Highly Stable Self-Regenerating Organic Multi-Redox Systems derived from Bicyclic (Alkyl)(amino)carbenes (BICAACs)

An extended class of organic multi-redox systems was derived from bicyclic(alkyl)amino carbenes (BICAACs). The highly-conjugated system undergoes a total of 4 redox events spanning a 1.8 V redox range. These organic compounds exhibited four different stable redox states (dication, radical cation, neutral and radical anion), and all of them were characterized either by single crystal X-ray study and/or various spectroscopic studies. Three of the four redox states are stable to air and moisture. The availability of stable multiple redox states demonstrated promise towards their efficacy in the symmetric H-cell charge/discharge cycling. Among various redox states, the dication/neutral state works efficiently and continuously for 1500 cycles in 2e- charge/discharge process outside glovebox in commercially available DMF with minimum capacity loss (retaining nearly 90 % Coulombic efficiency). Surprisingly, the efficiency of the redox cycle was retained even if the system was exposed to air for 30 days when it slowly regenerated to the initial deep blue radical cation, and it exhibited another 100 charge/discharge cycles with a minimal capacity loss. Such a stable H-cell cycling ability is not well known among organic molecule-based systems.

Spontaneous Oxidation in Aqueous Microdroplets: Water Radical Cation as Primary Oxidizing Agent

Exploration of the unique chemical properties of interfaces can unlock new understanding. A striking example is the finding of accelerated reactions, particularly spontaneous oxidation reactions, that occur without assistance of catalysts or external oxidants at the air interface of both aqueous and organic solutions (provided they contain some water). This finding opened a new area of interfacial chemistry but also caused heated debate regarding the primary chemical species responsible for the observed oxidation. An overview of the literature covering oxidation in microdroplets with air interfaces is provided, together with a critical examination of previous findings and hypotheses. The water radical cation/radical anion pair, formed spontaneously and responsible for the electric field at or near the droplet/air interface, is suggested to constitute the primary redox species. Mechanisms of accelerated microdroplet reactions are critically discussed and it is shown that hydroxyl radical/hydrogen peroxide formation in microdroplets does not require that these species be the primary oxidant. Instead, we suggest that hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide are the products of water radical cation decay in water. The importance of microdroplet chemistry in the prebiotic environment is sketched briefly and the role of partial solvation in reaction acceleration is noted.

Probing the Dynamic Landscape: From Static to Time-Resolved X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy to Investigate Copper Redox Chemistry in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Copper (Cu), with its ability to exist in various oxidation states, notably Cu(I) and Cu(II), plays a crucial role in diverse biological redox reactions. This includes its involvement in pathways associated with oxidative stress in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. This paper offers an overview of X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) studies designed to elucidate the interactions between Cu ions and proteins or peptides associated with these neurodegenerative diseases. The emphasis lies on XAS specificity, revealing the local coordination environment, and on its sensitivity to Cu oxidation states. Furthermore, the paper focuses on XAS applications targeting the characterization of intermediate reaction states and explores the opportunities arising from recent advancements in time-resolved XAS at ultrabright synchrotron and Free Electron Laser radiation sources.

Changes in arsenic mobility and speciation across a 2000-year-old paddy soil chronosequence

Rice accumulates arsenic (As) when cultivated under flooded conditions in paddy soils threatening rice yield or its safety for human consumption, depending on As speciation. During long-term paddy use, repeated redox cycles systematically alter soil biogeochemistry and microbiology. In the present study, incubation experiments from a 2000-year-old paddy soil chronosequence revealed that As mobilization and speciation also change with paddy soil age. Younger paddies (≤100 years) showed the highest total As mobilization, with speciation dominated by carcinogenic inorganic oxyarsenic species and highly mobile inorganic thioarsenates. Inorganic thioarsenates formed by a high availability of reduced sulfur (S) due to low concentrations of reducible iron (Fe) and soil organic carbon (SOC). Long-term paddy use (>100 years) resulted in higher microbial activity and SOC, increasing the share of phytotoxic methylated As. Methylated oxyarsenic species are precursors for cytotoxic methylated thioarsenates. Methylated thioarsenates formed in soils of all ages being limited either by the availability of methylated As in young soils or that of reduced-S in older ones. The present study shows that via a linkage of As to the biogeochemistry of Fe, S, and C, paddy soil age can influence the kind and the extent of threat that As poses for rice cultivation.

Superoxide Dismutase-like Activity of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Nanoparticles Comprising Biomimetic Imidazolato-bridged CuZn Units

Nanoparticles exhibiting enzymatic functions have garnered considerable attention due to their structural robustness and the profusion of active sites that can be introduced to a single nanosized particle. Here we report that nanosized mix-metal zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) show a superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like catalytic activity. We chose a ZIF composed of copper and zinc ions and 2-methylimidazole, CuZn-ZIF-8, in which the Cu and Zn ions are bridged by an imidazolato ligand. This coordination geometry closely mimics the active site of CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD). The CuZn-ZIF-8 nanoparticles exhibit potent SOD-like activity, attributed to their porous nature and numerous copper active sites, and also possess exceptional recyclability.

Controlling Morphologies of Redox-responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for a Smart Drug Delivery System

Redox-responsive nanocarriers using disulfides or thiols have received considerable attention owing to the higher levels of glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells than those in extracellular fluids. Nevertheless, the normal-to-cancer-cell selectivity of these nanocarriers has not yet been clarified. Nanocarriers exhibit different cytotoxicities depending on the morphologies they adopt under the redox-active conditions typically existing in cancerous cells. Therefore, not only GSH levels but also reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and other complex cancerous cell conditions must be considered for the development of smart drug delivery systems. In this article, we describe the structural design of redox-responsive polymers that exhibit different morphological changes in environments akin to cancerous cells (e.g., GSH- and ROS-abundant conditions). In addition, we propose a molecular design for the spatiotemporal control of nanocarrier morphology depending on the levels of both GSH and ROS upon photoirradiation to increase the cytotoxicity difference between normal and cancer cells.

