Graduate Student - Ph.D.

Chemistry

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)

J. Fraser Stoddart

I am working on the design, synthesis, and characterization of molecular architectures incorporating an electron-deficient macrocycle.

The research includes the development and synthesis of a new macrocylic host and a self-complexing [1]rotaxane, a "Figure-of-Eight." The project investigated the synthesis of a variety of functionalized cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) derivatives and a study of host-guest interactions. Molecular architectures incorporating a selection of the hosts were explored using a wide variety of synthetic techniques and characterization techniques. The molecular Figure-of-Eight was further explored and fully characterized using 1D and 2D NMR techniques.