Date of Defense

4-2007

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Sherine Obare, Chemistry

Second Advisor

Steven Bertman, Chemistry

Keywords

Molecular Sensors, pesticides, electrochemical sensors

Abstract

The creation of new materials for sensing requires careful manipulation of the responsive units required to control analyte selectivity. We have developed a series of molecular sensors based on dipyrido-[3,2-a:2'3,-c]phenazine (DPPZ). Rational choice of substituents at the 3 and 6 positions and the back-end phenazine unit of DPPZ allow manipulation of optical and electrochemical properties required to selectively distinguish between various toxic organophosphorus-based pesticides. We have demonstrated that 3,6-dialkylbenzo[i]dipyrido-[3,2-a:2'3'-c]phenazine in comparison to benzo[i]dipyrido- [3,2-a:2'3'-c]phenazine shows significant differences in the optical output upon interaction with the organophosphorus pesticides fenthion, paraoxon, malathion and ethion. The compounds show promise as electrochemical sensors as well. This is advantageous because the ability of a sensor to provide two independent signals upon analyte detection minimizes the possibility of false positives.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Campus Only

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