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型化合物的合成。这些化合物是基于二金属四羧酸盐，其由两个键合的金属离子（通常是钌）组成，其上连接有四个桥接有机羧酸（例如，三羧酸）。乙酸）基团。 目前正在研究其化学性质的四个方面。1)开发新的合成方法，将复合物“分解”成其他途径无法获得的“更简单”的化合物。这允许产生新的手性（手性）络合物和聚合物前体，其将在不对称催化（产生特定的左或右“手性”络合物）和导电聚合物中具有应用。2)二钌化合物中固有的高磁性将通过改变羧酸根和/或轴向基团来调节。 例如，这可能导致作为温度的函数的高磁矩和低磁矩之间的“切换”。我们希望这些化合物将用于制造有用的磁/电子分子器件，即执行所需功能的超小型机器。分子装置，在我们的例子中，是从头开始创造的。今天计算机中的所有电路都是由较大元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酯改变为长链脂肪酸基团来进行，所述长链脂肪酸基团可以包括或不包括额外的金属。液晶显示液体和固体的属性，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，以改善现有有机系统的性能。4)对我们的一些化合物的早期研究表明，它们对某些癌细胞系具有活性。通过提高它们的水溶性（以帮助吸收和降低毒性），并通过将“生物相关”部分连接到它们，我们将产生对耐药癌细胞系显示更好活性的复合物。该提案涵盖了广泛的概念和技术。接触这些领域是至关重要的培训学生在各级未来的科学和非科学职业。

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.