<p> The addition reaction between bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-one and several organolithium reagents was investigated. Saturated alkyllithium reagents, like most Grignard reagents, were shown to add preferentially to the syn-face of the ketone, while unsaturated alkyllithium reagents add preferentially to the anti-face. These results have been rationalized in terms of bimolecular attack by the former reagents and unimolecular attack by the latter reagents.</p> <p> The 7-t-butylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-cation was shown to rearrange in mildly acidic media to a cation which lost a proton to yield syn-7-methyl-7-(2'-propenyl)bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-2-ene. The formation of this product can be explained by a Wagner-Meerwein migration which proceeds with retention of configuration about the C-7 cation centre.</p> <p> A series of 7-R-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-radicals were allowed to abstract hydrogen from tri-n-butylstannane. When R = CH3, i-C3H7, n-C4H9, neopentyl, no stereochemical preference for syn- or anti- abstraction was observed. When R = t-C4H9, a large preference was shown for abstraction to occur on the anti-face, while when R = C6H5, syn-abstraction predominated. These observations, in the light of observations of abstraction by the bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-en-7-radical, are consistent with homoallylic participation of the double bond at the radical centre of the latter species. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p> 2-Trifluoromethylnorbornene has been synthesized from norbornene. The UV photoelectron spectra and optical UV absorption spectra of norbornene, 2-methylnorbornene and 2-trifluoromethylnorbornene have been studied, and indicate that the π,π* state is the lowest excited singlet state. Direct photolysis of 2-trifluoromethylnorbornene with 193 nm light yields 1-trifluoromethyl-2-norcarene (in 90% yield) by formal [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement. Chlorobenzene-sensitized photolysis affords the photoreduction products, exo-and endo-2-trifluoromethylnorbornane, decane isomers, and several products of higher molecular weight.</p> <p> By comparing the photochemistry of 2-trifluoromethylnorbornene to those previously reported for norbornene and 2-cyanonorbornene as well as on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, it is proposed that the π,π* state is the lowest energy excited singlet state in 2-trifluoromethylnorbornene. Trifluoromethyl substitution has the effect of significantly raising the energy of the π,R(3s) Rydberg state in simple alkenes without altering the high energy or the localized character of the π,π* state.</p> <p> 7-Trifluoromethylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene (86) was synthesized from bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene (84). By comparing the UV photoelectron spectroscopy and optical spectra of 86, 84, 97, it is concluded that the π,π* state is the lowest excited singlet state in 86. Direct photolysis with 193 nm light yields three diene isomers derived from formal electrocyclic π,π* ring opening, and cyclohexene derived from fragmentation. Comparison of spectroscopic and photochemical results for this compound to those of bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene (84) and 7-methylbicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene (97) indicate that ring-opening is non stereospecific and arises largely from the π,π* singlet state. Fragmentation arises largely from the Rydberg excited state.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The use of polymers in electro-optical devices, especially light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), has become very popular in recent years, due to their ease of processability. The major drawback of using polymers in these systems is their time-consuming synthesis when trying to improve upon their physical properties. For example, each time a new color or better conducting properties are desired, a new monomer must be synthesized. To circumvent these problems, the system described in this work is designed to connect the well-known chromophore aluminum tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) (Alq3) to a norbornene monomer unit, followed by polymerization using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), thus allowing for the processability of a polymer while maintaining the fluorescent properties of the metalloquinolate. The benefit of this system is that the monomers can be easily altered in order to tune color emission or to enhance the polymer properties. Some of the alterations include changing the metal center from aluminum to zinc in order to improve electron injection, adding substituents to the 8-hydroxyquinoline ligand in order to tune the emission color, and copolymerizing the Alq3-monomer with other norbornene monomers containing either a hole- or an electron-transport material side-chain to improve conductivity. These alterations lead to improved device performance and, more importantly, to a new method of designing polymeric systems for use in electronic devices.