Sebastian Blackwood

Citation

Thesis Title
Thermolabile Protecting Groups in Metal-Organic Frameworks

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous crystals with large internal surface areas, making them ideal for uses such as gas separation and storage. Introducing functional groups into MOFs is highly desirable as it allows MOFs to be customised to specific purposes. This has often been challenging in direct syntheses due to competition between the functional group and binding groups for the metal ions required to make the MOF. Thermolabile protecting groups (TPGs) prevent the functional groups from interacting during synthesis, after which the TPGs are removed through the application of heat, freeing the functional group. Mr Blackwood's research has increased the number of functional groups protected by TPGs, as well as increasing the library of ligands (molecules that attach to a metal ion) known to be compatible with TPGs. His results will allow for the design and manufacture of MOFs with new internal chemistries for real world applications.

Supervisors
Professor Shane Telfer
Associate Professor Gareth Rowlands