Identifier

etd-11122009-160534

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Our group has been synthesizing porous supramolecular metal-organic molecules using multidentate β-diketones as ligands. For example, m-phenylenebis(acetylacetone) (m-pbaH2, 1) and m-phenylenebis(dipropionylmethane) (m-pbprH2, 2) were readily converted to the molecular squares Cu4(m-pba)4 (6) and Cu4(m-pbpr)4 (7), which bind guests such as 4,4’-bpy and C60.1 However, 6 and 7 are only soluble in a few solvents, limiting their use in practical applications. It is therefore necessary to derivatize the ligand with different functional groups in order to improve solubility and adjust host-guest properties. Simple alkoxy derivatives should prove useful in testing this idea as they would be relatively chemically inert and should not interfere with reactions in their synthesis. Herein, I report synthesis of the ligands 5-MeO-m-pbaH2 (3), 5- BuO-m-pbaH2 (4), and 2-MeO-m-pbaH2 (5). Ligand 3 was synthesized from 5-methoxy-1,3- benzendimethanol in a two step reaction and reacted with Cu2+ to form a complex that is soluble in CH2Cl2 and THF. X-ray analysis of this complex confirms that it is a molecular square with the formula Cu4(5-MeO-m-pba)4 (square 8). Ligand 4 was synthesized from dimethyl 5- hydroxyisophthalate in a three step reaction and used for the synthesis of Cu4(5-BuO-m-pba)4 (square 9). Square 9 is soluble in a wide range of solvents including CH2Cl2, CHCl3, THF, and several benzene derivatives. Ligand 5 was synthesized from 2-methoxyisophthalic acid in a three step reaction and used for the synthesis of Cu4(2-MeO-m-pba)4 (square 10).

Date

2009

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Maverick, Andrew

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.3199

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