Date Available
5-2-2026
Year of Publication
2025
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
Chemistry
Faculty
Aron Huckaba
Faculty
Kenneth Graham
Abstract
Small molecule metal complexes have diverse applications including usage as catalysts, single molecule magnets, photosensitizers and pharmaceuticals. The first research project in this work reports a new ligand which dimerizes upon coordination to afford a trinuclear Cu(I) complex. Due to the coordination geometry of the Cu(I) metal centers, paired with the strong nitrogen coordinating groups, the resulting complex is resistant to oxidation even in the presence of strong oxidants. The complex is shown to be efficient in the CuAAC reaction and used to tag anticancer drug candidates in vitro. The next project focuses on a series of amidine-based ligands featuring chiral functional groups proximal to the coordinating site. The ligands are used to catalyze the hydroxymethylation of silyl enol ethers in the presence of bismuth chloride in aqueous solutions. The reaction is optimized and yields are reported. In the final research project, Ni(II) complexes are investigated for their magnetic behavior. It has previously been established that the ferromagnetic superexchange between Ni(II) metal centers is enhanced as the angle of a bridging anion approaches 90 degrees. Novel imidazole and pyridine-based ligands are synthesized to add to the catalogue of complexes in the literature. Crystal structure of the novel complexes are reported.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2025.143
Recommended Citation
Olivelli, Alexander G., "DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL LIGANDS FOR BIOORTHOGONAL CATALYSIS, ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS, AND FERROMAGNETIC BEHAVIOR" (2025). Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry. 208.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/chemistry_etds/208
