Urea-Urease Reaction in Controlling Properties of Supramolecular Hydrogels: Pros and Cons

Supramolecular hydrogels are useful in many areas such as cell culturing, catalysis, sensing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, environmental remediation and optoelectronics. The gels need specific properties for each application. The properties arise from a fibrous network that forms the matrix. A common method to prepare hydrogels is to use a pH change. Most methods result in a sudden pH jump and often lead to gels that are hard to reproduce and control. The urease-urea reaction can be used to control hydrogel properties by a uniform and controlled pH increase as well as to set up pH cycles. The reaction involves hydrolysis of urea by urease and production of ammonia which increases the pH. The rate of ammonia production can be controlled which can be used to prepare gels with differing properties. Herein, we show how the urease-urea reaction can be used for the construction of next generation functional materials.     

Determination of urea in urine using a conductivity cell with surface acoustic wave resonator-based measurement circuit

A conductivity cell employing a 61 MHz surface acoustic wave resonator-based measurement circuit was applied to the detection of the urea/urease reaction. The kinetic enzymatic parameters of the urease were estimated from the frequency shifts. The effects of pH, temperature and inhibitor on the response of the enzyme conductivity measurement system were investigated. The system was applied to rapid determination of urea in small urine samples. The lowest detection limit of urea was 30 ng/ml.     

Fluorocontaining 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds in the Synthesis of Pyrimidine Derivatives

Hexafluoroacetylacetone reacts with urea (thiourea) to yield respectively 4,6-bis(hydroxy)-4,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)hexahydropyrimidin-2-one(thione). The dehydration of the products and also reaction of nonsymmetrical fluoroalkyl-containing 1,3-diketones with urea (thiourea) afford substituted pyrimidines. The condensation of fluorinated 3-oxoesters and 1,3-diketones with benzaldehyde and urea (thiourea) results in 5-alkoxycarbonyl(acyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxo(thioxo)-6-phenyl-4-fluoroalkylhexahydropyrimidines that on dehydration furnish 5-alkoxycarbonyl(acyl)-2-oxo(thioxo)-4-phenyl-6-fluoroalkyltetrahydropyrimidines. Ethyl 7-nonafluorobutyl-5-phenyl-2,3-dihydrothiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylate hydrobromide forms in reaction of dibromoethane with ethyl ether of 2-thioxo-4-phenyl-6-nonafluorobutyltetrahydropyrimidine.     

Theoretical investigation on enantioselective Biginelli reaction catalyzed by natural tartaric acid

In this study, enantioselective Biginelli reaction of aldehyde, β‐ketoester, and urea catalyzed by natural (2R, 3R)‐tartaric acid has been investigated using density functional theory calculations. The results indicate that the most favorable pathway involves a protonated imine from aldehyde and urea in the first step. Tartaric acid forms H‐bonds network with substrates enhancing the electrophilicity of protonated imine and the nucleophilicity of β‐ketoester. (R)‐3,4‐Dihydropyrimidin‐2‐(1H)‐ones is preferable for the reaction. The solvent effect is discussed in the prediction of enantiomeric excess (ee) values in ethanol and water. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Reversible CO-induced chloride shuttling in Rh(I) tweezer complexes containing urea-functionalized hemilabile ligands

The urea moiety, which acts as a good hydrogen-bond donor, has been incorporated into a hemilabile phosphinoalkyl thioether ligand. Upon reaction of the ligand with a Rh(I) precursor, a tweezer complex with near-parallel planar urea moieties 2 forms. The host-guest interaction of 2 with Cl(-) has been characterized in solution and in the solid state. Cl(-) binding with the urea groups in 2 is retained under CO in nonpolar solvents to give a five-coordinate CO adduct 3. In polar solvents, CO binding to Rh(I) results in a Cl(-) shift from the urea host site to the Rh(I) metal center with a concomitant breaking of the Rh-S bonds. This is an unusual example of how two types of different interactions important in molecular recognition (ligand coordination to a metal and hydrogen bonding) can be regulated within one molecule through small-molecule coordination chemistry.     