Phosphorus reference conditions in lowland streams: Survey in old forests and anaerobic sediment release

The reference (pristine) concentrations of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) in surface waters are difficult to define in lowland regions because of their high population density. Here, we estimated reference conditions of TDP from headwaters and their riverbed sediments (n = 140) in old forests. Surface waters and sediments were collected in the lowland region of Belgium as transects starting in 20 different old forests (before 1775; pristine) to up to 1.5 km outside the forest edge (disturbed). Sediment P concentrations in disturbed samples readily increased with increasing distance from the borders of old forests. The P mobilized from the sediments to the overlying water was also measured in laboratory incubations to mimic P release during seasonal redox cycles. The sediment respiration was larger in disturbed than in the reference sediments. Disturbed sediments released more P during anaerobic than aerobic incubations, while reference sediments did not show such a difference. The mean TDP in the reference surface water samples is 57 μg TDP L^-1 [95 % confidence interval 41; 72], very close to the pre-industrial background previously estimated for the Scheldt river. The 90th percentile of the reference water is 137 [110; 180] μg TDP L^-1. That P90 is just under the prevailing TP limit of 140 μg P L^-1, illustrating that this limit is very close to the upper baseline of reference conditions. The P75, often proposed as the threshold for high ecological status, was 84 [55; 122] μg P L^-1. This study showed that soil or sediments in old forests might serve to identify reference conditions. The well-established summer peaks of TDP in lowland rivers are unlikely to occur in pristine areas.

Plutonium mobilization from contaminated estuarine sediments, Esk Estuary (UK)

Since 1952, liquid radioactive effluent containing^238-242Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ²³⁷Np, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁹⁹Tc has been released with authorization from the Sellafield nuclear complex (UK) into the Irish Sea. This represents the largest source of plutonium (Pu) discharged in all western Europe, with 276 kg having been released. In the Eastern Irish Sea, the majority of the transuranic activity has settled into an area of sediments (Mudpatch) located off the Cumbrian coast. Radionuclides from the Mudpatch have been re-dispersed via particulate transport in fine-grained estuarine and intertidal sediments to the North-East Irish Sea, including the intertidal saltmarsh located at the mouth of the Esk Estuary. Saltmarshes are highly dynamic systems which are vulnerable to external agents (sea level change, erosion, sediment supply, and freshwater inputs), and their stability remains uncertain under current sea level rise projections and possible increases in storm activity. In this work, we examined factors affecting Pu mobility in contaminated sediments collected from the Esk Estuary by conducting leaching experiments under both anoxic and oxic conditions. Leaching experiments were conducted over a 9-month period and were periodically sampled to determine solution phase Pu via multicollector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS), and to measure redox indicators (Eh, pH and extractable Fe(II)). Microbial community composition was also characterized in the sediments, and at the beginning and end of the anoxic/oxic experiments. Results show that: 1) Pu leaching is about three times greater in solutions leached under anoxic conditions compared to oxic conditions, 2) the sediment slurry microbial communities shift as conditions change from anoxic to oxic, 3) Pu leaching is enhanced in the shallow sediments (0-10 cm depth), and 4) the magnitude of Pu leached from sediments is not correlated with total Pu, indicating that the biogeochemistry of sediment-associated Pu is spatially heterogeneous. These findings provide constraints on the stability of redox sensitive Pu in biogeochemically dynamic/transient environments on a timescale of months and suggests that anoxic conditions can enhance Pu mobility in estuarine systems.

Release and mobilization of Ni, Co, and Cr under dynamic redox changes in a geogenic contaminated soil: Assessing the potential risk in serpentine paddy environments

The release dynamics and mobilization of geogenic Ni, Co, and Cr in serpentine paddy soils under fluctuating redox conditions have not yet been well studied. Here we investigated the release dynamics of Cr, Co, and Ni and controlling factors (e.g., Fe, Mn, Mg, Cl^-, PO₄^3-, SO₄^2-, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) in a geogenic-contaminated serpentine soil under wide range of redox potential (E_H) changes. The effects of re-oxidation process have been also investigated. The soil was incubated for 28 days and E_H was controlled from oxidation (+200 mV) to reduction (-200 mV) and re-oxidation (+240 mV) using a microcosm setup in duplicates. The slurry pH increased, along with decreasing E_H. The average concentration of dissolved Co (17.1-23.6 μg L^-1) decreased under low E_H/high pH and vice versa. The average concentration of dissolved Cr decreased sharply from 624 μg L^-1 to 54.4 μg L^-1 with decreasing E_H from +200 mV to 0 mV and the associated increase of pH from 7.8 to 8.5; then, it was constant around 24.5 μg L^-1. Concentration of dissolved Ni was lower (73.5-84.6 μg L^-1) under high E_H at the first week of incubation; then, increased to 108.5 μg L^-1 under low E_H (-200 mV); thereafter, increased more at the end up to 124.5 μg L^-1 at high E_H (+240 mV), because of the pH decrease. A factor analysis identified that Cr and Co formed one group with Mn and Mg, while Ni was clustered together with Cl^-, DOC, and SO₄^2-. This indicates that the redox-induced release dynamic of Cr and Co was mainly governed by MnMg compounds, while the release of Ni was mainly affected by the aliphatic compounds of DOC and the redox chemistry of chlorides and sulfur in this soil. The re-oxidation increased the mobilization of Ni and Co and did not affect the release of Cr. These findings suggest that the redox-induced mobilization of geogenic Co, Ni, and Cr from soil to water in serpentine rice soils should be considered due to the high solubility and thus the associated bioavailability and potential environmental and human health risks, when such metal-enriched soils will be used for agricultural flood-dry cycle systems.

