The development of technologies that enable efficient and reliable energy inter-conversion and storage is of key importance for tempering the intermittent availability of renewable energy sources, and thus for developing an energy economy based on sustainable, clean energy production. Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) may be used to store excess electrical energy as hydrogen, while solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) could convert back hydrogen into electricity, thus balancing energy availability and demand. However, the current state-of-the-art hydrogen electrode used in both SOECs and SOFCs, the Ni-yttria-stabilised zirconia cermet (Ni-YSZ), is unreliable in conjunction with intermittent energy sources, in particular due to its innate redox instability. This thesis explores the fundamental properties of various inherently redox stable A-site deficient titanate perovskite systems (A1-αBO3, B = Ti), seeking to uncover the principles that enhance their properties so that they may be used to replace Ni-YSZ. In particular, this work demonstrates that the versatility of perovskites with respect to the introduction of lattice defects such as vacancies and cation substitutions enables considerable improvements in the extent of reduction, electronic conductivity and overall electrochemical activity. Most importantly, the defect chemistry context set by the presence of A-site vacancies was found to trigger the exsolution of electrocatalytically active nanoparticles from the parent perovskite, upon reduction. This is an entirely new phenomenon which was explored and exploited throughout this study to produce perovskite surfaces decorated with uniformly distributed catalytically active nanoparticles. As demonstrated in this study, the exsolution phenomenon excels in terms of producing nanoparticles with uniform size, distribution, diverse composition and ‘unconventional' surface anchorage. The resulting enhanced properties, and especially the exsolution phenomenon, contributed coherently towards improving the suitability of the perovskites developed here towards their application as hydrogen electrode materials. Consequently, when integrated into SOEC button cells as hydrogen electrodes, they exhibited a step-change increase in performance compared to other perovskites considered to date. Many of the principles and perovskite defect chemistry explored and exemplified in this study on perovskite titanates may be extended to other perovskites as well. In particular the advanced control and understanding achieved in this work over the exsolution phenomenon may inspire the formulation of new and sophisticated oxide materials with advanced functionality.

Neptunium, with its rich redox chemistry, has a special position in the chemistry of actinides. With a decades-long history of development of aqueous separation methods for used nuclear fuel (UNF), management of neptunium remains an unresolved issue because of its not clearly defined redox speciation. Neptunium is present in two, pentavalent (V) and hexavalent (VI) oxidation states, both in their dioxocation O=Np=O neptunyl form, which differ greatly in their solvent extraction behavior. While the neptunium(VI) dioxocation is being very well extracted, the dioxocation of pentavalent neptunium is practically non-extractable by an organic solvent. As a result, neptunium is not well separated and remains distributed in both organic and aqueous extraction phases. The aim of this study was to develop or enhance the understanding of several key topics governing the redox behavior of neptunium in nitric acid medium, which are of vital importance for the engineering design of industrial-scale liquid-liquid separation systems. In this work, reactions of neptunium(V) and (VI) with vanadium(V) and acetohydroxamic acid - two redox agents envisioned for adjusting the neptunium oxidation state in aqueous separations ��� were studied in order to determine their kinetic characteristics, rate laws and rate constants, as a function of temperature and nitric acid concentration. Further were analyzed the interactions of neptunium(V) and (VI) with nitrous acid, which is formed as a product of radiolytic degradation of nitric acid caused by high levels of radioactivity present in such systems. Once HNO��� is distributed between both the aqueous solutions and organic solvent, nitrous acid is also formed in both phases and has a key influence on redox speciation of neptunium; therefore, the effects of gamma-radiation on the redox speciation of neptunium were investigated. The work also includes the results of examination of scavenging of nitrous acid by hydrogen peroxide, which is generated along with nitrous acid during radiolysis of aqueous solutions of nitric acid, and also by chemical reactions with added scavenging agents (methylurea, acetohydroxamic acid). / Graduation date: 2013

