CAREER: Undergraduate research on the properties and mechanistic studies of organic molecules assembled on monolayer protected clusters

在化学系有机化学和高分子化学计划的支持下，迈阿密大学米德尔顿分校的Kevin W.Kittredge教授将专注于三个项目：1)烷硫醇封头单层保护簇合物(MPC)的配体交换机制，2)测量苯甲酸欧米茄官能化烷硫醇MPC的pKa值，以及3)钝化ART光化学和热降解的超支化聚酰胺薄膜。Kittredge教授将研究作为单分子层保护簇(MPC)组装的烷硫醇的物理性质，并研究由不同金属(Au、Ag、Cd、铂、铜)、不同连接物(氧、氮、磷和羧酸阴离子)和不同烷基链长组成的MPC。还将研究金属核尺寸对纳米粒子稳定性的影响以及对欧米伽取代硫醇物理常数的影响。本研究的一个重点是提高这些纳米粒子的稳定性，增加它们作为分子器件的潜力。通过研究MPC团簇的机制和物理性质，将继续进行更复杂的团簇的设计和合成。重点将是提高纳米颗粒的稳定性，并增加它们作为分子装置的潜力。在有机和高分子化学项目这一职业奖项的支持下，迈阿密大学米德尔敦校区化学和生物化学系的Kevin W.Kittredge教授正在开发制备omega功能化MPC和薄膜的方法。他的工作结果将有助于建立有机纳米颗粒的结构/反应性和结构/稳定性关系。他将向迈阿密大学米德尔顿分校的一年级和二年级学生介绍这项研究，迈阿密大学米德尔顿分校是迈阿密大学的一个两年制分校，致力于让他们继续教育，获得更高的学位。一个主要的重点将是开发用于大学化学课程的教育材料，类似于国际和平研究所以前的工作。此外，还将制作示范并向学校和博物馆传播。

With the support of the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program in the Chemistry Division, Professor Kevin W. Kittredge of the Miami University- Middletown will focus on three projects; 1) mechanisms for ligand-exchange of alkanethiol capped monolayer protected clusters (MPCs), 2) measuring the pKa values for benzoic acids omega-functionalized alkanethiolate MPCs, and 3) hyperbranched polyamide films that passivate photochemical and thermal degradation of art. Professor Kittredge will study the physical properties of alkanethiols assembled as monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) and examine MPCs composed of different metals (Au, Ag, CdS, Pt, Cu), various linkers (oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, and carboxylate anions), and differing alkyl chain lengths. The influence of the metal core size on nanoparticle stability and the effects on the physical constants for omega-substituted alkanethiols will also be studied. An emphasis of this research is to improve the stability of these nanoparticles and increase their potential as molecular devices. By investigating the mechanisms and physical properties of MPC clusters, the design and synthesis of more complex clusters will continue. The emphasis will be to improve the stability of the nanoparticles and increase their potential as molecular devices.With support from this CAREER award from the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program, Professor Kevin W. Kittredge, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Middletown campus of Miami University is developing methodology for preparation of omega-functionalized MPCs and thin films. The results of his work will help establish structure/reactivity and structure/stability relationships for organic nanoparticles. He will introduce this research to first and second year students at Miami University Middletown, a two-year branch campus of Miami University with efforts on their continuing education towards more advanced degrees. A major focus will be on developing educational materials to be used in university chemistry courses, similar to previous work by the PI. Additionally, demonstrations will be developed and disseminated to schools and museums.