4 th Future Faculty Workshop (TMS-Bottom Right)

Synthesis of ladder structures via sequential Diels-Alder additions and X-ray crystal structures of the resulting compounds

Synthesis of Extended Acene-Phenylenes

Timothy M. Swager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, DMR 1005810

We have developed new rigid ribbon structures based on aromatic “acenoid” fragments that are ideal for creating molecular electronic devices. Acenes are promising organic semiconductor materials composed of edge sharing 6-membered rings. However, the potential of these parent materials are limited by low thermal and oxidative stability. The insertion of 4-membered rings into the structures increases the stability and potential utility. Our new synthetic route employs Diels-Alder reactions to create fused 4- and 6-membered ring structures. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy reveal that these new acenoid ribbons display electron delocalization necessary for optoelectronic applications. The synthesis is scalable and related processes under development promise to produce much larger structures, including polymers.

Outreach to Underrepresented Minorities Timothy M. Swager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, DMR 1005810

Over the last year Swager has been involved in a number of outreach programs directed at mentoring and supporting participation of underrepresented minorities (URMs). He has continued with the Future Faculty Workshop program, with major support from NSF DMR-1139206. This is the 4th workshop in a series that were initiated by Swager and is designed at assisting URMs with interests in materials science/chemistry/engineering prepare and compete for faculty positions. He hosted 2 URM summer students in the summer of 2011 (Joel Johnson from UIUC and Jacqueline Gamboa from UT El Paso), both of whom are planning to attend graduate school. Swager also took the initiative and spear-headed an agreement between Dow Chemical and MIT (C&E News April 4, 2011 Vol. 89, No. 14, Page 47) that has broad ranging educational goals designed at increasing URMs in Chem., Chem. Engr., and Mat. Sci.

4th Future Faculty Workshop (TMS-Bottom Right)

Mentoring Summer Students Dow-MIT Partnership