Rice hull biochar enhances the mobilization and methylation of mercury in a soil under changing redox conditions: Implication for Hg risks management in paddy fields

Biochar amendment to paddy soils was promising to mitigate mercury (Hg) accumulation in rice; thus, it was applied to reduce human Hg exposure via rice consumption. However, how biochar affects Hg mobilization and MeHg formation in soil under changed redox potential (Eh) conditions remained unknown. Here, we explored the change of dissolved total Hg (DTHg) and dissolved MeHg (DMeHg), and their controlling biogeochemical factors in a soil with(out) biochar amendment under changing Eh conditions using biogeochemical microcosm. Biochar amendment resulted in a widen Eh range (-300 to 400 mV) compared to the control (-250 to 350 mV), demonstrating that biochar promoted reduction-oxidization reactions in soil. Biochar amendment enhanced Hg mobilization by mediating reductive dissolution of Fe/Mn (hydr)oxides. Thus, the increased Hg availability promoted MeHg formation in the soils. Biochar amendment changed the soil organic matter (SOM) composition. Positive correlations between the relative abundance of LIPID (lipids, alkanes/alkenes), ALKYL (alkylaromatics), and suberin and MeHg concentrations indicate that these SOM groups might be related to MeHg formation. Biochar enhanced the releasing and methylation of Hg by promoting the mobilization of Fe(oxyhydr)oxides and alternation of carbon chemistry under dynamic Eh conditions. There is an unexpected environmental risk associated with biochar application to paddy soils under dynamic Eh condition, and one should be aware this risk when applying biochar aiming to minimize human Hg exposure health risks via rice consumption.

Phase transformation of nanosized zero-valent iron modulated by As(III) determines heavy metal passivation

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) has been extensively used for the passivation of cadmium (Cd) or arsenic (As) from wastewaters, while the underlying mechanisms of nZVI reaction with coexisting Cd and As are largely overlooked. Herein, the interactions of Cd and As during the course of nZVI transformation and the corresponding effects on respective pollutant removal have been systematically investigated. Batch experiments results show that As(III) addition significantly promotes the passivation of Cd(II) by nZVI, and the removal capacity increases by 7.8 times compared to that of Cd(II) alone. However, the adsorption and oxidative transformation of As(III) are barely affected under a relatively low Cd(II) concentration. It is conducive to the adsorption of Cd(II) and As(III) using nZVI under neutral conditions. The transformation of nZVI to lepidocrocite dominates in the Cd(II) single system, while it mainly converts to amorphous Fe oxyhydroxide with the addition of As(III). As(III) notably reduces the surface charge of Fe oxyhydroxide intermediates and to form the ternary complexes with Cd (Fe-As-Cd), which is the predominant mechanism for the promoted Cd(II) passivation. This work provides new understanding of nZVI transformation coupled to Cd(II) and As(III) passivation, which are likely contributing to the heavy metalloids regulation in waters and subsurface environments.

Facet-dependent Fe(II) redox chemistry on iron oxide for organic pollutant transformation and mechanisms

Fe(II) redox chemistry is a pivotal process of biogeochemical Fe cycle and the transformation of organic pollutants in subsurface aquifers, while its interfacial reactivity on iron oxides with varying surface chemistries remains largely unexplored. In this study, the redox processes of Fe(II) on two hematite with highly exposed {001} and {110} facets and their impacts on the transformation of nitrobenzene were investigated. Results suggest that Fe(II) adsorption is the rate-limiting step of the redox chain reactions, controlling the reduction potential (E_H). Nitrobenzene activates the facet electron transfer on hematite, leading to nitrobenzene reduction and Fe(II) oxidation. Moreover, {001} facet exhibits a higher reactivity and electron transport efficiency than {110} facet, which is attributed to a lower site density (0.809 #Fe/nm²) and a lower E_H of hematite {001} facet than that of {110} facet. It is worth noting that the facet-dependent reduction activity is more intense at low pH or high Fe(II) activity. A slight dissolution of {110} facet was observed, indicating hematite {001} facet exhibits higher thermodynamic stability than {110} facet. This study confirms the facet-dependent reducing activity of surface bound Fe(II) on hematite, providing a new perspective for in-depth understanding of the interfacial reactions on hematite. The findings of this work broaden the biogeochemical process of Fe cycle in subsurface environments and its impact on the fate of organic pollutants in groundwater.

Turning the Light on Phenols: New Opportunities in Organic Synthesis

Phenols ( I ) are extremely relevant chemical functionalities in natural, synthetic and industrial chemistry. Their corresponding electron-rich anions, namely phenolates ( I ), are characterized by interesting physicochemical properties that can be drastically altered upon light excitation. Specifically, phenolates ( I ) become strong reducing agents in the excited state and are able to generate reactive radicals from suitable precursors via single-electron transfer processes. Thus, these species can photochemically trigger strategic bond-forming reactions, including their direct aromatic C-H functionalization. Moreover, substituted phenolate anions can act as photocatalysts to enable synthetically useful organic transformations. An alternative mechanistic manifold is represented by the ability of phenolate derivatives I to form ground state electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes with electron-poor radical sources. These complementary scenarios have paved the way for the development of a wide range of relevant organic reactions. In this Minireview, we present the main examples of this research field, and give insight on emerging trends in phenols photocatalysis towards richer organic synthesis.

