Title:

Synthesis of Cyclodextrin Precursors for the Generation of Novel Crystalline Materials for Environmental Remediation

This experiment explores the synthesis and functionalization of cyclodextrin based materials as novel sorbents for environmental remediation, with a focus on removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are persistent environmental contaminants widely used for their hydrophobic properties, but their resistance to degradation and associated health risks necessitates improved removal strategies. Cyclodextrins, which are cyclic oligosaccharides with hydrophobic internal cavities and hydrophilic exteriors, offer strong host guest interactions that make them promising candidates for pollutant capture. In this study, β-cyclodextrin was chemically modified via bromination at the primary alcohol positions using N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) under controlled conditions. The reaction was carried out in dimethylformamide (DMF) followed by base treatment, with product isolation achieved through Soxhlet extraction. The synthesized brominated cyclodextrin intermediates were characterized using spectroscopic techniques, including NMR, to confirm substitution patterns and assess structural integrity. A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed, showing the stepwise formation of brominated derivatives. These intermediates serve as precursors for further functionalization, particularly amination, aimed at enhancing binding affinity for PFAS molecules. Overall, this study demonstrates a viable pathway for tailoring cyclodextrin based materials with improved adsorption capabilities. Future work will focus on converting brominated intermediates into amine functionalized cyclodextrins and evaluating their performance in PFAS removal applications, contributing to the development of high capacity, efficient environmental sorbents.

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