Degradation-fragmentation of marine plastic waste and their environmental implications: A critical review

This review critically evaluates the plastic accumulation challenges and their environmental (primarily) and human (secondarily) impacts. It also emphasizes on their degradation and fragmentation phenomena under marine conditions. In addition, it takes into account the leachability of the various chemical substances (additives) embedded in plastic products to improve their polymeric properties and extend their life. Regardless of their effectiveness in enhancing the polymeric function of plastic products, these additives can potentially contaminate air, soil, food, and water. Several findings have shown that, regardless of their types and sizes, plastics can be degraded and/or fragmented under marine conditions. Therefore, the estimation of fragmentation and degradation rates via a reliable developed model is required to better understand the marine environmental status. The main parameter, which is responsible for initiating the fragmentation of plastics, is sunlight/UV radiation. Yet, UV- radiation alone is not enough to fragment some plastic polymer types under marine conditions, additional factors are needed such as mechanical abrasion. It should be also mentioned that most current studies on plastic degradation and fragmentation centered on the primary stages of degradation. Thus, further studies are needed to better understand these phenomena and to identify their fate and environmental effects.     

Selective synthesis of 14β-amino taxanes

The base induced deprotonation of H-14 of 7-triethylsilyl- (7-TES-) and 7-tert-butoxycarbonyl- (7-BOC-) protected 13-oxo-baccatins gave the corresponding enolates, which were selectively aminated with electrophilic nitrogen donors, such as azodicarboxylates and tosyl azide. In particular, tosyl azide gave the corresponding 7-BOC- and 7-TES-13-oxo-14β-azido-baccatin III. Alternatively, the last compound was prepared via NaN₃ induced azidation of the 13-silyl enol ether of 7-TES-13-oxo-baccatin III under oxidative (cerium ammonium nitrate) conditions. The 13-silyl enol ether was obtained in a multistep process by DBU induced silylation of 7-TES-13-oxo-baccatin III. The 7-TES-13-oxo-14β-azido-baccatin III was used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of a new family of antitumour taxanes containing amino based functional groups at the C-14 position, such as: 14β-azido, 14β-amino, 14β-amino 1, 14-carbamate, 14β-amino 1, 14-thiocarbamate, and 14β-amino N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-1,14-carbamate.     

Molecular structures of benzoylbenzo-12-crown-4 and diphenylacetylbenzo-12-crown-4 and possible reasons for different conformational states of their macrocycles

The molecular structures of (benzoyl)benzo-12-crown-4 (a=22.387,b=4.503,c=16.167 Å,d _calc=1.34 g cm^–3,Z=4, space groupP2₁ nc, DAR-UM, Cu-K,R=0.056) and (diphenylacetyl)benzo-12-crown-4 (a=8.866,b=23.337,c=10.737 Å;d _calc=1.25 g cm^–3,Z=4, space groupP2₁2₁2₁, DAR-UM, Cu-K, R=0.056) have been investigated. The differences in the conformations of the macrocycles and the degree of conjugation between the benzene ring orbitals and the lone pairs on the adjacent oxygen atoms in the macrocycle are discussed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1906–1911, November, 1993.     

Relative thermodynamic stabilities of 2-substituted 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolanes and 4-methyl-1,3-dioxoles

The relative thermodynamic stabilities of 24 pairs of carbon-carbon double-bondexo-endo isomeric 2-substituted 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolanes (a) and 4-methyl-1,3-dioxoles (b) have been determined by base-catalyzed chemical equilibration in DMSO solution. In all cases, theendo isomer (b) is the favored species at thermodynamic equilibrium. A single alkyl substitutent on C-2 gives only a negligible contribution to the relative stability of the isomeric forms, but the presence of two alkyl groups on C-2 increases the relative stability of theendo isomer by 2–3 kL mol^–1. A still higher effect in favor of theendo isomer is produced by introduction of a single alkoxy group on C-2; this effect is further slightly accentuated by 2,2-dialkoxy substitution at C-2. The origin of the favorable effect of 2-alkoxy substitution on the relative stability of theendo isomer is not clear, but it seems to arise from an unexpected stability of theendo isomer rather than from an enhanced destabilization of theexo form.     

