Polyphenyl and Polyphenylene Molecules

本研究的重点有三个方面。首先，“phenylogous立方石墨”的亚结构将被合成，以提供晶体材料，热稳定的多孔固体。其次，氢键和盐桥形成官能团将被纳入聚苯芳香族分子中，作为多孔三维网络固体的前体。第三，合成构型稳定的手性扭曲聚苯芳烃。这些分子的纯对映体的晶体将包含手性空腔，这在现有的多孔材料中是非常罕见的。通过这个奖项，有机和大分子化学项目支持了普林斯顿大学化学系Robert A. Pascal博士的研究。Pascal博士将专注于开发大型多苯基芳香族化合物的合成和表征方法。这些分子具有明确的构象、大空腔和很强的稳定性。据推测，其中一些会形成高度稳定、有序、多孔的固体——本质上是“疏水沸石”。就更广泛的影响而言，该项目有潜力用于催化、分离技术，或许还有医疗诊断。该项目还为研究生和本科生的培养提供了良好的环境。

The foci of this research are threefold. First, substructures of "phenylogous cubic graphite" will be synthesized to afford crystalline materials that are thermally stable porous solids. Second, hydrogen-bonding and salt-bridge-forming functional groups will be incorporated into polyphenyl aromatic molecules to serve as precursors to porous, three-dimensional network solids. Third, configurationally stable, chiral twisted polyphenyl aromatics will be synthesized. Crystals of the pure enantiomers of these molecules will contain chiral cavities, a property very rare in existing porous materials. With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. Robert A. Pascal of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University. Dr. Pascal will focus his work on developing methodology for the synthesis and characterization of large polyphenyl aromatic compounds. These molecules have well-defined conformations, large cavities and great stability. It is projected that some of them will form highly stable, ordered, porous solids-essentially "hydrophobic zeolites." In terms of broader impacts, the project has potential for catalysis, separation technologies, and perhaps medical diagnostics. The project also provides an excellent setting for the training of graduate and undergraduate students.