Polycatecholamide chelating agents

Claim 2

Compound of the formula: ##STR6## in which: n is an integer varying from about 1-8, inclusively; X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of H, SO 3 H, SO 3 M, NO 2 , and CO 2 H, CO 2 M; where M represents a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aralkyl hydrocarbon radicals and the benzamide moiety: ##STR7## where m is an integer varying from 1-8, inclusively and can be the same or different than n; Z is selected from the same group as X and Y; R is selected from the same group as R 1 and R 2 .

Claim 3

A compound according to claim 1 wherein at least one of R 1 and R 2 are one or more benzamide moieties of the formula: ##STR8## which moieties total at least three in number.

Claim 4

A compound according to claim 1 wherein the benzamide moieties present comprise a plurality of at least 5.

Claim 5

A compound according to claim 2 wherein X, Y and Z are --CO 2 H.

Claim 6

A compound according to claim 2 wherein X, Y and Z are --CO 2 M.

Claim 7

A compound according to claim 4 wherein the hydrocarbon radicals contain from 1-10 carbon atoms and are the same.

Claim 8

A compound according to claim 5 wherein the hydrocarbon radicals contain from 1-10 carbon atoms and are the same.

Claim 9

A compound according to claim 4 wherein the plurality of benzamide moieties is sufficient to provide a molecular weight as high as about 40,000.

Claim 10

Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula: ##STR9## in which: n is an integer varying from about 1-8, inclusively; X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of H, SO 3 H, SO 3 M, NO 2 , CO 2 H and CO 2 M; where M represents a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals; R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aralkyl hydrocarbon radicals and the benzamide moiety: ##STR10## where m is an integer varying from 1-8, inclusively and can be the same or different than n; Z is selected from the same group as X and Y; R is selected from the same group as R 1 and R 2 with the proviso that: said compound contains a total of at least three said benzamide moieties; which process comprises: selective, reductive alkylation of terminal nitrogens in a polyamine corresponding to the number of nitrogens in the compound above by reacting same with an aldehyde or ketone and hydrogenating the product of the foregoing reaction; benzamidating the polyalkylated polyamine by reacting same with a 2,3-dimethoxy or 2,3-dioxomethylene benzoyl chloride corresponding to the benzoyl, moiety in the formula above; and, demethylating the 2,3-dimethoxy benzoyl moieties of the polybenzamide so formed.

Claim 11

Process for the preparation of a compound of the formula: ##STR9## in which: n is an integer varying from about 1-8, inclusively; X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of H, SO 3 H, SO 3 M, NO 2 , CO 2 H and CO 2 M; where M represents a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals; R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aralkyl hydrocarbon radicals and the benzamide moiety: ##STR10## where m is an integer varying from 1-8, inclusively and can be the same or different than n; Z is selected from the same group as X and Y; R is selected from the same group as R 1 and R 2 with the proviso that: said compound contains a total of at least three said benzamide moieties; which process comprises: selective, reductive alkylation of terminal nitrogens in a polyamine corresponding to the number of nitrogens in the compound above by reacting same with an aldehyde or ketone and hydrogenating the product of the foregoing reaction; benzamidating the polyalkylated polyamine by reacting same with a 2,3-dimethoxy or 2,3-dioxomethylene benzoyl chloride corresponding to the benzoyl, moiety in the formula above; and, demethylating the 2,3-dimethoxy benzoyl moieties of the polybenzamide so formed.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 9 where the reductive alkylation is carried out in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, an alcohol or an aqueous solution, at a temperature of about 20°-50° C. and a pressure of about 1 to 4 atmospheres.

Claim 13

A method of selectively sequestering an actinide (IV) ion from a mammal comprising administering a chelating polybenzamide of the formula set forth in claim 1.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 11 wherein said actinide (IV) ion is Pu(IV) and said mammal is a human.

Claim 15

A method of selectively sequestering actinide (IV) ions from a liquid containing same comprising mixing a polybenzamide chelating agent as set forth in claim 1 with a fluid containing activide (IV) ions and recovering the so chelated actinide (IV) ions.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 13 wherein said actinide (IV)-ions-containing fluid is radioactive waste solution and said ions are Pu (IV).