Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Arylboronates As H2o2 Or Photo-Inducible Dna Cross-Linking Agents: Design, Synthesis, Mechanism, And Anticancer Activity, Yibin Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Interest in the development of cancer therapies with improved selectivity and reduced host toxicity has been growing. In this thesis, we designed and synthesized a series of novel non-toxic arylboronic ester and biarylboronic ester derivatives that can be activated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce DNA interstrand cross-link formation. The mechanism of DNA cross-linking induced by these arylboronates involves generation of phenol intermediates 1 followed by departure of leaving group (L) leading to quinone methides (QMs) 2, which directly cross-link DNA via alkylation. The QM formation is the rate-determining step for DNA cross-linking. The activity and selectivity of these compounds …

Production And Harvest Of Microalgae In Wastewater Raceways With Resource Recycling, Alexander Colin Roberts

Master's Theses

Microalgae can be grown on municipal wastewater media to both treat the wastewater and produce feedstock for algae biofuel production. However the reliability of treatment must be demonstrated, as well as high areal algae productivity on recycled wastewater media and efficient sedimentation harvesting. This processes was studied at pilot scale in the present research.

A pilot facility was operated with nine CO₂-supplemented raceway ponds, each with a 33-m² surface area and a 0.3-m depth, continuously from March 6, 2013 through September 24, 2014. The ponds were operated as three sets of triplicates with two sets continuously fed …

Influence Of Shelling Temperature And Time On The Optical And Structural Properties Of Cuins2/Zns Quantum Dots, Colette Robinson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

CIS/ZnS core/shell QDs are an important class of nanomaterials for optoelectronic, photovoltaic and photoluminescence applications. They consist of lower toxicity materials than the prototypical II-VI Cd-based QDs and show long fluorescence lifetimes, which generates prospective in biological imaging applications. It is vital to develop reproducible synthetic methods for this new class of nanomaterials in order to maintain small sizes with high QYs. CIS core QDs have been shelled with ZnS at various temperatures from 90-210°C for reaction times ranging from 20-140 minutes to examine the role of thermodynamics and kinetics on the shell growth. Using HR-TEM and ICP-MS, it was …

Synthesis Of Medicinally Relevant Thiazolyl Aryl Ketones Under Mild Conditions, Danielle M. Gardner

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose: The growing amount of clinical resistance observed in current antifungal drugs and in anti-HIV pharmaceuticals is a concern in the medical community. The purpose of this study is to develop a mild synthetic process for biomedically relevant thiazolyl aryl ketones that can be used to develop antifungal and anti-HIV drugs. We hypothesized that the proposed synthetic technique would be more efficient, produce fewer unwanted byproducts, and be more tolerant of functional groups than existing methods.

Methods: Prior to each of the ketone reactions, the necessary salt was synthesized by mixing thiazole and 9-bromofluorene neat in a reaction tube heated …

Toward The Probing Of Dhqs Activity By Protein Engineering Through The Introduction Of Unnatural Amino Acids And The Selection Of Trna/Trna Synthetase Pairs, Shaina E. Ives

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Protein engineering is a valuable tool that allows scientist to explore how an enzyme works by mutation of key residues. This method has been used to improve function or stability of enzymes, thus allowing their use in both the lab and in industry to be expanded. Genetic incorporation of unnatural amino acids (unAA) can be used with protein engineering to exceed the current limitations, due to the limited number of functional groups of the 20 common amino acids.

The majority of this thesis will discuss the progress on incorporating the various unAA into the active site of the enzyme, Dehydroquinate …

Asymmetric Synthesis Of Cα-Methyl-Γ- And Δ-Amino Acids From A Common Synthon And Evaluation Of Thionyl Chloride Assisted Peptide Esterifications, Emily Rose Vogel

Dissertations

C^α-methyl-γ- and δ-unnatural amino acids (UAAs) are important class of biomolecules used extensively as structural scaffolds, peptidomimetics, and in the development of pharmaceuticals. Due to steric congestion surrounding the quaternary center, asymmetric preparation of α,α-disubstituted UAAs are synthetically challenging. Herein, two methods for the synthesis of chiral synthons to prepare C^α-methyl-γ- and -δ-UAAs are reported. A crucial step in both strategies includes an enzymatic hydrolysis of prochiral malonic esters with pig liver esterase (PLE). The first method utilizes the Meyer Schuster rearrangement to prepare α,β-unsaturated diesters synthons, but the preparation of the precursor propargyl alcohol decomposes …

