Topological holy grails: Progress toward new molecular knots

ORGN 47

Edward E. Fenlon, edward.fenlon@fandm.edu, Shih Lin Goh, shihlin.goh@fandm.edu, Jason M. Keil, and Matthew S. C. Dietz. Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604
Much theoretical work has been done on the polymethylene (aka polyethylene) trefoil knot since Frisch and Wasserman first discussed it in 1961. This talk will relate experimental progress toward the polyethylene trefoil (CH2)63 using olefin metathesis as a key step. One approach involves a directed route using a metal template and another involves a statistical route that employs a trimesic acid template and selective tagging of the knot. Excluding DNA and protein knots, the colored figure-of-eight knot (Figure) has not been prepared in molecular form. This knot is of particular interest because it is the simplest example of a topological rubber glove. Experimental progress toward this knot will also be presented.

 

Materials, Devices, and Switches
8:00 AM-12:00 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 132, Oral

Division of Organic Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006