Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, March, 2010. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

M.Sc. / In this study, the pyrazolyl-based ligands were synthesised and used in the synthesise of new ruthenium pyrazolyl-based complexes. The ruthenium pyrazolyl-based complex 2.4 was tested as a catalyst for the self-metathesis reaction of 1-octene. The N^N ligands: 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L1) and 4-(3,5- dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L2) were prepared from the reaction of 2- picolyl chloride (for L1) and 4-(bromomethyl)pyridine (for L2) with 3,5- dimethylpyrazole. Reactions of L1 and L2 with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and [RuCl3·3H2O] produced [2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine) dichlorotriphenylphosphine]ruthenium (2.1) and bis[4-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1- ylmethyl)pyridine-trichloride]ruthenium (2.3), respectively. The N^O ligands: 2- (3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethanol (L3), 2-(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-yl)ethanol (L4), were prepared from the reaction of 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine (for L3) and dibenzoylmethane (for L4) with 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine. Reaction of L3 with (3-phenylindenylidene)dichlorobis-(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium produced [3-phenylindenylidene-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-ethanolate chlorotriphenylphosphine]ruthenium (2.4). Ligands, 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-phenol (L5) and bis(3,5- dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetic acid (L6), were prepared from the reaction of o-(α- bromo-methyl) phenyl methanesulfonate (for L5) and dibromoacetic acid (for L6) with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole. Reaction of L6 with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] produced bis-[(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-acetic-acid-chloro(bistriphenylphosphine)] ruthenium (2.6). The C^N ligands: 1-[2-(3,5,-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-ethyl]-3- methyl-3H-imidazol-1-ium bromide (L7) and 1-[2-(3,5,-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)- ethyl]-3-methyl-3H-imidazol-1-ium bromide (L8) were prepared from the reaction of 1-(2-bromoethyl)-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole (for L7) and 1-(2- bromoethyl)-1H-pyrazole (for L8) with 1-methylimidazole. Reactions of L7 and L8 with silver(I) oxide (Ag2O) produced 3,5-dimethyl-1-[2-(3-methyl-2,3- dihydro-imidazol-1-yl)-ethyl-1H-pyrazole]silver bromide (2.7) and 1-[2-(3- methyl-2,3-dihydro-imidazol-1-yl)-ethyl-1H-pyrazole]silver bromide (2.8), respectively. Reactions of silver complexes (2.7) and (2.8), respectively, with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] produced 3,5-dimethyl-1-[2-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-imidazol-1- yl)-ethyl-1H-pyrazole-dichloro(triphenylphosphine)]ruthenium (2.9) and 1-[2- (3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-imidazol-1-yl)-ethyl-1H-pyrazoledichloro (triphenylphosphine)]ruthenium (2.10). The synthesised complexes were obtained in moderate to low yields and were characterised by 1H, 13C{1H}, 31P{1H} NMR, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses and ligand L5 was also characterised by X-ray crystallography. Complex 2.4 was screened for self-metathesis reaction of 1-octene. Initial run from 30-90 oC showed no activity for 1-octene metathesis below 105 oC. At 105 oC small amounts of 7-tetradecene was obtained, indicating that metathesis reaction occurs at very high temperatures (105 oC). Thermal stability test of complex 2.4, showed that rearrangement in the proposed structure of complex 2.4 occurs after heating at 90 oC for 16 h, this was evident by the 31P{1H} NMR spectrum of complex 2.4 obtained as a singlet at 28.9 ppm (after being heated), (complex 2.4 appears at 30.0 ppm before heating). From the 31P{1H} NMR study, it could be proposed, that the pyrazole arm of the ligand dissociates thus influencing the environment of the phosphorus (of the triphenylphosphine), and therefore a shift in the peaks is observed.