Chemical Investigations Of Diabetes Mellitus, Malaria, And Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Maggie Sparks Lookadoo

Masters Theses

This work studies a variety of molecules and the systems they are involved in to further understand disease and treatment of diabetes mellitus, malaria, and castrate resistant prostate cancer. The first system studied, diabetes mellitus, involves synthesis of 5 different steroidal compounds, while the other two systems, malaria and castrate-resistant prostate cancer, apply mass spectrometric-based untargeted metabolomics to study both known metabolites and unknown spectral features.

Diabetes mellitus is a result of the dysfunction and death of islet beta cells caused by the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines resulting in reduced insulin secretion and uncontrollable blood glucose levels. Glucocorticoids can reduce …

Siloxane And Silane-Functionalized Polynorbornenes As Membranes For Passive Carbon Dioxide Separation, Eunice Koheun Hong

Masters Theses

In 2012, carbon dioxide (CO₂) [carbon dioxide] accounted for approximately 82% [percent] of all U.S greenhouse gas emissions.¹ These excessive CO2 levels have been attributed to climate changes that have a range of negative effects on human health and welfare.1 In an effort to decrease these emissions, polymeric membranes consisting of silane- and siloxane-functionalized norbornene units have been targeted as a potential solution for the passive separation of CO2 from other non-greenhouse gases. These substituted norbornene-based polymers were synthesized via vinyl-addition polymerization. Through a series of catalyst trials, commercially available palladium and nickel catalysts were compared along …

Synthesis Of Agents For The Treatment And Analysis Of Tropical Diseases, Jeanine Yacoub

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is usually staved off by a healthy immune system and remains dormant in the body. In immunocompromised patients, the parasite can become active and spread throughout the body causing symptoms such as encephalitis, cognitive disorders, seizures, and death. Combination drug therapy is the usual treatment for toxoplasmosis; however, patients suffer from problems of intolerance, allergic reactions, and cytotoxicity. In an effort to identify new drug targets for toxoplasmosis, a series of compounds have been synthesized that can be used as tools to probe the unique …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Neo-Confused Porphyrins And Related Systems, Arwa Salem Almejbel

Theses and Dissertations

Carbaporphyrins have been the focus of many studies, and a wide variety of related carbaporphyrinoid systems have been reported. N-confused porphyrins are a class of carbaporphyrins where one pyrrole unit has been inverted. In this work, a newly discovered family of porphyrin isomers where one of the pyrrolic subunits is connected to the meso-bridges in a 1,3-fashion, called neo-confused porphyrins, has been investigated.

Reaction of pyrrole-3-carbaldehydes with acetoxymethylpyrroles and NaH in DMF gave neo-confused dipyrrylmethane dialdehydes. The resulting dialdehydes underwent an acid catalyzed condensation with a dipyrrylmethane to give neo-confused phlorins, and following oxidation with FeCl3 afforded new neo-confused porphyrins. …

Controlling Microbial Contamination During Hydrolysis Of Afex-Pretreated Corn Stover And Switchgrass: Effects On Hydrolysate Composition, Microbial Response And Fermentation, Jose Serate, Dan Xie, Edward Pohlmann, Charles Donald Jr., Mahboubeh Shabani, Li Hinchman, Alan Higbee, Mick Mcgee, Alex La Reau, Grace E. Klinger, Sheena Li, Chad L. Myers, Charles Boone, Donna M. Bates, Dave Cavalier, Dustin Eilert, Lawrence G. Oates, Gregg Sanford, Trey K. Sato, Bruce Dale, Robert Landrick, Jeff Piotrowski, Rebecca G. Gong, Yaoping Zhang

Rebecca Ong

Progress Toward A Structure-Function Relationship For Novel, Small-Molecule Inhibitors Of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Sarah Burke

