NKU Molecular Wire Research: Alternate synthetic methodologies for substituted bipyridine building blocks for supramolecular synthesis.

Abstract

A growing concern for the conservation of energy has inspired a rising interest in the field of supramol. photochem. The objective of this research is to create a supramol. system with a π-conjugated polymer backbone that interacts with transition metals to allow an efficient transfer of charge when the mol. is excited by light. This poster is one in a series presented on this research and focuses on the formation of the central portion (MW-1e) of the bis(bipyridine) monomer that serves as the polymeric backbone (MW-l) that the transition metal is incorporated into. The precursor for this mol., 1,4-bis (2-bromoethyl) benzene (MW-1c), was synthesized with at least 62% yield numerous times. Then, an alternate Negishi coupling strategy was utilized wherein 2-bromo-4-iodopyridine first incorporates zinc as a good leaving group. Ultimately MW-1c can react with this product on both sides to form MW-1e and subsequently MW-1 utilizing building blocks created by other group members. The final product of this overall research could be used in applications to form solar cells and other optically active materials. [on SciFinder(R)]