In recent years, non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have attracted enormous interest in the field of organic solar cells (OSCs), they improve power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to the classical fullerene acceptor. In this work, OSCs based on PBDB-T as the donor material and the very well-known NFA ITIC, along with its fluorinated and chlorinated derivatives (IT-2F, IT-4F, IT-2Cl, IT-4Cl) were fabricated to investigate the effect of the halogenation end group on the photovoltaic parameters. Optical characterization reveals that both chlorination and fluorination are effective in downshifting the molecular energy levels and redshifting the absorption spectra, which results in higher Jsc but lower Voc compared to pristine ITIC. In addition, the halogenated ITIC device exhibited enhanced FF and PCE. Various optoelectronic techniques were also used to investigate the charge recombination dynamics and charge extraction process. It has been found that (IT-2F, IT-2Cl) show suppressed monomolecular recombination compared to di-substituted NFA (IT-4F, IT-4Cl). Furthermore, fluorinated ITIC has a longer charge carrier recombination lifetime but a lower carrier extraction rate. Lastly, the best-performing device from the preceding component mixtures PBDB-T:IT-2F was exposed to thermal annealing at different stages of the fabrication process to investigate how annealing affects the photovoltaic parameters. According to our findings, both post and 2-stage annealing improve FF and PCE, but the latter is even more beneficial. In further studies, the annealing effect on the HTL layer (MoOx) has also been investigated. Annealing improved the MoOx’s work function, resulting in higher internal electric field that thereby facilitated hole extraction, as demonstrated by TPC where 2-stage annealed devices exhibited a faster carrier extraction rate.

Some bacteria produce a potent antifungal agent (pyrrolnitrin) from tryptophan using four dioxygen dependent steps to outcompete other microbes. Each step of this process is catalyzed by an oxygenase encoded by the prnABCD cassette. The first enzymatic step in pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis is the regioselective chlorination of tryptophan to form 7-chlorotryptophan. This halogenation is catalyzed by PrnA, a Flavin dependent oxygenase, which has been isolated and characterized from P. fluorescens. The pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis pathway (prnABCD) has been also observed in the Burkholderia genus. This thesis comprises my studies on the expression, purification, and characterization of PrnA from Burkholderia ambifaria. Beyond the comparative preliminary data on B. ambifaria PrnA, we report an NADPH-dependent activity assay for PrnA coupling the oxidative chlorination of tryptophan (and related substrates) with NADPH consumption. The steady-state kinetic parameters associated with PrnA of kcat, KM, and catalytic efficiency of enzymes are also reported for this system under defined experimental conditions.

The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) whether or not heterotrophic microorganisms exert an effect on the trihalomethane (THM) or total organic halogen (TOX) formation potentials of algal extracellular products (ECP), and (2) whether or not diurnal cycling of THM and TOX precursors occurs in vitro. These objectives were addressed through culture studies of heterotrophic microorganisms and pure algae from both the green and blue-green divisions. Culture conditions were varied to study different aspects of algal and bacterial interactions. Results from continuous light assays indicated that heterotrophs, grown in the same culture vessel with algae, affected an increase in the potential of chlorinated culture filtrate to form THMs. No significant changes in TOX-formation potential were observed. Heterotrophs grown in volumes of algal ECP (cell-free filtrates of algal cultures) used the algal-produced organic carbon as their sole carbon source. These microorganisms further reduced both the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and the concentration of the DOC fraction that reacted to form TOXs. The fraction which produced THMs was not reduced. Heterotrophic microorganism metabolic activity increased the rate at which THMs fanned from chlorinated algal ECP but did not alter the seven-day THM-formation potentials. Their activity also increased the initial rate of TOX formation, but decreased the seven-day formation potential of these compounds. Attempts to demonstrate diurnal cycling of the concentration of THM precursors and other halogenated organic precursors, a phenomenon previously demonstrated in a eutrophic reservoir, were unsuccessful. / M.S.

