Lead removal and recovery from battery industry wastewaters by soluble starch xanthate

Treatment, removal and recovery of lead (3 mg/L) from battery industry wastewaters have been investigated utilising a chemical precipitation process with soluble starch xanthate (SX) at pH 5-6. A reactant ratio, i.e., SX/Pb(II) = 6 mol/mol, a reaction time of 15 min., the addition of 15 mg/L of a cationic polyelectrolyte and a final filtration gave residual lead concentrations in the liquid phase less than 0.2 mg/L, well below the maximum limit established by the EU Directive. Lead was extracted from the obtained sludge by oxidation with sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide solutions. The amounts of oxidant needed were quantified as 13.5 mol NaClO/mol Pb and one order of magnitude larger, for H2O2, the latter due to the competitive disproportion reaction of the oxidant. The metal extraction was quantitative using sodium hypochlorite; when hydrogen peroxide was used, the formation of insoluble PbSO4 (Anglesite) gave a 80% metal extraction. In both cases molar ratios between sulphate and lead ions in the extracted solutions were in the range 2.1-2.2, in agreement with the stoichiometries of the reactions. Lead can be quantitatively recovered from the extracted (NaClO) solutions, for reuse, after a chemical precipitation process with 1M NaOH at pH 9-9.5, in the form of hydrocerussite [Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2].     

The recognition of nucleotides with model beta-hairpin receptors: investigation of critical contacts and nucleotide selectivity

[reaction: see text] We have investigated the factors that contribute to binding of ATP by a designed 12-residue beta-hairpin peptide, WKWK, and have determined its selectivity for binding to the naturally occurring nucleotide triphosphates. We have previously shown that WKWK creates an ATP binding pocket on one face of the beta-hairpin consisting of two Trp and two Lys residues. Mutation of the two Lys residues on the binding face of the beta-hairpin resulted in a lower affinity, indicating that each is involved in ATP binding and that each residue contributes approximately -1.5 kcal/mol to the energy of complexation. Replacement of either Trp residue of the ATP binding pocket with Phe or Leu destabilizes the complex formed with ATP by approximately 1 kcal/mol, indicating that both Trp residues participate in interactions with ATP. For binding to the nucleotide triphosphates, the order of binding affinity was shown to follow dTTP > GTP > ATP > CTP, with differences in binding energies spanning as much as 1.6 kcal/mol. NMR analysis demonstrates that both aromatic interactions with the Trp side chains and CH-pi interactions between the ribose protons and the Trp residues may contribute significantly to binding. The results from our model system provide useful thermodynamic information regarding protein-nucleic acid interactions that occur at the surface of a beta-sheet.     

Direct organocatalytic asymmetric alpha-sulfenylation of activated C-H bonds in lactones, lactams, and beta-dicarbonyl compounds

The application of cinchona alkaloid derivatives as catalysts for enantioselective alpha-sulfenylation of activated C-H bonds in lactones, lactams, and beta-dicarbonyl compounds by different electrophilic sulfur reagents is presented. Optically active products are obtained in good to excellent yields and up to 91 % ee. Furthermore, the diastereoselective reduction of alpha-sulfenylated beta-keto esters to give optically active alpha-sulfenylated beta-hydroxy esters has been studied. A model for the intermediate is presented, in which the protonated cinchona alkaloid interacts with the substrate leading to face-shielding in accordance with the enantioselective alpha-sulfenylation step.     

The role of oxoammonium cation in the SOD-mimic activity of cyclic nitroxides

Cyclic nitroxides (RNO(*)) mimic the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and demonstrate antioxidant properties in numerous in vitro and in vivo models. Their broad antioxidant activity may involve the participation of their reduced and oxidized forms, that is, hydroxylamine (RNO-H) and oxoammonium cation (RNO(+)). To examine this possibility we studied the reactions of RNO(*) and RNO(+) with HO(2)(*)/O(2)(*)(-) and with several reductants by pulse radiolysis and rapid-mixing stopped-flow techniques. The oxoammonium cations were generated by electrochemical and radiolytic oxidation of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (TPO) and 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidinoxyl (3-CP). The rate constant for the reaction of RNO(*) with HO(2)(*) to form RNO(+) was determined to be (1.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(8) for TPO and (1.3 +/- 0.1) x 10(6) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) for 3-CP. The kinetics results demonstrate that the reaction of RNO(*) with HO(2)(*) proceeds via an inner-sphere electron-transfer mechanism. The rate constant for the reaction of RNO(*) with O(2)(*)(-) is lower than 1 x 10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). The rate constant for the reaction of RNO(+) with O(2)(*)(-) was determined to be (3.4 +/- 0.2) x 10(9) for TPO(+) and (5.0 +/- 0.2) x 10(9) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) for 3-CP(+). Hence, both nitroxides catalyze the dismutation of superoxide through the RNO(*)/RNO(+) redox couple, and the dependence of the catalytic rate constant, k(cat), on pH displayed a bell-shaped curve having a maximum around pH 4. The oxoammonium cation oxidized ferrocyanide and HO(2)(-) by a one-electron transfer, whereas the oxidation of methanol, formate, and NADH proceeded through a two-electron-transfer reaction. The redox potential of RNO(*)/RNO(+) couple was calculated to be 0.75 and 0.89 V for 3-CP and TPO, respectively. The elucidated mechanism provides a clearer insight into the biological antioxidant properties of cyclic nitroxides that should permit design of even more effective antioxidants.     

