With funding from the Organic Dynamics Program, Professor Glass of the University of Arizona will develop a fundamental understanding of the mechanism of electron transfer through sigma bonded systems. Feasibility of efficient electron-transfer through strained sigma-bonds, carbon-tin sigma bonds, and nonbonding p-atomic orbitals aligned for sigma type overlap will be explored. Prediction of sigma aromaticity will also be tested. A number of unique compounds will be synthesized to demonstrate the concepts proposed. Understanding how electrons are transported along hydrocarbon chains is important to both materials and biological processes. These results may provide a novel basis for designing electrically conducting materials in which sigma orbitals and nonbonding sigma systems are the basis for conduction rather than the well-established conduction through pi-orbitals. This project will provide experimental results which are needed to substantiate theoretical models.
