Preparative Oxidation of Organic Compounds in Microemulsions with Singlet Oxygen Generated Chemically by the Sodium Molybdate/Hydrogen Peroxide System1

The debatable role of singlet oxygen in persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes

Singlet oxygen (¹O₂) attracts much attention in persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs), because of its wide pH tolerance and high selectivity toward electron-rich organics. However, there are conflicts about the ¹O₂ role in PS-AOPs on several aspects, including the formation of different key reactive oxygen species (ROS) at similar active sites, pH dependence, broad-spectrum activity, and selectivity in the elimination of organic pollutants. To a large degree, these conflicts root in the drawbacks of the methods to identify and evaluate the role of ¹O₂. For example, the quenchers of ¹O₂ have high reactivity to other ROS and persulfate as well. In addition, electron transfer process (ETP) also selectively oxidizes organics, having a misleading effect on the identification of ¹O₂. Therefore, in this review, we summarized and discussed some basic properties of ¹O₂, the debatable role of ¹O₂ in PS-AOPs on multiple aspects, and the methods and their drawbacks to identify and evaluate the role of ¹O₂. On the whole, this review aims to better understand the role of ¹O₂ in PS-AOPs and further help with its reasonable utilization.

Singlet Oxygen Responsive Molecular Receptor to Modulate Atropisomerism and Cation Binding

In switchable molecular recognition, ¹ O₂ stimulus responsive receptors offer a unique structural change that is rarely exploited. The employed [4+2] reaction between ¹ O₂ and anthracene derivatives is quantitative, reversible and easily implemented. To evaluate the full potential of this new stimulus, a non-macrocyclic anthracene-based host was designed for the modular binding of cations. The structural investigation showed that ¹ O₂ controlled the atropisomerism in an on/off fashion within the pair of hosts. The binding studies revealed higher association constants for the endoperoxide receptor compared to the parent anthracene, due to a more favoured preorganization of the recognition site. The fatigue of the ¹ O₂ switchable hosts and their complexes was monitored over five cycles of cycloaddition/cycloreversion.

Simultaneous Determination of the Chemical (kr ) and the Physical (kq ) Quenching Rate Constants of Singlet Oxygen in Aqueous Solution by the Chemiluminescence-quenching Method†

This work reports a novel and visual method for the simultaneous determination of the chemical (k_r ) and the physical (k_q ) quenching rate constants of singlet oxygen (¹ O₂ ,¹ ∆_g ) in aqueous media. It is based on the disruption, by a water-soluble substrate S, of the ¹ O₂ chemiluminescence (CL) generated by the H₂ O₂ /Na₂ MoO₄ catalytic system. A mathematical analysis of the CL signal at 1270 nm vs time provides separately the overall (k_r  + k_q ) and the chemical (k_r ) quenching rate constants. In ordinary water (H₂ O), ¹ O₂ lifetime is short and the CL intensity is weak allowing solely the investigation of very reactive substrates for which (k_r  + k_q ) > 3 × 10⁶  m^-1  s^-1 while, in D₂ O, ¹ O₂ lifetime is significantly longer lifetime and the CL signal is much stronger allowing the study of poorly reactive substrates for which (k_r  + k_q ) > 4 × 10⁵  m^-1  s^-1 . The method has been successfully tested on a series of anionic and nonionic water-soluble naphthalene derivatives commonly used as bio-compatible ¹ O₂ carriers. The obtained k_r and k_q values are in good agreement with the values determined by conventional techniques, namely, flash photolysis and competitive kinetics with a reference quencher.