Synthesis of sugar-based ethenyl ethers through a vinyl bis-sulfone methodology

The recently devised route to ethenyl ethers—i.e. 1,2-bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene (BPSE)-mediated conversion of alcohols into β-alkoxyvinyl sulfones followed by reductive desulfonylation—has been applied in the carbohydrate field to the synthesis of a number of vinyl-functionalised monosaccharides, a number of which had not been prepared via alternative routes.     

Synthesis and extraction properties of new chromogenic azo-calix[4]dibenzothiacrown ethers

Two novel chromogenic cone calix[4]dibenzothiacrown ethers 3 and 4 in which nitrophenylazo groups attached at the phenyl ring of dibenzothiacrown unit were described. The extraction properties of 3 and 4 toward different transition metal ions have been studied using conductometric technique and found to exhibit Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ selectivity with very high stability constants range from log K _assoc = 5.19 to log K _assoc = 8.72.     

Nitroxyl radicals and nitroxylethers beyond stabilization: radical generators for efficient polymer modification

Beyond traditional polymer stabilization, sterically hindered piperidine derivatives move into new application areas where radical functions are key elements. Recent achievements in using nitroxyl derivatives in degradation, polymerization and grafting processes are discussed together with the involved chemical reactions and the resulting material properties. The examples shown cover selected nitroxylethers (NORs) performing as flame retardants and flame retardant synergists or replacing peroxides in manufacturing controlled rheology polypropylene (PP). Furthermore, NORs and nitroxyl radicals mediate radical polymerization processes resulting in tailor-made intermediates for polymer modification via radical and condensation steps and offer access to complex polymer architecture. To cite this article: R. Pfaendner, C.R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Convergent synthesis of the A-F ring segment of yessotoxin and adriatoxin

A convergent synthesis of the A-F ring segment of yessotoxin and adriatoxin was achieved via the intramolecular allylation of an α-chloroacetoxy ether and subsequent ring-closing metathesis.     

Molecular complexes of crown ethers. Part 3. Effect of cations on charge transfer complexes with TCNE

The intermolecular charge transfer complexes (CT) of two crown ethers (CE), viz, B15C5 and DB18C6 (as donors), and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), as acceptor, were studied in the UV-visible region in dichloroethane (DCE), at 298.2 K. The sequence of addition of the cation was varied in the case of B15C5 such that in one system the sequence was (CE+Cation)+TCNE and in the other (CE+TCNE)+cation. These two systems were found to be non-interchangeable, even under reflux conditions, giving differentK _c values which were explained as being due to the different geometries of the CE. For the first sequence, the values most affected depended on the fit of the metal cation with the ether cavity, thus in B15C5, Na⁺ showed the greatest effect, while for DB18C6 it was K⁺.     

Influence of quaternary onium salts,crown ethers and cryptands on olefin epoxidations promoted by HOCl/ClO− in the Presence of Mn(III)-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin chloride

Reaction rates of alkene epoxidations, promoted by aqueous NaOCl and catalyzed by Mn(III)-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin chloride1 (P) in the presence of a lipophilic axial ligand (L) (e.g.N-hexylimidazole) and carried out under H₂O/CH₂Cl₂ two phase conditions at 0°C, are strongly enhanced by lowering the pH of the aqueous phase from 12.7 to 9.5. Under these conditions, a further relevant increase in the reaction rates can be achieved by adding phase-transfer catalysts (PT), e.g. quaternary ammonium salt 3, lipophilic crown ether4 or cryptand5, provided that the amount of L is very small (L/P=1 for very reactive alkenes, e.g. cyclooctene, and 10 for poorly reactive ones, e.g. 1-dodecene). In the case of cyclooctene epoxidation, the use of 0.006–0.03 mol. equiv. of PT completes the reaction in 1–10 min., the initial rates being up to 600 turnovers/min. with (2.2.2,C₁₀) cryptand. In the absence of the axial ligand, the quaternary ammonium salt3 and cryptand5 show an inhibitory effect. Such an effect is due to the formation of the poorly reactive Mn(P)CI species, by Cl– extraction to the organic phase. However, dibenzo crown ether 4 does not show this effect. In the presence of 4, and with L/P =1, the 1-dodecene epoxidation reaches 94% in 1 min. The unique behavior of crown ethers can be explained by their ineffectiveness in extracting alkali chlorides, providing a very low concentration of Cl– in the organic phase and thus avoiding the Mn(III)-porphyrin deactivation.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr C. J. Pedersen.