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Removal of Nerve Agent Simulants from Water Using Light-Responsive Molecular Baskets
Sarah E Border1, Radoslav Z Pavlović1, Lei Zhiquan1
1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The Ohio State University , 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|December 8, 2017
Summary
Molecular baskets with amino acids can be photoactivated to remove organophosphonates, similar to nerve agents, from water with up to 98% efficiency. This novel light-induced sequestration strategy offers a promising method for environmental remediation.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Photochemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Molecular baskets are versatile hosts for molecular recognition.
- Organophosphonates (OPs) pose environmental and health risks, including similarity to G-type nerve agents.
- Light-induced chemical transformations offer novel sequestration strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the photoinduced decarboxylation of amino acid-functionalized molecular baskets.
- To explore the complexation of organophosphonates (OPs) with these molecular baskets.
- To develop a light-triggered method for the sequestration of OPs from aqueous solutions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of molecular baskets 1-3 with amino acid rims.
- Photoirradiation experiments (300 nm) inducing decarboxylation.
- Formation and characterization of inclusion complexes between baskets and OPs (7-9).
- Quantification of OP removal efficiency via precipitation.
Main Results:
- Molecular baskets 1-3 underwent photoinduced decarboxylation to form baskets 4-6, precipitating in water.
- Baskets 1-3 formed inclusion complexes with OPs (7-9) with binding constants (K) ranging from 6 to 2243 M⁻¹.
- Light irradiation of basket⊂OP complexes resulted in OP-containing precipitates.
- Sequestration efficiency reached up to 98%, influenced by complex stability and basket functional groups.
Conclusions:
- Photoinduced decarboxylation of functionalized molecular baskets provides a novel route for OP sequestration.
- The stability of basket⊂OP complexes is crucial for efficient light-induced removal of OPs from water.
- This strategy holds potential for the targeted removal of nerve agents and other harmful compounds.
