Synthesis and Properties of Novel Metal Carboxylates

本提案中概述的研究涉及具有各种潜在有用应用的新化合物的合成。这些化合物是基于双金属四羧酸盐，它由两个键合的金属离子组成，通常是Ru，它们连接着四个桥式有机羧酸(例如。醋酸)组。他们的化学成分有四个方面正在调查中。1)开发新的合成方法，将络合物“分解”成其他途径无法到达的“更简单”的化合物。这允许创建新的手性(手性)络合物和聚合物前体，它们将应用于不对称催化(创建特定的左手或右手络合物)和导电聚合物。2)二Ru化合物固有的高磁性将通过改变羧酸盐和/或轴向基团来调节。例如，这可能会导致作为温度函数的高磁矩和低磁矩之间的“切换”。我们希望这种化合物将被用来制造有用的磁性/电子分子装置，即执行所需功能的超小型机器。在我们的例子中，分子装置是从头开始创造的。当今计算机中的所有电路都是由较大部件的有限小型化构成的。3)基于这些络合物的液晶的合成将通过将羧酸盐改变为可能包括或可能不包括额外金属的长链脂肪酸基团来进行。液晶显示液体和固体的性质，这使它们在显示屏和传感器等方面很有用。我们正在创造无机液晶，以改善现有有机体系的性能。4)对我们的一些化合物的早期研究表明，它们对一些癌细胞株具有活性。通过改善它们的水溶性(以帮助吸收和降低毒性)，并将“生物相关”部分附着到它们身上，我们将产生对耐药癌细胞株表现出更好活性的复合体。该提案涵盖了广泛的概念和技术。对这些领域的接触对于培训各级学生从事科学和非科学职业的未来至关重要。

The research outlined in this proposal deals with the synthesis of novel compounds with a variety of potentially useful applications. The compounds are based on dimetal tetracarboxylates which consist of two bonded metal ions, usually ruthenium, to which are attached four bridging organic carboxylic acid (eg. acetic acid) groups. Four aspects of their chemistry are being investigated. 1) The development of new synthetic methodology that "disassembles" the complexes into "simpler" compounds which are not accessible from other routes. This allows for the creation of new chiral (handed) complexes and polymer precursors which will have application in asymmetric catalysis (creation of specifically left or right-"handed" complexes) and conducting polymers. 2) The high magnetism that is inherent in the diruthenium compounds will be tuned by varying the carboxylate and/or axial groups. This could lead to a "switching" between high and low magnetic moments as a function of temperature, for example. We hope that such compounds will be used to create useful magnetic/electronic molecular devices, i.e. ultra small-scale machines that perform a desired function. The molecular device, in our case, is created from the ground up. All circuitry found in computers today is constructed by the limited miniaturization of larger components. 3) The synthesis of liquid crystals based on these complexes will be undertaken by changing the carboxylates to long-chain fatty acid groups that may or may not include additional metals. Liquid-crystals display properties of both liquids and solids, making them useful in such things as display screens and sensors. We are creating inorganic liquid crystals in order to improve on the properties of existing organic systems. 4) Early studies on some of our compounds have shown them to be active against some cancer cell lines. By improving their water-solubility (to aid in uptake and to reduce toxicity) and by attaching "biologically relevant" portions to them, we will generate complexes that show better activity against drug-resistant cancer cell lines. The proposal covers a wide range of concepts and techniques. Exposure to these areas is essential in training students at all levels for futures in scientific and non-scientific careers.