Thesis advisor: X. Peter Zhang / Chapter 1. Co(II)-Based Metalloradical Catalysis for Stereoselective Radical Cyclopropanation of Alkenes This Account summarizes our group’s recent efforts in developing metalloradical catalysis as a one-electron approach for catalytic radical cyclopropanation of alkenes with diazo compounds. Chapter 2. Asymmetric Radical Process for General Synthesis of Chiral Heteroaryl Cyclopropanes We have developed a Co(II)-based metalloradical system that is highly effective for asymmetric radical cyclopropanation of alkenes with in situ-generated heteroaryldiazomethanes. Through fine-tuning the cavity-like environments of newly developed D2-symmetric chiral amidoporphyrins as the supporting ligand, the optimized Co(II)-based metalloradical system is broadly applicable to pyridyl and other heteroaryldiazomethanes for asymmetric cyclopropanation of a wide range of alkenes, providing general access to valuable chiral heteroaryl cyclopropanes in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities and enantioselectivities. Chapter 3. Enantioselective Metalloradical 1,6-C–H Alkylation of In Situ-Generated Alkyldiazomethanes for Synthesis of Chiral Piperidines We have disclosed an effective Co(II)-based metalloradical system as a fundamentally different approach to harness the potential of 1,6-HAA radical process, enabling asymmetric 1,6-C–H alkylation of in situ-generated alkyldiazomethanes to construct chiral piperidines. Supported by an optimal D2-symmetric chiral amidoporphyrin ligand, the Co(II)-catalyzed alkylation system is capable of activating a wide array of alkyldiazomethanes containing C(sp3)–H bonds with varied steric and electronic properties, providing access to chiral piperidines in good to high yields with high enantioselectivities from readily accessible 4-aminobutanal derivatives. In addition to practical attributes, such as operational simplicity and mild conditions, the metalloradical system is highlighted by its tolerance to different functional groups as well as compatibility with heteroaryl units. Chapter 4. Design and Synthesis of A Novel D2-Symmetric Chiral Porphyrin for Co(II)-Based Metalloradical Catalysis A novel D2-symmetric chiral amidoporphyrin derived from chiral cyclopropanecarboxamide containing diphenyl units has been effectively constructed based on Co(II)-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of alkenes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Chemistry.

Carbon-based materials are poised to be an important class of 21st century materials, for bio-medical, bio-electronic, and bio-sensing applications. Diamond and polymers are two examples of carbon-based materials of high interest to the bio-materials community. Diamond, in its conductive form, can be used as an electrochemical bio-sensor, whilst its nanoparticle form is considered a non-inflammatory platform to deliver drugs or to grow neuronal cells. Polymers, especially when chemically modified, have been used extensively in biological environments, from anti-microbial use to drug delivery. The large-scale use of either material for biological use is limited by two factors: ease of chemical modification and the paucity of knowledge of their surface chemistry in aqueous media. This thesis addresses aspects of both these issues. The first study reported is an in situ study of the adsorption dynamics of an exemplar globular protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) on nanodiamond using the relatively novel quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique. For the first time, QCM-D enabled the detailed study of protein dynamics (i.e. kinetics, viscoelastic properties, overlayer structure, etc.) onto nanodiamond thin films having various surface chemistry and roughness. The dynamics of protein adsorption is found to be sensitive to surface chemistry at all stages of adsorption, but it is only sensitive to surface roughness during initial adsorption phases. Our understanding of the nanodiamond-biology interface is enhanced by this study, and it suggests that QCM-D is useful for the study of the surface chemistry of nanoparticle forms of inorganic materials. A second study concerns a novel surface functionalization scheme, based on carbene and azo-coupling chemistry, which has been recently introduced as a practical, facile method for modifying the surfaces of polymers. Using modern surface characterization techniques, it is demonstrated that a chemical linker can be attached to polystyrene surfaces using carbene-based chemistry, and that further chemical functionality can be added to this chemical linker via an azo-coupling reaction. In situ studies of protein dynamics at these interfaces were conducted using QCM-D, thus enabling a link between specific protein behaviour and the polymer surface chemical termination chemistry to be made. A third area of study of investigates the use of diamond electrodes as a bio-sensor for dopamine under physiological conditions. For these conditions, ascorbic acid interferes with the dopamine oxidation signal, in ways that render the two signals irresolvable. Various modifications are used in attempts to reduce this interference, including: small and large cathodic treatments, grafting of electro-active polymers, addition of carbon nanotubes, and hydrogen plasma treatment. Those modifications leading to the hydrogen-termination of diamond are shown to work the best. Notably, hydrogen plasma treatment effects the complete electrochemical separation of dopamine and ascorbic acid at a diamond electrode. This is the first time this has been accomplished without adding non-diamond materials to the diamond electrode surface.