Yes / The prospect of eradicating malaria continues to be challenging in the face of increasing parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs so that novel antimalarials active against asexual, sexual, and liver-stage malaria parasites are urgently needed. In addition, new antimalarials need to be affordable and available to those most in need and, bearing in mind climate change, should ideally be sustainable. The West African climbing shrub Cryptolepis sanguinolenta is used traditionally for the treatment of malaria; its principal alkaloid, cryptolepine (1), has been shown to have antimalarial properties, and the synthetic analogue 2,7-dibromocryptolepine (2) is of interest as a lead toward new antimalarial agents. Cryptolepine (1) was isolated using a two-step Soxhlet extraction of C. sanguinolenta roots, followed by crystallization (yield 0.8% calculated as a base with respect to the dried roots). Semi-synthetic 7-bromo- (3), 7, 9-dibromo- (4), 7-iodo- (5), and 7, 9-dibromocryptolepine (6) were obtained in excellent yields by reaction of 1 with N-bromo- or N-iodosuccinimide in trifluoroacetic acid as a solvent. All compounds were active against Plasmodia in vitro, but 6 showed the most selective profile with respect to Hep G2 cells: P. falciparum (chloroquine-resistant strain K1), IC50 = 0.25 µM, SI = 113; late stage, gametocytes, IC50 = 2.2 µM, SI = 13; liver stage, P. berghei sporozoites IC50 = 6.13 µM, SI = 4.6. Compounds 3–6 were also active against the emerging zoonotic species P. knowlesi with 5 being the most potent (IC50 = 0.11 µM). In addition, 3–6 potently inhibited T. brucei in vitro at nM concentrations and good selectivity with 6 again being the most selective (IC50 = 59 nM, SI = 478). These compounds were also cytotoxic to wild-type ovarian cancer cells as well as adriamycin-resistant and, except for 5, cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells. In an acute oral toxicity test in mice, 3–6 did not exhibit toxic effects at doses of up to 100 mg/kg/dose × 3 consecutive days. This study demonstrates that C. sanguinolenta may be utilized as a sustainable source of novel compounds that may lead to the development of novel agents for the treatment of malaria, African trypanosomiasis, and cancer.

La fonctionnalisation tardive de molécules (Late stage functionalization – LSF) offre l’opportunité d’explorer l’espace chimique plus efficacement, en particulier en considérant les liaisons C-H aromatiques comme des points potentiels de diversification pour générer de nouveaux analogues directement en une seule étape au lieu de faire une synthèse totale dite de novo. La fonctionnalisation directe de composés élaborés peut en particulier se faire en utilisant la technologie superacide comme démontré par les nombreux travaux du professeur Jacquesy. L’un des meilleurs exemples de cette stratégie est certainement la transformation directe de la vinorelbine (Navelbine®) par fluoration en conditions superacides pour conduire à son analogue difluoré (Vinflunine), commercialisé par les laboratoires Pierre Fabre comme agent anticancéreux Javlor®. C’est dans ce contexte que ce travail de thèse a porté sur le développement de nouvelles méthodes de fonctionnalisation directe de composés aromatiques azotés.Il s’agissait effectivement de développer de nouveaux outils de synthèse en conditions superacides afin :1. d’hydroxyler directement des composés aromatiques par voie électrophile;2. d’halogéner des composés aromatiques azotés allant d’anilines simples à des composés élaborés naturels ou de synthèse;3. d’appliquer ces méthodes à la synthèse de molécules marquées par des isotopes stables. / Late-stage functionalization can now be considered as a synthetic tool of choice to create molecular diversity, especially in a medicinal chemistry context. For example, aromatic C-H bonds can be regarded as functional groups and points of potential diversification to generate new analogs of a lead structure without resorting to de novo synthesis.The direct functionalization of elaborated compounds can also be done using superacid chemistry as demonstrated by the previous work of professor Jacquesy. One of the best examples of this strategy is certainly the direct transformation of vinorelbine (Navelbine®) by fluorination in superacid conditions to lead to its difluorinated analogue (Vinflunine), marketed by Pierre Fabre laboratories as an anticancer agent Javlor®.In this context, these studies focused on the development of new methods for the direct functionalization of aromatic nitrogen containing compounds.In particular, this work aimed at developing new synthetic tools in superacid for:1. the direct hydroxylation of aromatic compounds;2. the halogenation of aromatic nitrogen compounds from simple anilines to naturally occurring or synthetic compounds;3. the synthesis of labelled compounds with stable isotopes.

