New Promises from an Old Friend: Iodine-Rich Compounds as Prospective Energetic Biocidal Agents

Abstract

Metrics & MoreArticle Recommendations CONSPECTUS: For a very long time, frequent occurrences of biocrises have wreaked havoc on human beings, animals, and the environment. As a result, it is necessary to develop biocidal agents to destroy or neutralize active agents by releasing large amounts of strong biocides which are obtained upon detonation. Iodine is an efficient biocidal agent for bacteria, fungi, yeasts, viruses, spores, and protozoan parasites, and it is the sole element in the periodic table that can destroy microbes without contaminating the environment. Based on chemical biology, the mechanism of iodine as a bactericide may arise from oxidation and iodination reactions of cellular proteins and nucleic acids. However, because of the high vapor pressure causing elemental iodine to sublime readily at room temperature, it is inconvenient to use this material in its normal solid state directly as a biocidal agent under ambient conditions. Iodine-rich compounds where iodine is firmly bonded in molecules as a C−I or I−O moiety have been observed to be among the most promising energetic biocidal compounds. Gaseous products comprised of large amounts of iodine or iodine-containing components as strong biocides are released in the decomposition or explosion of iodine-rich compounds. Because of the detonation pressure, the iodine species are distributed over a large area greatly improving the efficacy of the system and requiring considerably less effort compared to traditional biocidal methods. The commercially available tetraiodomethane and tetraiodoethene, which possess superb iodine content also have the disadvantages of volatility, light sensitivity, and chemically reactivity, and therefore, are not suitable for use directly as biocidal agents. It is absolutely critical to synthesize new iodine-rich compounds with good thermal and chemical stabilities.In this Account, we describe our strategies for the syntheses of energetic iodine-rich compounds while maintaining the maximum iodine content with concomitant stability and routes for the synthesis of oxygen-containing iodine-rich compounds to improve the oxygen balance and achieve both high-energy and high-iodine content. In the other work, which involves cocrystals, iodinecontaining polymers were also summarized. It is hoped that this Account will provide guidelines for the design and syntheses of new iodine-rich compounds and a route for the development of inexpensive, more efficient, and safer iodine-rich antibiological warfare agents of the future.

Comparative Thermal Research on Energetic Molecular Perovskite Structures

“…On explosion, an internal redox reaction occurs between these oxidative groups and the carbon cores, forming gaseous products and generating large amount of heat [4]. The past decades witnessed a fast growth of advanced energetic materials [5,6]; however, the complicated syntheses, expensive costs, as well as the lack of systemic and in-depth property studies, have seriously hindered their wide applications.…”

Bidimensional Polyiodide Netting Stabilized by a Cu(II) Macrocyclic Complex

“…Contemporary application-oriented research on polyiodides focuses on batteries, [3,4] solar cells [5,6], solid state conductors [7,8], and even high-energy, iodine-dispersing agents [9].…”

Iodine excess induces hepatic, renal and pancreatic injury in female mice as determined by attenuated total reflection Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometry

“…Iodine itself is an effective oxidant. After overdose, iodine will be concentrated in the tissues, which will increase the generation of free radicals, leading to significant destructive changes and the overall deterioration of metabolic organs (Chang et al, 2020). Some in vivo studies have been performed to investigate the cellular mechanisms and functional outcomes after EI administration.…”