Layer-by-layer growth on Ge(100) via spontaneous urea coupling reactions

We have demonstrated the layer-by-layer growth, via a urea coupling reaction between two bifunctional molecules, ethylenediamine and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate, to form an ultrathin film on Ge(100)-2 x 1 at room temperature under vacuum conditions. The initial adsorption and subsequent growth of each layer was studied with multiple internal reflection Fourier transform infrared (MIR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Ethylenediamine reacts with Ge(100)-2 x 1 to produce a surface-bound amine group which is available for additional reaction. Subsequent exposure of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate leads to a spontaneous urea coupling reaction between the surface-bound amine and the highly reactive isocyanate functional group. Three bands at 1665, 1512, and 1306 cm(-)(1) are characteristic of a urea linkage and provide evidence of the coupling reaction. The coupling procedure can be repeated in a binary fashion to create covalently bound ultrathin films at room temperature, and in the present work, we demonstrate the successful growth of four layers. In addition, we have found that an initial exposure of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate to Ge(100)-2 x 1 produces an isocyanate-functionalized surface which, upon exposure to ethylenediamine, also forms urea linkages. This layer-by-layer deposition method provides a strategy with which to design and produce precisely tailored organic materials at semiconductor interfaces.     

苯基脲与甲醇合成苯氨基甲酸甲酯的研究

采用苯基脲与甲醇反应合成了苯氨基甲酸甲酯,考察了不同催化剂、原料配比及反应工艺条件的影响,确定了适宜的合成条件,并根据产物分布对催化反应机理进行了初步探讨.结果表明,以PbO为催化剂,于140℃反应4h后,苯基脲转化率为95.2%,苯氨基甲酸甲酯收率为80.6%.     

Synthesis of propylene carbonate from urea and 1,2-propanediol

The production of propylene carbonate(PC)from urea and 1,2-propanediol(PG)was investigated in a batch process.The catalytic performances of zinc chloride and magnesium chloride were investigated for this reaction system.The influences of various operation conditions on the PC yield were explored.In this work,MgCl_2 and ZnCl_2 showed the excellent catalytic activity toward PC synthesis,and the yields of propylene carbonate reached 96.5%and 92.4%,respectively.The optimum reaction conditions were as follows...     

Synthesis of 1,3-dialkylurea from ethylene carbonate and amine using calcium oxide

Several basic metal oxide catalysts were tested for the synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted urea from ethylene carbonate (EC) and amine. Among the catalysts used, CaO has been found to be an excellent recyclable catalyst for the reaction. It has been suggested that strongly basic property of CaO results in its high activity. Disubstituted ureas are obtained from propylamine and butylamine with high yields at 100 °C. Slightly higher reaction temperatures are necessary for obtaining good yields from amines having larger molecular weights and urea is not produced from dibutylamine as a secondary amine. Propylene carbonate can be used instead of EC for the reaction. A reaction mechanism was proposed, which involves reaction between EC and amine giving a carbamate followed by catalytic reaction between the carbamate and amine, yielding 1,3-disubstituted urea. It is suggested that the latter reaction is the rate-determining step. On the basis of this reaction mechanism, the synthesis of unsymmetric urea was also examined. 2-Hydroxyethyl butylcarbamate is selectively produced from EC with butylamine in the absence of the catalyst at a low temperature and reacts with benzylamine producing 1-butyl-3-benzylurea along with symmetric dialkyl ureas.     