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a serpin protein whose function is to inhibit tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), and hence, fibrinolysis. This inhibition leads to decreased plasminogen to plasmin conversion, which results in deleterious effects on the organism, such as blood clots. Elevated levels of PAI-1 are implicated in a variety of diseases and conditions. We have synthesized a variety of novel, small-molecule PAI-1 inhibitors in order to establish a structure-function relationship throughout the compounds. This goal was accomplished through an iterative process in which only one aspect of the molecule was altered at a time. …

Inkjet Printing For Biosensing And Security Applications, Brian Creran

Doctoral Dissertations

The adaptation of inkjet printing technology has recently been used to create controlled high throughput micro- and nano-scaled structures. Coupling this technique with gold nanoparticles in our research has produced new platforms for biosensors, chemical patterning, and anti-counterfeiting applications. In this presentation, we will highlight promising fabrication strategies including the development of test strips for the determination of bacteria in drinking water as well as the use of patterned nanoparticles for security applications.

From Molecular Scale To Mesoscale: Establishing Structural Control Organic Photovoltaics Using Organic Nanoparticles, Timothy S. Gehan

Doctoral Dissertations

Organic photovoltaic devices use an active layer of organic materials that absorbs light and creates free charges to generate electricity. Such organic photovoltaics have many desirable properties as the final devices can be very lightweight, thin, flexible, have low manufacturing costs, and be semitransparent. These properties make them particularly advantageous for myriad of applications: e.g., use on non-planar surfaces, as tinted coatings on windows, any use for charging low power devices. One of the biggest problems preventing organic photovoltaics from being commercialized is controlling the packing of the organic materials within the active layer from the molecular scale through the …

Conjugated Polymers In Thermoelectric Composites And Small Molecules For High Light Absorptivity, Murat Tonga

Doctoral Dissertations

Over the past several decades with increasing of global energy demand, thermoelectric materials have gained considerable attention due to their unique ability to directly convert heat to electricity. In addition to inorganic semiconductors, polymers are potential candidates for high-performance thermoelectric applications due to their intrinsic advantages such as low thermal conductivity, solution processability, and roll-to-roll production, lightweight, and flexible thermoelectric modules. This thesis provides an insight into the emerging field of organic thermoelectrics, more specifically, thermoelectric power generation based on the composites of conducting polymers (MEH-PPV, P3HT and PEDOT:PSS) and carbon nanotubes (SWNT, SWNT-COOH, SWNT-OH and MWNT). A substantial portion …

Photochemical Tools For Fluorescent Labeling Of Endogenous Proteins, Stephen T. Mccarron

Doctoral Dissertations

The study of the dynamic movements of membrane bound proteins is typically achieved through an exogenously applied fluorescent tag or genetic modification of a receptor of interest to spatiotemporally monitor protein location. Techniques often used for labeling proteins include overexpression of a fluorescent protein such as GFP fused to a target protein or the application of antibodies. These methods benefit from superb specificity towards a receptor of interest, but may impose unforeseen consequences when studying natural protein movements. Thus, it is advantageous to development small, modular probes that would allow for visualization of endogenous membrane bound receptors in a minimally …

Polymer And Fullerene Zwitterions: From Synthesis To Solar Cells, Zachariah A. Page

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis describes the synthesis and applications of hydrophilic conjugated polymers and fullerenes containing dipole-inducing pendent groups. The pendent groups include tertiary amines, sulfobetaine (SB) zwitterions, quaternary ammoniums, and sulfonates, providing solubility in polar solvents. Particular emphasis is placed on zwitterions functalized structures. Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) coupling reactions proved valuable for the preparation of the hydrophilic conjugated polymers, while the Prato reaction afforded the functional fulleropyrrolidines. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) probed the interactions between the hydrophilic conjugated polymers and conductive metal substrates. In particular, UPS revealed that conjugated polymer zwitterions (CPZs) substantially reduce work function (Φ) of metals, …

Responsive Supramolecular Assemblies Based On Amphiphilic Polymers And Hybrid Materials, Longyu Li

Doctoral Dissertations

The design and synthesis of responsive supramolecular assemblies are of great interest due to their applications in a variety of areas such as drug delivery and sensing. We have developed a facile method to prepare self-crosslinking disulfide-based nanogels derived from an amphiphilic random copolymer containing a hydrophilic oligo-(ethylene glycol)-based side-chain functionality and a hydrophobic pyridyl disulfide functional group. This thesis first provides a concept of studying the influence of Hofmeister ions on the size and guest encapsulation stability of a polymeric nanogel. The size and core density of nanogel can be fine-tuned through the addition of both chaotropes and kosmotropes …

