Publication Date
Summer 2023
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Chemistry
Advisor
Madalyn Radlauer; David Brook ; Gilles Muller
Abstract
Catalysis is one of the driving forces in designing greener chemical processes for essential real-world applications. Enzymes, Nature’s catalysts, are known for their high selectivity, use of readily available metals and reagents, and ability to work under physiological conditions; three important qualities that synthetic chemists would like to mimic in their small molecule metal catalysts. Though most small molecule metal catalysts fall short of enzyme-like activity, we hypothesize that using a polymer scaffold as a secondary coordination sphere mimic around the metal complex will affect the microenvironment (steric and electronic) and enable enzyme-like activity. Previously, we synthesized ligand precursors and small molecule copper complexes based on literature as well as vinyl-modified versions for direct incorporation into a polymer. My research project involved further characterizing our copper complexes using UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies and conducting benchmarking studies based on literature procedures. Our first proof-of-concept oxidation reaction mimics the activity of the enzyme catechol oxidase: converting 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to the corresponding quinone. We are using the analogous small molecule catalysts to benchmark this reaction as points of comparison for the target metallopolymers.
Recommended Citation
Lu, Brenda, "Characterization and Evaluation of Catalytic Activity of Small Molecule Copper Complexes for Metallopolymer Design" (2023). Master's Theses. 5460.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.ujj5-9xkd
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/5460
