Abstract available in pdf file.

Abstract available in pdf file.

Abstract available in pdf file.

Abstract available in pdf file.

Abstract available in pdf file.

Abstract available in pdf file.

Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of the ligand substitution reactions of different heterometallic Ru(II)-Pt(II) complexes with a series of bio-relevant thiourea nucleophiles of different steric demands and ionic nucleophiles have been investigated as a function of concentration and temperature using UV/visible and stopped-flow spectrophotometric techniques. To achieve this, five different sets of complexes involving mono di and multinuclear homo and heterometallic complexes with tridentate N-donor ligands of different linker ligands were synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic methods. The substitution reactions of the chloride complexes were studied in methanol in the presence of 0.02 M LiCf3SO3 adjusted with LiCl to prevent possible solvolysis. The aqua complexes were studied in acidic aqueous medium at pH 2.0. All reactions were investigated under pseudo first-order conditions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to aid further interpretations and understandings of the experimental results. Substitution reactivity of heterometallic Ru(II)-Pt(II) and Co(II)-Pt(II) complexes bridged by tetra-2-pyridyl-1,4-pyrazine (tppz) ligand was investigated for the first time. The reactions proceeded via two steps. The pseudo first-order rate constants, kobs(1st and 2nd) for the substitution of the chloride ligand(s) from the Pt(II) complexes and subsequent displacement of the linker. The dechelation step was confirmed by 1H NMR and 195Pt NMR studies. Incorporation of Ru(tppz) moiety increases the substitution reactivity and is ascribed to the increased π-back donation from the tppz ligand which increases the electrophilicity of the metal centre, overall charge and the global electrophilicity index of the complex. However, when changed the second metal centre from a Ru(II) to a Co(II), the rate of substitution decreased by a factor of four due to the weaker π- backbonding from Co(II). The substitution reactivity of another set of heterometallic Ru(II)-Pt(II) complexes with a semi-rigid linker, 4’-pyridyl-2,2’:6’,2”-terpyridine (qpy) showed that replacing the cis pyridyl group by a (tpy)Ru(qpy) moiety lowers the energy of anti-bonding LUMO (π*) orbitals and increases the metal-metal interactions and electronic transition within the complex whereby enhancing the reactivity of Pt(II) centre. However, when two Pt(II) moieties are linked to a (qpy)Ru(qpy), the orthogonal geometry at the Ru(II) metal centre prevents the extended π-electron density to flow through the three metal centres. The kinetic results obtained were supported by pKa and 195Pt NMR studies. Substitution reactions of the mononuclear Pt(II) complexes revealed that the polyethylene glycoxy pendent units act as a σ-donors including the lone pair electrons on the first oxygen atom thereby decreasing the reactivity of the parent Pt(II) terpyridine complex. However, this σ-donation towards the terpyridine moiety was found to be effective only up to one unit of the ethylene glycoxy pendant, beyond which the reactivity was sterically controlled. The dinuclear Pt(II) complexes bridged by polyehtyleneglycol ether units show that the reactivity of the complexes depend on the Pt···Pt distance and the steric hindrance at the Pt(II) centre. The substitution reactivity of heterometallic Ru(II)-Pt(II) complexes bridged by the same polyehtyleneglycol ether units indicate that the presence of Ru(tpy)2 moiety influences the structural geometry of the complex system which in turn controls the reactivity of the Pt(II) centre. This is further driven by the entrapment effect of the nucleophile due to the V-shape geometry adopted by the heterometallic complexes. In all cases the reactivity was also controlled by steric and electronic effects. However, when two metal centres are bridged by a flexible non-aromatic linker, the electronic transitions and the metal-metal interactions were found to be minor, especially for the longer linkers. The 1H and 195Pt NMR spectroscopic techniques were used to further understand the observed substitution kinetics and to confirm the degradation of the bridging ligand from the metal centre(s). In all cases, the negative activation entropies obtained support the associative mode of substitution This investigation reveals that the length and the nature of the bridging linker plays an important role in controlling the reactivity of the heterometallic complexes. It is envisaged that the findings of this project would offer a significant contribution to the pharmacological design of effective anticancer drugs. / Ph.D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2013.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The competitive transport, extraction, and coordination chemistry for a series of N- (thio)phosphorylated (thio)amide and N-(thio)phosphorylated (thio)urea ligands were investigated with the seven transition and post-transition metal ions Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Ag(I), Cd(II) and Pb(II). Three N-benzylated derivatives of 1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) were synthesized and a similar study carried out with the same metal ions and the deprotonated precursors. The ligands were all potential specific carriers (ionophores) in the organic phase. The seven metal ions had equal concentrations in the source phase. The experimental arrangement for the transport studies employed a set-up involving three phases: a source phase and a receiving phase (both aqueous), separated by a chloroform membrane (organic phase). Competitive metal ion solvent extraction involved two phases: an aqueous phase and an organic phase. Similar conditions were used in transport and extraction studies. The metal ion concentrations in the aqueous phases were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The transport results of deprotonated N-(thio)phosphorylated (thio)amides and N- (thio)phosphoryated (thio)ureas showed that PhC(S)NPO(OPri)2 (L1), BrPhC(S)NPO-(OPri)2 (L11) and PriNHC(S)NPO(OPri)2 (L16) transported Ag(I) into the receiving phase. Under these experimental