Polyphenyl and Polyphenylene Molecules

这项研究的重点有三个方面。首先，将合成“苯基立方石墨”的子结构，以提供热稳定的多孔性固体的结晶材料。其次，氢键和盐桥形成的官能团将被结合到多苯芳烃分子中，作为多孔三维网络固体的前体。第三，合成构型稳定的手性扭曲多苯基芳香族化合物。这些分子的纯对映体的晶体将包含手性空腔，这在现有的多孔材料中非常罕见。通过这一奖项，有机化学和高分子化学项目正在支持普林斯顿大学化学系罗伯特·A·帕斯卡博士的研究。帕斯卡博士将把工作重点放在开发合成和表征大型多苯基芳香族化合物的方法学上。这些分子具有明确的构象、大的空穴和极大的稳定性。据预测，其中一些将形成高度稳定、有序、多孔性的固体--本质上是“疏水沸石”。就更广泛的影响而言，该项目具有催化、分离技术的潜力，或许还有医疗诊断的潜力。该项目还为研究生和本科生的培养提供了良好的环境。

The foci of this research are threefold. First, substructures of "phenylogous cubic graphite" will be synthesized to afford crystalline materials that are thermally stable porous solids. Second, hydrogen-bonding and salt-bridge-forming functional groups will be incorporated into polyphenyl aromatic molecules to serve as precursors to porous, three-dimensional network solids. Third, configurationally stable, chiral twisted polyphenyl aromatics will be synthesized. Crystals of the pure enantiomers of these molecules will contain chiral cavities, a property very rare in existing porous materials. With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. Robert A. Pascal of the Department of Chemistry at Princeton University. Dr. Pascal will focus his work on developing methodology for the synthesis and characterization of large polyphenyl aromatic compounds. These molecules have well-defined conformations, large cavities and great stability. It is projected that some of them will form highly stable, ordered, porous solids-essentially "hydrophobic zeolites." In terms of broader impacts, the project has potential for catalysis, separation technologies, and perhaps medical diagnostics. The project also provides an excellent setting for the training of graduate and undergraduate students.