New Molecular Systems

通过这个奖项，有机和大分子化学项目支持威廉·马什·赖斯大学化学系w·e·比卢普斯教授的工作。这项研究将扩展PI对应变反应中间体、单壁碳纳米管（SWNTs）和富勒烯的研究。将制备当前理论关注的高应变有机分子。由于这些化合物在室温下是不稳定的，它们的结构将由低温x射线晶体学来确定。尽管单壁碳纳米管非凡的电子和机械性能表明了重要的应用前景，但由于这些物质在有机溶剂中的不溶性，其进展受到限制。为了避免这一问题，将开发一种高效且可扩展的可溶解的单壁碳纳米管路径。此外，一系列的富勒烯调查将被启动。包括对作为二氢储存载体的高度还原富勒烯的研究，对碳纳米管合成过程中形成的大型富勒烯的分离，以及对陨石中发现的富勒烯的研究。除了提供高能分子和先进材料化学的基本信息外，这些研究将为本科生和研究生提供重要的跨学科培训。这些学生参与国际合作将特别有价值。

With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports the work of Professor W. E. Billups, of the Chemistry Department at William Marsh Rice University. The research will extend the PI's investigations of strained reactive intermediates, single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), and fullerenes. Highly strained organic molecules of current theoretical interest will be prepared. Since these compounds will be unstable at room temperature, their structure will be determined by low temperature x-ray crystallography. Although the extraordinary electronic and mechanical properties of SWNTs suggest important applications, progress has been limited due to the insolubility of these substances in organic solvents. In order to circumvent this problem an efficient and scalable route to solublized SWNTs will be developed. In addition, a series of fullerene investigations will be initiated. Included will be studies of highly reduced fullerenes as vehicles for storage of dihydrogen, the isolation of large fullerenes that are formed during the synthesis of carbon nanotubes, and investigations of fullerenes found in meteorites.In addition to providing fundamental information on the chemistry of energetic molecules and advanced materials, these studies will provide important interdisciplinary training for undergraduate and graduate students. The involvement of these students in international collaborations will be especially valuable.