Tyrosyl radicals can facilitate proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions that are linked to catalysis in many biological systems. One such protein system is ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides. The beta2 subunit of class Ia RNRs contains a diiron cluster and a stable tyrosyl radical (Y122*). Reduction of ribonucleotides is dependent on reversible, long-distance PCET reactions involving Y122* located 35 Å from the active site. Protein conformational dynamics are postulated to precede diiron cluster assembly and PCET reactions in RNR. Using UV resonance Raman spectroscopy, we identified structural changes to histidine, tyrosine, and tryptophan residues with metal cluster assembly in beta2. With a reaction-induced infrared spectroscopic technique, local amide bond structural changes, which are associated with the reduction of Y122*, were observed. Moreover, infrared spectroscopy of tyrosine-containing pentapeptide model compounds supported the hypothesis that local amide bonds are perturbed with tyrosyl radical formation. These findings demonstrate the importance of the amino acid primary sequence and amide bonds on tyrosyl radical redox changes. We also investigated the function of a unique tyrosine-histidine cross-link, which is found in the active site of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO). Spectrophotometric titrations of model compounds that mimic the cross-link were consistent with a proton transfer role in CcO. Infrared spectroscopic data support the formation of tyrosyl radicals in these model compounds. Collectively, the effect of the local structure and the corresponding protein dynamics involved in tyrosyl radical-mediated PCET reactions are illustrated in this work.

EPR spectroscopy and isotopic substitution were used to gain increased knowledge about the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism for the reduction of the tyrosine D radical (YD*) in photosystem II. pL dependence (where pL is either pH or pD) of both the rate constant and kinetic isotope effect (KIE) was examined for YD* reduction. Second, the manner in which protons are transferred during the rate-limiting step for YD* reduction at alkaline pL was determined. Finally, high field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to study the effect of pH on the environment surrounding both the tyrosine D radical and the tyrosine Z radical (YZ*). At alkaline pL, it was determined that the proton and electron are both transferred in the rate-limiting step of YD* reduction. At acidic pL, the proton transfer occurs first followed by electron transfer. Proton inventory experiments indicate that there is more than one proton donation pathway available to YD* during PCET reduction at alkaline pL. Additionally, the proton inventory experiments indicate that at least one of those pathways is multiproton. High field EPR experiments indicate that both YD* and YZ* are hydrogen bonded to neutral species. The EPR gx component for YD* is invariant with respect to pH. Analysis of the EPR gx component for Yz* indicates that its environment becomes more electropositive as the pH is increased. This is most likely due to changes in the hydrogen bond strength

Thesis (S.M.)--Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-68). / Salt pond is a meromictic system with an outlet to the sea allowing denser seawater to occupy the monimolimnion while the mixolimnion has relatively low salinity and is the site of greater mixing and microbial activity. The density contrast between the two layers allows for a unique geochemical environment characterized by steep redox gradients at the interface. This chemocline is a habitat for magnetotactic bacteria (MB), and the spatial and temporal distribution of MB in the system along with geochemical (Fe2+, H2S, pH, 02 (aq), etc.) profiles have been analyzed from 2002 - 2005. It has been previously observed that magnetite-producing cocci occupy the top of the chemocline and greigite-producing MB occur at the base of the chemocline and in the sulfidic hypolimnion. This distribution may be attributed to analyte profiles within the pond; depth profiles show a sudden drop of dissolved oxygen (DO) at the chemocline associated with an increase in dissolved Fe (II) concentrations that peak where both 02 and H2S are low. In the sulfidic hypolimnion, Fe (II) concentrations decrease, suggesting buffering of Fe(II) by sulfide phases. / (cont.) Maximum concentrations of iron (II) and sulfide are 3 1 gM and 3 mM, respectively. Stability diagrams of magnetite and greigite within EH/pH space and measured voltammetric data verify fields of incomplete oxidation resulting in the production of elemental sulfur, thiosulfate and polysulfides. Calculations of the Gibbs free energy in the Salt Pond chemocline for potential microbial redox reaction involving iron and sulfur species indicate abundent potential energy available for metabolic growth. Oxidation of ferrous iron to ferrihydrite in the upper region of the chemocline consistantly has a yield of over -250 kJ/mol 02 (aq), - 12.5 times the proposed 20 kJ/mol minimum proposed by Schink (1997) necessary to sustain metabolic growth. This translates into biomass yields of ~ 0.056 mg dry mass per liter of upper chemocline water. If these numbers are applied to the dominant bacteria of the chemocline (MB that are 3% dry weight iron) then there could be up to ~ 1.68 mg of iron per liter of upper chemocline water just in the MB. / (cont.) This iron can be permanently sequestered by MB into the sediments after death because the organelles containing the iron phases are resistant to degredation. Geochemical and microbial processes relating to the cycling of iron heavily impact this system and perhaps others containing a chemocline that divides the water column into oxic and anoxic zones. / by Peter A. Canovas, III. / S.M.

