Synthesis of d- and p-Block Element Molecules, Reagents, and Precursors

在化学系化学合成项目的支持下，麻省理工学院化学系的克里斯托弗·康明斯教授正在合成含磷的小分子，这些小分子可能与星际分子的识别有关。该项目位于合成化学和天体化学的交汇处。化学合成将用于制备可能存在于星际空间的小分子。它们在实验室中的特征将为天体物理学家在太空中寻找它们铺平道路。以相互作用的方式，已知的星际分子为开发新的、高活性的物质提供了灵感，这些物质可以作为合成化学的新试剂。该项目还有望对材料科学产生影响，因为一些新的小分子及其分子前体可能为其电子特性感兴趣的无机材料提供低温通道。在项目过程中开发的试剂可能会在有机合成和催化方面找到应用。此外，该项目将教育和培养多样化的本科生、研究生和博士后学者。更广泛的影响还包括通过麻省理工学院（MIT） Access项目向外拓展，该项目旨在让代表性不足的群体成员进入化学研究生学习，并计划在YouTube上制作“无机合成视频”。项目主题为设计和合成蒽基试剂，用于生成新型反应中间体，用于溶液中的基团转移反应，或用于小分子进化到气相，用于分子束质谱和微波光谱研究。后一种形式的光谱学用于收集射电天文学家需要的数据，以便对星际空间中的分子进行积极识别。要研究的具体体系包括三磷酸四面己烷、单氮化磷（PN）及其非爆炸性合成物、单氮化磷的分子前体、磷酸烷（C2H4PH的衍生物）的合成和化学，以及RBA和REA化合物（R =烷基；E = N或P； A =蒽）。该项目还将涉及过渡金属催化反应的发展，以将基团转移到有机底物，如烯烃。一条研究路线将探索应变能释放驱动的催化的分支，涉及被称为磷酸四面体的应变分子。该项目涉及许多合作，也许最引人注目的是对研究星际分子感兴趣的天体物理学家。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Synthesis Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Christoper Cummins of the Chemistry Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is synthesizing phosphorus-containing small molecules that may have relevance to the identification of interstellar molecules. The project resides at the intersection of synthetic chemistry and astrochemistry. Chemical synthesis will be used to prepare small molecules that may exist in interstellar space. Their characterization in the laboratory will pave the way for astrophysicists to search for them in space. In reciprocal fashion, known interstellar molecules serve as inspiration for the development of new, highly reactive species that can be developed as new reagents in synthetic chemistry. The project also is expected to have impacts on materials science in that some of the new small molecules and their molecular precursors may provide low-temperature access to inorganic materials of interest for their electronic properties. Reagents developed in the course of the project may find application in organic synthesis and catalysis. Additionally, the project will educate and train a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars. Broader impacts also include outreach through the MIT Access program aimed at bringing members of underrepresented groups into graduate study in chemistry, and the planned production of YouTube “Inorganic Synthesis Videos.”The project has a theme of design and synthesis of anthracene-based reagents for generating novel reactive intermediates for group transfer reactions in solution, or for evolution of small molecules into the gas phase for study by molecular beam mass spectrometry and microwave spectroscopy. The latter form of spectroscopy is used to collect the data required by the radio astronomers to make a positive identification of the molecules in interstellar space. Specific systems to be investigated include triphosphatetrahedrane, phosphorus mononitride (PN) and non-explosive synthons to it, molecular precursors to PNSO, synthesis and chemistry of phosphiranes (derivatives of C2H4PH), and RBA and REA Compounds (R = alkyl; E = N or P; A = anthracene). The project also will involve the development of transition-metal catalyzed reactions for group transfer to organic substrates, such as olefins. One line of inquiry will explore the ramifications of strain energy release-driven catalysis involving strained molecules known as phosphatetrahedranes. The project involves a number of collaborations, perhaps most notably with astrophysicists interested in investigating interstellar molecules.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.