Chemical Biology-Based Probes For The Labeling Of Targets On Live Cells, Amanda M. Hussey

Doctoral Dissertations

Proper detection is the key to studying any processes on the cellular scale. Nowhere is this more evident than in the tight space which confines the synaptic cleft. Being able to ascertain the location of receptors on live neurons is fundamental to our understanding of not only how these receptors interact and move inside the cell but also how neurons function. Most detection methods rely on significantly altering the receptor; both tagging with a fluorescent protein or targeting the receptor by a fluorescent reporter in the form of a small molecule causes significant difficulties. These localization techniques often result in …

C–N Bond Rotation And E–Z Isomerism In Some N-Benzyl-N-Methylcarbamoyl Chlorides: A Dft Study, Michael Horwath, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

The current report presents the first theoretical study of the restricted CN bond rotation in carbamoyl chlorides. Several N-benzyl-N-methylcarbamoyl chlorides were investigated, with varying pattern of substitution in the aromatic ring. Optimizations and frequency calculations were conducted employing DFT at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory. Each of the studied structures exhibits a pair of rotamers (s-Z and s-E), generated upon rotation around the C(O)N bond. The s-E isomer is the global minimum in every case, but the preference for it is usually less than 1 kcal/mol. Two possible transition state structures were identified for the rotamer interconversion: TSsyn and TSanti, …

Preparation And Characterization Of Some Substituted Benzyl N-Nitrosocarbamates Containing An N-2-(Methylthio)Ethyl Or A Bis(2-Aminoethyl)Sulfide Functionality, Satya Venkata, Eric Shamo, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

The synthesis and characterization of some substituted benzyl N-nitrosocarbamates with an N-2-(methylthio)ethyl or a bis(2-aminoethyl)sulfide functionality is reported, as a part of a long-term goal to design and prepare novel photolabile structures that could be used as substances for controlled release of alkylating and/or crosslinking agents. The synthesis was accomplished by reaction of benzyl chloroformates with the corresponding amines, resulting in the preparation of carbamates. The latter were subsequently nitrosated, utilizing two different N-nitrosation methods, to yield the target structures.

The Tetrafluoroborate Salt Of 4-Methoxybenzyl N-2-(Dimethylamino)Ethyl-N-Nitrosocarbamate: Synthesis, Crystal Structure And Dft Calculations, Helene Hedian, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

The tetrafluoroborate salt of 4-methoxybenzyl N-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl-N-nitrosocarbamate was prepared in two steps, via the corresponding carbamate. Its crystal structure is monoclinic, space group P21/c. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 19.499(8) Å, b = 5.877(3) Å, c = 15.757(7) Å, α = 90°, β = 110.019(7)°, γ = 90°, V = 1696.5(12) Å3, Z = 4. The structure exhibits an unexpected, pseudo-gauche conformation with respect to the C2–C3 bond, due to a stabilizing hydrogen bond between the carbonyl oxygen (O1) and the hydrogen atom at the trialkylammonium center (H3n), with a distance between them of 2.37 Å. DFT calculations on …

A Sodium Salt Of The Dimer Of Boronoterephthalic Acid Anhydride, Scott Simmons, Albert Fratini, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

The title compound, sodium bis­(6-carb­oxy-1-hy­droxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2,1-benzoxaborol-1-yl)oxidanium, Na+·C16H15B2O13-, was prepared in two steps from 2-bromo-p-xylene. Its crystal structure was determined at 140 K and has triclinic (P) symmetry. The compound presents a unique structural motif, including two units of the cyclic anhydride of boronoterephthalic acid, joined by a protonated, and thereby trivalent, oxonium center. Association in the crystal is realized by complementary hydrogen bonding of the carboxyl groups, as well as by coordination of the sodium cations to the oxygen centers on the five-membered rings.