Singlet-Oxygen Generation by Peroxidases and Peroxygenases for Chemoenzymatic Synthesis

Singlet oxygen is a reactive oxygen species undesired in living cells but a rare and valuable reagent in chemical synthesis. We present a fluorescence spectroscopic analysis of the singlet-oxygen formation activity of commercial peroxidases and novel peroxygenases. Singlet-oxygen sensor green (SOSG) is used as fluorogenic singlet oxygen trap. Establishing a kinetic model for the reaction cascade to the fluorescent SOSG endoperoxide permits a kinetic analysis of enzymatic singlet-oxygen formation. All peroxidases and peroxygenases show singlet-oxygen formation. No singlet oxygen activity could be found for any catalase under investigation. Substrate inhibition is observed for all reactive enzymes. The commercial dye-decolorizing peroxidase industrially used for dairy bleaching shows the highest singlet-oxygen activity and the lowest inhibition. This enzyme was immobilized on a textile carrier and successfully applied for a chemical synthesis. Here, ascaridole was synthesized via enzymatically produced singlet oxygen.

Acenes beyond organic electronics: sensing of singlet oxygen and stimuli-responsive materials

Although they are often detrimental in organic electronics, the cycloaddition reactions of acenes, especially with singlet oxygen, are useful in a range of responsive materials.

Chemical tools for the generation and detection of singlet oxygen

Growing evidence indicates intermediacy of singlet dioxygen (1O2) in a variety of pathophysiological processes. 1O2 has also found great utility of destructive actions for clinical and environmental applications. However, many details of the molecular mechanisms mediated by 1O2 remain insufficiently understood. Efforts to elucidate the 1O2 chemistry have been hampered by the lack of chemical tools capable of generation and detection of 1O2. In this review, I summarize the recent advances in the development of the chemical tools of 1O2. This article focuses on two topics. The first part introduces chemical methods for ground-state generation of 1O2. Designs of the molecular carriers of 1O2 are also explained. The second part discloses molecular probes of 1O2. The probes are categorized into three groups, depending on signaling modalities: absorption-based probes, photoluminescent probes, and chemiluminescent probes. Focus is on the molecular design to maximize the signaling actions. Disadvantages of using the probes are also discussed to motivate the future research. I hope that this review will serve as helpful guidance to the exploitation and development of the chemical tools of 1O2.

Release of Singlet Oxygen from Aromatic Endoperoxides by Chemical Triggers

The generation of reactive singlet oxygen under mild conditions is of current interest in chemistry, biology, and medicine. We were able to release oxygen from dipyridylanthracene endoperoxides (EPOs) by using a simple chemical trigger at low temperature. Protonation and methylation of such EPOs strongly accelerated these reactions. Furthermore, the methyl pyridinium derivatives are water soluble and therefore serve as oxygen carriers in aqueous media. Methylation of the EPO of the ortho isomer affords the parent form directly without increasing the temperature under very mild conditions. This exceptional behavior is ascribed to the close contact between the nitrogen atom and the peroxo group. Singlet oxygen is released upon this reaction, and can be used to oxygenate an acceptor such as tetramethylethylene in the dark with no heating. Thus, a new chemical source of singlet oxygen has been found, which is triggered by a simple stimulus.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of the Hydroperoxide-Keto Form of (±)-Steenkrotin B

A diastereoselective approach for the synthesis of the hydroperoxide-keto form of (±)-steenkrotin B (2') is described. The key features of the strategy involve a Diels-Alder cycloaddition, a titanium(III)-catalyzed reductive annulation, and a regio- and diastereoselective hydroperoxidation.

Peroxides with Anthelmintic, Antiprotozoal, Fungicidal and Antiviral Bioactivity: Properties, Synthesis and Reactions

The biological activity of organic peroxides is usually associated with the antimalarial properties of artemisinin and its derivatives. However, the analysis of published data indicates that organic peroxides exhibit a variety of biological activity, which is still being given insufficient attention. In the present review, we deal with natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic peroxides exhibiting anthelmintic, antiprotozoal, fungicidal, antiviral and other activities that have not been described in detail earlier. The review is mainly concerned with the development of methods for the synthesis of biologically active natural peroxides, as well as its isolation from natural sources and the modification of natural peroxides. In addition, much attention is paid to the substantially cheaper biologically active synthetic peroxides. The present review summarizes 217 publications mainly from 2000 onwards.

