Convex Polycycles: Synthesis, Structure, and Chemistry of Heterotriquinanes

在化学系化学合成项目的支持下，加州大学戴维斯分校的Mark Mascal教授正在研究具有定义曲率的分子，特别是一类称为“heterotriquinanes”的碗状物质。这种曲率可以增加，直到分子变成球形，这样的系统也是研究的主题。具有感兴趣的性质的分子允许测试化学键理论的极限，并且它们还为生产具有对科学、工程和商业具有潜在实用性的新性质的材料提供了独特的构建块。资助项目的更广泛的影响延伸到累积到社会的好处作为教授Mascal和他的同事从事一系列的K-12外展活动和促进本科研究，特别是通过增加属于代表性不足的群体的个人的参与计划。该项目的合作者将有机会担任海外科学和文化研究项目的助教。受资助的研究围绕构象刚性的聚喹烷杂环，从轻微弯曲的（杂三喹烷）到球形的（杂十二面体）。这些多环系统的化学被证明是不常见的和多方面的，使得能够实现体现具有在规范化学键合和结构理论的极限下的特性的非凡物种的合成目标，包括闻所未闻的超价模型（例如，四价氧），未知的两性离子物质（例如，稳定的氧叶立德），和新的非平面芳环体系（例如，杂醋戊二稀）。这些项目将推进基础科学，并为先进材料提供新的构建模块。在这个奖项下开展的活动也将提供良好的机会，通过在加州大学戴维斯分校专门为这种推广建立多个项目，属于代表性不足的群体的本科生的参与，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

With the support of the Chemical Synthesis Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Mark Mascal of the University of California-Davis is studying molecules that have defined curvature, in particular a class of substances called "heterotriquinanes" which are bowl-shaped. This curvature can be increased until the molecules become spherical and such systems are also a subject of investigations. Molecules with the properties of interest allow the limits of chemical bonding theory to be tested and they also provide unique building blocks for the production of materials with novel properties of potential utility to science, engineering, and commerce. The broader impacts of the funded project extend to the benefits accrued to society as Professor Mascal and his coworkers engage in a range of K-12 outreach activities and the promotion of undergraduate research, particularly via programs that increase the participation of individuals belonging to underrepresented groups. Coworkers on the project will have the opportunity to serve as teaching assistants on a scientific and cultural study abroad program.The funded research revolves around conformationally rigid polyquinane heterocycles that range from gently curved (heterotriquinanes) to spherical (heterododecahedranes). The chemistry of these polycyclic ring systems proves to be uncommon and multifaceted, enabling synthetic objectives that embody extraordinary species with properties at the limits of canonical chemical bonding and structural theory, including unheard-of models of hypervalency (e.g., tetravalent oxygen), unknown zwitterionic species (e.g., stable oxygen ylides), and novel, non-planar aromatic ring systems (e.g., heteroacepentalenes). These projects will both advance fundamental science and provide new building blocks for advanced materials. The activities carried out under this award will also provide excellent opportunities for the participation of undergraduate students belonging to underrepresented groups through multiple programs at UC-Davis specifically established for such outreach, as well as the development of new educational materials that incorporate aspects of the research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.