Initial work in this area has focused on the 2-dimensional synthesis of double and triple helices. Our goal is to generate 3-dimensional monomers, with tetrahedral geometry, which have bipyridyl arms or spokes. The bipyridyl groups can then associate through molecular recognition and binding of the nitrogens to copper, silver or nickel. Two possible tetrahedral structures are viable, but need to be synthesized, either the tetrabipyridyltetraphenylmethane 1 or the tetrabipyridyltetraphenyladamantane 2. Thus, our first goal of this research is to synthesize either of the two monomers.
Carbon dioxide is probably the most abundant form of carbon found on earth.
However, it is also the least utilized due to the difficulty in activating the carbonyls. Our desire is to activate CO2 by complexation with nickel, palladium or rhodium in combination with allenic substrates to form 3,4-substituted dihydropyrones. Connection of the allenic moieties as in 3 and subsequent condensation with carbon dioxide mediated by an appropriate transition metal, may deliver a bicyclic ring system 4. Furthermore, allenes connected by an alkene could provide ortho functionalized aromatic compounds. The resulting bicyclic systems would be amenable to further functionalization as necessary for the synthesis of similarly constructed natural products.