Abstracts Category : Other

Pyrene derivatives for the mechanical interlocking of SWNTs: synthesis, properties and potential applications

by Moreno Alejandro Lpez

In this work we presented four main results:(a) a mild catalytic method to oxidize PAHs and, in particular, pyrene,based on the use of a non-hemo iron catalyst, [Fe(bpmen),(OTf)2], withH2O2 as the oxidant. In analogy with the oxidation of pyrene by naturalCYPs, the method affords mainly 1,6- and 1,8-pyrenequinones.Furthermore, we studied the electron accepting properties ofpyrenequinones both experimentally, through cyclic voltammetry, andtheoretically, calculating their EAs.(b) a simple procedure for the determination of association constants (Ka)between soluble molecules and insoluble and heterogeneous carbonnanotube samples. We report binding constants between five differenthosts and two types of SWNTs in four solvents. We have determinednumeric values of Ka in the range of 1104 M -1. The results obtainedexperimentally were validated through state-of-the-art DFTcalculations.(c) the synthesis of rotaxane-type structures in which SWNTs act as threads,based on the previous works in which the mechanical bond is presentedas a new tool for chemical manipulation of SWNTs. We used a U-shapedprecursor featuring two derivatives of pyrene as units of a recognitionelement for SWNTs.(d) the reinforcement of polymers by mechanically interlocked derivativesof single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). We compare themechanical properties of fibers made of polymers and of compositeswith pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), mechanicallyinterlocked derivatives of SWNTs (MINTs) and the correspondingsupramolecular models.Advisors/Committee Members: Prez lvarez, Emilio (dir.), UAM. Departamento de Qumica Orgnica, Instituto Madrileo de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia IMDEA.