Professor Judith Perlinger, Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, is supported by the Organic and Macromolecular Program of the Chemistry Division under a Research Planning Grant to study the reduction of halogenated alkenes under environmental conditions. The goal of this project is to establish one-electron reduction as the rate determining step in the reduction of halogenated alkanes by naphthoquinone, mercaptojuglone and iron porphyrins. Electron transfer rates of these model systems will be analyzed in terms of Marcus theory to develop a more global reactivity model applicable to natural systems. Naturally occuring organic and iron-sulfur containing species will be identified and their rates of reduction of polyhalogenated alkanes compared to those of the model systems to assess their usefulness in detoxifying polyhalogenated alkanes. Given the timely nature of the problem, a Research Planning Grant at this point in Professor Perlinger's career will facilitate completion of the preliminary studies needed for a competitive proposal. The release of halogenated compounds into the environment creates the need to detoxify these reagents under natural conditions. Reduction to more benign products occurs under laboratory conditions, but the chemistry under environmental conditions is not known. Systematic studies of model electron transfer systems will be performed to identify the rate controlling reaction step, and the data used to develop a more global reactivity model. Naturally occurring reductants will be identified, and their usefulness as reductants of polyhalogenated compounds under environmental conditions assessed by means of the developed reactivity model.