conditions, L1 had the highest Ag(I) transport efficiency, at 36.3%, while L11 only transported one metal ion, viz. Ag(I). With NH2C(S)NP(S)(OPri)2 (L4), 94.6% of Ag(I) remained in the membrane phase. Thus L4 appeared to have the highest formation constant with Ag(I). A small amount of Cu(II) was also transported by L1, NH2C(S)NP(O)(OPri)2 (L9), L16 and ButNHC(S)-NPO(OPri)2 (L20). L20 had the highest selectivity for Cu(II). Results of competitive metal ion extraction studies revealed that most ligands extracted up to 100% Ag(I), except L1 and morpholine substituted ligands (L7, L17) . The formation constant of L1 effects a subtle balance between metal uptake and metal loss into and out of the respective membrane phase. HL7 and HL17 had low solubility in chloroform. L4 extracted the highest percentage of Cu(II) (49%). Two neutral ligands, PhCONHPO(OPri)2 (1) and BrPhCONHPO(OPri)2 (2) were isolated and their molecular structure determined. They had monoclinic unit cells in the space groups C2/c and P21/n, respectively. An unprecedented octanuclear [Ag(I)(L4-S,N)]8 (3) complex was also crystallized. The extended structure showed three different cavities alternating with two unique 16-membered rings, creating a novel AgS2N2 cage. Two polynuclear Cu(I) chelates with deprotonated L4 and L6 (tBuNHC(S)NP(S)(OPri)2) were isolated by the same crystallization method. The complex [Cu(I)(L4–S,S)]9 (4) consisted of a hexagonal-prismatic hexamer, which exhibited an unusual and unprecedented supramolecular “honeycomb” packing. The trinuclear [Cu(I)(L6–S,S)]3 (5) consisted of a 6-membered Cu3S3 ring attached to a hydroxy tetrahydrofuran molecule. Di-, tri- and tetra-benzyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) was synthesized, and characterized. None of these compounds was effective in metal transport under these experimental conditions. Nevertheless, Tetra-benzyl cyclen showed the highest extraction efficiency for Ag(I), at 100%, and the highest selectivity for Ag(I) extraction, compared to Cu(II). An intermediate of dibenzyl cyclen compound dibenzylated dioxocyclen (6) was crystallized and found a host THF molecule in the lattice. The crystal and molecular structure confirmed the cis-configuration. The X-ray structure of the Cu(II) complex with dibenzylated cyclen (7) was determined for the first time. It was found to have an ideal square pyramidal coordination geometry around the central metal ion. A serendipitous organic compound of isopropylammonium(isopropylamino)- oxoacetate mono-hydrate (8) was crystallized. The crystal was held together by inter-molecular hydrogen bonds, which lead to two-dimensional layers with hydrophobic interactions.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Silicone rubber, particularly poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), has been increasingly used in the manufacture of outdoor high voltage insulators in the recent years. PDMS offers several advantages that make it suitable for outdoor use, such as low weight, a hydrophobic surface, stability, and excellent performance in heavily polluted environments. PDMS surfaces can, however, become progressively hydrophilic due to surface oxidation caused by corona discharge, UV radiation and acid rain. In this study, PDMS samples of controlled formulations as well as six commercial insulator materials four PDMS based and two ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) based were exposed to various accelerated weathering conditions for various periods of time in order to track changes in the material over time. The ageing regimes developed and used to simulate the potential surface degradation that may occur during in-service usage included needle corona and French corona ageing, thermal ageing, UV-B irradiation (up to 8000 hours) and acid rain (up to 200 days). Both the chemical and physical changes in the materials were monitored using a wide range of analytical techniques, including: static contact angle measurements (SCA), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), gas chromatography (GC), gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), Fourier-transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) and slow positron beam techniques (PAS). A low molecular weight (LMW) uncrosslinked PDMS model compound was used to further study the chemical effects of corona exposure on PDMS materials. PDMS showed far better performance than EPDM, in terms of resistance to the various ageing regimes and “hydrophobicity recovery”. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Silikoonrubber, spesifiek polidimetielsiloksaan (PDMS), is gedurende die afgelope paar jaar toenemend gebruik in die vervaardiging van buitelughoogspanningisolators. PDMS het baie voordele vir gebruik in elektriese isolators soos ‘n laer massa, ʼn hidrofobiese oppervlak, stabiliteit en uitstekende werking in hoogsbesoedelde omgewings. Die hidrofobiese oppervlakte kan egter gelydelik hidrofilies word weens oppervlakoksidasie as gevolg van korona-ontlading, UV-bestraling en suurreën. In hierdie studie is PDMS monsters van verskillende samestellings sowel as ses kommersiële isolators (vier PDMS en twee etileenpropileenrubber (EPDM)) blootgestel aan verskillende versnelde weersomstandighede vir verskillende periodes om die veranderinge in die materiale te monitor. Die verskillende materiale is gerangskik volgens hulle werking oor ‘n periode van tyd. Dit het ook ‘n geleentheid gebied om die eienskappe van die verskillende samestellings te bestudeer. Die tegnieke wat ontwikkel is om die moontlike oppervlakdegradasie te simuleer, het naald-korona, “French” korona, UVB-bestraling (tot 8000 uur) en suurreën (tot 200 dae) ingesluit. Beide die chemiese en die fisiese veranderinge in die materiale is gemonitor met behulp van verskeie tegnieke soos statiese kontakhoekbepaling, optiese mikroskopie, skandeerelektronmikroskopie, energieverspreidingsspektroskopie, gaschromatografie, grootte-uitsluitingschromatografie, foto-akoestiese Fouriertransforminfrarooi (PASFTIR) en stadige-positronspektroskopie (PAS). ʼn Lae molekulêre massa PDMS modelverbinding is gebruik om die chemiese effek van korona te bestudeer. Die PDMS materiale het baie beter vertoon teenoor die EPDM materiale in terme van hulle herstel van hidrofobisiteit.