published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The potential of fenthion to act as a secondary poisoning hazard to birds of prey was investigated using American kestrels (Falco sparverius) and house sparrows (Passer domesticus) as a representative model of a naturally occurring predator-prey interaction. Kestrels were presented with live sparrows previously exposed to perches containing Rid-A-Bird 1100$ sp circler$ solution (Rid-A-Bird, Inc., Muscatine, IA), 11% fenthion active ingredient, under simulated field conditions. All 14 kestrels tested died following ingestion of fenthion-exposed sparrows. Decreased brain cholinesterase activity and residue analyses of kestrel gastro-intestinal samples confirmed secondary fenthion poisoning. / Prey selection trials were conducted in the laboratory to determine the response of kestrels to a mixed flock of contaminated and uncontaminated sparrows. Kestrels captured fenthion-exposed prey significantly more often (12 out of 15 trials) than normal, unexposed prey. / These results suggest that avian predators and scavengers in the wild are at risk from contact with fenthion-exposed prey in areas where Rid-A-Bird perches are in use.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Murdoch University, 2007. / Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Sustainability, Environmental and Life Sciences. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-172).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references. Issued in print and online. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1966. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliography.

abstract: The release of organophosphorus compounds (OPs) and subsequent exposure to these compounds is of concern to humans and the environment. The goal of this work was to control the concentrations of gaseous OPs through interaction with sorbent oxides. Experimental and computational methods were employed to assess the interactions of dimethyl phosphite (DMHP), dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), dimethyl ethylphosphonate (DMEP), diethyl ethylphosphonate (DEEP), and triethyl phosphate (TEP) with amorphous silica (a-silica), ã-alumina, and monoclinic zirconia (m-zirconia) for applications in air pollution control. Interactions of the selected OPs with a-silica were chosen as a baseline to determine the applicability of the computational predictions. Based on the a-silica results, computational methods were deemed valid for predicting the trends among materials with comparable interactions (e.g. -OH functionality of a-silica interacting with the phosphonyl O atoms of the OPs). Computational evaluations of the interactions with the OPs were extended to the oxide material, m-zirconia, and compared with the results for ã-alumina. It was hypothesized that m-zirconia had the potential to provide for the effective sorption of OPs in a manner superior to that of the a-silica and the ã-alumina surfaces due to the surface charges of the zirconium Lewis acid sites when coordinated in the oxidized form. Based on the computational study, the predicted heats of adsorption for the selected OPs onto m-zirconia were more favorable than those that were predicted for ã-alumina and a-silica. Experimental studies were carried out to confirm these computational results. M-zirconia nanoparticles were synthesized to determine if the materials could be utilized for the adsorption of the selected OPs. M-zirconia was shown to adsorb the OPs, and the heats of adsorption were stronger than those determined for commercial samples of a-silica. However, water interfered with the adsorption of the OPs onto m-zirconia, thus leading to heats of adsorption that were much weaker than those predicted computationally. Nevertheless, this work provides a first investigation of m-zirconia as a viable sorbent material for the ambient control of the selected gaseous OPs. Additionally, this work represents the first comparative study between computational predictions and experimental determination of thermodynamic properties for the interactions of the selected OPs and oxide surfaces. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Chemical Engineering 2011

