Supramolecular catalysis, discrete aromatic stacks and sequential reactions in the organic solid state

167 Pages·2017·2.32 MB·English

by  Jelena Stojakovic

University of Iowa
Iowa Research Online
Theses and Dissertations
Spring 2014
Supramolecular catalysis, discrete aromatic stacks
and sequential reactions in the organic solid state
Jelena Stojakovic
University of Iowa
Copyright 2014 Jelena Stojakovic
This dissertation is available at Iowa Research Online: http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4766
Recommended Citation
Stojakovic, Jelena. "Supramolecular catalysis, discrete aromatic stacks and sequential reactions in the organic solid state." PhD (Doctor
of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2014.
http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4766.
Follow this and additional works at:http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd
Part of theChemistry Commons
SUPRAMOLECULAR CATALYSIS, DISCRETE AROMATIC STACKS AND
SEQUENTIAL REACTIONS IN THE ORGANIC SOLID STATE
by
Jelena Stojakovic
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the Doctor of
Philosophy degree in Chemistry
in the Graduate College of
The University of Iowa
1
May 2014
Thesis Supervisor: Professor Leonard R. MacGillivray
Copyright by
JELENA STOJAKOVIC
2014
All Rights Reserved
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Graduate College
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL
_______________________
PH.D. THESIS
_______________
This is to certify that the Ph.D. thesis of
Jelena Stojakovic
has been approved by the Examining Committee
for the thesis requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy
degree in Chemistry at the May 2014 graduation.
Thesis Committee: _______________________________________
Leonard R. MacGillivray, Thesis Supervisor
_______________________________________
Daniel M. Quinn
_______________________________________
Geoff G. Z. Zhang
_______________________________________
F. Christopher Pigge
_______________________________________
Edward G. Gillan
To my mentors, family, friends and princess
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I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the
inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... such emotions make
a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything.
Nikola Tesla

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express gratitude to my advisor Len MacGillivray whose care and
patience guided me through my studies and life over last five years. I was also fortunate
to share my years as a PhD student with wonderful MacGillivray group members Kristin,
Rebecca, Katie, Jake, Michael, Beth, John, Poonam, Saikat, Joe, Manza and Nam. A lot
of work in this thesis was done by my hardworking and talented undergrads Brian,
Avery, Jacob and Taylor. Unfortunately, I just recently started working with Shawna and
Roxy and I already wish I had more time to spend with them in the lab. The one, who
helped me the most during my first months in Iowa, was undoubtedly Krešo. I would also
like to thank our collaborators Jonas, Geoff and Rodger, and our crystallographer Dr.
Dale Swenson.
I would never find my way to Iowa, if it was not for prof. Judaš. I am grateful for
my family that provided for me and gave me education. My friends gave me support and
confidence when I needed it the most.
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ABSTRACT
The organic solid state is becoming more widely utilized to synthesize molecules
that are inaccessible or difficult to realize from the liquid phase. A solid-state synthesis
provides strict control of both geometry and stereochemistry. While essential for efficient
and sustainable organic syntheses, catalysis in the organic solid state is expected to be
difficult to achieve due to low diffusion rates of molecules in the crystals. However,
recently a ditopic receptor was used as a small-molecule supramolecular catalyst to direct
a topochemical [2+2] photodimerization of an olefin. To achieve catalytic turnover,
mechanochemistry, in the form of a manual mortar-and-pestle dry grinding, had to be
employed. A main obstacle in the manual grinding method is the fact that the
mechanochemistry and photoreaction are conducted separately. Thus, an automated
method that enables simultaneous grinding and irradiation would be preferred. However,
such technology is not commercially available. We have developed a simple, readily
accessible, and automated method to achieve the mechanochemical preparation of
supramolecular materials. Importantly, method enables simultaneous grinding and
irradiation. In effect, the vortex grinding serves as a ball mill that is UV irradiation
transparent. The vortex method has been applied to the preparation of cocrystal and metal
organic frameworks, as well as supramolecular catalysis. When conducted using vortex
method, supramolecular catalysis proceeds four time faster than when conducted using
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manual grinding. Accelerated rate of catalysis is attributed to combination of external
stress exerted by grinding and internal stress arising from photoreaction.
The scope of supramolecular catalysis is expanded to reaction of 2,2’-bpe,
catalyzed by a similar ditopic receptor res. Importantly, in this system catalytic turnover
proceeds spontaneously. The mechanism of catalysis was investigated using X-ray
diffraction studies and gas-phase DFT calculations. The studies uncovered that 2,2’-bpe
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and 2,2’-tpcb undergo rotational motion to release accumulated stress akin to action of a
supramolecular torsional spring.
We report an integration of aromatic stacks into discrete assemblies based on
hydrogen bonds in the solid state. We used indolo[2,3-a]carbazole to organize aromatics
into double, triple, and quadruple stacks within cocrystals. We also showed that
aromatics within quadruple stack undergo topochemical [2+2] photodimerization to give
a single photoproduct stereoselectively in up to maximal yield.
We reveal the first example of a product of a templated solid-state that acts as a
template in subsequent reaction. Both reactions proceed in 100% yield and
stereoselectively. We also report the unique case of polymorphism where both
polymorphs are photoreactive and within one polymorph photoreaction proceeds in
SCSC manner.
Due to effects of crystal packing, homology in solid state is difficult to achieve.
We present the application of the template screening approach to solid-state
photoreactivity among all olefins of a homologous series. To assess electronic effects of
substituents on stability and hydrogen bonds of assemblies, we preformed gas-phase DFT
calculations on a series of substituted assemblies. We found, that the strength of
hydrogen-bonding varies and correlates with electronic nature of the substituents.
Lastly, we incorporated principles of supramolecular chemistry, solid-state
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reactivity, green chemistry and sustainability in undergraduate curriculum. In particular,
students employ supramolecular chemistry to control photoreactivity in the organic solid
state using the template approach. To form supramolecular assemblies,
mechanochemistry, in form of mortar-and-pestle grinding, is used. To study reactivity in
crystals, X-ray diffraction is used. Students are involved in all steps necessary to obtain
crystal structure: growing suitable crystals, selection of the best crystals, data collection,
solution, refinement and analysis of the crystal structures. Overall, students have hands-
down experience in all aspects of crystallography. Although essential in chemical,
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biochemical, pharmaceutical and materials science, crystallography is rarely taught in
undergraduates laboratories.

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