•  
  •  
 

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

electronic control, photocycloaddation, silyl tethered alkenes, solar energy

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Abstract

Solar energy is a major reason for the study of photochemistry. Photochemistry is the investigation of the interaction of organic compounds with light. The ability of plants and bacteria to harness the sun’s energy is an example of photochemistry. One area of photochemical research is the synthesis of cyclobutane rings which are found in plant essential oils and animal pheromones. Anticancer drugs such as taxol also have four member rings in their structures. Biological systems are unique in their ability to produce cyclobutane systems with specific stereochemistry that current methods of synthesis require great effort to acquire. It has been reported that molecules with extended ð- and aromatic systems undergo inter-system mixing through space which results in a weak attraction between bonds. This ð-ð stacking is a significant factor in DNA stability and may be a significant contributor in other biological stereoselectivity. During the past number of years, ð-ð stacking has been extensively studied in both gas- and solid state chemistry yet, for the most part, it has been ignored in the liquid phase. It is difficult to determine if ð-stacking groups align themselves in liquids. This study is designed to establish whether such interactions occur in solution. In addition, research in controlling carbon-carbon bond formation can be useful in synthetic methodology which can be useful in the synthesis of natural products or biologically active compounds.

Download

Included in

Chemistry Commons

Share

COinS