Redox-induced mobilization of phosphorus in groundwater affected arable soil profiles

Mobilization of phosphorus (P) in arable soils might be affected by groundwater fluctuations and the associated changes in redox potential (E_H). However, the impact of systematic changes of E_H on P mobilization in redoximorphic arable soils along a catena has not been studied so far. Therefore, we investigated P mobilization under different redox conditions in top- and sub-soil horizons of three groundwater affected arable soils along a slight slope (toe-, mid-, and upper-slope position) in Northern Germany using an automated biogeochemical microcosm system. The impact of pH, Al, Fe, Mn, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on P mobilization was also studied. The initial E_H (+351 to +431 mV) and pH (6.5-7.0) decreased in all soil samples (E_H = -280 mV; pH = 4.4) when creating a slurry. Thereafter, the pH increased to 7.1 and 6.4 with increasing E_H in the mid-and toe-slope soil, respectively. Concentrations of dissolved P ranged between 20.8 mg L^-1 under low E_H in the toe slope topsoil and 0.69 mg L^-1 under high E_H in the toe- and mid-slop subsoil. Concentrations (mg L^-1) of dissolved Fe (0.31-13.3) and DOC (92-2651) increased under low E_H and decreased under high E_H. The increase of P mobilization under low E_H and pH in the soils might be due to the release of P via the reductive and acidic dissolution of Fe-(oxhydr)oxides and/or due to soil organic matter mineralization. The high mobilization of P under reducing conditions may increase its bioavailability; however, it may increase its loss in the soils, particularly in the toe slope profile.

Age-associated insolubility of parkin in human midbrain is linked to redox balance and sequestration of reactive dopamine metabolites

The mechanisms by which parkin protects the adult human brain from Parkinson disease remain incompletely understood. We hypothesized that parkin cysteines participate in redox reactions and that these are reflected in its posttranslational modifications. We found that in post mortem human brain, including in the Substantia nigra, parkin is largely insoluble after age 40 years; this transition is linked to its oxidation, such as at residues Cys95 and Cys253. In mice, oxidative stress induces posttranslational modifications of parkin cysteines that lower its solubility in vivo. Similarly, oxidation of recombinant parkin by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) promotes its insolubility and aggregate formation, and in exchange leads to the reduction of H₂O₂. This thiol-based redox activity is diminished by parkin point mutants, e.g., p.C431F and p.G328E. In prkn-null mice, H₂O₂ levels are increased under oxidative stress conditions, such as acutely by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine toxin exposure or chronically due to a second, genetic hit; H₂O₂ levels are also significantly increased in parkin-deficient human brain. In dopamine toxicity studies, wild-type parkin, but not disease-linked mutants, protects human dopaminergic cells, in part through lowering H₂O₂. Parkin also neutralizes reactive, electrophilic dopamine metabolites via adduct formation, which occurs foremost at the primate-specific residue Cys95. Further, wild-type but not p.C95A-mutant parkin augments melanin formation in vitro. By probing sections of adult, human midbrain from control individuals with epitope-mapped, monoclonal antibodies, we found specific and robust parkin reactivity that co-localizes with neuromelanin pigment, frequently within LAMP-3/CD63⁺ lysosomes. We conclude that oxidative modifications of parkin cysteines are associated with protective outcomes, which include the reduction of H₂O₂, conjugation of reactive dopamine metabolites, sequestration of radicals within insoluble aggregates, and increased melanin formation. The loss of these complementary redox effects may augment oxidative stress during ageing in dopamine-producing cells of mutant PRKN allele carriers, thereby enhancing the risk of Parkinson’s-linked neurodegeneration.

Ternary MOF-Based Redox Active Sites Enabled 3D-on-2D Nanoarchitectured Battery-Type Electrodes for High-Energy-Density Supercapatteries

Designing rationally combined metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with multifunctional nanogeometries is of significant research interest to enable the electrochemical properties in advanced energy storage devices. Herein, we explored a new class of binder-free dual-layered Ni-Co-Mn-based MOFs (NCM-based MOFs) with three-dimensional (3D)-on-2D nanoarchitectures through a polarity-induced solution-phase method for high-performance supercapatteries. The hierarchical NCM-based MOFs having grown on nickel foam exhibit a battery-type charge storage mechanism with superior areal capacity (1311.4 μAh cm^-2 at 5 mA cm^-2), good rate capability (61.8%; 811.67 μAh cm^-2 at 50 mA cm^-2), and an excellent cycling durability. The superior charge storage properties are ascribed to the synergistic features, higher accessible active sites of dual-layered nanogeometries, and exalted redox chemistry of multi metallic guest species, respectively. The bilayered NCM-based MOFs are further employed as a battery-type electrode for the fabrication of supercapattery paradigm with biomass-derived nitrogen/oxygen doped porous carbon as a negative electrode, which demonstrates excellent capacity of 1.6 mAh cm^-2 along with high energy and power densities of 1.21 mWh cm^-2 and 32.49 mW cm^-2, respectively. Following, the MOF-based supercapattery was further assembled with a renewable solar power harvester to use as a self-charging station for various portable electronic applications.

The role of hydrogen atoms in redox catalysis by the flavoenzyme cholesterol oxidase

Flavoenzymes comprise a large class of proteins that carry out a diverse range of important redox chemistry. Although X-ray crystal structures of many flavoenzymes have been determined, there are still unresolved questions regarding the actual oxidation state of the flavin cofactors in these structures due to photoreduction by the ionizing radiation of the X-ray beam during the diffraction experiment. Additionally, the ability to visualize hydrogen atoms in X-ray structures is difficult due to the weak scattering capability of these atoms. Since hydrogen atoms affect the electrostatic nature of enzyme active sites and play important roles in the chemistry of key amino acid residues, visualizing the precise positions of these atoms provides a more detailed understanding of their role in enzyme catalysis. Single crystal neutron diffraction is an alternative method to structure determination, circumventing problems associated with photoreduction of the sample thus providing a clearer view of the structural features of a flavoenzyme in different redox states. Additionally, the larger neutron scattering factors for hydrogen and deuterium atoms enables one to visualize these atoms much more easily than from X-ray scattering measurements. In this chapter we give an overview of neutron and X-ray crystallography studies on the flavoenzyme, cholesterol oxidase and how the observations of unusual hydrogen atom positions provide insight into the redox chemistry of the flavin cofactor.