Ultrahigh adsorption and singlet-oxygen mediated degradation for efficient synergetic removal of bisphenol A by a stable zirconium-porphyrin metal-organic framework

Bisphenol A (BPA), one of 23 most important endocrine disrupting chemicals, was efficiently removed and sequentially photodegraded by a zirconium-porphyrin metal–organic framework (MOF) catalyst under visible light for water treatment. Well control of photodegradation allows the kinetic separation of adsorption step and photodegradation step. Ultrahigh adsorption uptake of 487.69 ± 8.37 mg g⁻¹ is observed, while efficient photodegradation could be observed within 20 min at the rate of 0.004 mg min⁻¹. The synergetic effect boosts the photocatalytic efficiency and confirms that the catalysis happens inside the MOF pores other than in the solution phase. Furthermore, the mechanism was elucidated by diverse control experiments, such as in the conditions of ¹O₂ scavenger, in darkness and with the changes of light sensitizing ligands. It confirmed that BPA was oxidized by the ¹O₂ which was generated from porphyrin ligand within MOFs under visible-light. The excellent reusability and wide range of suitable pH range make the Zr-porphyrin MOFs practical for the photocatalytic water treatment processes.

"Dark" Singlet Oxygen and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spin Trapping as Convenient Tools to Assess Photolytic Drug Degradation

Forced degradation studies are an important tool for a systematic assessment of decomposition pathways and identification of reactive sites in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Two methodologies have been combined in order to provide a deeper understanding of singlet oxygen-related degradation pathways of APIs under light irradiation. First, we report that a "dark" singlet oxygen test enables the investigation of drug reactivity toward singlet oxygen independently of photolytic irradiation processes. Second, the photosensitizing properties of the API producing the singlet oxygen was proven and quantified by spin trapping and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis. A combination of these techniques is an interesting addition to the forced degradation portfolio as it can be used for (1) revealing unexpected degradation pathways of APIs due to singlet oxygen, (2) clarifying photolytic drug-drug interactions in fixed-dose combinations, and (3) synthesizing larger quantities of hardly accessible oxidative drug degradants.

New singlet oxygen donors based on naphthalenes: synthesis, physical chemical data, and improved stability

Singlet oxygen donors are of current interest for medical applications, but suffer from a short half-life leading to low singlet oxygen yields and problems with storage. We have synthesized more than 25 new singlet oxygen donors based on differently substituted naphthalenes in only a few steps. The influence of functional groups on the reaction rate of the photooxygenations, thermolysis, half-life, and singlet oxygen yield has been thoroughly studied. We determined various thermodynamic data and compared them with density functional calculations. Interestingly, remarkable stabilities of functional groups during the photooxygenations and stabilizing effects for some endoperoxides during the thermolysis have been found. Furthermore, we give evidence for a partly concerted and partly stepwise thermolysis mechanism leading to singlet and triplet oxygen, respectively. Our results might be interesting for "dark oxygenations" and future applications in medicine.

Peroxide induced ultra-weak chemiluminescence and its application in analytical chemistry

Chemiluminescence (CL), as a sensitive, rapid, and facile analytical method, has been widely applied in environmental monitoring, clinical diagnosis and food safety. Recently, the main challenge and research interest in the CL study have been focused on exploring new CL systems and obtaining new insight into the interaction between CL reagents. The peroxide induced ultra-weak CL reactions are some new arising systems that have received great attention and have been successfully applied in many fields. The peroxide includes hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, peroxymonocarbonate, peroxomonosulphate and so on. This review paper covers the mechanism of the peroxide induced ultra-weak CL and the analytical applications of the CL have also been summarized. The future prospects for the peroxide induced ultra-weak CL are discussed.