An integrated approach to the design of potential rutheniun-based metathesis catalysts is described, in which closely defined synthetic forays provide the focus and rationale for detailed computational and mechanistic studies. The ground-state geometry of a 1st-generation Grubbs catalyst has been explored at the molecular mechanics, semi-empirical and DFT levels, and the resulting structures have been shown to compare favourably with literature data and with the structure of a known crystalline analogue. The DMol³ DFT code has also been shown to represent accurately both the geometry of the corresponding co-ordinatively unsaturated monophosphine derivative, and the ligand dissociation energy associated with its formation. A DFT free-energy profile of the degenerate metathesis of ethylene has been generated, using a truncated model of the 1st-generation Grubbs catalyst, permitting location, for the first time, of the three expected transition states and providing new information regarding the rate-determining step. DFT methods have been used to facilitate the design of a tridentate camphor-derived ligand for use in the construction of a novel Grubbs-type catalyst. The phosphine ligand dissociation energy of the putative catalyst and the ethylene metathesis energy profile of a truncated model have also been studies at the DFT level. The attempted synthesis of the proposed ligand proceeded via a novel 8-bromocamphoric anhydride intermediate and afforded several unexpected and novel products, including a cisfused γ-Iactone, and a bromo camphoric acid derivative. Single crystal X-ray analysis of the latter reveals a chiral, polymeric H-bonded packing arrangement, rendering it suitable for chiral inclusion studies. Computational methods, including the GAUSSIAN-based GIAO NMR prediction technique, were used to support the structural characterisation of the novel camphor derivatives. DFT-Ievel computational analysis of the C-8- and C-9 bromination of camphor has afforded theoretical insights which permit the reconciliation of two earlier empirical explanations regarding the regioselectivity of these transformations; moreover, the theoretical results suggest that a third, previously disregarded factor, plays a significant role. A coset analysis, in conjunction with DFT-Ievel energy profiling, has also been used to resolve conflicting opinions regarding the origin of the major byproduct. Computed electronic parameters (CEP's) have been calculated for the anionic ligands involved in a series of 2nd-generation Grubbs-Hoveyda-type catalysts, and used to explain some apparently anomalous trends in catalyst activity. A linear relationship between ligand CEP's and selected ¹H NMR chemical shifts has also been demonstrated and used to identify a transient ruthenium complex in solution. The ability of the malonate di-anion to bind to ruthenium in a bidentate manner has been explored and demonstrated, under suitable conditions. DFT methods have been used to design and assess the ruthenium-chelating potential of a novel tridentate malonate derivative. A synthetic pathway to this ligand has been designed and several novel heterocyclic intermediates have been isolated and characterised. An NMR-based kinetic study of the Grubbs-catalysed self-metathesis of l-octene has been completed, and the effects of temperature, concentration and solvent variations on the kinetic parameters have been studied. Application of the Guggenheim method and a simplified mechanistic model has permitted the accurate calculation of pseudorate constants for the initiation and, for the first time, the propagation phase of the reaction. Theoretical studies of this reaction at the DFT and molecular mechanics levels have been shown to support previous assumptions regarding the selectivity and temperature-dependence of metallacycle formation.

This work has focussed on the preparation of a variety of tridentate ligands, designed to form ruthenium complexes as potential metathesis catalysts. Various approaches to the tridentate, malonate-tethered imidazolidine system have been investigated, and a promising route to accessing ligands of this type is discussed. A tridentate malonate-tethered pyridine ligand has been successfully prepared and its dithallium salt has been accessed by hydrolysis with thallium carbonate; approaches to a longer-chain analogue have also been investigated. A thallium pyridine-2,6- dicarboxylate ligand has been has been successfully prepared, as have a range of pyridine diamine ligands, with various alkyl and aromatic substituents on the amine donor atoms. Preliminary investigations into the potential of these compounds as ligands for alkylidene ruthenium complexes are reported using molecular modelling techniques. The geometries and steric energies of the ligands and their corresponding complexes have been analysed, and results obtained from two different software packages are compared. Finally, some preliminary complexation studies have been undertaken.

