N,N,N\',N \'-tetrametil-p-fenilenodiamina (TMPD) catalisa a autoxidação de coenzimas piridínicos (NADH, NADPH) e modelos (ClBCH ,ClPCH ) ao cátion piridínico com rendimentos de 80-100%. A velocidade destas reações mostrou dependência de primeira ordem com respeito à concentração da 1,4-dihidronicotinamida e de meia ordem em relação às concentrações de O2 e TMPD. Estes dados cinéticos e testes com captadores de ion superóxido e superóxido dismutase indicam que os radicais HO•2 oriundos da autoxidação lenta do TMPD promovem a oxidação da dihidronicotinamida numa reação em cadeia; no término os radicais HO•2 se aniquilam por dismutação. O mecanismo proposto também é confirmado (1º) pela razão kC-H/kC-D=2,3 quando se substitui um dos hidrogênios do C4 de ClBCH por deutério, (2º) pelas idênticas velocidades iniciais em H2O e D2O, (3º) pelo valor da Ea = 10 kcal/mol na autoxidação do NADH e (4º) pelo aumento da velocidade de pH = 7,8 a pH 6,5. TMPD também promove a autoxidação do derivado 5, 6-hidratado (PHTN) da dihidronicotinamida ao cátion piridínico (ClPC+) apenas de fosfato ou arsenato estão presentes. O ClPC+ nã o se forma a partir do ClPCH em equilíbrio com o PHTN. Muito provavelmente se forma a partir do intermediário fosforilado no C6 por oxidação no C4 seguida de eliminação de fosfato. Quando PHTN e ClPCH foram oxidados pelo sistema O2/TMPD na presença de fosfato de piridínio ou de tetra-n-butilamônio em meio piridínico houve formação de pirofosfato, isolado por cromatografia de papel e por resina de troca aniônica. Adicionando-se ADP de tetra-n-butilamôneo ao sistema, constatou-se a formação de pirofosfato e de ATP com rendimentos mínimos de 5% e 3% , respectivamente. Por outro lado se a mistura de reação contém AMP de tetra-n-butilamôneo pôde-se verificar a formação de pirofosfato, ADP e ATP com rendimento total de 28% de \"ligações ricas\". A reação estudada foi proposta como modelo para síntese de ATP no sítio I da cadeia respiratória. / N,N,N\',N\'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) catalyses the autoxidation of the pyridine coenzymes and of their models to the pyridinium form (80-100% yields). The first arder dependence of the rate upon the dihidronicotinamide concentration and half order upon both the O2 and TMPD concentrations, indicates that the relatively slow autoxidation of TMPD is the source of free radicals: dihydronicotinamide autoxidizes by the HO•2 chain mechanism and in the termination step the HO•2 radicals decay by dismutation. Such a mechanis is also supported by the inhibitory effects of cathecol, a scavenger of the HO•2 radical, and of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme which accelerates the dismutation of the O-2/ HO•2 species. The mecanism is further supported by (1) kC-H/kC-D=2,3 for substitution in 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (ClBCH), (2) identical rates in H2O and D2O buffers, (3) Ea = 10 kcal/mole in the autoxidation of NADH and (4) the increase in rate from pH 7,8 to 6,5. TMPD promotes also the autoxidation of 1-n-propyl-6-hydroxy-1,4,5,6 - tetrahydronicotinamide (PHTN) to the 1-propyl-3-carboxamidopyridinium cation (ClPC+) provided phosphate ar arsenate are present. ClPC+ originates not from 1-n-propyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (ClPCH) in equilibrium with PHTN but most certainly from a C6 phosphorylated intermediate by oxidation at C4 and loss of phosphate. When PHTN an ClPCH were oxidated by the system O2/TMPD in the presence of pyridinium phosphate or tetra-n-butylammonium phosphate in pyridineas solvent, formation of pyrophosphate occurred. Pyrophosphate was isolated and identified by paper and ionic exchange resin chromatography. If tetra-n-butylammonium ADP is also present in the system, one can observe the formation of both pyrophosphate and ATP (5% and 3% minimum yields, respectively). In the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium AMP there, formation of pyrofosphate, ADP and ATP occurs. The total yield of energy rich bond is 28%. We suggest that the reaction is a model for the generation of the first ATP in the respiratory chain.

Ce travail porte sur le greffage radicalaire de l'anhydride maléique sur un polyéthylène basse densité, en voie fondu, et en présence d'un abstracteur d'atome d'hydrogène. L'utilisation des radicaux nitroxyle, comme agent de terminaison, en présence d'un peroxyde a permis de bloquer la réaction de réticulation du polyéthylène, réaction secondaire fréquemment rencontré lors de l'utilisation de radicaux peroxyle, tout en permettant le greffage d'une faible quantité d'anhydride maléique. L'élimination d'une partie de l'anhydride maléique et des radicaux nitroxyle via des réactions secondaires à haute température semble toutefois inévitable. La substitution du peroxyde par une alcoxyamine dans le rôle d'abstracteur d'atome d'hydrogène a alors permis d'atteindre des taux de greffage en anhydride maléique supérieurs pour une modification des propriétés rhéologiques du polyéthylène équivalente. Néanmoins, des incertitudes demeurent encore sur le mécanisme de décomposition thermique de cette alcoxyamine permettant la réaction de greffage. / This work deals with melt grafting of maleic anhydride onto low density polyethylene using radical initiators which are able to abstract hydrogen from the polyolefin backbone. The use of a nitroxide radical as a termination reagent in presence of peroxide allowed to prevent the polyethylene crosslinking during the maleic anhydride grafting. Indeed, the polyethylene crosslinking is the main side reaction but the elimination of a small proportion of the reagents (monomer and nitroxide radical) through other side reactions seems to be unavoidable. The peroxide substitution by an alcoxyamine leaded to a higher grafted maleic anhydride rate for the same polyethylene rheological modification. Nevertheless, the thermal decomposition mechanism of the alcoxyamine which makes the grafting reaction possible is still uncertain.

Pharmacological ascorbate, intravenous administration of high-dose vitamin C aimed at peak plasma concentrations ~ 20 mM, has recently re-emerged, after a controversial history, as a potential anti-cancer agent in combination with standard-of-care radiation and chemotherapy-based regimens. The anti-cancer effects of ascorbate are hypothesized to involve the auto-oxidation or metal-catalyzed oxidation of ascorbate to generate H2O2, and preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies in a variety of disease sites demonstrate the efficacy of adjuvant ascorbate. Furthermore, phase I clinical trials in pancreatic and ovarian cancer have demonstrated safety and tolerability in combination with chemotherapy and preliminary results suggest therapeutic efficacy. Both preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies as well as phase I clinical trials suggest a cell-intrinsic mechanism of selective toxicity of cancer cells as compared to normal cells; however, the mechanism(s) for cancer cell-selective toxicity remain unknown. The current study aims to investigate the preclinical therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological ascorbate in combination with standard cancer therapies in three novel disease sites: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), and some histological subtypes of sarcoma. In vitro experiments demonstrate cancer cell-selective susceptibility to pharmacological ascorbate as compared to normal cells of identical cell lineages. Furthermore, in vivo murine xenograft models of NSCLC, GBM, and fibrosarcoma demonstrate therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological ascorbate in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation as compared to chemotherapy and/or radiation alone without any additional therapeutic toxicity. Additionally, a phase I clinical trial in GBM subjects demonstrates the safety and tolerability of ascorbate in combination with radiation and temozolomide therapy. Although not powered for efficacy, preliminary results suggest that ascorbate may be efficacious in these subjects (median survival 18.2 months vs. 14.6 months in historical controls), and, importantly, that ascorbate therapy may be independent of MGMT promoter methylation status (median survival 23.0 months vs. 12.7 months in historical controls with absent MGMT promoter methylation). Preliminary results from a phase II clinical trial of ascorbate in combination with carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy in advanced stage NSCLC subjects also demonstrate promising preliminary results related to efficacy (objective response rate (ORR) 29% and disease control rate (DCR) 93% vs. historical control ORR 15-19% and DCR 40%). In addition to demonstrating the potential efficacy of pharmacological ascorbate in combination with standard anti-cancer therapies, this work demonstrates that the selective toxicity of ascorbate may be mediated by perturbations in cancer cell oxidative metabolism. Increased mitochondrial-derived O2- and H2O2 disrupts cellular iron metabolism, resulting in increased iron uptake via Transferrin Receptor and a larger intracellular labile iron pool. The larger pool of labile iron in cancer cells underlies the selective sensitivity of cancer cells to ascorbate toxicity through pro-oxidant chemistry with ascorbate-produced H2O2. This mechanism is further supported by the finding of increased levels of O2- and labile iron in patient lobectomy-derived NSCLC tissue as compared to adjacent normal fresh frozen tissue. Together, these studies demonstrate the feasibility, selective toxicity, tolerability, and potential efficacy of pharmacological ascorbate in NSCLC, GBM, and sarcoma therapy and propose that further investigations of tumor and systemic iron metabolism are required to determine if these alterations can be exploited to enhance therapeutic efficacy or serve as therapeutic biomarkers.

Cationic photopolymerization of multifunctional epoxides is very useful for efficient cure at room temperature and has been widely used in coatings and adhesives. Despite excellent properties of the final cured polymers, cationic photopolymerizations of epoxides have seen limited application due to slow reactions (relative to acrylates) and brittleness associated with a highly crosslinked, rigid network. To address these issues, two reaction systems were studied in this thesis: photoinitiated cationic copolymerizations of a cycloaliphatic diepoxide with epoxidized elastomers and acrylate/epoxide hybrid photopolymerizations. Oligomer/monomer structures, viscosity, compositions, and photoinitiator system were hypothesized to play important roles in controlling photopolymerizations of the epoxide-based mixtures. A fundamental understanding of the interplay between these variables for the chosen systems will provide comprehensive guidelines for the future development of photopolymerization systems comparable to the epoxide-based mixtures in this research. For diepoxide/oligomer mixtures, the observed overall enhancement in polymerization rate and ultimate conversion of the cycloaliphatic diepoxide was attributed to the activated monomer mechanism associated with hydroxyl terminal groups in the epoxidized oligomers. This enhancement increased with increasing oligomer content. The mixture viscosity influenced the initial reactivity of the diepoxide for oligomer content above 50 wt.%. Real-time consumption of internal epoxides in the oligomers was successfully determined using Raman spectroscopy. Initial reactivity and ultimate conversion of the internal epoxides decreased with increasing the diepoxide content. This trend was more pronounced for the oligomer containing low internal epoxide content. These results indicate that the reactivity of the hydroxyl groups is higher toward cationic active centers of the diepoxide than those of the internal epoxides in the oligomers. These conclusions are consistent with physical property results. The enhanced fracture toughness and impact resistance were attributed to multimodal network chain-length distribution of copolymers containing the oligomer content between 70% and 80%. For acrylate/epoxide hybrid mixtures, diacrylate oligomers significantly suppressed reactivities of cycloaliphatic mono/diepoxides, which was attributed to high mixture viscosity and highly crosslinked acrylate network. In this case, the dual photoinitiator system did not favor the epoxide reaction. Depending on the monovinyl acrylate secondary functionalities, enhanced reactivity and ultimate conversion of the diepoxide were attributed to a combined effect of a reduced viscosity and the radical-promoted cationic polymerization associated with the dual photoinitiator. The retarded and inhibited diepoxide reactivities with ether and urethane secondary groups were attributed to solvation and nucleophilicity/basicity effects, respectively. The influence of the diepoxide on the acrylate reactivity was attributed to dilution and polarity effects. In this case, high concentration of the free-radical photoinitiator is required for the dual photoinitiator system. Physical properties of hybrid polymers also varied with acrylate structures and monomer composition. Dynamic modulation methods were proposed to enhance the diepoxide reactivity and final properties in the presence of urethane acrylates.

