Abstract:
This thesis is about research to expand the knowledge on boron coordination to polypyrrolic ligands. This was investigated by attempting to coordinate boron to calixphyrins and porphyrazines and characterizing these compounds to discover what properties they may have. Chapter 1 introduces both the calixphyrin and porphyrazine ligand and gives an overview of their properties and the history of their synthesis. There is also a section on previous boron porphyrin and corrole compounds previously prepared that form the precedent for the research reported in this thesis. Chapter 2 describes the target ligands and the problems and trials with their synthesis. Ultimately, both ligands were successfully able to be synthesized and characterized using NMR, MS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Chapter 3 discusses the attempts made to synthesise boron calixphyrin complexes. Four successfully synthesized boron calixphyrin complexes were isolated and characterised via NMR, UV-Vis, MS and X-ray crystallography revealing unusual chemistry and properties. Chapter 4 discusses the attempts to synthesise boron porphyrazine complexes. Although these were unsuccessful, there is potential for further research to isolate these compounds. Chapter 5 summarises the conclusions that can be drawn from this research and future direction. Chapter 6 details the materials, equipments and techniques used throughout this research as well as details of the synthetic procedures used to successfully isolate characterized compounds.