CAREER: New horizons in Coordination and Organometallic Chemistry of Azulene: A Combined Synthetic, Spectroscopic, Structural, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Investigation

这项由无机化学、生物无机化学和金属有机化学项目颁发的职业奖项支持堪萨斯大学化学系Mikhail Barybin教授的研究和教育活动，以开发合理的策略，将电子上不寻常的蔚蓝基序(一种包含融合的5元和7元碳环的非苯类芳香族骨架)纳入分子和超分子杂化金属/有机系综。本研究采用多方面的方法来了解一类新的偶氮烯衍生物，即异氰基偶氮烯的化学反应活性和物理性质，最终目的是设计出适合于开发独特的偶氮烯类液晶和一维电荷传输材料的系综。基于2，6-偶氮烯支架的金属发光材料(即含金属液晶)的开发将为制备含蔚蓝的液晶器件提供新的、更具成本效益的平台，这是目前具有重大基础和商业意义的器件。该项目还将为改善与分子电子学和纳米技术应用相关的金属-有机混合系统中的电子离域提供新的战略。该项目的综合教育部分旨在促进本科生及早参与化学研究。为此，将为新生一级荣誉化学实验室开发和实施一个创新的课程，其中包括社区推广方面的内容。这门课程将为学生提供更好的机会来控制他们实验室调查的设计和实施，并通过培养学生的参与度以及智力和技术技能来鼓励本科生在大四之前从事化学研究。

This CAREER award by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program supports research and educational activities of Professor Mikhail Barybin of the Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas to develop rational strategies for incorporating the electronically unusual azulenic motif (a nonbenzenoid aromatic framework involving fused 5- and 7-membered carbon rings) into molecular and supramolecular hybrid metal/organic ensembles. This research undertakes a multifaceted approach to understand chemical reactivity and physical properties of a new class of azulenic derivatives, namely isocyanoazulenes, with the ultimate goal of designing ensembles suitable for developing unique azulene-based liquid crystals and one-dimensional charge transport materials. The development of metallomesogens (i.e., metal-containing liquid crystals) based on the 2,6-azulenic scaffold will deliver new and more cost-efficient platforms for fabricating azulene-containing liquid crystal devices, which are currently of substantial fundamental and commercial interest. The project will also provide new strategies for improving electron delocalization in the hybrid metal-organic systems relevant to applications in molecular electronics and nanotechnology. The integrated educational component of the project is aimed at promoting early involvement of undergraduate students in chemistry research. To this end, an innovative curriculum for freshmen level Honors Chemistry Laboratory that includes community outreach aspects will be developed and implemented. This course will provide opportunities for students to take greater control over the design and implementation of their laboratory investigations and will encourage undergraduates into chemistry research well before their senior year by fostering student engagement and both intellectual and technological skills.