and culminating with ATP depletion. On the other hand, no effect was observed in tests assessing oxidative stress, although they were able to inhibit the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which is usually reflected in an accumulation of reactive oxygen species. These results are explained by the mechanism of action of this compounds as flame retardants, because during the combustion brominated flame retardants perform the neutralization of free radicals (OHo and Ho). It follows that PBDEs can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and thus induce bioenergetic cell death. It was also observed that The BDE-47 showed higher toxicity than BDE-99 in the studied model

D.Phil. (Chemistry) / The problem of maintaining good quality of water for domestic use and for aquatic life remains a challenge. Water sources are often contaminated with pollutants from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions and by human activities such as manufacturing industries, mining, water-purification processes, agricultural activities and a vast number of other activities. Water-purification processes used by municipal authorities are designed to remove most of the pollutants but some trace amounts will always remain and have been detected in drinking water and treated waste water reservoirs. These trace amounts pose a threat to human health and the well-being of aquatic life. The detection of these trace amounts of pollutants is often carried out by laboratory-based techniques that require sophisticated, expensive instruments and often require extensive sample preparation and pre-concentration. Simple, quick and in-field detection methods are necessary especially for remote small communities with limited or no access to laboratories. Optical detection systems offer hope as a solution to this problem. In this work newly developed fluorescence-based molecular sensors for the detection of pollutants in water were developed, characterised and tested for their sensing abilities towards organic and inorganic pollutants. The fluorescent probes for organic pollutants were designed based on the host-guest chemistry of the cyclodextrin molecule. Azo dye-modified β-cyclodextrins were synthesised and linked via ethylene glycol and epichlorohydrin to produce the sensors that were then tested for their sensing response towards chlorophenols and small aliphatic chlorinated alkanes which are often formed during the disinfection of water in the purification process. The sensor molecules were characterised by UV-Vis, FT-IR and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The amount of cyclodextrin in each sensor molecule was quantified using the anthrone method (67%) as well as by 1H-NMR spectroscopy (72%). To demonstrate the host-guest interaction of the sensor molecules, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used. ITC measurements showed that modifying β-cyclodextrin and using linkers did not alter its host-guest interaction with guest molecules as demonstrated by the stoichiometry, n, stability (or binding or association) constant (K) and thermodynamic parameters of the interaction. The sensor molecule linked via ethylene glycol showed selectivity towards 4- chlorophenol among the chlorophenols investigated and has the potential to be used in a sensor for the detection of 4-chlorophenol. The sensor molecule linked via epichlorohydrin showed sensitivity towards chloroform, a typical disinfection by-product. These experimental results showed that the sensor molecules could be used for quick on-field detection of chlorinated organic compounds in water. Sensor molecules for inorganic pollutants were based on the complex formation of crown ethers with metal ions. The sensor was formed by modifying a dibenzo-18- crown-6 ether molecule with an azo dye. The sensor was then characterised using UV-Vis spectrophotmetry, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopies as well as mass spectrometry and CHNS elemental analysis. The sensor molecule was then subjected to different metal ions and the fluorescence change of the probe observed. Interestingly, the sensor was highly sensitive and selective to mercury (II) and Cu (II) ions in water. Mercury (II) is one of the most hazardous heavy metals among the heavy-metal ions found in environmental waters and its early detection in water sources is important. The synthesised molecular sensor can therefore be incorporated into a simple hand-held gadget with a light source and be used for on-field detection of mercury (II) ions in remote areas.

Several camphor and pinane derivatives have been synthesised and evaluated for use as chiral auxiliaries in asymmetric synthesis. Various blocking groups have been attached to the camphor skeleton in attempts to improve stereofacial selectivity; these include α-methoxybenzyl and xylyl groups, and novel stereoisomeric ketal moieties derived from meso- and (R,R)-(-)-2,3-butanediol. Benzylation reactions carried out on the lithium enolates of ester derivatives of the camphor-derived chiral auxiliaries afforded α-benzylated products in 5-60% diastereomeric excess. Stereochemical aspects have been explored using high resolution NMR, X-ray crystallographic and computer modelling techniques, and hydrolysis of selected α-benzylated products has permitted the diasteroselective bias to be confirmed. Opposite configurations at the new stereogenic centre are clearly favoured by the xylyl and ketal blocking groups - an observation rationalised in terms of the presence or absence of chelating potential in the blocking group. Baylis-Hillman reactions carried out on a series of specially prepared camphor-derived acrylic esters containing the ketal blocking group exhibited both low diastereoselectivities (0-30% d.e.) and very long reaction times. Chiral silyl enol ethers, synthesised using both pinane and camphor derivatives as chiral auxiliaries, showed up to 20% diastereomeric excess in MCPBA oxidation, alkylation and Mukaiyama reactions. Attempts to bring the prochiral centre in the silyl enol ether substrates closer to the chiral auxiliary, and thus improve the stereofacial selectivity, proved unsuccessful. The silyl enol ether derivatives, however, display interesting fragmentation patterns in their electron impact mass spectra, which were investigated using a combination of high resolution MS, comparative low resolution MS and metastable peak analysis.

Novel cage-functionalized azacrown ethers, i.e. 51, 52, 53, 55, 57, 61 and 62, which have various crown cavity and different number of nitrogen atoms incorporated, have been prepared. X-ray structures of 53, 55 and 57 have been obtained for the study of the crown topological structure. The complexation properties of crown 51, 52, 57, 61 and 62 have been evaluated via alkali metal picrate extraction, silver picrate extraction and ESI-MS study. The novel cage-fuctionalized azacrown ethers generally exhibit high avidity and selectivity towards Ag+ versus alkali metal ions and some transition metals i.e. Cu2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Ni2+ and Pb2+. Crown 61 displays significant avidity and selectivity toward K+ in alkali metal picrate extraction experiments vis-à-vis the remaining alkali metal picrates. Three types of ditopic ion-exchange receptors for sodium hydroxide extraction study have been designed. All of the crown ether molecules have proper cavity for selective sodium complexation and have weakly acidic ionizable alcohols for sodium-proton exchange under strongly basic conditions. Crown 80 and 81 were synthesized; key intermediates for the synthesis of crown 82, 83 and 84 have been prepared. The preparation of 99 afforded an unexpected crown 103. The preparation of 109 had been attempted, but could not be successfully isolated. Four novel cage-functionalized calix[4]arene crown-5, i.e. 113-116, have been synthesized. The structures of 113 and 116 have been established by X-ray crystal structural analysis and NMR spectral analysis. The complexation properties of the four ionic receptors have been studied via alkali metal picrate extraction experiments. Crown 115 and 116 display more than modest avidity toward alkali metal ions and are most selective toward K+ vis-à-vis 113 and 114.

No description available.