Anthraquinone Motifs as Ligands and Host Molecule: Synthesis, Complexation and Characterization — 96a — Aeden  Jezorski

Ligands can change the properties of a metal complex, and what kinds of reactions they can be used for. One of these properties is the catalytic function of the complex. We have synthesized a variety of open bipodants with selenium (Se), tellurium (Te) and phosphorous (P) as donors. Anthraquinone macrocycle with a nitrogen (N) donor and a pyrene as a signaling unit was also synthesized to study guest-host chemistry using spectrofluorometer. We successfully made palladium complex of selenium and tellurium ligand. One dimensional coordination polymer of selenium ligand with silver ion (Ag⁺) was attempted as well. NMR and X-ray diffraction were utilized to characterize the new ligands and complexes. The palladium complex of Se and Te ligands were used as a catalyst for the Heck reaction using styrene and bromobenzene as the precursors. We isolated a clean stilbene as a product of the Heck coupling reaction apart from a black nanomaterial, which is under the characterization. The nanomaterial may be a combination of Pd_xSe_y and Pd_xTe_y. We believe that PXRD and TEM or SEM study of the nanomaterial will help us to reveal the composition and morphology.

Pennsylvania Western University
Kadal Mariappan