The potassium salts of certain 1-vinylcycloalk-3-en-l-ols have
been found to undergo sigmatropic ring expansion rearrangements in
HMPA. Preliminary investigations of several benzo-substituted medium
ring systems were undertaken in order to determine which of these
was best suited for further study. A synthetic sequence leading to
the formation of 5-methy1-6-viny1-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6-benzocyclo-octenol,
which...
Sulfide is an important species to measure in environmental water samples. The
spectrophotometric detection method for reduced sulfur species (sulfide) based on
generation of methylene blue was adapted to work in an apparatus utilizing microfluidic
PDMS mixing and observation cells with flow channels in the 100 μm range. The
benefits...
An automated multielement flame atomic fluorescence (AF) spectrometer based on microcomputer control was constructed to determine four elements simultaneously. The instrument employs a multiple exit slit monochromator where the light from various exit slits is directed to a single detector with a mirrored funnel. Each element is excited to fluoresce...
This thesis describes the development of a new enantioselective synthetic method employing chiral cis-2,5-diaminobicyclo[2.2.2]octane-based organometallic catalysts. The significance of this new method to organic synthesis is illustrated with preparation of enantioenriched products that are transformed to important pharmaceutical agents. Chapter 1 provides a brief historical overview of asymmetric catalysis, especially...
Thermoelectric materials are playing a larger role in the global effort to
develop diverse, efficient, and sustainable energy technologies: primarily through
power-generating thermoelectric modules. The principal components of
thermoelectric modules are solid-state thermoelectric materials – typically heavily
doped semiconductors – that convert heat directly into electricity. However, this
conversion efficiency...
To determine the impact of emerging environmental contaminants on human and environmental health, quantitative analytical methods are required. Analysis of emerging contaminants is hampered by their widely varying physical-chemical properties. Therefore quantitative analytical methods must be developed to determine the behavior of emerging contaminants in environmental systems.
A quantitative analytical...