La voie de synthèse des acides aminés ramifiés est présente chez les plantes, les bactéries et les champignons mais est absente chez les mammifères. C’est pourquoi il est intéressant de cibler cette voie métabolique par des inhibiteurs spécifiques des enzymes qui la compose afin de développer des herbicides non sélectifs. Une famille d’herbicide déjà commercialisée agit sur la première enzyme de cette chaine enzymatique. Néanmoins des cas de mauvaises herbes résistantes à ces composés sont apparus et leur incidence continue d’augmenter. Il apparait donc important de cibler une autre enzyme de la voie de synthèse de ces acides aminés ramifiés afin de contourner ce problème de résistance.L’enzyme cétoacide réductoisomérase (KARI) intervient également dans la voie métabolique citée précédemment. Deux inhibiteurs IpOHA et Hoe 704 ont été développés dans les années 1980, mais malheureusement n’ont pas montré d’activité lors de traitements en plein champ. Cependant ils restent tous les deux, les références en tant qu’inhibiteurs in vitro.L’analyse de la diffraction par rayons X de KARI cristallisée avec un des inhibiteurs ou son substrat naturel montre que les groupements fonctionnels portés par ces derniers viennent complexer deux cations métalliques au sein du site actif. De plus la comparaison des structures des inhibiteurs ou des états de transition du substrat permet de dégager une structure générale pour le développement de nouvelles molécules potentiellement actives. Ainsi trois sous-structures doivent être présentes avec une double pince complexante, un groupement lipophile et un groupement accepteur de liaison hydrogène.Dans ce contexte, différents groupements comme des oxydes de diorganylphosphines, des dihydropyrimidinediones, des dérivés d’acides carboxyliques ou hydroxamiques peuvent être modifiés et utilisés comme motifs complexants. Les fonctions et groupements fonctionnels cités ont déjà prouvé leur efficacité lors du développement d’autres inhibiteurs de métalloenzymes. / The branched-chain amino acids metabolic pathway is present in many living beings such as plants, bacteria and fungi but not in mammals. This is why it has been interesting to target this enzymatic pathway with specific inhibitors in order to develop non-selective herbicides. The main non-selective herbicides commercialised inhibit the first enzyme of this metabolic route. However more and more cases of resistant weed appeared and spread. Thus it raises the interest and importance of designing new compounds targeting another enzyme from the biological pathway in order to circumvent the resistance issue.The Ketolacid Reductoisomerase (KARI) protein also intervenes in the aforementioned enzymatic pathway. Although two inhibitors, IpOHA and Hoe 704, were synthesised during the 80s they have not proven active enough in field treatment. Nonetheless both inhibitors remain as references for in vivo biological activity.The X-ray diffraction representations of KARI including each inhibitor or its natural substrate show that the functional groups borne by the latter chelate two metal cations within the active site. Moreover the comparison between inhibitor structures and the substrate transition states reveals a general pattern in order to design and develop new potential biologically active compounds. For that purpose three major substructure units have to be considered: a double chelating pincer, a lipophilic group and a hydrogen bond accepting moiety.In this context different functional groups such as diorganylphosphine oxides, dihydropyrimidinediones, carboxylic acid or hydroxamic acid derivatives could be modified and used as chelating motifs. The functional groups listed have already proven their efficacy as part of other metalloenzyme inhibitors.

Two phosphinic acids were prepared: 1-hydroxy-ethan-1,1-bis[N,N- bis(karboxymethyl)aminomethyl]phosphinic acid; H6L1 and methylenebis[N,N- bis(karboxymethyl)aminomethyl]phosphinic acid; H6L2 . Acid-base and complexation properties were studied by potenciometric titrations. Complexes of both ligands with Cu2+ ions were studied in detail using UV/VIS spectrometry. Keywords: Organophosphorus synthesis, bisphosphinic acids, coordination properties

Slow complexation is one of the major limitations of current macrocyclic chela- tors utilized in nuclear medicine for complexation of metal radionuclides. This property can be improved by ligand design. Among metal radioisotopes, the copper ones (e.g. 60Cu, 61Cu, 62Cu, 64Cu and 67Cu) have become commonly available in recent years and cyclam-derived ligands are the most suitable ligands for Cu2+ complexation. To alter the complexation rate, bis(phosphinic acid) group is promising unit as it is able to complex metal ions in acidic solu- tions. However, geminal bis(phosphinates) represent poorly studied group of compounds and, thus, it is challenging to uncover their properties. Several simple amino-bis(phosphinates) were synthesized and its acid-base and coordi- nation properties were studied. Unlike structurally similar geminal bis(phosphonates), the title compounds showed negligible adsorption onto hydroxyapatite (commonly used model of bone tissue). The obtained knowledge dealing with geminal bis(phosphinates) was utilized in synthe- sis of two novel cyclam derivatives. The ligands (bearing either one geminal bis(phosphinate) or one geminal phosphino-phosphonate pendant arm) were synthesized by highly efficient procedure. The corresponding Cu2+ complexes are formed with very high rates and show...