An experimental and modelling investigation of a tetrafunctional initiator designed for free radical polymerizations is presented. Multifunctional initiators are believed to provide two advantages over traditional monofunctional initiators. With a higher number of functional sites per molecule, they are able to increase polymer production while simultaneously maintaining or increasing polymer molecular weight. Examination of the literature indicates the majority of academic and industrial published studies have investigated difunctional initiators with most focusing on styrene. In this thesis, a tetrafunctional initiator, JWEB50, was systematically investigated for a variety of monomer systems in order to develop a better understanding of the behaviour of multifunctional initiators in free radical polymerizations. <br /><br /> A kinetic study comparing the tetrafunctional initiator to a monofunctional counterpart, TBEC, demonstrated that the impact of a multifunctional initiator is dependent upon monomer type. Regardless of the homo- or copolymer system examined, it was observed that the tetrafunctional initiator could produce higher rates of polymerization due to the greater number of labile groups per initiator molecule. However, the influence of the tetrafunctional initiator on the polymer molecular weight was dictated by the polymerization characteristics of the system in question. In the case of styrene, the tetrafunctional initiator maintained similar molecular weights compared to the monofunctional initiator while for methyl methacrylate (MMA), switching from a mono- to a tetrafunctional initiator actually decreased the polymer molecular weight. Other monomers such as butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate and copolymers of MMA and styrene or alpha-methyl styrene were examined to study the effect of initiator functionality in free radical polymerizations. <br /><br /> Subsequent to the kinetic investigation, polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) samples produced with the tetrafunctional initiator were characterized in detail in order to examine the effects of initiator functionality on polymer properties. Samples generated with the monofunctional initiator were used for comparison purposes. Chromatographic and dilute solution methods were able to detect significant levels of branching in the polystyrene sample produced with JWEB50, while poly(methyl methacrylate) samples showed no evidence of branching. Rheological tests involving a combination of oscillatory and creep shear measurements were completed in order to detect differences between samples. The presence of branching using rheological techniques was clearly observed for both polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) samples produced with the tetrafunctional initiator. <br /><br /> In order to explain the experimental results observed in the kinetic and polymer properties studies, a reaction mechanism for polymerizations initiated with a tetrafunctional initiator was proposed and used in the development of a mathematical model. Reactions involving the fate/efficiency of functional groups are properly accounted for, while in the past this had been ignored by modelling work in the literature. Based on model predictions, di-radical concentrations were estimated to be several orders of magnitude smaller than mono-radical concentrations and their contribution in the reaction mechanism was found to be negligible. Modelling results also demonstrated that the concentration and chain length of various polymer structures (i. e. , linear, star or coupled stars) depend upon monomer type and reaction conditions.

An experimental and modelling investigation of a tetrafunctional initiator designed for free radical polymerizations is presented. Multifunctional initiators are believed to provide two advantages over traditional monofunctional initiators. With a higher number of functional sites per molecule, they are able to increase polymer production while simultaneously maintaining or increasing polymer molecular weight. Examination of the literature indicates the majority of academic and industrial published studies have investigated difunctional initiators with most focusing on styrene. In this thesis, a tetrafunctional initiator, JWEB50, was systematically investigated for a variety of monomer systems in order to develop a better understanding of the behaviour of multifunctional initiators in free radical polymerizations. <br /><br /> A kinetic study comparing the tetrafunctional initiator to a monofunctional counterpart, TBEC, demonstrated that the impact of a multifunctional initiator is dependent upon monomer type. Regardless of the homo- or copolymer system examined, it was observed that the tetrafunctional initiator could produce higher rates of polymerization due to the greater number of labile groups per initiator molecule. However, the influence of the tetrafunctional initiator on the polymer molecular weight was dictated by the polymerization characteristics of the system in question. In the case of styrene, the tetrafunctional initiator maintained similar molecular weights compared to the monofunctional initiator while for methyl methacrylate (MMA), switching from a mono- to a tetrafunctional initiator actually decreased the polymer molecular weight. Other monomers such as butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate and copolymers of MMA and styrene or alpha-methyl styrene were examined to study the effect of initiator functionality in free radical polymerizations. <br /><br /> Subsequent to the kinetic investigation, polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) samples produced with the tetrafunctional initiator were characterized in detail in order to examine the effects of initiator functionality on polymer properties. Samples generated with the monofunctional initiator were used for comparison purposes. Chromatographic and dilute solution methods were able to detect significant levels of branching in the polystyrene sample produced with JWEB50, while poly(methyl methacrylate) samples showed no evidence of branching. Rheological tests involving a combination of oscillatory and creep shear measurements were completed in order to detect differences between samples. The presence of branching using rheological techniques was clearly observed for both polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) samples produced with the tetrafunctional initiator. <br /><br /> In order to explain the experimental results observed in the kinetic and polymer properties studies, a reaction mechanism for polymerizations initiated with a tetrafunctional initiator was proposed and used in the development of a mathematical model. Reactions involving the fate/efficiency of functional groups are properly accounted for, while in the past this had been ignored by modelling work in the literature. Based on model predictions, di-radical concentrations were estimated to be several orders of magnitude smaller than mono-radical concentrations and their contribution in the reaction mechanism was found to be negligible. Modelling results also demonstrated that the concentration and chain length of various polymer structures (i. e. , linear, star or coupled stars) depend upon monomer type and reaction conditions.

