DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/FRTR-4Q20

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1275-9968

Defense Date

2020

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Scott Gronert

Abstract

C-H activation is considered the “holy grail” of chemistry. Remote, selective C-H activation has many applications such as modifying precursors, adding complexity to molecules, and modifying pre- existing structures in a reduced number of steps. Previous work by Swift and Gronert identified an iridium(III) phenanthroline complex that can activate C-H bonds of cyclohexane. The objective of this dissertation is to study the mechanism and regioselectivity of this complex in common precursors, namely 1-butanol, 1-methoxybutane and butyl acetate.

The studies were carried out in the gas phase on a modified mass spectrometer. Selectively deuterated alcohol, ether and ester were used to determine the site of activation. The studies showed that the iridium phenanthroline complex can activate the gamma and delta positions in 1-butanol, selectively activate the gamma position (~96%) in 1-methoxybutane and the alpha carbon in butyl acetate.

Studies were also carried out to determine the effect of the ligand on the regioselectivity of the complex. A range of iridium complexes was either purchased or synthesized to study the impact of sterics, electronic effects, the flexibility of the ligand, the effect of the chelating atom in the neutral ligand and the effect of the anionic ligand on the regioselectivity of C-H activation of the model alcohol, ether, and ester. The studies showed that there were only subtle impacts on the regioselectivity of the C-H activation in these substrates. However, the overall reactivities of the complexes were found to be impacted by the nature of the ligand.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

12-3-2020

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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