Synthesis of Porphyrins for Use in Metal-Organic Frameworks (Mofs)
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Project Number: MQP-JPD-AA1A Synthesis of Porphyrins for Use in Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) A Major Qualifying Project Report Submitted to the Faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science By ____________________________________ Benjamin C. Hawks Submitted: Approved: ____________________________________ Professor James P. Dittami Advisor Department of Chemistry Abstract Metal-organic frameworks, crystalline structures consisting of metal ions and organic ligands, are a topic of interest in research. The porous structure of MOFs creates a high surface area, making MOFs useful in the absorption and purification of gases and as a reaction catalyst. To keep the porous structure of MOFs, it is useful to use rigid ligands that will consistently bind with the metal ions in the same manner. This project focused on synthesizing two porphyrins. The aromatic structure of porphyrins provides a stable lattice work for MOFs. Metal ions can bind to the external substituent groups and in the center of the porphyrin ring, allowing porphyrins to form an array of two dimensional and three dimensional MOFs. This report looks at methods used to synthesize TCPP and TPyP. i Acknowledgements I would like to thank my project advisor, Professor James P. Dittami, for all of his help on this project. With this project starting at the end of the school year and going into the summer term, it was rushed and stressful time. Throughout this time Professor Dittami remained patient and helped me to complete this project to the best of my ability in every way that he could. I would also like to thank Professor John C. MacDonald for allowing me to help in his research. By allowing me to work to develop the necessary components of his research Professor MacDonald made this project possible. Finally, I would like to thank Dean Arthur C. Heinricher and Professor Arne Gericke for helping to organize this project. Without their help I would not have been aware of the opportunity to work on this project with Professor Dittami. ii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................................ii Table of Figures ................................................................................................................................ v 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 2. Background .............................................................................................................................. 2 2.1 Porphyrins ............................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Metal-Organic Frameworks................................................................................................... 4 3. Experimental ............................................................................................................................ 6 3.1 meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (H2TCPP) ............................................................ 6 3.1.1 Synthesis ......................................................................................................................... 6 3.1.2 Purification ..................................................................................................................... 6 3.1.3 Characterization ............................................................................................................. 6 3.2 meso-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TPyP) ............................................................................. 7 3.2.1 Synthesis ......................................................................................................................... 7 3.2.2 Purification ..................................................................................................................... 7 3.2.3 Characterization ............................................................................................................. 7 4. Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................. 8 4.1 meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (H2TCPP) ....................................................... 8 4.2 meso-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TPyP) ........................................................................ 9 5. Spectral Data ......................................................................................................................... 12 5.1 Starting Materials ........................................................................................................... 12 5.1.1 Pyrrole........................................................................................................................... 12 5.1.2 Propionic Acid ............................................................................................................... 15 5.1.3 4-Carboxybenzaldehyde ............................................................................................... 17 5.1.4 4-Pyridinecarbaldehyde ................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Products ......................................................................................................................... 23 5.2.1 meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (H2TCPP) ................................................... 23 5.2.2 meso-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TPyP) .................................................................... 26 iii 5.3 Mass Spectrometry ........................................................................................................ 32 5.3.1 TPyP Mass Spec ............................................................................................................ 32 References .................................................................................................................................... 34 iv Table of Figures Figure 1: The numbered structure of the porphin ring with the meso-positions designated in red ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2: Structures of commonly found porphin based molecules. Structures taken from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). a. Chorophyll a b. Protoheme, a porphyrin that makes up hemoglobin and myoglobin .................. 3 Figure 3: Example of a porphyrin based MOF7 ............................................................................... 4 6 Figure 4: Uptake of CH4 by MOFs compared to that of activate carbon ..................................... 5 Figure 5: Synthesis reaction fo H2TCPP .......................................................................................... 8 Figure 6: TLC plates taken during the synthesis of H2TCPP. The left-most spots represent the reactant, the right-most spots represent the reaction mixture, and the center spots represent a co-spot of both reactant and reaction mixture. a. Reaction after one hour b. Reaction after two hours………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9 Figure 7: Synthesis reaction of TPyP ............................................................................................. 10 Figure 8: TLC plates taken during the synthesis of TPyP. The left-most spots represent the reactant, the right-most spots represent the reaction mixture, and the center spots represent a co-spot of both reactant and reaction mixture. a. Reaction after one hour b. Reaction after two hours c. Reaction after three hours………………………………………………………………………………………….10 v 1. Introduction Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline solids formed by the coordination of metal ions with organic ligands. This coordination forms a continuous framework, known as coordination polymers, with a permanent porosity, allowing for the absorption of various molecular structures1. MOFs are similar to zeolites in that they are a porous solid with a high surface area. Unlike zeolites, which usually consist of aluminosilicate minerals, the properties of MOFs can be easily altered by controlling the organic ligands involved in the structure. The possibilities of altering the ligands and metal ions that build the framework of the MOFs lends to a nearly unlimited number of possible MOFs that can be synthesized, each with its own set of properties and applications2. MOFs can have up to 90% free volume. This makes MOFs useful in the absorption of many different structures from hydrogen molecules to carbon dioxide and in the separation of mixtures3. Since MOFs can be synthesized using so many different ligands and metal ions, the sizes of the pores and the characteristics of the metal ions used can be adapted to fit specific structures and sizes of molecules, allowing for selectivity in absorption. In the synthesis of consistent and predictable crystal structures it is beneficial to use rigid ligands. This ensures that the ligands will bond with the metal ions in the same manner throughout the structure3. As such, porphyrins, a class of aromatic structure, can be used to create MOFs. Porphyrins are capable of coordinating