Chiral Polycyclic Aromatic Architectures

本研究由化学系化学合成项目资助，由罗伯特·A.小帕斯卡，杜兰大学化学系的教授将探索合成新型构型稳定的手性多环芳香分子。 除了螺旋烯之外，这种结构非常罕见，通常难以合成，并且它们的性质在很大程度上未被探索。 提出了四类新的这些化合物，合成非常短，易于修改的形状和性能的调整。它们的结构特征确保了对外消旋化的高屏障和通常高的热稳定性，并且大多数分子应该是强发光的。 预计这些化合物的拆分对映异构体显示出非常高的旋光度、强圆二色性和强圆偏振发光，在某些情况下，其可由外部因素（温度、光等）调制。这类分子预期的光物理和手性性质使它们成为有机电子材料的候选者，特别是在显示技术或电光调制器中。 预期的结构可以使它们自身适合于作为手性催化剂或手性主体用于分离技术或医学诊断。 研究本身将为各种本科和研究生科学家提供培训，包括女性和代表性不足的少数民族，他们将在以后进入科学，工程和医学的生产性职业。

In this project funded by the Chemical Synthesis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Robert A. Pascal, Jr., of the Department of Chemistry at Tulane University will explore the synthesis of new types of configurationally stable, chiral, polycyclic aromatic molecules. With the exception of the helicenes, such structures are quite uncommon and often difficult to synthesize, and their properties are largely unexplored. Four new classes of these compounds are proposed, with syntheses that are very short and easily modified for the tuning of shapes and properties. Their structural features ensure both high barriers to racemization and generally high thermal stability, and most of the molecules should be strongly luminescent. The resolved enantiomers of these compounds are expected to show very high optical rotations, strong circular dichroism, and strong circularly polarized luminescence, which in some cases may be modulated by external factors (temperature, light, etc.).The expected photophysical and chiroptical properties of this class of molecules make them candidates for application as organic electronic materials, particularly in display technologies or as electrooptic modulators. The expected structures may lend themselves to application as chiral catalysts or chiral hosts for separation technologies or medical diagnostics. The research itself will provide training for a variety of undergraduate and graduate scientists including women and underrepresented minorities, who will later enter into productive careers in science, engineering, and medicine.