One-pot synthesis transforms ubiquitous hydrocarbons into electron attractors
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - 09:31
in Physics & Chemistry
Without using a solvent, catalyst, or promoter, scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Colorado State University transformed a common molecule that abhors electrons into one with a strong affinity for them. The team's synthesis route begins with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. These molecules contain common carbon and hydrogen, and scientists want to quickly tailor or functionalize them to replace materials that use rare metals. The new synthesis route adds perfluoroalkyl groups (-CF3) via thermally hot radicals to a PAH; the resulting molecule has a strong affinity for electrons.