04/16/2024
By Suzanne Young

The Kennedy College of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, invites you to attend a Master’s thesis defense by Marc Montalto on “Synthesis and Polymerization of Fluorescent Enaminitrile Molecular Switch Monomers.”

Chemistry MS Candidate Name: Marc Montalto
Defense Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: Olney 518

Thesis/Dissertation Title: Synthesis and Polymerization of Fluorescent Enaminitrile Molecular Switch Monomers

Committee: 

  • Advisor Olof Ramström, Ph.D.,Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Mingdi Yan, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Lawrence Wolf, Ph.D.,University of Massachusetts Lowell

Brief Abstract:

Molecular switches have many potential applications due to their ability to shift between different states with the addition of external stimuli. Some common types of switches rely on the isomerization of a double bond, allowing a molecule to change between its E- and Z-isomers. The enaminitrile switches synthesized in this thesis fall into this category, using rotations around the C=C bond of an enamine to switch between two isomers, one of which displays fluorescence under ultraviolet light. This on/off fluorescence can be controlled through addition of acid/base.

In this thesis, monomers of enaminitrile molecular switches were synthesized and then polymerized to give pH-responsive fluorescent polymers. The polymers were shown to have a significant increase in fluorescence intensity when switched to their Z-isomers. Intensity was also shown to be dependant on polymer concentration in solution. The full synthesis of these monomers and polymers is described here, as well as the characterization and photophysical properties of the polymers.