Abstract not available

The thesis entitled “Design and Development of Synthetic Methods using Metal-mediated and Metal-free Redox Reactions: Novel C-H Activations, Reductions and Oxidative Transformations” is presented in 4 chapters Chapter 1; Iodine catalyzed amination of benzoxazoles: efficient metal free route to 2-aminobenzoxazoles under mild conditions. The Chapter 1 of this thesis describes iodine catalyzed C-H activation of benzoxazole with primary and secondary amines to form oxidative aminated products. Selective C-H oxidation is a frontline area of modern chemical research as it offers the opportunities to new avenues and more direct synthetic strategies for the synthesis of complex organic molecules.1 In this context, transition metals such as palladium copper, nickel etc, are used extensively for the functional group directed C-H activation, and thus provides new, rapid, low-cost, and environmentally benign protocols for the construction of new chemical bonds.2 During the past two decades iodine and hypervalent iodine have been focus of great attention as they provide mild, chemoselective and environmentally benign strategies in contrast to toxic metal oxidants.3 In this chapter, a facile metal-free route of oxidative amination of benzoxazole with secondary or primary amines in the presence of catalytic amount of iodine (5 mol%) in aq tert-butyl hydroperoxide (1equiv) and AcOH (1.1 equiv) at ambient temperature, under the solvent-free reaction condition is presented. This user-friendly method to form C-N bonds produces tert-butanol and water as the by-products, which are environmentally benign. A wide range of benzoxazole derivatives containing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups were coupled with both primary and secondary amines (Scheme 1). Application of this methodology is demonstrated by synthesizing therapeutically active benzoxazoles by reacting 5-chloro-7-methylbenzoxazole with N-methylpiperazine and N-ethylhomopiperazine to obtain corresponding N-aminatedbenzaxozoles, which exhibit antidiarrhetic activity (Scheme 2).4 Scheme 2 Chapter 2: NIS catalyzed reactions. amidation of acetophenones and oxidative amination of propiophenones Chapter 2 is divided in to 2 parts. Part 1 describes the synthesis of α-ketoamides by using acetophenone and secondary amine in the presence of N-iodosuccinamide and TBHP in acetonitrile at room temperature, whereas Part 2 reveals the synthesis of 2-aminoketones by reacting aryl alkyl ketones and suitable secondary amine in the presence of NIS and TBHP. Part 1: Oxidative amidation, synthesis of α-ketoamide: Alpha α-ketoamides are important intermediates in organic synthesis that are present in a variety of natural products, and pharmaceutically active compounds. Herein, a mild and efficient conversion of acetophenones to α-ketoamide is documented by using aq.TBHP and N-iodosuccinamide (NIS) as a catalyst, at ambient temperature. This amidation reaction was found to be versatile as several aetophenone derivitives containing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents underwent a facile amidation. It was also found that acetyl derivatives of heterocylic compounds could be easily converted to their corresponding ketoamides (few examples are shown in Scheme 3).5 Scheme3 Part 2 of Chapter 2 narrates a novel amination of propiophenone and its derivatives catalysed by NIS in the presence of TBHP to furnish their corresponding 2-aminoketone derivatives (Scheme 4). These derivatives are ubiquitous scaffolds that are present in a wide variety of therapeutic agents. Some of these compounds are used in the treatment of depression, smoking cessation, as monoamine uptake inhibitors, rugs for cancer. They are photoinitiators, precursors to β-aminoalcohols, such as pseudoephedrine analogues. 2-Aminoacetophenone analogues are also important intermediates for the formation of several heterocyclic compounds and are active moieties in several important drugs such as ifenprodil, Scheme 4. Chapter 3: Efficient oxidation of primary azides to nitriles This Chapter is divided in to 2 parts, which presents the oxidation of primary azides to their corresponding nitriles. Part 1: An Efficient oxidation of primary azides catalyzed by copper iodide: a convenient method for the synthesis of nitriles In Part 1, an efficient oxidation of primary azides catalyzed by copper iodide to their corresponding nitriles is reported. Herein, the oxidation of primary azide to nitrile is performed using catalytic amount of copper iodide, and aq TBHP in water at 100 ° C. This methodology is compatible with a wide range of primary benzylic azides that contain electron-donating and electron-withdrawing functional groups. The oxidation was found to be selective and a number of oxidizable functional groups were well-tolerated during the reaction conditions (few examples are shown in Scheme 5).6 Scheme 6 Furthermore, oxidation of secondary azides furnished the corresponding ketones in excellent yields (Scheme 6).6 In the Part 2 of Chapter 3, a non-metal catalysed oxidation of primary azides to nitriles at ambient temperature is reported. This part reveals the oxidation of primary azides to nitriles by employing catalytic amounts of KI (25 mol%), DABCO (25 mol%) and aq. TBHP (3 equiv., 70% solution in water). This reaction provides a good selectivity, as double and triple bonds were not oxidized under the reaction conditions. Additionally, chemoselective oxidation of benzylicazides against aliphatic azides increases the potential application of the present method (Scheme 7).7 Chapter 4: Chemoeselective reduction of olefins Part 1: Iron chloride catalysed aerobic reduction of olefins using aqueous hydrazine at ambient temperature Chapter 4 describes the reduction olefins and acetylenes, which is presented in two Parts. Part 1 documents utility of hydrazine (1.5 equiv) for the chemoselective reduction of nonpolarised carbon-carbon bond using iron catalysts. In this part, a chemoselective reduction of alkenes and alkynes in the presence of a variety of reducible functional groups is demonstrated (Scheme 8). The highlight of the present method is that the reduction proceeds well at room temperature and requires only 1.5 equiv of hydrazine hydrate. The olefin reduction by hydrazine depends upon the controlled release of diimide during the reduction. Generally, metal catalyzed reduction of olefins employ a large excess of hydrazine (10-20 equiv), which might be attributed to uncontrolled release of diimide during the reduction.8 Scheme 8 Part 2: Guanidine catalyzed aerobic reduction: a selective aerobic hydrogenation of olefins using aqueous hydrazine In Chapter 4, part 2, organocatalytic generation of diimide and its utility to reduce the double bonds is presented. Generation of diimide in situ by using organo catalysts and its use for the reduction of carbon-carbon double bond is one of the interesting topics in organic chemistry. It has been shown in this part of the thesis that the reduction of olefin at room temperature can be efficiently performed by using 10 mol% of guanidine nitrate, 2 equiv of aqueous hydrazine in oxygen atmosphere. This method tolerates a variety of reducible functional groups such as nitro, azido, and bromo and protective groups such as methyl ethers, benzyl ethers, and Cbz groups. It is also shown that terminal olefin can be selectively reduced in the presence of internal olefin (Scheme 9). Unlike other methods that employ diimide strategy, the present method is shown to be efficient in reducing substrates those contain internal double bonds such as cinnamyl alcohol and its derivatives

