Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The research outlined in this proposal deals with the synthesis of novel compounds with a variety of potentially useful applications. The compounds are based on dimetal tetracarboxylates which consist of two bonded metal ions, usually ruthenium, to which are attached four bridging organic carboxylic acid (eg. acetic acid) groups. Four aspects of their chemistry are being investigated. 1) The development of new synthetic methodology that ""disassembles"" the complexes into ""simpler"" compounds which are not accessible from other routes. This allows for the creation of new chiral (handed) complexes and polymer precursors which will have application in asymmetric catalysis (creation of specifically left or right-""handed"" complexes) and conducting polymers. 2) The high magnetism that is inherent in the diruthenium compounds will be tuned by varying the carboxylate and/or axial groups. This could lead to a ""switching"" between high and low magnetic moments as a function of temperature, for example. We hope that such compounds will be used to create useful magnetic/electronic molecular devices, i.e. ultra small-scale machines that perform a desired function. The molecular device, in our case, is created from the ground up. All circuitry found in computers today is constructed by the limited miniaturization of larger components. 3) The synthesis of liquid crystals based on these complexes will be undertaken by changing the carboxylates to long-chain fatty acid groups that may or may not include additional metals. Liquid-crystals display properties of both liquids and solids, making them useful in such things as display screens and sensors. We are creating inorganic liquid crystals in order to improve on the properties of existing organic systems. 4) Early studies on some of our compounds have shown them to be active against some cancer cell lines. By improving their water-solubility (to aid in uptake and to reduce toxicity) and by attaching ""biologically relevant"" portions to them, we will generate complexes that show better activity against drug-resistant cancer cell lines. The proposal covers a wide range of concepts and techniques. Exposure to these areas is essential in training students at all levels for futures in scientific and non-scientific careers.