Molten-globule and other conformational forms of zinc cytochrome C. Effect of partial and complete unfolding of the protein on its electron-transfer reactivity

To test the effect of protein conformation on reactivity, we use laser flash photolysis to compare the electron-transfer properties of the triplet state of zinc-substituted cytochrome c, designated (3)Zncyt, in the folded forms at low (F(low)) and high (F(high)) ionic strength, molten-globule (MG) form, and the forms unfolded by acid (U(acid)) and urea (U(urea)) toward the following four oxidative quenchers: Fe(CN)(6)(3-), Co(acac)(3), Co(phen)(3)(3+), and iron(III) cytochrome c. We characterize the conformational forms of Zncyt on the basis of the far-UV circular dichroism, Soret absorption, and rate constant for natural decay of the triplet state. This rate constant in the absence of quencher increases in the order F(high) < F(low) < MG < U(acid) < U(urea) because the exposure of porphyrin to solvent increases as Zncyt unfolds. Bimolecular rate constants for the reaction of (3)Zncyt with the four quenchers show significant effects on reactivity of electrostatic interactions and porphyrin exposure to solvent. This rate constant at the ionic strength of 20 mM increases upon unfolding by urea and acid, respectively, as follows: 1340-fold and 466-fold when the quencher is Co(phen)(3)(3+) and 168-fold and 36-fold when the quencher is cyt(III). To compare reactivity of (3)Zncyt in the F(low), F(high), MG, U(acid), and U(urea) forms without complicating effects of electrostatic interactions, we used the electroneutral quencher Co(acac)(3). Indeed, reactivity of folded (3)Zncyt with Co(acac)(3) was independent of ionic strength. Reactivity of (3)Zncyt with Co(acac)(3) upon partial and complete unfolding increases 10-fold, 54-fold, and 64-fold in the molten-globule, urea-unfolded, and acid-unfolded forms.     

Catalytic performance of metal oxides for the synthesis of propylene carbonate from urea and 1,2-propanediol

The influences of acid–base properties of metal oxides on the catalytic performance for synthesis of propylene carbonate from urea and 1,2-propanediol was investigated, and the reaction was stepwise. The amphoteric ZnO showed the best activity, and the yield of propylene carbonate reached 98.9%. The urea decomposition over oxides was characterized by using FTIR. ZnO, CaO, MgO and La₂O₃ were favorable to promote urea decomposition to form the isocyanate species, and the formation of isocyanate species was the key to urea alcoholysis. The catalytic activity of urea decomposition was consistency to the catalytic performance for synthesis of propylene carbonate. Based on these, the probable reaction mechanism was proposed.     

Synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea with gold-based catalysts

The reaction of glycerol with urea to form glycerol carbonate is mostly reported in the patent literature and to date there have been very few fundamental studies of the reaction mechanism. Furthermore, most previous studies have involved homogeneous catalysts whereas the identification of heterogeneous catalysts for this reaction would be highly beneficial. This is a very attractive reaction that utilises two inexpensive and readily available raw materials in a chemical cycle that overall, results in the chemical fixation of CO(2). This reaction also provides a route to up-grade waste glycerol produced in large quantities during the production of biodiesel. Previous reports are largely based on the utilisation of high concentrations of metal sulfates or oxides, which suffer from low intrinsic activity and selectivity. We have identified heterogeneous catalysts based on gallium, zinc, and gold supported on a range of oxides and the zeolite ZSM-5, which facilitate this reaction. The addition of each component to ZSM-5 leads to an increase in the reaction yield towards glycerol carbonate, but supported gold catalysts display the highest activity. For gold-based catalysts, MgO is the support of choice. Catalysts have been characterised by XRD, TEM, STEM and XPS, and the reaction has been studied with time-on-line analysis of products via a combination of FT-IR spectroscopy, HPLC, (13)C NMR and GC-MS analysis to evaluate the reaction pathway. Our proposed mechanism suggests that glycerol carbonate forms via the cyclization of a 2,3-dihydroxypropyl carbamate and that a subsequent reaction of glycerol carbonate with urea yields the carbamate of glycerol carbonate. Stability and reactivity studies indicate that consecutive reactions of glycerol carbonate can limit the selectivity achieved and reaction conditions can be selected to avoid this. The effect of the catalyst in the proposed mechanism is discussed.     

