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Gene Wong

Scholar: Gene Wong

Major: Professional Chemistry

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brian Frost

Research Topic: "Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Chiral Bidentate Phosphine"

Abstract:The upper rim of 1, 3, 5-triaza-7-phosphaadamatane (PTA) has been modified for the first time via lithiaton of PTA. The addition of n-butyl lithium to PTA resulted in deprotonation of an a-phosphorous methylene and formation of 1, 3, 5-triaza-7-phosphaadamatane-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA-PPh2). The first upper rim PTA derivative was synthesized by reacting PTA-Li with C1PPh2 resulting in the chiral phosphine 6-(diphenylphophino) - 1, 3, 5-triaza-7-phosphaadamatane (PTA-PPh2). PTA-PPh2 has been fully characterized in solution by mass spectroscopy and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and in the insoluble in aqueous solutions. Two group six metal carbonyl complexes M(CO)4(PTA-PPh2)(M=W, Mo), were synthesized by addition of M(CO)4(PTA-PPh2)(pip)2 and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, and in the solid state by X-Ray crystallography. Unlike PTA, the new bidentate phosphine, PTA-PPh2 is insoluble in aqueous solutions. Two group six metal carbonyl complexes, M(CO)4(PTA-PPh2) (M=W, Mo)4(pip)2 and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-Ray crystallography Also reported are the solid state structures of cis-W(CO)4(PTA)(PPh3) and W(CO)4DPPM (DPPM= diphenylphosphinomethane)> From these tungsten complexes PTA-PPh2 appears to be sterically similar to and slightly more electron donating in comparison to DPPM.

Graduated With Baccalaureate Degree: Spring 2007

Masters or Doctoral Program Update: Accepted into the Chemistry Doctoral Program at the University of Wisconsin- Madison for fall of 2007.