Activity and electrochemical properties: iron complexes of the anticancer drug triapine and its analogs

Triapine (3-AP), is an iron-binding ligand and anticancer drug that is an inhibitor of human ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). Inhibition of RNR by 3-AP results in the depletion of dNTP precursors of DNA, thereby selectively starving fast-replicating cancer cells of nucleotides for survival. The redox-active form of 3-AP directly responsible for inhibition of RNR is the Fe(II)(3-AP)₂ complex. In this work, we synthesize 12 analogs of 3-AP, test their inhibition of RNR in vitro, and study the electronic properties of their iron complexes. The reduction and oxidation events of 3-AP iron complexes that are crucial for the inhibition of RNR are modeled with solution studies. We monitor the pH necessary to induce reduction in iron complexes of 3-AP analogs in a reducing environment, as well as the kinetics of oxidation in an oxidizing environment. The oxidation state of the complex is monitored using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Isoquinoline analogs of 3-AP favor the maintenance of the biologically active reduced complex and possess oxidation kinetics that allow redox cycling, consistent with their effective inhibition of RNR seen in our in vitro experiments. In contrast, methylation on the thiosemicarbazone secondary amine moiety of 3-AP produces analogs that form iron complexes with much higher redox potentials, that do not redox cycle, and are inactive against RNR in vitro. The catalytic subunit of human Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR), contains a tyrosyl radical in the enzyme active site. Fe(II) complexes of 3-AP and its analogs can quench the radical and, subsequently, inactivate RNR. The potency of RNR inhibitors is highly dependent on the redox properties of the iron complexes, which can be tuned by ligand modifications. Complexes are found to be active within a narrow redox window imposed by the cellular environment.

Iron Carbonate Beneficiation Through Reductive Calcination - Parameter Optimization to Maximize Methane Formation

Direct iron carbonate reduction through reductive calcination in a hydrogen atmosphere is a high‐potential candidate for environmentally benign pig iron production. In addition to the direct formation of elemental iron in one reaction step, carbon dioxide is only partially released from the carbonate. Instead, carbon monoxide, methane, and higher hydrocarbons form as gaseous reaction products. The experimental study described here is based on Mg‐Mn substituted iron carbonate ore. First, the chemical thermodynamics of the reductive calcination of iron, magnesium, and manganese carbonate are discussed. The influence of temperature and pressure on equilibrium conversion is reviewed together with the accessible products. Results for the reductive calcination of mineral iron carbonate in a tubular reactor setup are presented. The methane yield was optimized via statistically planned design of experiments. The gauge pressure and temperature showed a statistically significant effect on the total iron carbonate conversion, as well as on carbon monoxide, and methane yield.

A Topochemical Approach to Synthesize Layered Materials Based on the Redox Reactivity of Anionic Chalcogen Dimers

Layered transition metal compounds represent a major playground to explore unconventional electric or magnetic properties. In that framework, topochemical approaches that mostly preserve the topology of layered reactants have been intensively investigated to tune properties and/or design new materials. Topochemical reactions often involve the insertion or deinsertion of a chemical element accompanied by a change of oxidation state of the cations only. Conversely, cases where anions play the role of redox centers are very scarce. Here we show that the insertion of copper into two dimensional precursors containing chalcogen dimers (Q₂ )^2- (Q=S, Se) can produce layered materials with extended (CuQ) sheets. The reality of this topochemical reaction is demonstrated here for different pristine materials, namely La₂ O₂ S₂ , Ba₂ F₂ S₂ , and LaSe₂ . Therefore, this work opens up a new synthetic strategy to design layered transition metal compounds from precursors containing polyanionic redox centers.

Arsenic speciation dynamics in paddy rice soil-water environment: sources, physico-chemical, and biological factors - A review

Rice is the main staple carbohydrate source for billions of people worldwide. Natural geogenic and anthropogenic sources has led to high arsenic (As) concentrations in rice grains. This is because As is highly bioavailable to rice roots under conditions in which rice is cultivated. A multifaceted and interdisciplinary understanding, both of short-term and long-term effects, are required to identify spatial and temporal changes in As contamination levels in paddy soil-water systems. During flooding, soil pore waters are elevated in inorganic As compared to dryland cultivation systems, as anaerobism results in poorly mobile As(V), being reduced to highly mobile As(III). The formation of iron (Fe) plaque on roots, availability of metal (hydro)oxides (Fe and Mn), organic matter, clay mineralogy and competing ions and compounds (PO₄^3- and Si(OH)₄) are all known to influence As(V) and As(III) mobility in paddy soil-water environments. Microorganisms play a key role in As transformation through oxidation/reduction, and methylation/volatilization reactions, but transformation kinetics are poorly understood. Scientific-based optimization of all biogeochemical parameters may help to significantly reduce the bioavailability of inorganic As.

