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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Studies of metaphosphate acids and metaphosphate anhydrides in aprotic media

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The chemistry of metaphosphate acids has historically been studied in aqueous media, where acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and solvent leveling effects of these strong acids have prevented their observations and rigorous characterization. Solubilization of tri-, tetra-, and hexametaphosphates in aprotic media using the IPPN + cation ([PPNI+ bis(triphenylphosphine)imninium) has revealed the rich acid chemistry of metaphosphates that has previously been elusive in aqueous media. Protonation of imetaphosphates in organic media has resulted in six metaphosphate acids. X-ray diffraction studies display that the structural configurations of metaphosphate acids are dictated by strong hydrogen bonding interactions. As a consequence of anti-cooperative effect, intramolecular hydrogen bonds are preferred at low degrees of protonation, and intermolecular hydrogen bonds are preferred at high degrees of protonation, resulting in oligomeric and polymeric structures. Because of the symmetry of the hydrogen bonds in metaphosphate acids, Low-Barrier Hydrogen Bonds (LBHB) are formed if the conformation of the metaphosphate ring allows. Metaphosphate anhydrides result from the dehydration of metaphosphate acids. They can undergo hydrolysis to regenerate metaphosphate acids, or alternatively alcoholysis to generate metaphosphate esters. Alcoholysis of metaphosphiate anhydrides presents a novel method to quantitatively phosphorylate organic substrates, of particular interest are substrates of biological significance such as nucleosides. The phosphorylating ability of metaphosphate anhydrides makes them promising candidates for biological phosphorylation.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2015

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Chakarawet, Khetpakorn
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Christopher C. Cummins.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98826
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/98826

Chain of custody

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MIT
Base URL
dspace.mit.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
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citation

Chakarawet, Khetpakorn. Studies of metaphosphate acids and metaphosphate anhydrides in aprotic media. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98826