Secondary N-Nitrosocarbamate Anions: Structure And Alkylation Reactions. A Dft Study, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

The current article reports theoretical studies (DFT: B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) on the structure and alkylation reactions of the anions of some secondary N-nitrosocarbamates, a class of ambident nucleophiles whose chemistry has been little explored. Several anions (1–4), with an increasing size of the carbamate alkyl (aryl) group were investigated, in an attempt to establish the influence of the size of that group on the thermal stability and regioselectivity of alkylation of the title anions. The conclusion is that thermal stability and the mode of reaction are affected significantly only in the presence of very large and branched carbamate groups. The thermal decomposition …

Preparation Of Phosphonoterephthalic Acids Via Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling Of Aromatic Iodoesters, Nathaniel Ivan, Vladimir Benin, Alexander Morgan

Vladimir Benin

The current article reports in detail the preparation of two phosphonoterephthalic acids: 2-phosphonoterephthalic acid (1) and 2,5-diphosphonoterephthalic acid (2). Efficient, scalable syntheses have been developed for both compounds based on Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions of iodinated terephthalate esters. Phosphonoterephthalic acids are potentially useful as flame-retardant additives or as monomers for the construction of acid-pendant polymer chains.

Preparation Of Some Substituted Terephthalic Acids, Susanna Branion, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

We report in detail the preparation of two substituted terephthalic acids: 2‐sulfomethylterephthalic acid (1) and 2‐phosphonoterephthalic acid (2). Efficient, short syntheses have been developed for both compounds. They are potentially useful monomers for construction of acid‐pendant polymer chains.

Theoretical Investigation Of A Reported Antibiotic From The 'Miracle Tree' Moringa Oleifera, Michael Horwath, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

Moringa oleifera, sometimes called the “Miracle Tree,” has received international attention for its potential to improve health in impoverished tropical areas. In addition to high vitamin content in the leaves and pods, the tree contains compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study focused on the theoretical investigation of the suggested structure of one antibacterial compound, “pterygospermin,” whose existence was proposed after some studies of the roots of M. oleifera. The structure of pterygospermin was first proposed by a research group working in the 1950s, but later studies have not found evidence of this compound and have instead attributed the …

Synthesis And Flame Retardant Testing Of New Boronated And Phosphonated Aromatic Compounds, Vladimir Benin, Sravanthi Durganala, Alexander Morgan

Vladimir Benin

The present report describes the preparation and use of some dimethyl terephthalate derivatives in transition metal-catalyzed coupling reactions to produce new reactive flame retardants. Dimethyl iodoterephthalate and dimethyl 2,5-diiodoterephthalate were successfully employed in the preparation of phosphonic and boronic esters and acids. The latter were tested for heat release with a microcombustion calorimeter (ASTM D7309) to determine the potential for heat release reduction of these flame retardant molecules. The results showed that the addition of boronic or phosphonic acids greatly lowered the heat release, due to a condensed phase (char formation) mechanism. Adding ester groups to the boronic acids or …

Heat Release Of Polyurethanes Containing Potential Flame Retardants Based On Boron And Phosphorus Chemistries, Vladimir Benin, Bastien Gardelle, Alexander Morgan

Vladimir Benin

Using a polyurethane of methylene diphenyl isocyanate and 1,3-propane diol, several new non-halogenated aromatic boron and phosphorus flame retardants were evaluated for heat release reduction potential using the pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC). The polyurethanes were prepared in the presence of the potential flame retardants via solvent mixing and copolymerization methods, and were then analyzed via spectroscopic methods to determine if the flame retardant was still present in the final product. PCFC testing on the resulting products showed that the flame retardant molecule can have different effects on heat release depending upon how it is mixed into the polyurethane. Some …

Preparation, Characterization And Dft Studies Of Some New N-Nitrosocarbamates And N-Nitrosoureas, Ragavan Narayanan, Helene Hedian, Eric Shamo, Vladimir Benin

Vladimir Benin

We are presenting the preparation, characterization and density functional theory (DFT) studies {B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) of several reiated classes of N-nitrosocarbamates and N-nitrosoureas. The iong-range goal is the design and preparation of compounds, which would undergo photochemical or hydrolytic decomposition, to yield stabilized cyclic cations that can serve as alkylating agents at various nucleophilic centers, including DNA bases.