Nickel-Alkyl Complexes with a Reactive PNC-Pincer Ligand

Based on previous work related to the design and application of rigid tridentate phosphine-pyridine-phenyl coordination offered by a PNC-pincer ligand upon cyclometalation to nickel, the synthesis, spectroscopic and solid state characterization and redox-reactivity of two NiII(PNC) complexes featuring either a methyl (2CH3 ) or CF3 co-ligand (2CF3 ) are described. One-electron oxidation is proposed to furnish C-C reductive elimination, as deduced from a combined chemical, electrochemical, spectroscopic and computational study. One-electron reduction results in a ligand-centered radical anion, as supported by electrochemistry, UV spectroelectrochemistry, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. This further attenuates the breadth of chemical reactivity offered by such PNC-pincer ligands.

Biochar affects the dissolved and colloidal concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn and their phytoavailability and potential mobility in a mining soil under dynamic redox-conditions

There is a lack of knowledge on the effects of biochar (BC) on the release dynamics of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in different phases of soil under systematic change of redox potential (E_H). We aimed to elucidate the impact of pre-definite E_H on the release dynamics of dissolved and colloidal concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn as well as their phytoavailability and potential mobility in the solid-phase of a mining soil treated with rice hull biochar (S+BC) compared to non-treated soil (S). The influence of E_H-dependent changes of soil pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved aromatic carbon (DAC), Fe, Mn, SO₄^2-, and Cl^- on the elements release was also determined. The experiment was conducted stepwise from reducing (-30mV in S and -12mV in S+BC) to oxidizing (+218mV in S and +333mV in S+BC) conditions using an automated biogeochemical microcosm system. Biochar-treated soil exhibited a wider range of E_H and a lower pH than the non-treated soil. Dissolved concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, SO₄^2-, and DAC increased under oxic conditions in the non-treated and biochar-treated-soils, which might be due to the decline of pH, and/or sulfide oxidation. Cadmium was more abundant in the colloidal fraction, while Cu, Mn, and DOC were more abundant in the dissolved fraction. Nickel, Zn, and Fe distributed almost equally in both fractions. Biochar increased the dissolved concentration of Cd, Ni, Zn and in particular Cu under oxic conditions. However, the biochar did not significantly affect the colloidal fraction of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn. The phytoavailability of the studied elements was higher than the potential mobility. We conclude that increasing the dissolved concentrations of the elements under oxic conditions might increase their release and transfer into the groundwater and the food chain which should be harmful for the environment.

The CoOOH-TMB oxidative system for use in colorimetric and test strip based determination of ascorbic acid

The authors report that cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) nanoflakes possess intrinsic oxidizing ability to directly oxidize 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to form a blue colored product (oxTMB) even in the absence of H₂O₂ and oxygen. In the presence of ascorbic acid (AA), less of the blue product is formed because AA reduces oxTMB. These findings constitute a new scheme for colorimetric detection of AA. Absorbance, best measured at 652 nm, linearly drops in the 10 nM to 1 μM AA concentration range, and the limit of detection is 5 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). The reaction is complete within <5 s and highly selective. A strip test has been designed for fast and on-spot visual detection of AA. The method was applied to the direct estimation of AA in the microdialysate of brain, and also in soft drink samples. The strip test is considered to be a promising tool for the rapid screening of AA in brain and commercial samples. Graphic abstract Schematic of the CoOOH-TMB colorimetric system that exhibits a high selectivity for ascorbic acid (AA). A strip test has been designed for fast and on-spot visual detection of AA.

Redox-induced mobilization of copper, selenium, and zinc in deltaic soils originating from Mississippi (U.S.A.) and Nile (Egypt) River Deltas: A better understanding of biogeochemical processes for safe environmental management

Studies about the mobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in deltaic soils can be challenging, provide critical information on assessing the potential risk and fate of these elements and for sustainable management of these soils. The impact of redox potential (E_H), pH, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sulfate (SO₄^2-), chloride (Cl^-), aliphatic dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and aromatic dissolved organic carbon (DAC) on the mobilization of copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) was studied in two soils collected from the Nile and Mississippi Rivers deltaic plains focused on increasing our understanding of the fate of these toxic elements. Soils were exposed to a range of redox conditions stepwise from reducing to oxidizing soil conditions using an automated biogeochemical microcosm apparatus. Concentrations of DOC and Fe were high under reducing conditions as compared to oxidizing conditions in both soils. The proportion of DAC in relation to DOC in solution (aromaticity) was high in the Nile Delta soil (NDS) and low in the Mississippi Delta soil (MDS) under oxidizing conditions. Mobilization of Cu was low under reducing conditions in both soils which was likely caused by sulfide precipitation and as a result of reduction of Cu²⁺ to Cu¹⁺. Mobilization of Se was high under low E_H in both soils. Release of Se was positively correlated with DOC, Fe, Mn, and SO₄^2- in the NDS, and with Fe in the MDS. Mobilization of Zn showed negative correlations with E_H and pH in the NDS while these correlations were non-significant in the MDS. The release dynamics of dissolved Zn could be governed mainly by the chemistry of Fe and Mn in the NDS and by the chemistry of Mn in the MDS. Our findings suggest that a release of Se and Zn occurs under anaerobic conditions, while aerobic conditions favor the release of Cu in both soils. In conclusion, the release of Cu, Se, and Zn under different reducing and oxidizing conditions in deltaic wetland soils should be taken into account due to increased mobilization and the potential environmental risks associated with food security in utilizing these soils for flooded agricultural and fisheries systems.

New process for copper migration by bioelectricity generation in soil microbial fuel cells

The soil microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising biotechnology for the bioelectricity recovery as well as the remediation soil. Moreover, there were no studies on the heavy metal pollution in a soil MFC yet. A soil MFC was constructed to remediate the contaminated soil, and the electric field was generated from the oxidation of the acetate at the anode. We demonstrated the copper migration, the power generation, and the pH variation in the soil and the electrodes. The maximal voltage and the power density of 539 mV and 65.77 m W/m(2) were obtained in the soil MFC. The chemical fractionation of copper (Cu) was analyzed with a modified BCR sequential extraction method. The soluble Cu form and the total Cu contents from the anode to the cathode increased, and the difference between them kept growing over time. The Cu fractions in the soil and the electrodes were converted with the change of the dramatic pH from the anode to the cathode. There was a focusing effect leading to the change of the Cu forms, and the extractable acid form content increased in the three fifths where the acid and the alkali fronts met.

