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

在化学学部有机和大分子化学项目的支持下，迈阿密大学米德尔敦分校的Kevin W. Kittredge教授将重点研究三个项目；1)烷硫醇覆盖单层保护簇（MPCs）的配体交换机制，2)测量苯甲酸-欧米茄功能化烷硫酸酯MPCs的pKa值，以及3)钝化艺术光化学和热降解的超支化聚酰胺膜。Kittredge教授将研究作为单层保护簇（mpc）组装的烷硫醇的物理性质，并研究由不同金属（Au、Ag、CdS、Pt、Cu）、各种连接剂（氧、氮、磷和羧酸阴离子）和不同烷基链长度组成的mpc。研究了金属芯尺寸对纳米颗粒稳定性的影响以及对ω -取代烷硫醇物理常数的影响。本研究的重点是提高这些纳米颗粒的稳定性，增加它们作为分子器件的潜力。通过研究MPC簇的机理和物理性质，将继续设计和合成更复杂的簇。重点将是提高纳米颗粒的稳定性和增加它们作为分子器件的潜力。在有机和大分子化学项目CAREER奖的支持下，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。他将把这项研究介绍给迈阿密大学米德尔敦分校（Miami University Middletown）的一年级和二年级学生，该分校是迈阿密大学的一个两年制分校，旨在让他们继续接受教育，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PI以前的工作。此外，将编制示范并向学校和博物馆散发。

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.