This award by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program supports the work of Professor Viktor N. Nemykin of the University of Minnesota - Duluth to design and characterize new porphyrins and tetraazaporphyrins directly connected to redox-active transition metal centers. A series of porphyrins with meso-ferrocene or ruthenocene units will be synthesized along with tetraazporphyrins with ferrocene units connected or fused to the macrocycle. Systematic investigations will vary the nature of the metal ions incorporated into the porphyrin ring, the number and mutual orientations of the appended metallocene fragments, the nature of the linkers between the metallocenes and porphyrins, and the extent of rotational freedom of the metallocenes. The systems may demonstrate mixed valence and electron migration properties that are useful for high-density molecular information storage systems. The specifically designed, modular character of the project is especially suitable for the undergraduate researchers who will take part in the research. The research efforts will also strengthen the M.S. Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota - Duluth.