Redox effects on release kinetics of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and vanadium in Wax Lake Deltaic freshwater marsh soils

The impact of redox potential (EH), pH, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chloride (Cl(-)), aliphatic and aromatic dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and sulfate ( [Formula: see text] ) on the release of dissolved arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), and vanadium (V) were studied in Louisiana freshwater marsh Wax Lake Delta soil (Mississippi River) using an automated biogeochemical microcosm apparatus. The experiment was conducted from reducing (-60 mV) to stepwise oxidizing (+491 mV) conditions. The initial pH was 7.4 and decreased under reducing conditions to 4.9, and remained constant during the increase of EH. Concentrations of As (1.3-120.5 μg L(-1)), V (0.9-48.6 μg L(-1)), Fe, DOC, and the specific UV absorbance increased under reducing conditions and decreased with rising EH. Release of As and V appeared to be related to changes of EH/pH, co-precipitation with Fe oxides, and the release of dissolved aromatic carbon compounds. Concentrations of soluble Cd (4.8-11.2 μg L(-1)), Mn, [Formula: see text] , and Cl(-) increased under oxidizing conditions. Release of Co (166.6-258.2 μg L(-1)) was related to the chemistry of Fe, Mn and DOC. Phospholipid fatty acids analysis indicated the potential for the microbial community to be involved in biogeochemical processes such as the formation of sulfides, oxidation and reduction of compounds, and the bio-methylation of elements such as As. Overall, we measured a release of As and V under anoxic conditions, while oxic conditions favored the release of Cd. These results outline concern on the potential risk of mobilization of toxic elements in temporary waterlogged soils for agricultural purposes in deltaic ecosystems.

Reactions of isolated persulfides provide insights into the interplay between H2S and persulfide reactivity

Hydrogen sulfide is ubiquitous in biological systems and exerts function over a wide range of important physiological processes. Complementing free H2S, the reductant-labile sulfur pool plays significant roles in the translocation and action of sulfide, however the chemistry of reductant-labile sulfide sources has not been studied systematically. Using a combination of NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, we investigated the spectroscopic properties and reactivity of three isolated organic persulfides and report a simple model for persulfide reactivity, including their roles as nucleophiles, electrophiles, and sulfide donors.

Reengineering cyt b562 for hydrogen production: A facile route to artificial hydrogenases

Bioinspired, protein-based molecular catalysts utilizing base metals at the active are emerging as a promising avenue to sustainable hydrogen production. The protein matrix modulates the intrinsic reactivity of organometallic active sites by tuning second-sphere and long-range interactions. Here, we show that swapping Co-Protoporphyrin IX for Fe-Protoporphyrin IX in cytochrome b562 results in an efficient catalyst for photoinduced proton reduction to molecular hydrogen. Further, the activity of wild type Co-cyt b562 can be modulated by a factor of 2.5 by exchanging the coordinating methionine with alanine or aspartic acid. The observed turnover numbers (TON) range between 125 and 305, and correlate well with the redox potential of the Co-cyt b562 mutants. The photosensitized system catalyzes proton reduction with high efficiency even under an aerobic atmosphere, implicating its use for biotechnological applications. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Biodesign for Bioenergetics--the design and engineering of electronic transfer cofactors, proteins and protein networks, edited by Ronald L. Koder and J.L. Ross Anderson.

Crossed McMurry Coupling Reactions for Porphycenic Macrocycles: Non-Statistical Selectivity and Rationalisation

Crossed McMurry reactions of bifuran- or bithiophenedicarbaldehydes with bipyrroledicarbaldehydes have been studied for the first time. Only those porphycenic macrocycles derived from homocoupled McMurry products were formed. The results are explained by using both density functional theory and electron propagator computations to model the electron affinity of the dialdehyde starting materials. It was predicted that bifuran\bithiophene cross-coupling would indeed occur, and this was demonstrated by the first synthesis of a novel dioxa,dithio hetero-porphycenoid annulene. This approach will allow the prior identification of viable substrates for related crossed McMurry reactions.

Mechanism for glutathione-mediated protection against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa redox toxin, pyocyanin

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important human pathogen associated with several acute and chronic conditions, including diseases of the airways and wounds. The organism produces pyocyanin, an extracellular redox toxin that induces oxidative stress, depletes intracellular glutathione (GSH) and induces proliferative arrest and apoptosis, thus compromising the ability of tissue to repair itself. GSH is an important intra- and extracellular antioxidant, redox buffer and detoxifies xenobiotics by increasing their polarity, which facilitates their elimination. As previous studies have reported exogenous GSH to be protective against pyocyanin toxicity, this study was undertaken to explore the mechanism by which GSH protects host cells from the deleterious effects of the toxin. Co-incubation of pyocyanin with GSH resulted in a time-dependent diminished recovery of the toxin from the incubation medium. Concurrently, a highly polar green-colored metabolite was recovered that exhibited a UV-visible spectrum similar to pyocyanin and which was determined by mass spectrometry to have a major ion (m/z = 516) consistent with a glutathione conjugate. The ability of the conjugate to oxidize NADPH and to reduce molecular oxygen with the production of reactive oxygen species was comparable to pyocyanin yet it no longer demonstrated cytotoxicity towards host cells. These data suggest that GSH forms a cell-impermeant conjugate with pyocyanin and that availability of the thiol may be critical to minimizing the toxicity of this important bacterial virulence factor at infection sites. Our data indicate that for GSH to have a clinically effective role in neutralizing pyocyanin, the thiol needs to be available at millimolar concentrations.

