[No abstract available] / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1998. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 266-285). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Thesis (B.S.) Magna Cum Laude --Butler University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 29).

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

With n-BuLi/t-BuOK (Lochmann's base), protons are removed from the hydroxyl and methyl groups of cresols to give cresol dianions in yields of 85% (o), 95% (m), and 40% (p). These dianions react with alkyl halides, MeSiCl, Bu₃Sn Cl, CO₂, and oxidizing agents at carbon only, and with dialkyl sulfates at both carbon and oxygen. Thus phenol derivatives bearing primary alkyl groups can be prepared from the corresponding methylphenol via cresol dianions. Dimethylphenol trianions were prepared with Lochmann's base from all six isomers of dimethylphenol. 3,5-Dimethylphenol trianion was prepared in the best yield (80%); 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, and 3,4-dimethylphenol trianions were prepared in 19.5%, 19%, 52%, 36%, and 44% yields, respectively. The common side products were dianions and tetraanions (in the latter, the fourth proton was usually pulled from the ring ortho to oxygen). These trianions were reacted with dimethyl sulfate to give anisole derivatives. 3,5-Dimethoxytoluene monoanion was reacted with n-BuBr to give a mixture of O,O'-dimethylolivetol (40%) and 4-butyl-3,5-dimethoxytoluene (34%).

Bis-benzyl dianions were prepared from the three symmetrical dimethylbiphenyls in yields of 79-86%, and shown to react with a variety of electrophiles on the benzylic carbons. Electrophiles included dimethyl and diethyl sulfate, isopropyl bromide, t-butyl iodide, allyl chloride, trimethylsilyl chloride, trimethylgermyl bromide, and trimethyltin chloride. Reaction of the dianions with (alpha),(omega)-dihalides provides an excellent route to n.0 - and n.0.n.0 cyclophanes. An X-ray study on 14.0 paracyclophane showed it to have a conformation different from that observed in solution by NMR; MM2 calculations were used in determining what the solution conformation is likely to be. Oxidation of the dianions produced the monomer dihydrophenanthrene from the ortho isomer, dimer 2.0.2.0 metacyclophane from the meta isomer, and polymer from the para isomer. An X-ray study on 2.0.2.0 metacyclophane showed it to have the same conformation in the crystal as is observed in solution by NMR. An NMR method for determining the angle of twist in a biphenyl based on the chemical shift of the ortho hydrogens was developed. Many oxidizing agents were evaluated for the oxidation of the dianion from 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene to 1,2,5,6-tetramethylenecyclooctane; cupric bromide was found to be the best.