New Architectures of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds

本研究的重点是开发生产螺旋烯的合成方法。通过烯烯基的自由基环化反应，可制得各种具有螺旋扭曲的4,5-二取代菲衍生物、螺旋烯和相关的非平面多环芳烃。乙烯-烯的热裂解也将用于合成桥接的双（苯并芴），而桥接的双（苯并芴）又将作为生产4族金属的双茂金属配合物的前体。后者在烯烃聚合中有潜在的用途。通过这一奖项，有机和大分子化学项目支持了西弗吉尼亚大学化学系王琨博士的研究。王博士将专注于开发具有螺旋扭曲的多环芳烃（螺旋烃）的合成方法。螺旋烯具有固有的手性，形成了一类具有有趣的光学和电子特性的材料。这项工作在材料科学领域以及不对称催化领域产生了更广泛的影响。此外，该项目为培养本科生（特别是来自代表性不足人口的本科生）和研究生提供了一个极好的工具。

The focus of this research involves the development of synthetic methods for the production of helicenes. A variety of 4,5-disubstituted phenanthrene derivatives, helicenes and related nonplanar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons possessing a helical twist will be prepared via the radical cyclization reactions of enyne-allenes. Thermolysis of enyne-allenes will also be used to synthesize bridged bis(benzofluorene), which, in turn, will serve as precursors for the production of ansa-metallocene complexes of group 4 metals. The latter have potential use for olefin polymerization.With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. Kung K. Wang in the Department of Chemistry at West Virginia University. Dr. Wang will focus his work on developing methodology for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons possessing a helical twist (helicenes). The helicenes are inherently chiral and form a class of materials having interesting optical and electronic properties. The broader impact of the work is in the area of materials science as well as in the field of asymmetric catalysis. Further, the project presents an excellent vehicle for the training of both undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented populations, and graduate students.