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of hydrogen sulfide with diaquacobinamide in aqueous solution

We conducted a detailed kinetic study of the reaction of the vitamin B12 analog diaquacobinamide ((H2O)2Cbi(III)) with hydrogen sulfide in water from pH 3 to 11. The reaction proceeds in three steps: (i) formation of three different complexes between cobinamide and hydrogen sulfide, viz. (HO-)(HS-)Cbi(III), (H2O)(HS-)Cbi(III), and (HS-)2Cbi(III); (ii) inner-sphere electron transfer (ISET) in the two complexes with one coordinated HS- to form the reduced cobinamide complex [(H)S]Cbi(II); and (iii) addition of a second molecule of hydrogen sulfide to the reduced cobinamide. ISET does not proceed in the (HS-)2Cbi(III) complex. The final products of the reaction between cobinamide and hydrogen sulfide were found to be independent of pH, with the main product being a complex of cobinamide(II) with the anion-radical SSH2-.

The Development of Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis in Flow

Visible-light photoredox catalysis has recently emerged as a viable alternative for radical reactions otherwise carried out with tin and boron reagents. It has been recognized that by merging photoredox catalysis with flow chemistry, slow reaction times, lower yields, and safety concerns may be obviated. While flow reactors have been successfully applied to reactions carried out with UV light, only recent developments have demonstrated the same potential of flow reactors for the improvement of visible-light-mediated reactions. This review examines the initial and continuing development of visible-light-mediated photoredox flow chemistry by exemplifying the benefits of flow chemistry compared with conventional batch techniques.

Porphyrin π-stacking in a heme protein scaffold tunes gas ligand affinity

The role of π-stacking in controlling redox and ligand binding properties of porphyrins has been of interest for many years. The recent discovery of H-NOX domains has provided a model system to investigate the role of porphyrin π-stacking within a heme protein scaffold. Removal of a phenylalanine-porphyrin π-stack dramatically increased O2, NO, and CO affinities and caused changes in redox potential (~40mV) without any structural changes. These results suggest that small changes in redox potential affect ligand affinity and that π-stacking may provide a novel route to engineer heme protein properties for new functions.

Chemical aspects of hydrogen sulfide measurements in physiological samples

BACKGROUND

Owing to recent discoveries of many hydrogen sulfide-mediated physiological processes, sulfide biology is in the focus of scientific research. However, the promiscuous chemical properties of sulfide pose complications for biological studies, which led to accumulation of controversial observations in the literature.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

We intend to provide an overview of fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic features of sulfide redox- and coordination-chemical reactions and protonation equilibria in relation to its biological functions. In light of these chemical properties we review the strengths and limitations of the most commonly used sulfide detection methods and recently developed fluorescent probes. We also give a personal perspective on blood and tissue sulfide measurements based on proposed biomolecule-sulfide interactions and point out important chemical aspects of handling sulfide reagent solutions.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

The diverse chemistries of sulfide detection methods resulted in orders of magnitude differences in measured physiological sulfide levels. Investigations that were aimed to dissect the underlying molecular reasons responsible for these controversies made the important recognition that there are large sulfide reserves in biological systems. These sulfide pools are tightly regulated in a dynamic manner and they are likely to play a major role in regulation of endogenous-sulfide-mediated biological functions and avoiding toxic side effects.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Working with sulfide is challenging, because it requires considerable amounts of chemical knowledge to adequately handle reagent sulfide solutions and interpret biological observations. Therefore, we propose that a rigorous chemical approach could aid the reconciliation of the increasing number of controversies in sulfide biology. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Current methods to study reactive oxygen species - pros and cons and biophysics of membrane proteins. Guest Editor: Christine Winterbourn.

The ToxBank Data Warehouse: Supporting the Replacement of In Vivo Repeated Dose Systemic Toxicity Testing

The aim of the SEURAT-1 (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Testing-1) research cluster, comprised of seven EU FP7 Health projects co-financed by Cosmetics Europe, is to generate a proof-of-concept to show how the latest technologies, systems toxicology and toxicogenomics can be combined to deliver a test replacement for repeated dose systemic toxicity testing on animals. The SEURAT-1 strategy is to adopt a mode-of-action framework to describe repeated dose toxicity, combining in vitro and in silico methods to derive predictions of in vivo toxicity responses. ToxBank is the cross-cluster infrastructure project whose activities include the development of a data warehouse to provide a web-accessible shared repository of research data and protocols, a physical compounds repository, reference or "gold compounds" for use across the cluster (available via wiki.toxbank.net), and a reference resource for biomaterials. Core technologies used in the data warehouse include the ISA-Tab universal data exchange format, REpresentational State Transfer (REST) web services, the W3C Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the OpenTox standards. We describe the design of the data warehouse based on cluster requirements, the implementation based on open standards, and finally the underlying concepts and initial results of a data analysis utilizing public data related to the gold compounds.

First Isolation and Structural Characterization of a Nickel(III) Complex Containing Aliphatic Thiolate Donors

Long overdue were syntheses of nickel(III) complexes containing aliphatic thiolate ligands. The complex anion [Ni(phmi)]^- (phmi is the tetraanion of N,N'-1,2-phenylenebis(2-methyl-2-sulfanylpropionamide) has now been isolated-as PPh₄ salt-and structurally characterized. The stability of the nickel(III) complex is attributed to the special properties of the ligand, which abolish or at least retard possible decomposition pathways.