This dissertation is a study of two major topics that involve synthetic strategies for new classes of phosphorescent gold(I)-based metallodendrimers. The phosphorescence of organic and inorganic luminophores originates from spin-orbit coupling owing to internal or external heavy atom effects as well as metal-centered emissions. Previous work in the Omary group entailed systematically designed small molecules, metallopolymers, and unconjugated metallodendrimers that contain d10 and d8 metals, whereas this dissertation aims in part to expand such strategies to the conjugated metallodendrimer regime. In one approach novel synthetic strategies were used to make first-generation phenyl acetylene dendrimers and phosphine derivatives thereof. The phosphine dendrimers are made by tethering one of the phosphines to an unsaturated dendrimer, as such phosphine dendrimers are better chromophores and luminophores due to their structural rigidity and extended conjugation. In another approach, 2- and 3-coordinate Au(I) dendritic complexes are synthesized from these phosphine dendrimers. This study is further extended to study metallodendritic complexes with different cores, for example triphenylene-based metallodendritic complexes with six acetylene branches. The physical properties of the metallodendrimers can be modulated upon proceeding to further dendrimer generations or by using solubilizing groups on the peripheral phosphines, thus allowing better processability for thin-film fabrication as required for …

This study deals with the (4+2)-cycloaddition reactions of 4-π electron compounds with ketenes. Chloroketenes were generated in situ from the corresponding chlorinated acid chlorides in the presence of the ketenophiles. Chloro-, dichloro- and diphenylketenes reacted with 1-methoxy-3-trimethylsiloxy-l,3-butadiene, and 2,4-bis(trimethylsiloxy)-1,3-pentadiene to yield the corresponding dihydropyrans. The dihydropyrans yielded substituted 4-pyranones on hydrolysis.

The reactions of tert-butyl-, sec-butyl-, and n-butyllithium with dimethylfluorovinylsilane include addition to the double bond to give both silene and silenoid intermediates, fluorine substitution, and a novel vinyl substitution. For the tert-butyllithium reaction, product stereochemistry and trapping experiments using both cyclopentadiene and methoxytrimethylsilane show that silenes are not formed in THF. In hexane about 67% of the 1,3-disilacyclobutanes obtained arise from silene dimerization while 33% are formed by silenoid coupling. In hexane the order of reactivity for addition, t-Bu > sec-Bu > n-Bu, is opposite that for fluorine substitution. The vinyl substitution is most significant with secondary alkyllithium reagents including the tert-butyllithium adduct to dimethylfluorovinylsilane and with sec-butyllithium itself. Evidence for the formation of vinyllithium or ethylene in the process could not be obtained.

A study has been conducted for the qualitative and Quantitative analysis of chlorinated organic compounds in water. The study included the adaptation of Amberlite XAD macroreticular resin techniques for the concentration of municipal wastewater samples, followed by GC/MS analysis. A new analytical method was developed for the determination of volatile halogenated organics using liquid-liquid extraction and electron capture gas chromatography. And, a computer program was written which searches raw GC/MS computer files for halogen-containing organic compounds.

Ketene dimethyl thioacetal monosulfoxide was prepared in 68% overall yield in two steps starting from methylmagnesium chloride. The yield of dithioacetic acid was improved significantly by employing tetrahydrofuran as solvent and using elevated temperatures. A one-pot synthesis of ketene thioacetals from alkyl halides was developed and several ketene thioacetals were prepared by this method. Direct oxidation of ketene thioacetals using m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid provided a general route to ketene thioacetal monosulfoxides. In cases where E and Z isomeric ketene thioacetal monosulfoxides were possible, the E/Z isomeric ratio increased as the substituents on the ketene double bond was increased in size.

The reaction of tert-butyllithium with chloromethylphenylvinylsilane at low temperatures in hexane gave a 48% yield of a mixture of the five isomers of 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-diphenyl-2,4-dineopentyl-1,3-disilacyclobutane, formed by the head-to-tail dimerization of both E- and Z-1-methyl-1-phenyl-2-neopentylsilenes, along with an acyclic dimer. These were separated and their stereochemistry was established by ('1)H- and ('13)C-NMR spectroscopy. The E- and Z-silenes were also trapped as their {4 + 2} cycloadducts with cyclopentadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene and anthracene, which also were separated and stereochemically characterized. A consistent mole ratio of 70:30 for the E- and Z-silene adducts is interpreted as evidence for stereochemical induction in the silene generation reaction. It is also suggested that the dimerization of the silenes to give the 1,3-disilacyclobutanes occurs by a nonstereospecific stepwise pathway. When E- or Z-1-methyl-1-phenyl-2-neopentylsilene was generated by the retro-Diels-Alder flow vacuum thermolysis of its corresponding cyclopentadiene or anthracene adduct at temperatures between 400 and 600(DEGREES)C and then trapped with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, the stereochemical distribution of the products is independent of the stereochemistry of the silene precursor, indicating that the silene is not configurationally stable towards cis-trans isomerization at these temperatures. Evidence that the intermolecular ene reaction and the {4 + 2} cycloaddition which occur with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene are concerted is presented. …

The objective of this study was to develop new synthetical routes to natural and industrial products utilizing ketene cycioaddition reactions. The cycioaddition of diphenylketene with α,β-unsaturated imines yields (2+2) cycioaddition products, g-lactams. However, electron donating groups, such as dimethylamine, in the 4-position of the α,β-unsaturated imines result in (4+2) cycloaddition products, ∂-lactams. Dichloroketene reacted with α,β-unsaturated imines to yield (4+2) cycloaddition products, g-lactams. Large substituents in the 4-position of a, ^-unsaturated imines resulted in a (2+2) cycioaddition product, β-lactam. The ∂-lactams derived from dichloroketene are easily dehydrochlorinated to the corresponding 2-pyridornes.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the chemistry of the new and novel (trimethylsilyl)ketene. This ketene was synthesized by pyrolysis of (trimethylsilyl)ethoxyacetylene which was prepared from ethoxyacetylene and methyllithium. (Trimethylsilyl)ketene is a very stable and isolable ketene which does not dimerize and, therefore, provides an opportunity for some unique studies that have not been possible with other monosubstituted ketene.

Photocopy of a dissertation discussing natural radioactivities and half life of potassium, Rubidium, Rhenium, and Lutetium.