Dynamics of the interfacial film in bicontinuous microemulsions based on a partly ionic surfactant mixture: A neutron spin-echo study

In a microemulsion system based on a mixture of nonionic and ionic surfactants the addition of alcohol instead of changing the temperature was used to tune the curvature of the surfactant interface. The influence of the addition of the short-chain alcohol 2-propanol in the system water-perchloroethylene- Marlowet IHF-2-propanol is studied using neutron spin-echo spectroscopy. In contrast to alcohols with long alkyl chains 2-propanol is no strong co-surfactant, but changes the properties of the solvents. The present contribution focuses on the bicontinuous phase in this system and a quantitative analysis of the obtained neutron spin-echo data is proposed within the theoretical framework given by Zilman and Granek for amphiphilic membranes. It turns out that, in addition to the local movements of the surfactant film, also a collective diffusional mode of the bicontinuous structure has to be taken into account. The presented approach allows to calculate the bending elastic constant κ of the film. The approach is subsequently applied to follow changes of κ as induced by changes of the alcohol concentration.

Fluorophotometric determination of hydrogen peroxide with fluorescin in the presence of cobalt (II) and reaction against other reactive oxygen species

A fluorophotometric method for the determination of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) using fluorescin was developed. This method was based on the oxidative reaction of fluorescin, a colorless, non-fluorescent lactoid fluorescein, by H2O2 to give highly fluorescein fluorescence emission. In the determination of H2O2, the calibration curve exhibited linearity over the H2O2 concentration range of 1.5-310 ng mL(-1) at an emission wavelength of 525 nm with an excitation of 500 nm and with relative standard deviations (n = 6) of 2.51%, 2.48%, and 1.31% for 3.1 ng mL(-1), 30.8 ng mL(-1), and for 308 ng mL(-1) of H2O2, respectively. The detection limit for H2O2 was 1.9 ng mL(-1) six blank determinations was performed (rho = 6). This proposed method was applied to detection of other reactive oxygen species and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) such as singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl radical (*OH), peroxynitrite (ONOO-) etc., and it was possible to detect them with a high sensitivity. In addition, this proposed method was applied to the recovery tests of H2O2 in calf serum, human saliva, rain water, and wheat noodles; the results were satisfactory.

Thermal oxidation of tetracyclones (2,3,4,5-tetraarylcyclopentadienones)

Tetracyclones are transformed to a mixture of diacylstilbenes and α-pyrones, when they are heated in diphenylether saturated with oxygen.

Study of Singlet Oxygen Equilibrium in Dioctadecyldimethylammonium Chloride Vesicles Employing 2-(n-(N,N,N-trimethylamine)-n-alkyl)- 5-alkylfuryl Halides†

Steady state photolysis and time resolved near infrared luminescence detection were employed to study the reaction kinetics of singlet oxygen with three different lipid-soluble probes incorporated in large unilamellar dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (DODAC) vesicles. The probes: 2-(4-(N,N,N-trimethylamine)-butyl)-5-dodecylfuryl bromide (DFTA), 2-(12-(N,N,N-trimethylamine)-dodecyl)-5-hexylfuryl bromide (HFDA) and 2-(1-(N,N,N-trimethylamine)-methyl)-5-methylfuryl iodide (MFMA) are useful in studying both singlet oxygen dynamics and its equilibrium in microcompartmentalized systems because they are actinometers in lipidic microphases. These probes contain a reactive furan ring, which will be located at different depths in the bilayer of DODAC vesicles. In the limit of the approximations, the result indicates an inhomogeneous equilibrium distribution of singlet oxygen across the bilayer. The calculated mean partitioning constant of singlet oxygen equals 2.8 and 8.3 at 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C, respectively, in the order of the previously reported constants for other microorganized systems such as sodium dodecylsulfate and cetyltrimethylammonium halide micelles and water/oil microemulsions.