This work seeks to develop new solvents for environmentally benign chemical synthesis. Switchable solvents are a new class of compounds that change properties upon the application of some stimulus such as heat, UV light, or pH. We have developed the use of a new solvent, thiirane oxide, that has chemical properties similar to DMSO. Thiirane oxide, however, undergoes facile decomposition to two gases at temperatures above 100 C, which is much lower than the temperature required for removing DMSO. Thus we have a solvent with excellent solvation properties, but with a built-in switch for easier removal. However, thiirane oxide leaves behind sulfurous products which make the reverse reaction to reform the solvent unfeasible. We are also developing the use of another solvent, piperylene sulfone, which is expected to have good solvent properties, yet with decomposition products that can be reacted to reform the solvent. This thesis also details the work to date on piperylene sulfone. Gas-expanded liquids (GXLs) also show promise as a new reaction medium. In order to design solvent systems that take full advantage of this medium, we desire to understand the microstructure of these fluids. To that end, we are using cage reactions to probe solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions at the molecular level. This thesis discusses the current research on using cage reactions to probe the structure of GXLs.

This study was designed for the investigation of antioxidative, and antimicrobial properties of Quercus brantii L. (Q.brantii.) seed extract. Phenolic profile of the total extract was determined by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and confirmed by High Resolution Mass Spectroscopy (HRMS). Solvent fractionation was performed to seperate bioactive compounds in total extract by using solubility differences. In comparison of fractions, ethyl acetate and diethyl ether phases have revealed highest antioxidant effect. Due to the low yield and high number of the molecules in ethyl acetate fraction, HRMS was used to characterize the compounds. On the other hand, in diethyl ether fraction, there was a single major compound which showed high antioxidant activity. The major compound, was purified by column chromatography and characterized by NMR, IR and HRMS as methyl gallate. E.coli, P.mirabilis, S.aureus, S.pyogenes bacterial strains were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of Q. brantii seed crude extract, fractions and isolated compound by disc diffusion, MIC and MBC methods. Isolated methyl gallate and ethyl acetate fraction displayed a significant effect on all bacterial strains as high as reference antibiotics. Consequently, crude Q. branti extract, isolated methyl gallate and ethyl acetate fraction could be considered as powerful antimicrobial agents, and at the same time efficacious antioxidants.

Radical reactions play central roles in regulating regional air quality and global climate. Some potentially important gas phase radical reactions are being investigated in this research project, including Cl reactions with acetone, butanone, 3-pentanone, pyridine, and dimethyl selenide (DMSe), HO2 complex formation and dissociation with formic and acetic acids, and reactive and non-reactive quenching of O(1D) by the potent greenhouse gases SO2F2, NF3, and SF5CF3. The involved radicals are generated by laser flash photolysis (LFP). Temporal profiles of either the radical reactant or a product are monitored in "real time" using atomic resonance fluorescence spectroscopy (RF), time-resolved UV-visible absorption spectroscopy (TRUVVAS), or tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), allowing kinetic and mechanistic information of these reactions to be obtained. These studies provide new knowledge of the investigated radical reactions and facilitate a better understanding of their significance in atmospheric chemistry.

An introduction is given to the background theory and scientific literature of the major subject areas of interest in this thesis, namely the chemistry of free radical and anionic polymerisation, molecular weight control in each type of polymerisation, polymerisation reactors, computer simulation of polymerisation processes and polymer characterisation by gel permeation chromatography. A novel computer model has been devised, based on the analysis of the polymerisation process in terms of the reaction extent of each reactant and the use of generation functions to describe the concentration of living and dead polymeric species, for the free radical, solution polymerisation of methylmethacrylate in a CSTR. Both heat and mass balance expressions have been described. Conversion, Mn and Mw were monitored. To test the model a reactor was designed and constructed. A detailed description of the reactor and the experimental conditions used for the validation of the model are given. The results of these studies are presented and excellent agreement is shown between model predictions and experiments up to 30% conversion for Mn w and % conversion. A similar study is described for the anionic polymerisation of styrene in tetrahydrofuran as solvent, in a CSTR. In this work the computer model becomes 'stiff' when realistic rate constants are introduced in the kinetic expressions. Experimental difficulties were encountered in obtaining reproducible results in the anionic work. A new approach of using 'scavengers' as protecting agents for the living chains is described. A scavenger was successfully employed in the preparation of block copolymers using a tubular reactor. Block copolymerisation, in addition to providing a means of checking the number of the 'living' chains inside the reactor, is of interest in its own right. All the experimental findings are discussed in relation to the currently accepted views found in the scientific literature.