Self-Assembled Quaternary Ammonium-Containing Comb-Like Polyelectrolytes for the Hydrolysis of Organophosphorous Esters: Effect of Head Groups and Counter-Ions

Catalytic strategies for detoxifying phosphorus(V) biocides

Organophosphorus substances are employed in several industrial segments, albeit they may feature high toxicity levels depending on their structures. Based on previous extensive investigations of structure-reactivity patterns, researchers have been working on the development of catalysts as a means to detoxify phosphorus(V) organic compounds rapidly and safely through specific reaction pathways. This highlight reviews some recent advances in the utilization of catalytic systems for the decomposition of organophosphorus(V) compounds, in most cases using simulants of nerve agents. The nature of the catalysts is wide, including heterogeneous, colloidal and supramolecular systems, and although not all cases may be practical for the detoxification of phosphorus(V) organic structures, they are certainly useful for future research on this theme.

A supramolecular catalyst based on sodium alginate and viologen calix[4]resorcinol for the room temperature hydrolysis of paraoxon

Properties of paraoxon, such as poor water solubility, low rate of natural decomposition, ability to accumulate in soil and wastewater, lead to the fact that paraoxon is found in various agricultural products and textiles. In this regard, the search for effective ways of paraoxon degradation becomes an extremely urgent problem, which can be solved by creating catalysts by mimicking paraxonase. In this work, a complex of physicochemical methods was used to study the supramolecular interactions of sodium alginate, which has a calcium-binding ability similar to paraxonase, with viologen calix[4]resorcinol and to reveal the nature of the intermolecular interactions between them resulting in the spontaneous formation of nanoparticles. Before proceeding to the investigation of the binding ability of obtained nanoparticles to paraoxon, the encapsulating effect of nanoparticles on a number of model substrates of different solubility (doxorubicin hydrochloride, quercetin and oleic acid) was studied. The kinetics of paraoxon hydrolysis reaction using these nanoparticles was studied at room temperature in an aqueous medium by spectrophotometric method. The rate of this reaction increases with increasing concentration of stable nanoparticles having hydrophobic domains that ensure paraoxon immobilization. The results obtained allow considering the supramolecular polysaccharide/calixarene system as an effective biomimetic catalyst.