Kinetics of the Oxygenation of Unsaturated Organics with Singlet Oxygen Generated from H2O2 by a Heterogeneous Molybdenum Catalyst

A heterogeneous catalyst containing MoO42- exchanged on layered double hydroxides (Mo-LDHs) is used to produce 1O2 from H2O2, and with this dark 1O2, unsaturated hydrocarbons are oxidized in allylic peroxides. The oxidation kinetics are studied in detail and are compared with the kinetics of oxidation by 1O2, formed from H2O2 by a homogeneous catalyst. A model is proposed for the heterogeneously catalyzed 1O2 generation and peroxide formation. The model divides the reaction suspension in two compartments: (1) the intralamellar and intragranular zones of the LDH catalyst; (2) the bulk solution. The 2-compartment model correctly predicts the oxidant efficiency and peroxide yield for a series of olefin peroxidation reactions. 1O2 is generated at a high rate by the heterogeneous catalyst, but somewhat more 1O2 is lost by quenching with the heterogeneous catalyst than using the homogeneous catalyst. Quenching occurs mainly as a result of collision with the LDH hydroxyl surface, as is evidenced by using LDH supports containing strong 1O2 deactivators such as Ni2+. A total of 15 organic substrates were peroxidized on a preparative scale using the best Mo-LDH catalyst under optimal conditions.

Flow Injection Chemiluminescence Determination of Imipramine in Tablets, Human Plasma and Urine Samples Based upon Oxidation with Singlet Oxygen Generated in N-Bromosuccinimide-Hydrogen Peroxide Reaction

Singlet oxygen generated in a reaction between N-bromosuccinimide and hydrogen peroxide was used for the chemiluminescence oxidation of imipramine. A strong chemiluminescence signal was observed when imipramine was mixed with N-bromosuccinimide and hydrogen peroxide under an alkaline condition. The chemiluminescence signal was linearly dependent on the concentration of imipramine in the range of 0.01 - 1.0 mg/L. The detection limit was 0.005 mg/L imipramine and the relative standard deviation was 1.5% for a 0.4 mg/L imipramine solution in 11 repeated measurements. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of imipramine in tablets, human plasma and urine samples.

Flow injection chemiluminescence determination of nitrofurazone in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids based on oxidation by singlet oxygen generated in N-bromosuccinimide–hydrogen peroxide reaction

A simple flow injection chemiluminescence (FI-CL) method was proposed for the determination of nitrofurazone. Strong CL signal was generated during the reaction of nitrofurazone with H(2)O(2) and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in alkaline condition. The CL signal was proportional to the nitrofurazone concentration in the range 1.0 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-5) g mL(-1). The detection limit was 2 x 10(-8) g mL(-1) nitrofurazone and the relative standard deviation was less than 4% (6.0 x 10(-6) g mL(-1) nitrofurazone, n=11). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of nitrofurazone in compound furacillin nasal drops, human plasma and urine samples. The CL reaction mechanism was also discussed briefly. Singlet oxygen generated in the reaction between H(2)O(2) and NBS was suggested to be participated in the CL reaction.

The influence of structure and composition of a reverse SDS microemulsion on enzymatic activities and electrical conductivities

The activity of the enzyme horse radish peroxidase (HRP) is studied in a series of reverse microemulsions composed of dodecane, aqueous buffer, sodium dodecylsufate (SDS) and alcohols of the homologous series 1-butanol to 1-octanol. The HRP catalyzed reaction is the oxidation of a classical water soluble substrate, the 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) by hydrogen peroxide. In parallel electrical conductivity measurements are performed on the same solutions. The structural changes in the microemulsions, as inferred by the conductivity measurements, correlate remarkably well with the changes in the enzymatic activities. In particular it is found that (a) the maximum activity of the enzyme is always related to its optimum hydration and that this hydration can be related to the microemulsion structures, (b) the enzyme inhibition caused by the alcohols in microemulsions is a consequence of both the solubility of the alcohols in the buffer and the rigidity of the interfacial film. Consequently, it can be concluded that enzymatic activity measurements are a valuable tool to study confined systems such as microemulsions and, in particular, the amount of available hydration water. Enzymatic activities can be finely tuned by small changes in microemulsion structures, probably in a predictive way.