No description available.

This dissertation consists of two independent topics: (1) a molecular loop with interstitial channels in a chiral environment; (2) study of formation of metal-metal bonds in dinickel, dipalladium and dititanium complexes On the first topic, a study of the reaction products of the interaction of cis- Mo2(DAniF)2(CH3CN)4 2+ corner pieces with ortho-, meta- and para- isomers of enatiomerically pure –O2CCH(CH3)C6H4CH(CH3)CO2 – dicarboxylate was performed. First, an enantiomerically pure molecular loop based on two dimolybdenum units and two para-dic arboxylate linkers was synthesized and structurally characterized. Similar reactions with isomeric ortho- and meta- dicarboxylate linkers, as well as with some nonchiral ligands, showed that the structure of the obtained products depends on the geometry of the ligand. Meta- dicarboxylate linker favors the formation of the chelated product and ortho- dicarboxylate linker produces the mixture of chelated molecules and loops. On the second topic, an investigation of the formation of metal-metal bonds was performed. Study of the one-electron bond obtained upon oxidation of Ni2 4+ and Pd2 4+ to Ni2 5+ and Pd2 5+, respectively, was made. The compounds synthesized were studied with various physical methods, such as X-ray crystallography, UV-visible spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy. The nature of oxidized species as well as the dependence of metalmetal interactions on electron-donating abilities of bridging ligands was studied. It was shown that oxidation takes place on a metal center. The formation of one-electron bond in oxidized species is proposed. Finally formation of Ti2 6+ single bonded compounds by the reduction of two Ti4+ monomers to Ti2 6+ dimer was studied. The nature of the species obtained in solution and in solid state is discussed. The crystal structure shows the presence of two types of hpp ligands – chelating and bridging. NMR study of this compound in solution proposes the rearrangement of this structure to a paddlewheel.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This dissertation concerns the discovery of the ability of the guanidinate ligand hpp (hpp = anion of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydropyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine) to stabilize high oxidation states of dimetal units (particularly dimolybdenum species) and attempts to control solubility and redox potential through modification of the ligand. Two general strategies were used for the ligand modifications: alteration of the ring size, and addition of alkyl substituents. All of the dimetal complexes using these ligands show a significant shift in redox potential compared to other commonly used classes of ligands (i.e. carboxylates and formamidinates) allowing access to the Mo2 4+, Mo2 5+ and Mo2 6+ oxidation states. The solubility of the complexes increases with increasing ring size, or with increasing length of the alkyl substituent. The physical and chemical properties of the ligands and their dimolybdenum complexes are described in detail.

Histopathology studies of metal nanoparticles (NPs) compared to traditional forms of metal in fish are scarce. Additionally, it is unclear whether metal nanoparticles cause greater or different pathologies compared to other forms of metal. The current study aimed to assess the pathological effects of Cu-NPs and TiO2 NPs on rainbow trout via various routes of exposure and, where appropriate, to compare them to either the equivalent dissolved metal salts or bulk powder forms. The first experiment showed that waterborne exposure to Cu-NPs and CuSO4 caused similar types of organ pathologies and alteration in the spleen content, however there were some material-type effects in the incidence injuries; with Cu-NPs in some organs by causing more injury in the intestine, liver, and brain when compared to effects caused by the equivalent concentration of CuSO4. Lowering water pH did have an effect on the toxicity of Cu-NPs and dissolved Cu in trout, and the results illustrated that both Cu treatments are more toxic at pH 5 than pH 7 by causing more physiological and pathological changes, although both CuSO4 and Cu-NP treatments showed similar types of organ lesions. Waterborne exposure to TiO2 NPs and bulk forms of TiO2 showed similar types of organ pathologies and alteration in the spleen contents, but there was a material-type effect in some organs (more injury with the bulk treatment than the NP form). After 96 h following intravenous injections of bulk or TiO2 NPs in trout, organs showed similar types of pathologies; except the spleen and kidney which showed a material-type effects (more injury with NPs than the bulk forms). This could be attributed to the highest Ti accumulation from the TiO2 NP treatment in the kidney and spleens, or to the role of these organs in filtrating the circulating blood. Overall, this thesis demonstrates that metal-NPs produced similar types of organ pathologies to traditional forms of metals through different routes of exposure, but there were some material-type effects on the incidence of injuries in some organs. The results have also added some understanding on the fate, and effects of NPs by identifying the target organs involved. Some of the nano-specific effects may need to be given extra consideration in environmental and human health risk assessments.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy