PhD / A new family of cationic N-heterocyclic ligand derivatives was prepared and characterised. Among these compounds are halide salts of the dications [Y(spacer)Y]2+, each of which comprise two N heterocyclic donor groups (Y = 4,4′-bipy, pyz, apyz, apym) linked by a conformationally flexible spacer such as (CH2)n, α,α′-xylylene, 2,6-lutidylene or thiabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-2,6 diyl. The diquaternary halide salts were converted to NO3- and PF6- salts, and interaction of these bridging ligands with labile palladium(II) and platinum(II) precursors afforded several multinuclear complexes. Bis(4,4′-bipyridinium) dications were incorporated into the dinuclear macrocycles [M2(2,2′ bipy)2{4,4′ bipy(CH2)n4,4′-bipy}2]8+ (M = Pd, Pt; n = 4, 6), cis [Pd2Cl4{4,4′ bipy(CH2)34,4′-bipy}2]4+, [Pt2(dppp)2{4,4′-bipy(1,2-xylylene)4,4′-bipy}2]8+ and cis-[Pt2Cl4{4,4′-bipy(1,2-xylylene)4,4′-bipy}2]4+. While bis(pyrazinium) analogues were unreactive towards the palladium(II) and platinum(II) precursors, the doubly deprotonated bis(3 aminopyrazinium) and bis(2 aminopyrimidinium) derivatives served as charge-neutral quadruply-bridging ligands in the complexes [Pt4(2,2′ bipy)4{apyz(CH2)6apyz–2H}2]8+ and [Pt4(2,2′ bipy)4{apym(CH2)5apym–2H}2]8+, both of which feature Pt(II). Pt(II) interactions. Larger species formed when the diamine O,O′-bis(2-aminoethyl)octadeca(ethylene glycol) (PEGda) was treated with cis dinitratopalladium(II) and platinum(II) precursors. The resulting complexes [M(N,N)(PEGda)]2+ (M = Pd, Pt; N,N = 2,2′-bipy, en, tmeda) possessed great size (62 membered chelate rings) and aqueous solubility. DNA-binding studies were conducted with selected complexes in order to investigate the types of interactions these species might participate in. Equimolar mixtures containing either the 16mer duplex DNA D2 or the single strand D2a and palladium(II)/platinum(II) complexes were prepared and analysed by negative-ion ESI MS. Studies of D2/Pd(II) mixtures suggested extensive fragmentation was occuring, and the use of [Pd(tmeda)(PEGda)]2+ and [Pd2(2,2′-bipy)2{4,4′-bipy(CH2)44,4′-bipy}2]8+ resulted in D2 adducts of [Pd(tmeda)]2+ and [4,4′-bipy(CH2)44,4′-bipy]2+, respectively. Decomposition also occurred when D2a was used, although 1 : 1 adducts were observed with [Pd(tmeda)(PEGda)]2+, [Pd(2,2′ bipy)(PEGda)]2+ and [Pd2(2,2′-bipy)2{4,4′-bipy(CH2)44,4′-bipy}2]8+. The low intensities of these adducts indicated that they are unstable towards ESI MS. Analogous ESI-MS experiments using platinum(II) derivatives were performed and, in contrast to those with palladium(II), indicated that the complexes remained largely intact. ESI-MS analysis of D2/Pt(II) mixtures allowed for the detection of 1 : 1 D2 adducts of [Pt(en)(PEGda)]2+, [Pt(tmeda)(PEGda)]2+ and [Pt2(2,2′-bipy)2{4,4′-bipy(CH2)44,4′-bipy}2]8+. Intensities of the adduct ions suggested the greater charge and aryl surface area allow the dinuclear species to bind D2 most strongly. Both [Pt(2,2′-bipy)(Mebipy)2]4+ and [Pt(2,2′ bipy)(NH3)2]2+ gave rise to 1 : 2 adducts of D2, although the latter was found to be a weaker binder, perhaps owing to its lower charge. Data obtained using 1 : 5 (D2 : complex) mixtures were consistent with the results above and suggested that D2 can bind more molecules of daunomycin than any of the platinum(II) species. Analyses of D2a/Pt(II) mixtures gave results similar to those obtained with D2, although fragmentation was more pronounced, indicating that the nucleobases in D2a play more significant roles in mediating decomposition than those in D2, in which they are paired in a complementary manner. Investigations into the effects of selected platinum(II) complexes on the thermal denaturation of calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) in solution were conducted. Both [Pt2(2,2′ bipy)2{4,4′-bipy(CH2)64,4′-bipy}2]8+ and [Pt(2,2′-bipy)(Mebipy)2]4+ greatly stabilised CT-DNA, most likely by intercalation. In contrast, [Pt(tmeda)(PEGda)]2+ and [Pt(en)(PEGda)]2+ (as well as PEGda) caused negligible changes in melting temperature (∆Tm), suggesting that these interact weakly with CT-DNA. Data for [Pt(2,2′ bipy)(PEGda)]2+ and [Pt(2,2′-bipy)(NH3)2]2+ indicated that these species perhaps intercalate CT-DNA, with similar ∆Tm values for both complexes implying that PEGda does not play a major role in binding. While findings from ESI-MS experiments were similar to those from the thermal denaturation experiments, discrepancies between results from the two methods could be found. In particular, fragmentation of cyclic species during ESI-MS caused the binding strength of the species to be underestimated when this method was employed.