Cyclic beta-amino acid derivatives: synthesis via lithium amide promoted tandem asymmetric conjugate addition-cyclisation reactions

The product distribution upon conjugate addition of homochiral lithium N-benzyl-N-alpha-methylbenzylamide to dimethyl-(E,E)-nona-2,7-dienedioate can be controlled to give either the cyclic 1,2-anti-1,6-anti-beta-amino ester (derived from conjugate addition and intramolecular enolate cyclisation) or the acyclic bis-beta-amino ester derivative (derived from double conjugate addition) in high de. The introduction of a protected nitrogen functionality into the diester skeleton facilitates, after conjugate addition and intramolecular enolate cyclisation, the asymmetric construction of piperidines in high de; variation in the N-protecting group indicates that the highest stereoselectivity is observed with alpha-branched N-substituents. Tandem conjugate addition-aldol reactions can also be achieved stereoselectively, with lithium amide conjugate addition to epsilon- and zeta-oxo-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters giving the corresponding five and six membered cyclic beta-amino esters in high de. N-deprotection by hydrogenolysis of the products arising from these reactions furnishes a range of polyfunctionalised transpentacin and transhexacin derivatives in high de and ee.     

A linear Fe–O–Fe unit in bis­(dibenzyl­dimethyl­ammonium) μ‐oxo‐bis­[tribromo­ferrate(III)]

The title compound, (C₁₆H₂₀N)₂[Fe₂Br₆O], crystallizes with one dibenzyl­dimethylammonium cation and one half of a μ‐oxo‐bis­[tribromo­ferrate(III)] anion in the asymmetric unit. The bridging oxo group is situated on an inversion centre, resulting in a linear conformation for the Fe—O—Fe unit. The iron(III) cations have tetra­hedral geometry, with bond angles in the range 106.8 (1)–112.2 (1)°. The ion pairs are held together by Coulombic forces and C—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds. Each Br⁻ anion forms one hydrogen bond. No C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are found between the O atom in the Fe—O—Fe unit and surrounding counter‐cations, consistent with the linear configuration of the Fe—O—Fe unit.     

Electrophilic aromatic chlorination and haloperoxidation of chloride catalyzed by polyfluorinated alcohols: a new manifestation of template catalysis

We have demonstrated that a polyfluorinated alcohol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, solvent enables haloperoxidase type activity and the oxychlorination of arenes (benzene and its alkylated derivatives) without a metal catalyst. The polyfluorinated alcohol has a dual function; it catalyzes electrophilic chlorination of less reactive arenes by several orders of magnitude and oxidation of chloride at lower H+ concentrations. DFT calculations show that a complementary charge template in the transition state explains the catalysis of the electrophilic chlorination.     

Complexation of di-benzyloxy ether derivatives of calix[4]arene with alkali earth metal cations

The synthesis and complexing abilities of 26,28-bis-benzyloxy-25,27-dihydroxy-5,11,17,23-tetra-tertbutyl-calix[4]arene towards alkali earth metal ions Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ in a methanol-chloroform mixture have been evaluated at 25°C, using UV-Vis spectrophotometric techniques. The results showed that the ligand is capable to complex all alkali earth cations by 1:1 metal to ligand ratios. The selectivity presented considering the calculated stability constants are in the order Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Ba²⁺ towards the ligand.     

Insertion reactions of thermally generated stannylenes R2Sn into Sn-X (X = Cl,Br, SPh) and Sn-Sn bonds

Thermally generated stannylenes R₂Sn insert efficiently into Sn-X bonds (X  Cl, 3r, SPh) as well as into electron deficient SnSn bonds e.g. in Me₂(Hal)SnSn(Hal)Me₂, but not into hexaalkyldistannanes R₆Sn₂ under the same conditions; stannylenes R₂Sn always behave as nucleophiles here.