Hydroformylation of olefins (OXO synthesis), one of the oldest organometallic catalytic reactions, continues to be of interest because of its commercial significance. Great interest recently has been placed on the development of immobilized homogeneous catalysts that combine the virtues of conventional heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts. The objective of this dissertation is to investigate novel phosphine modified water soluble cobalt and platinum complexes as homogeneous and immobilized hydroformylation catalysts. The ligands include (1) Monodentate phosphines: P[ (CH₂ ) _n-C₆H₄-S0₃Na] ₃ (n = 0-3) and P[C₆H₄-NMe₃⁺BF₄⁻]₃; (2) Bidentate asymmetric phosphines: CHlRAPHOS(NMe₂)₄ (CHlRAPHOS = 2, 3-bis (diphenylphosphino) butane) , SKEWPHOS (NMe₂)₄ (SKEWPHOS = 2,4-bis(diphenylphospino)pentane), and DlOP(NMe₂)₄ (DlOP = 2,2-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diphenyl(phosphinomethyl)-1,3- dioxolane) ). These complexes were immobilized and/or recycled by four different methods: (1) Two phase catalysis; (2) Supported aqueous phase catalysis; (3) Catalyst supported on ion exchange resins; (4) Extraction of the catalyst from an organic phase into an aqueous phase. Catalytic results for the hydroformylation of a-olefins shows that nib (normal:branch of aldehyde product) ratio can be increased if proper alkyl-phosphine ligands are chosen. For example, as high as 18.5 of nib ratio was obtained in PtCl[P(C₆H₅)₃]₂-snCl₃ system and 5.6 in CO₂ (CO) ₆ [TRlMAPP] ₂ (TRlMAPP = trimethylamino-phenylphosphine) system. Metal leaching, from the aqueous phase to the organic phase during the catalytic reaction, was reduced by supporting the water soluble cobalt and platinum complexes onto a high surface area glass (CGP-350). For instance, 5.7% cobalt metal was found in the organic phase when CO₂(CO)₆(TPPTS)₂ was used under reaction conditions (TPPTS = triphenylphosphine trisulphonated salt). When the same cobalt complex was immobilized on glass, no cobalt metal leaching was observed. Asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene catalyzed by PtCl [SKEWPHOS (NMe₂) ₄] -SnCl₃ shows a very strong temperature dependence on optical selectivity. Enantiomeric excess (ee's) switches sign from <i><b>S</i></b> to <i><b>R</i></b> form at 57°C. At 25°C, there is 60.6% ee of <i><b>S</i></b> product, whereas 56.7% ee in favor of R product is observed at 100°C. / Ph. D.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / As liver disease becomes more prevalent, the development of an in vitro culture system to study disease progression and its repair mechanisms is essential. Typically, 2D cultures are used to investigate liver cell (e.g., hepatocyte) function in vitro; however, hepatocytes lose function rapidly when they were isolated from the liver. This has promoted researchers to develop 3D scaffolds to recreate the natural microenvironment of hepatic cells. For example, gelatin-based hydrogels have been increasingly used to promote cell fate processes in 3D. Most gelatin-based systems require the use of physical gelation or non-specific chemical crosslinking. Both of these methods yield gelatin hydrogels with highly interdependent material properties (e.g., bioactivity and matrix stiffness). The purpose of this thesis research was to prepare modularly crosslinked gelatin-based hydrogels for studying the influence of independent matrix properties on hepatic cell fate in 3D. The first objective was to establish tunable gelatin-based thiol-norbornene hydrogels and to demonstrate that the mechanical and biological properties of gelatin hydrogels can be independently adjusted. Furthermore, norbornene and heparin dual-functionalized gelatin (i.e., GelNB-Hep) was prepared and used to sequester and slowly release hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The second objective was to investigate the viability and functions of hepatocytes encapsulated in gelatin-based hydrogels. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells, Huh7, were used as a model cell type to demonstrate the cytocompatibility of the system. The properties of GelNB hydrogels were modularly tuned to systematically evaluate the effects of matrix properties on cell viability and functions, including CYP3A4 activity and urea secretion. The last objective was to examine the effect of heparin immobilization on hepatocyte viability and functions. The conjugation of heparin onto GelNB led to suppressed Huh7 cell metabolic activity and improved hepatocellular functions. This hybrid hydrogel system should provide a promising 3D cell culture platform for studying cell fate processes.