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Virginia Tech

Thermodynamically Driven (Reversible) End-Capping of Pseudorotaxanes to Produce Rotaxanes

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Rotaxanes can be synthesized using a thermodynamically driven approach of self-assembly. The thermodynamically driven approach is an efficient method to provide a better controlled synthesis of specific structures. This synthetic approach takes advantage of a labile bond between the guest molecule and the end stopper group. The reversibility of this bond allows for threading by the host molecule via chemical equilibrium. Intramolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking facilitate threading to form the pseudorotaxane which is endcapped to form the thermodynamically stable rotaxane. In this work, the synthesis and characterization of rotaxanes using a thermodynamically driven approach is reported. New OH-functionalized secondary dibenzyl ammonium hexafluorophosphate and tetrafluoroborate salts were synthesized and complexed with dibenzo-24-crown-8. The complexation between the salts and dibenzo-24-crown-8 was observed using 1D and 2D ¹H NMR spectroscopy. An association constant of 110 M⁻¹ was determined by integration for the pseudorotaxane from the ammonium hexafluorophospate salt and dibenzo-24-crown-8. The new guest species were endcapped in situ as trityl ethers to form new thermodynamically stable rotaxanes. Further work to pursue would include synthesis of rotaxanes using functionalized crown ethers for polymerization to make polyrotaxanes and synthesis of self-assembled polymers using this synthetic method.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Chemistry
Department dc:contributor.department
Chemistry
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2003

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Fletcher, Amy L.
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Gibson, Harry W.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Ward, Thomas C.
  • McGrath, James E.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-01092004-112614
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/30864

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Fletcher, Amy L.. Thermodynamically Driven (Reversible) End-Capping of Pseudorotaxanes to Produce Rotaxanes. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/30864