Olefin (alkene) metathesis can be used for the redistribution of carbon bonds to produce preferred higher range carbon number olefins (C10-C16) from low value medium chain olefins such as 1-hexene. In this study, the performance of various heterogeneous, tungsten based catalysts was investigated for the gas-phase linear cross metathesis of 1-hexene. The tested catalysts included tungsten trioxide on alumina, at various specific loadings, 8wt% tungsten trioxide on silica as well as 8wt% tungsten trioxide on silica, at various specific loadings of a potassium promoter. An existing lab-scale, fixed bed metathesis reactor system was used to conduct the required experimental work under steady state conditions. The experimental plan used for conducting the investigation of the alumina-supported catalyst was a combination of the One-Variable-At-a-Time (OVAT) approach as well as the factorial design method. The domain of the range under investigation was 8-20% for the specific loading of tungsten trioxide, 420-500oC for reaction temperature and 30-80 mol% for the feed composition of 1-hexene with constant space time. A half factorial experimental design was used for the WO3/SiO2 and potassium doped WO3/SiO2 catalysts. The potassium loadings of the 8wt% WO3/SiO2 catalyst were between 0.05-0.5wt%. Reaction temperatures of between 420-460°C were used together with 1-hexene feed compositions of between 60-80mol% and space times of 200-400g.min.mol-1. The WO3/Al2O3 catalyst was found to be an inferior catalyst for the metathesis of 1-hexene at all combinations of specific loadings and operating conditions tested. The highest yields obtained for both the detergent range olefins (C10-C16) and primary metathesis product decene (C10) were less than 1.5%. Changes made to the calcination temperature, calcination time and pH of the impregnation solution during the catalyst preparation stages had no significant effect on the yields produced. The WO3/Al2O3 catalyst was found to behave more as an isomerization catalyst rather than one for the metathesis reaction. The optimum reaction conditions determined when investigating the 8wt% WO3/SiO2 catalyst were found to be a reaction temperature of 460°C, a feed gas composition of 60mol% 1-hexene and a space time of 400g.min.mol-1. The conversion of 1-hexene, the yield of the detergent range olefins and the yield of decene at the above mentioned reaction conditions were 82%, 8.30% and 5.92% respectively Doping of the WO3/SiO2 catalyst with potassium was found to be successful in reducing the amount of isomerization and increasing the yields of both the detergent range olefins and decene by approximately 1.5% and 2% respectively when doping with 0.1 and 0.5wt% potassium. The experimental runs conducted were at the optimum reaction conditions obtained using the 8wt% WO3/SiO2 catalyst. The highest selectivity of the detergent range olefins (24.64%) and decene (23.62%) was obtained when using the 0.5wt% K doped WO3/SiO2 catalyst. At the optimised reaction conditions, the 0.5wt% potassium loading on WO3/SiO2 performed the best. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

The main focus of this thesis is to present the structural and photophysical characteristics of the coordination polymers [Ln(C7H3NO4)(C7H4NO4)(H2O)]n (Ln is Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Tb), as well as attempting to synthesize the novel organic linker 4,4'(4,8-Dihydrobenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-4,8-diyl)dibenzoic acid (BDTDC). Various lanthanide salts were coordinated with 2,3-pyridinecarboxylate (2,3- pydc) via hydrothermal synthesis. ... Progress was made toward the synthesis of a novel metal-organic framework linker BDTDC. Synthesis of the intermediate benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene as well as the determination of the crystal structure, were performed successfully and are reported herein. / by Amanda Lyn Staggeer Ramirez. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 229-245).

Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) is established as one of the efficient controlled living polymerization methods which have various applications in polymer science and technology fields. The research presented in this dissertation addresses several applications of multifunctional well-defined norbornene-based block copolymers synthesized by ROMP using ruthenium-based Grubbs catalysts. These novel block copolymers were applied to stabilize maghemite nanoparticles, creating the superparamagnetic polymeric nanocomposites. The Jaggregation properties of the porphyrin dyes were improved via self-assembly with a customized norbornene polymer. Novel multimodal copolymer probes were synthesized for two-photon fluorescence integrin-targeted bioimaging. In Chapter 1 a brief overview of ROMP along with ruthenium metal catalysts and selected applications of the polymers related to this research is presented. Superparamagnetic maghemite nanoparticles are important in biotechnology fields, such as enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetically controlled drug delivery, and biomimetics. However, cluster formation and eventual loss of nano-dimensions is a major obstacle for these materials. Chapter 2 presents a solution to this problem through nanoparticles stabiulized in a polymer matrix. The synthesis and chracterization of novel diblock copolymers, consisting of epoxy pendant anchoring groups to chelate maghemite nanoparticles and steric stabilizing groups, as well as generation of nanocomposites and their characterization, including surface morphologies and iv magnetic properties, is discussed in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, further improvement of the nanocomposites by ligand modification and the synthesis of pyrazole-templated diblock copolymers and their impact to stabilize the maghemite nanocomposite are presented. Additionally, the organic soluble magnetic nanocomposites with high magnetizations were encapsulated in an amphiphilic copolymer and dispersed in water to assess their water stability by TEM. To gain a preliminary measure of biocopatibility of the micelle-encapsulated polymeric magnetic nanocomposites, cell-viability was determined. In Chapter 4, aggregation behaviors of two porphyrin-based dyes were investigated. A new amphiphilic homopolymer containing secondary amine moieties was synthesized and characterized. In low pH, the polymer became water soluble and initiated the stable Jaggregation of the porphyrin. Spectroscopic data supported the aggregation behavior. Two photon fluorescence microscopy (2PFM) has become a powerful technique in bioimaging for non-invasive imaging and potential diagnosis and treatment of a number of diseases via excitation in the near-infrared (NIR) region. The fluorescence emission upon two-photon absorption (2PA) is quadratically dependent with the intensity of excitation light (compared to the linear dependence in the case of one-photon absoprtion), offering several advantages for biological applications over the conventional one-photon absorption (1PA) due to the high 3D spatial resolution that is confined near the focal point along with less photodamage and interference from the biological tissues at longer wavelength (~700-900 nm). Hence, efficient 2PA absorbing fluorophores conjugated with specific targeting moieties provides an even better bioimaging probe to diagnose desired cellular processes or areas of interest The αVβ3 integrin v adhesive protein plays a significant role in regulating angiogenesis and is over-expressed in uncontrolled neovascularization during tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Cyclic-RGD peptides are well-known antagonists of αVβ3 integrin which suppress the angiogenesis process, thus preventing tumor growth. In Chapter 5 the synthesis, photophysical studies and bioimaging is reported for a versatile norbornene-based block copolymer multifunctional scaffold containing biocompatible (PEG), two-photon fluorescent (fluorenyl), and targeting (cyclic RGD peptide) moieties. This water-soluble polymeric multi scaffold probe with negligible cytotoxicity exhibited much stronger fluorescence and high localization in U87MG cells (that overexpress integrin) compared to control MCF7 cells. The norbornene-based polymers and copolymers have quite remarkable versatility for the creation of advanced functional magnetic, photonic, and biophotonic materials.

This thesis details the development and exploration of a catalytic carbonyl-olefin metathesis reaction. A catalytic transformation of this type has not been accomplished previously and stoichiometric processes were neither general nor desirable. A simple hydrazine catalyst was found to effect this reaction with the use of strained olefins. The development and optimization of this reaction, including the hydrazine catalyst, conditions and substrates, is discussed. Computational studies of the reaction mechanism are included. A stepwise process in which less strained olefins can undergo the reaction is also explored. Lastly, some initial explorations of transition metal complexes as catalysts for a carbonyl-olefin metathesis reaction are discussed, as well. In the second portion of this thesis, the use of cyclopropenimines as achiral organic superbases will be detailed. Previously, the Lambert group has developed this class of compounds as viable catalysts for asymmetric Michael and Mannich reactions. Cyclopropenimines are more basic than other commonly used organic bases, and therefore, can activate less acidic substrates. A simple, achiral cyclopropenimine was developed for use in base catalyzed or mediated processes. Several reactions have been explored as a comparison of cyclopropenimines to other commonly used bases.