A Cheap and Efficient Methodology for the Solvent‐Free,One‐pot and Multi‐component Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones Catalyzed by Mesoporous NH4H2PO4/MCM‐48 and Comparison of Its Catalytic Efficacy with NH4H2PO4/MCM‐41

The catalytic efficiency of ammonium dihydrogenphosphate was evaluated in the two heterogeneous forms of NH₄H₂PO₄/MCM‐48 and NH₄H₂PO₄/MCM‐41, as mesoporous catalysts, in the solvent free synthesis of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones through one‐pot three‐component condensation of ethyl acetoacetate, an aryl aldehyde and urea. Different reaction parameters including catalytic efficacy, solvent effect, and urea concentration are considered.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of urea in water-soluble urea-formaldehyde fertilizer products and in aqueous urea solutions: collaborative study

Water soluble urea-formaldehyde (UF) fertilizers, manufactured by complex reaction of urea and formaldehyde, typically contain varying amounts of unreacted urea. A liquid chromatography method for the analysis of urea in these products, and in aqueous urea solutions, was collaboratively studied. An amine chromatography column was used to separate the unreacted urea from numerous UF reaction products present in these liquid fertilizers. Unreacted urea was determined by using external urea standards with UV detection at 195 nm. The standards and test samples were prepared in the mobile phase of 85% (v/v) acetonitrile in water. Ten laboratories analyzed 5 different UF-based commercial products containing unreacted urea in the range of 6 to 17% by weight, and 5 different concentrations of urea in water equivalent to commercial products of that nature. The aqueous urea solutions contained 2-20% urea (w/w). The range of s(R) values for the 5 UF-based commercial fertilizers was 0.49-1.02 and the %RSD(R) was 1.94-6.14. The s(R) range for the 5 urea solutions was 0.10 to 0.79 and the %RSD(R) range was 2.54 to 4.88. The average recovery of urea from the aqueous urea solutions was 96-103%. Therefore, this method is capable of monitoring urea nitrogen manufacturers' label claims and total nitrogen claims in those cases where urea is the sole source of plant food nitrogen. Based on the collaborative study data, the authors recommend this method be approved for AOAC Official First Action status.     

A theoretical study on the water-mediated asynchronous addition between urea and formaldehyde

The reaction between urea and formaldehyde in water solution was theoretically investigated by using B3LYP and MP2 methods.It was found that the addition of the nitrogen atom in urea to the carbonyl group in formaldehyde precedes the proton transfer and the proton migration from water to the carbonyl group occurs before the proton abstraction from the nitrogen.With one or two water molecules involved in the TS.the activation energy barrier is lowered compared to the TS of the mechanism with no water participation.The energy change along the reaction coordinate clearly shows that a zwitterionic-like intermediate does not exist on the PES.The reaction between urea and formaldehyde occurs in a concerted mechanism but with asynchronous characters.This is different from the stepwise mechanism recently found for the amination reactions of formaldehyde.     

Palladium‐anchored multidentate SBA‐15/di‐urea nanoreactor: A highly active catalyst for Suzuki coupling reaction

Modification of mesoporous silica was carried out by reaction of SBA‐15 with di‐urea‐based ligand. Next, with the help of this ligand, palladium ions were anchored within the multidentate SBA‐15/di‐urea pore channels with high dispersion. The SBA‐15/di‐urea/Pd catalyst was characterized using various techniques. Theoretical calculations indicated that each palladium ion was strongly interacted with one nitrogen and two oxygen atoms from the multidentate di‐urea ligand located in SBA‐15 channels and these interactions remained during the catalytic cycle. These results are in good agreement with those of hot filtration test: the palladium ions have very high stability against leaching from the SBA‐15/di‐urea support. The catalytic performance of SBA‐15/di‐urea/Pd nanostructure was examined for the Suzuki coupling reaction of phenylboronic acid and electronically diverse aryl halides under mild conditions with a minimal amount of Pd (0.26 mol%). Compared to previous reports, this protocol afforded some advantages such as short reaction times, high yields of products, catalyst stability without leaching, easy catalyst recovery and preservation of catalytic activity for at least six successive runs.     

Quantitative and qualitative 1H, 13C,and 15N NMR spectroscopic investigation of the urea–formaldehyde resin synthesis

Urea–formaldehyde resins are bulk products of the chemical industry. Their synthesis involves a complex reaction network. The present work contributes to its elucidation by presenting results from detailed NMR spectroscopic studies with different methods. Besides¹H NMR and¹³C NMR,¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy is also applied.¹⁵N‐enriched urea was used for the investigations. A detailed NMR signal assignment and a model of the reaction network of the hydroxymethylation step of the synthesis are presented. Because of its higher spectral dispersion and the fact that all key reactions directly involve the nitrogen centers,¹⁵N NMR provides a much larger amount of detail than do¹H and¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Symmetric and asymmetric dimethylol urea can be clearly distinguished and separated from monomethylol urea, trimethylol urea, and methylene‐bridged urea. The existence of hemiformals of methylol urea is confirmed. 1,3,5‐Oxadiazinan‐4‐on (uron) and its derivatives were not found in the reaction mixtures investigated here but were prepared via alternative routes. The molar ratios of formaldehyde to urea were 1, 2, and 4, the pH values 7.5 and 8.5, and the reaction temperature 60 °C. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

高性能自修复微胶囊预聚物组成的研究

为了指导高性能自修复微胶囊的制备研究, 利用偏光显微熔点仪、红外光谱和核磁共振氢谱定量研究了微胶囊预聚物组成随反应条件如反应温度、pH 值和甲醛-尿素物质的量比的变化. 研究结果表明, 升高体系温度和pH 值都会显著促进副反应的发生从而降低产物中二羟甲基脲的产率; 而提高甲醛-尿素的物质的量比, 二羟甲基脲的产率增加,同时三羟甲基脲的产率降低. 此外, 还研究了升温过程中反应体系的温度变化情况. 研究发现: 升温速率一定时, 反应体系的温度变化均匀, 没有温度骤变阶段.     

Competitive hydrolytic and elimination mechanisms in the urease catalyzed decomposition of urea

We present a high-level quantum chemical study of possible elimination reaction mechanisms associated with the catalytic decomposition of urea at the binuclear nickel active site cluster of urease. Stable intermediates and transition state structures have been identified along several possible reaction pathways. The computed results are compared with those reported by Suarez et al. for the hydrolytic catalyzed decomposition. On the basis of these comparative studies, we propose a monodentate coordination of urea in the active site from which both the elimination and hydrolytic pathways can decompose urea into CO2 and NH3. This observation is counter to what has been experimentally suggested based on the exogenous observation of carbamic acid (the reaction product from the hydrolysis pathway). However, this does not address what has occurred at the active site of urease prior to product release. On the basis of our computed results, the observation that urea prefers the elimination channel in aqueous solution and on the observation of Lippard and co-workers of an elimination reaction channel in a urease biomimetic model, we propose that the elimination channel needs to be re-examined as a viable reaction channel in urease.     

十二烷基苯磺酸钠改性的尿素和甲醛聚合杂化法合成氧化硅微球

本文在存在十二烷基苯磺酸钠时利用正硅酸乙酯水解液中尿素和甲醛的结晶性聚合反应合成得到了氧化硅微球。首次考察了尿素和甲醛的物质的量比、尿素和甲醛的总用量、正硅酸乙酯(TEOS)用量、酸用量、以及十二烷基苯磺酸钠用量对所得氧化硅微球结构和形貌特征的影响。适当选择这些用量范围可以得到结构稳定、分散均匀的氧化硅微球。在微球生长中尿素和甲醛的量不足时,其突出的结晶性聚合与氧化硅杂化反应进程相互影响,导致了氧化硅微球核壳结构的形成。酸用量增加使氧化硅微球的孔径分布从复杂的双峰转变成均匀的单峰。表面活性剂的使用使氧化硅微球的孔分布从0～80 nm范围内的连续分布转化成单一分布。这些结果对正硅酸乙酯水解液直接合成氧化硅微球方法的推广和应用具有重要指导意义。