Funding
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NSF CHE - 1956302 (Chemical Catalysis)
Title: Development of Catalysts and Ligands for Alkyne Metathesis Funding period: August 2020 - July 2023 NSF Award Abstract link |
Alkyne Metathesis Catalyst Development
Alkyne metathesis is a reaction that scrambles alkynes (triple bonds) within a reaction. It is an extremely useful technique for synthesizing macrocycles and cage-molecules with well-defined structures and pores. However, the current state-of-the-art catalysts are far from perfect. Since they are using high-valent metals such as Mo(VI) and W(VI), they are very sensitive to water and oxygen, and has very limited substrates scopes. Our goal is to investigate the fundamental design rules and ligand effects in Mo,W-based catalysts to develop the next generation alkyne metathesis catalysts.
Alkyne metathesis is a reaction that scrambles alkynes (triple bonds) within a reaction. It is an extremely useful technique for synthesizing macrocycles and cage-molecules with well-defined structures and pores. However, the current state-of-the-art catalysts are far from perfect. Since they are using high-valent metals such as Mo(VI) and W(VI), they are very sensitive to water and oxygen, and has very limited substrates scopes. Our goal is to investigate the fundamental design rules and ligand effects in Mo,W-based catalysts to develop the next generation alkyne metathesis catalysts.
Strained Carbon Nanohoops
Carbon nanohoops are fully conjugated with para-linked phenylenes and alkynes. Because the phenylenes and alkynes are forced into a curvature, they are extremely strained and very reactive. We are preparing these nanohoops in an efficient manner using alkyne metathesis and investigating their strain-release reactivities. We envision that these reaction can be used in cross-linking agents in polymer and bioconjugation methods in chemical biology.
Carbon nanohoops are fully conjugated with para-linked phenylenes and alkynes. Because the phenylenes and alkynes are forced into a curvature, they are extremely strained and very reactive. We are preparing these nanohoops in an efficient manner using alkyne metathesis and investigating their strain-release reactivities. We envision that these reaction can be used in cross-linking agents in polymer and bioconjugation methods in chemical biology.
New Dynamic Covalent Chemistry
We are currently investigating covalent bonds with unique reversible properties that have been overlooked in the past decades. After fully understanding their thermodynamic/kinetic properties and substituent effects, we will apply this dynamic covalent method in various materials applications such as self-healing polymers, 3D-printing, and thermal curing materials.
We are currently investigating covalent bonds with unique reversible properties that have been overlooked in the past decades. After fully understanding their thermodynamic/kinetic properties and substituent effects, we will apply this dynamic covalent method in various materials applications such as self-healing polymers, 3D-printing, and thermal curing materials.
Equipment
