Date of Award

9-1-2023

Author's School

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Author's Department

Chemistry

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Type

Dissertation

Abstract

Our group has demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing phenazine-1,6-dicarboxamides as redox-responsive molecular switches: changes in the oxidation state of the phenazine core forces the secondary amide arms to rotate between the doubly folded form when oxidized and the unfolded form when reduced to its dihydrophenazine form. To construct phenazine-based oligomers, we have developed dibenzofuran linkers that can easily be decorated with different solubilizing groups and incorporated into the foldamer backbone. In our initial attempts, we used xanthene linkers. However, problems with limited solubility and preference for cyclization prompted us to consider an alternative cisoid linker with a wider bite angle. Structurally similar to xanthene, the geometry of dibenzofuran addressed all the drawbacks associated with the xanthene linker and its synthesis allowed us to easily introduce side chains to enhance its solubility. The synthesis, characterization, and redox studies of these dibenzofuran and phenazine-based oligomers have been described.

Language

English (en)

Chair and Committee

Vladimir Birman

Available for download on Thursday, August 28, 2025

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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