Annulenylenes and Annulynes

通过这项本科院校研究（RUI）奖，有机和大分子化学项目支持伊利诺伊州立大学化学系Cheryl D. Stevenson教授的研究。这项研究将涉及环烯（共轭双键的环烯系统）和单环烯（含三键的环烯）的研究。这些不寻常的分子的性质取决于共轭体系中电子的数量。具有4n+2 （n = 1,2,3…）电子的系统是芳族的，稳定的，而具有4n电子的系统是反芳族的，通常不稳定。在这项研究中，史蒂文森教授将生成一系列高活性的反芳香环烯和单环烯，并研究这些很少受到关注的有趣物种的性质。这些不稳定的分子将通过低温核磁共振光谱进行研究，并将其还原为更稳定的自由基阴离子，并将通过ESR光谱进行研究。这些研究将伴随着复杂的计算研究，包括光谱模拟和量子力学研究。这项工作已经在PI的实验室里进行了多年，大部分工作将由本科生来完成。通过这种方式，该项目将成为年轻科学家的训练场和灵感来源，鼓励他们从事科学事业。

With this Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports the research of Professor Cheryl D. Stevenson of the Department of Chemistry at Illinois State University in Normal IL. This research will involve investigations of annulenes, cyclic systems with conjugated double bonds, and monoannulynes, annulenes containing a triple bond. These unusual molecules have properties that are dependent on the number of electrons in the conjugated system. Systems with 4n+2 (n = 1,2,3 ...) electrons are aromatic and stable while systems with 4n electrons are antiaromatic and generally unstable. In this research, Professor Stevenson will generate a series of highly reactive antiaromatic annulenes and monoannulynes and study the properties of these interesting species, which have received little attention. These unstable molecules will be investigated by low temperature NMR spectroscopy and reduced to their more stable radical anions, which will be studied by ESR spectroscopy. These investigations will be accompanied by sophisticated computational studies involving spectral simulation and quantum mechanical investigations. Much of this work, which has been ongoing in the PI's laboratory for many years, will be carried out by undergraduate students. In this way the project will serve as a training ground and inspiration for young scientists who will be encouraged to pursue careers in science.