Date of Award

6-1992

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Dr. William J. Kelly

Second Advisor

Dr. Donald R. Schreiber

Third Advisor

Dr. Donald Berndt

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

By the middle of the nineteenth century, organic chemists found high molecular weight compounds as by-products of some of their experiments. These compounds were thought of as products of a failed reaction. It was not until sixty years ago that the first polymers were deliberately synthesized. Today polymers are used in almost every facet of life and they are becoming more important with each passing day.

This research project focused on synthesizing conducting organometallic polymers. By linking aromatic rings with transition metals, the resultant polymers should have good electrical conductivity because of the interaction of (a) the p electrons on the aromatic rings and (b) the free d electrons on the metal.

Share

COinS