Halogenated heterocycles are common in pharmaceutical and natural products and there is a need to develop a better understanding of processes used to synthesize them. Although the halogenation of simple aromatic molecules is well understood, the mechanisms behind the halogenation of aromatic heterocycles have been more problematic to elucidate because multiple pathways are possible. Recently, new, radical-based mechanisms have been proposed for heterocycle halogenation. In this study, we examine and test the viability of possible nucleophilic substitution, SN2@X, mechanisms in the halogenation of anions derived from the deprotonation of aromatic heterocycles. All the experiments were done in a modified Thermo LCQ Plus equipped with ESI. The modifications allow a neutral reagent to be added to the helium buffer gas in the 3D ion trap. In this system, it is possible to monitor ion/molecule reactions over time periods up to 10 seconds. A variety of aromatic heterocyclic nucleophiles were chosen based on their inclusion of nitrogen and or sulfur as the heteroatoms. In addition to this, the halogenating molecules chosen included traditional halobenzenes and a new class of perfluorinated alkyl iodides. It was found that, experimentally, the SN2@X path is the likely mechanism in the halogenation of deprotonated heterocycles. With computational modeling, we have additional support for this substitution mechanism. From this original study, two more studies were developed to look at the competing nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction, SNAr. In the first of these studies, the focus was to look at how electron withdrawing substituents about an aromatic ring affect the ratio of SN2@X verses SNAr. As nucleophiles, 2-thiophenide and 5-thiazolide were used. The neutral reagents focus on trifluorobromobenzene derivatives along with pentafluorobromo- and -iodobenzene, and a two trifluoroiodobenzenes. What was found was that the ratio of the reactions depends on where the fluorines, or electron withdrawing substituents are in relation to the bromine or iodine on the ring. If the fluorines are in a close location to stabilize the resulting ionic product, SN2@X proceeds easily. However, the fluorines directly adjacent to the bromine or iodine also provide steric hinderance in the SNAr reaction. In the final project, arylation and benzylation of bromopyridines was examined. The nucleophiles used were benzyl and phenyl anions as well as 5-thiazolide, and the neutral reagents were bromopyridines, with fluorines used as an electron withdrawing groups to help stabilize the transition state. In these experiments, steric hinderance highly affected the results between the phenyl and benzyl nucleophiles. With benzylic anions, the nucleophile is able to reach the aromatic ring with less steric interference and therefore can proceed with an SNAr reaction. In addition to this, with mono and difluorinated pyridine substrates, the nitrogen in the ring activated the ring yielding nucleophilic aromatic substitution losing fluoride rather than bromide in many cases.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-04-27T10:56:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 isabellafloresdesouzamarra.pdf: 6949720 bytes, checksum: 3ef266443c230cb7ef58f9760b630a2f (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-04-27T11:18:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 isabellafloresdesouzamarra.pdf: 6949720 bytes, checksum: 3ef266443c230cb7ef58f9760b630a2f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-27T11:18:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 isabellafloresdesouzamarra.pdf: 6949720 bytes, checksum: 3ef266443c230cb7ef58f9760b630a2f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-20 / A obtenção de aminoácidos halogenados é de grande importância para síntese orgânica e para a área biológica, uma vez que estes são valiosos intermediários sintéticos e se apresentam como produtos biologicamente funcionais. Neste contexto, as azalactonas são precursores interessantes, uma vez que podem atuar como aminoácidos protegidos e serem utilizadas na síntese de derivados de aminoácidos e heterociclos complexos. Neste trabalho são descritas a abertura e halogenação das azalactonas de Erlenmeyer-Plöchl sob uma abordagem organocatalítica, utilizando ácido canforsulfônico (ACS) e N-bromosuccinimida (NBS) como agente halogenante. A condição otimizada para obtenção do produto halogenado consistiu na utilização de 30 mol% de ACS, 1.2 equivalente de NBS e 4 mL de metanol, a 65°C por 7 horas, obtendo-se uma imina halogenada com 83% de rendimento. Devido as dificuldades encontradas durante a avaliação do escopo de substratos, investigou-se a redução one-pot da imina halogenada, entretanto não foi possível obter um aumento da razão diastereoisomérica no produto desejado. Diante dos contratempos encontrados na metodologia proposta, investigou-se o uso da catálise foto redox irradiada por luz visível na tentativa de halogenação do heterociclo azalactônico. Entretanto, ao utilizar esta abordagem, observou-se a homodimerização das azalactonas de Erlenmeyer-Plöchl ao invés da halogenação da mesma, levando a um produto de cicloadição [2+2]. Em diclorometano, a utilização do fotocatalisador de rutênio favoreceu a formação de um sistema tricíclico do tipo espiro. Já em meio metanólico, o fotocatalisador metálico favoreceu a formação do produto de abertura dos dois anéis azalactônicos com 59% de rendimento, enquanto que o uso do corante orgânico Eosina Y levou à formação de um cicloaduto assimétrico, com a abertura de apenas um dos anéis azalactônicos (40% de rendimento). Avaliou-se o escopo de substratos utilizando Eosina Y como fotocatalisador e os rendimentos obtidos foram de moderados a bons (12 a 78%). Todos os produtos foram caracterizados por RMN de 1H, 13C, e IV. / Halogenated amino acids are of great importance for both organic synthesis and biological areas, once these are valuable synthetic intermediates and presented as biologically functional products. In this context, azlactones are interesting precursors that can act as protected amino acids and have been used in the synthesis of amino acid derivatives and complex heterocycles as well. This work describes Erlenmeyer-Plöchl’s azlactone ring opening following by halogenation under an organocatalytic approach, using camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) as halogenating agent. The optimized reaction conditions for the halogenated product consisted on the use of 30 mol% CSA, 1.2 equivalent of NBS and 4 mL of methanol, at 65°C for 7 hours, to afford a halogenated imine with 83% of yield. Due to the difficulties in the substrate scope (purification process), a one-pot reduction of the halogenated imine was investigated, however, it was not possible to obtain a good diastereoisomeric ratio of the desired product. In view of setbacks encountered in the proposed methodology, the use of visible light photoredox catalysis in attempt to halogenate the azlactone heterocycle was investigated. However, using this approach, homodimerization of Erlenmeyer-Plöchl’s azlactones was observed instead of halogenation, leading to a cycloaddition [2+2] derived product. In dichloromethane, the use of ruthenium photocatalyst favored the formation of a tricyclic spiro type system. Switching to methanol as solvent, the metallic photocatalyst led the formation of the opening product with two azlactone rings, in 59% yield, whereas the organic dye Eosin Y conducted the formation of an asymmetric cycloadduct, with the ring opening of only one of the azlactone (40% yield). The substrate scope was evaluated using Eosin Y as photocatalyst and the products were isolated in yields ranging from 12 to 78%. All products were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C and IR.