[Truncated abstract] An efficient synthesis of the p-phosphonic acid calix[n]arenes, (n = 4, 5, 6 and 8) in five steps and excellent yield has been developed. This includes the key use of an acetyl protecting group, which is straightforward to introduce and remove using acetic anhydride and potassium hydroxide respectively. The synthesized p-phosphonic acid calixarenes are water-soluble and the hydrogen bonding prowess of the acidic groups dominates its selfassembly processes. For p-phosphonic acid calix[4]arene these include the formation of nano-rafts in the gas phase (≤ 20 molecules) and nano-particles (3.0(3) and 20.0(2) nm) of the calixarene in water using spinning disc processing stabilized by acetonitrile. The larger p-phosphonic acid calix[5,6,8]arenes also show nano-raft formation in both solution and the gas phase. An extensive study of the supramolecular chemistry of calix[5]arene has also been undertaken to better understand its rich structural diversity. This includes the formation of chloromethane inclusion complexes of p-tert-butyl-calix[5]arene and p-H-calix[5]arene with dichloromethane, p-phenyl-calix[5]arene with chloroform and their potential application as gas storage materials. Along with these three investigated inclusion complexes are two sublimates of p-H-calix[5]arene (α and β) with only the β-polymorph active for sorption of carbon dioxide at room temperature and 1 atm. The α-polymorph adopts an inverted cone conformation and forms helical stacks in the extended structure whereas the β-polymorph adopts the usual cone conformation and packs in both 'self included' and 'back-to-back' helical arrangements. ... Complementary to this study involved the p-H-calix[5]arene inclusion complexes with fluoro-, chloro-, bromo- and iodobenzene. All but the iodobenzene complexes are isostructural forming columnar arrays in the extended packing comprised of 'tri-calix[5]arene' segments. Iodobenzene is too large to form the respective 'tri-calix[5]arene' segments and instead forms sheets in the extended packing. To better understand the type and nature of the intermolecular interactions present within the supermolecules and extended structures a detailed Hirshfeld surface analysis was performed. A detailed Hirshfeld surface analysis was also performed on O-octadecyl-calix[6]arene, which crystallizes in the inverted double cone conformation. Three alkyl chains on either side interplay to form one side of hexagon in an hexagonal close packed array of interdigitated alkyl chains. This was the first Hirshfeld surface analysis performed at variable temperatures and enhanced the description of such a large supramolecular system. The related compound O-octadecyl-calix[4]arene was found to crystallize from toluene or benzene as supramolecular bilayers, 32.2(4) and 32.7(2) Å thick respectively. The calixarenes adopt the cone conformation and the alkyl chains interplay to form a continuous hexagonal motif similar to that seen for O-octadecyl-calix[6]arene. The formation of stable bilayers using octadecyl chains leads to the possibility of inserting long chain calixarenes with suitable functionalization into biological membranes. Such functionalization could include upper rim phosphorylation as seen for the p-phosphonic acid calixarenes to produce phospholipid mimics.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 275-300) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Weck, Marcus; Committee Member: Beckham, Haskell; Committee Member: Bunz, Uwe; Committee Member: Jones, Christopher; Committee Member: Marder, Seth.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of St Andrews, June 2007. / Restricted until 14th June 2008.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on August 6, 2009 ). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Bibliography: leaves 221-233.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2008. / "Graduate Program in Chemistry and Chemical Biology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 42).