Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-129).

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2004. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Mary J. Cloninger. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-138).

M.Sc. (Chemistry) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

No description available.

Singlet fission, the conversion of one photoexcited singlet exciton into two triplet excitons, is a promising mechanism to overcome theoretical efficiency limits in single-junction solar cells. Intramolecular singlet fission materials based on molecular dimers are a powerful platform to study singlet fission since triplet dynamics can be fine-tuned through chemical structure. This thesis describes the critical nature of the molecular bridge between singlet fission chromophores in determining the fate of the triplet pair. We demonstrate how bridge energetics, connectivity, length, and planarity are tunable handles for controlling rates of triplet pair generation and recombination. These rates can even be modulated independent of each other, furnishing materials with desirable properties such as fast triplet generation and long triplet lifetimes. This thesis establishes key design principles to provide greater control over triplet pair formation, dephasing, and decay in intramolecular singlet fission materials. Chapter 1 introduces the process of singlet fission and provides an overview of the progress and challenges in the field. In Chapters 2 and 3, we detail the significance of bridge frontier molecular orbital energies and connectivity patterns in mediating triplet pair formation in bridged pentacene and tetracene dimers. We highlight key observables in the linear absorption spectra to predict relative rates of triplet pair formation, and demonstrate how quantum interference graphical models from single-molecule electronics can successfully be applied to explain triplet pair formation behavior in singlet fission. In Chapter 4, we investigate triplet pair recombination in these materials and propose that electronic coupling alone does not dictate triplet pair dephasing and decay. In Chapter 5, we present a new singlet fission chromophore and identify important triplet population signatures distinguishing singlet fission from intersystem crossing in contiguous dimers. Lastly, in Chapter 6, we explore dendrimers as a controlled macromolecular architecture to study singlet fission.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Dendrimers provide an ideal scaffold for molecular imaging and therapeutics due to their mono-disperse structure and easily modifiable core, interior, and periphery. The controlled-stepwise synthesis leads to perfect, defined architectures that can easily be modified to incorporate targeting and imaging moieties. Specifically poly (2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-propanoic acid) (PMPA) dendrimer structures exhibit excellent aqueous solubility, low toxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, which are necessary requirements for an ideal <em>in vivo</em> imaging scaffold.</p> <p>Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a common condition involving elevated temperatures above 101°F, which goes undiagnosed after a week of investigation. The primary causes of FUO are infection and cancer, however methods of diagnosis are non-specific and quite slow. Developing a method to detect bacterial infections, and therefore rule out more severe conditions such as cancer, would be very useful in diagnosis of this condition. Approximately two thirds of infection cases in hospitals are determined to be caused by one of six pathogens known as the ESKAPE pathogens and developing a molecular imaging probe that would detect these specific pathogens would be a very useful FUO diagnostic tool.</p> <p>Siderophores are naturally occurring molecules that exhibit a high affinity for Fe³⁺, and are effective at entering bacterial cells after complexing iron. In particular, Desferal, a commercially available siderophore used for iron chelation therapy, has been successfully modified, radiolabeled, and studied as an imaging agent. Dendrimers were modified with Desferal and used to investigate the effect of multivalent display of siderophores on a single macromolecular structure.^1-3</p> <p>We herein discuss the preparation of a series of siderophore-terminated PMPA dendrimers that were radiolabeled and studied to compare bacterial uptake between a monomeric siderophore and a macromolecule displaying multiple siderophores on its periphery. To introduce Desferal to the periphery of a dendrimer, activated p-nitrophenyl carbonates were used. A series of Desferal-terminated dendrimers of generations 1-3 was synthesized in yields of 59-89 % and evaluated for suitability as an infection-imaging probe.</p> <p>The Desferal-terminated dendrimer series was evaluated for its affinity to iron(III) and gallium(III), as well as tested for steric hindrance effects at the periphery. The series was successfully radiolabeled with ⁶⁷Ga using mild conditions and <em>in vitro</em> bacterial uptake studies were performed with <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, one of the ESKAPE pathogens, to determine if multivalency increases bacterial uptake.</p> <p>Preliminary results indicate that the poor water solubility of the Desferal-terminated dendrimer series needs to be improved in order to increase bacterial uptake of the compounds, however viable candidates for metal chelation were successfully produced.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

The chemistry of the non-covalent bond has developed rapidly over the last few decades. In particular, the successful construction of nanoscale assemblies by non-covalent forces has been described more frequently in the recent literature. This significant progress is largely due to transferring of concepts found in the biological systems (e.g., the tobacco mosaic virus and the DNA double helix) to the area of synthetic chemistry. As an example, the architecture of the double helix, perhaps the most well-known biological self-assembling structure, remarkably demonstrates the ability of biological systems to construct large supramolecules by multiple aggregations of relatively simple building blocks by means of hydrogen bonding. Scientists have begun to employ such synthetic strategy adopted in Nature to construct nanoscale systems. The use of pseudorotaxane assemblies formed between the suitably sized crown ethers and dipyridinium salts (paraquats) or dibenzylammonium ions is a viable synthetic strategy to construct non-covalent systems because of their selectivity and strong hydrogen bonding ability. We describe the syntheses and characterization of non-covalent assemblies of different sizes and shapes via the pseudorotaxane approach. A series of dendritic pseudorotaxanes were efficiently prepared from self-assembling complimentary building blocks, namely a triply charged ammonium ion and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations of benzyl ether dendrons bearing dibenzo-24-crown-8 moiety. The wholly complexed self-assembling dendrimers were evidenced by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Linear supramolecular pseudorotaxane polymers were formed with reversible chain extension in solution by self-assembly of two complimentary homoditopic molecules with secondary ammonium ion and dibenzo-24-crown-8 moieties. The fraction of the cyclic dimer and the size of the linear suprastructures were determined in solution by 1H NMR spectroscopy as a function of concentration. Viscosity measurements corroborated the presence of aggregates of large hydrodynamic volume at high concentrations. The solid state samples of the supramolecular polymers, prepared by freeze-drying, were analyzed by DSC and optical microscopy and shown to be distinct from the starting materials and the cyclic dimer. Fibers and films were formed from high concentration solutions, corroborating the polymeric nature of the aggregates. Similarly, polymolecular arrays were formed in solution from a heteroditopic self-complimentary molecule, comprising bis-m-phenylene-32-crown-10 and a paraquat unit. Side-chain polypseudorotaxanes were prepared from spontaneous association of polymethacrylates bearing dibenzo-24-crown-8 and secondary ammonium ions. The complexation behavior in solution was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy. The solid state samples of side-chain polypseudorotaxanes, prepared by freeze-drying, showed noticeable changes in thermal behavior and morphology from the individual components. / Ph. D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-123).