This Master´s thesis deals with heterogeneous photochlorination of polyolefins and especially with the photochlorination of polypropylene itself. In the theoretical part the available information about properties, manufactory and application of chlorinated polyolefins, specifically polyethylene and polypropylene, is provided. The basic principles of the photochemistry are described, which are further applied to the issue of photochemistry chain reactions and photochemical halogenations, mainly photochlorinations. The practical part includes design and realization of few types of equipment for the heterogeneous photochlorination of polypropylene done at low temperatures (to 50° C) by gaseous chlorine in bulk or chlorine suspended in suspension of PP in CCl4. Series of chlorination was accomplished, which was varied in the type of PP, in the way of dosage Cl2 and in the period of high pressure mercury lamp irradiation (1–90 minutes). The chlorine content in prepared samples was determined by the gravimetry with ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, as well as by the Shöniger combustion method. Their accuracies were than compared. The chlorine content dependence on the period of chlorination and on the porosity of initial PP was established.

This research explored fate of organic contaminants in aquatic plant systems through (i) experimental development of relationships to describe sorption, uptake and enzymatic processing of contaminants by plants and inhibition of aquatic plants by contaminants and (ii) incorporation of experimental relationships into a conceptual model which describes contaminant fate in aquatic plant systems. This study focused on interactions of aquatic plants L. minor and M. aquaticum with halogenated phenols. 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) are precursors for the highly toxic and heavily applied herbicides 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D and were examined in detail. Chlorophenols are generally resistant to microbial degradation, a property which may limit microbial remediation options as effective alternatives for clean up of contaminated sites. Relationships for fundamental interactions between plants and contaminants that dictate uptake, enzymatic processing and sequestration of contaminants by aquatic plants were established. An assay which quantified production of oxygen by plants was developed to quantify plant metabolic activity and inhibition. Uptake of chlorinated phenols depended on plant activity and aqueous phase concentration of contaminant in the protonated form. Therefore, plant activity, contaminant pKa and media pH were established as critical parameters controlling rate of contaminant uptake. A conceptual model was developed which incorporated plant activity and inhibition into a mathematical description of uptake of organic contaminants by aquatic plants. The conceptual model was parameterized using experimental data delineating effect of plant activity, inhibition and speciation on contaminant uptake and the model was verified using independently gathered data. Experimentation with radio-labeled chlorinated phenols established that contaminants were sequestered internal to plants by plant enzymatic processing. 19F NMR was established as a technique to quantify transformation and conjugation products internal to plants and contaminant assimilation by plants and demonstrated that multiple metabolites containing the parent compound were present and quantifiable internal to plants. Finally, fate of plant-sequestered contaminants in an anaerobic bioassay was examined using Desulfitobacterium sp. strain Viet1. The results of this study address the role of aquatic plants in sequestration of contaminants in surface waters that indicate the potential and limitations of use of aquatic plants in natural and engineered treatment systems.

博士(工学) / Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University