Exogenously supplied organoselenium compounds, capable of propagating a selenium redox cycle, were shown to supplement natural cellular defenses against oxidants generated during biological activity. Phenylaminoalkyl selenides were developed in our laboratory as novel substrate analogs for the enzyme dopamine beta-monooxygenase. Recently, phenylaminoalkyl selenides were found to protect plasmid DNA and Molecular beacons from oxoperoxynitrate – mediated damage by scavenging this oxidant and forming the corresponding selenoxides as the sole selenium – containing products. Rate constants were determined for the reactions of the phenylaminoalkyl selenoxides with GSH at physiological pH and 25 degrees C. The kinetic data obtained in current and previous research was subsequently used in a MatLab simulation, which showed the feasibility of selenium redox cycling by GSH in the presence of a cellular oxidant, oxoperoxynitrate. Loblolly pine (LP, Pinus taeda) is the primary commercial species in southern forests covering 11.7 million hectares. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an effective technique to implement production of high value genotypes of LP. SE is a multi-step process, which includes initiation of somatic embryo (SME) growth from tree tissue, maintenance and multiplication of early stage SMEs and the maturation / germination phase. In this work, we isolated a substance from stage 2 or 3 LP female gametophyte (FG) tissue that stimulates early stage SME growth, and characterized this substance as citric acid on the basis of 1H NMR and mass spectrometry. We then demonstrated that topical application of citric acid to SMEs stimulates embryo colony growth at p = 0.05 for 3 of the 5 genotypes tested. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by an impaired conversion of L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) to L-tyrosine (L-Tyr). A novel assay based on enzymatic - colorimetric methodology (ECA) was developed in order to detect elevated concentrations of L-Phe in undeproteinized plasma of PKU patients via continuous spectrophotometric detection. We report here that L-Phe concentrations in undeproteinized plasma measured using our ECA were comparable to those determined on an amino acid analyzer based on Pearson correlation coefficients and a Bland and Altman comparison.