Characterization of New Molecular Systems

有机化学和高分子化学项目继续支持威廉·E·比卢普斯博士在休斯敦威廉·马什·赖斯大学化学系的工作。这项工作将包括合成新的难以捉摸的化合物，使用比卢普斯博士开发的真空气固反应方法，从β-卤代环丙基硅烷制备小环烯和双环烯。将制备的芳香族化合物将包括环丙烷、富勒烯、巴克管和功能化的氟化单壁纳米管。将进行Os原子与环氧乙烷、Rh原子与重氮甲烷的低温反应，完成金属原子与有机分子的低温反应研究。天然气水合物的结构将通过低温X射线结晶学来确定。比卢普斯博士的研究涵盖了物理有机化学的广泛领域，包括小环烯和双环烯、富勒烯、氟化单壁碳纳米管的合成和性质，以及过渡金属原子和有机小分子在低温下反应形成的产物。将开始研究甲烷水合物的成核、生长和结构，目标是找到形成甲烷水合物的抑制剂。这些水合物会在长距离天然气管道中造成严重问题。

With this renewal award the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program continues its support for the work of Dr. William E. Billups in the Department of Chemistry of William Marsh Rice University in Houston. The work will include the synthesis of new elusive compounds, using a vacuum gas-solid reaction method developed by Dr. Billups to prepare small ring alkenes and bicycloalkenes from beta-halocyclopropylsilanes. Aromatic compounds to be prepared will include cycloproparenes, fullerenes, buckytubes, and functionalized fluorinated single-wall nanotubes. Low temperature reactions of Os atoms with ethylene oxide and of Rh atoms with diazomethane will be carried out to complete studies of low temperature reactions of metal atoms with organic molecules. Structures of gas hydrates will be determined by low-temperature x-ray crystallography. Dr. Billups' research covers a wide variety of areas in physical organic chemistry, including the synthesis and properties of small ring alkenes and bicycloalkenes, fullerenes, fluorinated single-wall carbon nanotubes, and products formed from the reactions of transition metal atoms and small organic molecules at low temperatures. Work will be initiated on the nucleation, growth, and structures of methane hydrates, with the goal of finding inhibitors for their formation. These hydrates can cause serious problems in long distance natural gas pipelines.