Interactions between Acetylenic Compounds and a Synthesized Tungsten(IV) Model Complex: Implications to the Reaction Mechanism of Acetylene Hydratase A Master’s Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of Science and Mathematics Colorado State University-Pueblo Pueblo, Colorado In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Chemistry By Elly Christine Vergunst Colorado State University - Pueblo August 2014 CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE This Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in Chemistry By Elly Christine Vergunst Has Been Accepted By the Graduate Faculty of the College of Science and Mathematics Colorado State University-Pueblo APPROVAL OF THESIS COMMITTEE Graduate Advisor (Dr. Matthew Cranswick) Date Committee Member (Dr. David Lehmpuhl) Date Committee Member (Dr. Sandra Bonetti) Date Graduate Director (Dr. Richard Farrer) Date - 1 - STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at Colorado State University – Pueblo and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgement of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or thesis advisor when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other insurances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: Elly Christine Vergunst - 2 - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are a number of people without whom this thesis might not have been written and to whom I am greatly indebted. The contributions of many different people, in their different ways, have made this possible. I would like to extend my appreciation especially to the following. First, I would like to thank Colorado State University-Pueblo College of Science and Mathematics for funding this research project. Important people whom I would like to show my appreciation to for their assistance in spectroscopic characterization include: John Hatfield who provided valued NMR assistance, Dr. Guy Crundwell from Central Connecticut State University for crystallographic data, and Adams State University for IR assistance. I would also like to thank Ms. Brooklynn Trujillo who was an immense help in the laboratory, especially with syntheses as part of the ACS Project SEED Program. Roy Jo Sartin helped me put together a detailed outline for my thesis which was tremendously valuable when I started to write my thesis. She gave tips on how to write each section of the thesis and how to present my research through PowerPoint slides. She also edited my introduction and I would like to thank her very much for helping guide me through this seemingly daunting task (and making me look good to my advisor by having detailed outlines for my thesis completed in advance). Mr. Tim McKibben from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in Pueblo, CO provided me with great insights during my internship and showed a sincere interest in my research. He gave me ideas for different recrystallization methods and organic chemistry approaches that allowed me to expand my knowledge of laboratory techniques which I then implemented in the research lab and through his advice I was able to have a better understanding of my results. I would also like to thank him for his invaluable help with obtaining key characterization data and especially for his leniency with me over these past months to accommodate my busier schedule. A good support system is important to surviving and staying sane in graduate school. My support system included my amazing family, my friends, and everyone else who supported me throughout this process. I was fortunate to have friends with whom I - 3 - could rely on to help with studying for exams, help with homework, and to provide advice on research, among other things. Most importantly, I am thankful that I had a group of friends that ate DQ blizzards with each other while we all unwound, destressed, laughed, cried, and complained about how our research was not working (and neither were our instruments). I will truly miss them all. I would like to gratefully and sincerely thank the members of my thesis committee, Dr. Sandra Bonetti, Dr. David Lehmpuhl, and Dr. Richard Farrer, for their input, valuable discussions, and accessibility throughout this process. I had the privilege to be a student in three biochemistry courses taught by Dr. Sandra Bonetti and throughout those courses I developed a deep interest in biochemistry which was largely due to her infectious enthusiasm for the material she was teaching. In my second semester with her, I wrote my first set of take-home exam essays which improved my writing skills immensely mostly because I learned how to be concise, but thorough, with my writing as we were only allowed one page (even with really narrow margins). In my third biochemistry course with Dr. Bonetti, Molecular Basis of Disease, I considerably improved my presentation skills which I have greatly benefitted from and it is something that I am truly grateful for. Lastly, I am thankful for her sweet tooth and love of carbs because I was able to bake breads and cakes that she enjoyed. I owe one of my biggest thanks to Dr. David Lehmpuhl because he was my first chemistry professor in college and was the one that convinced me to major in chemistry; this was one of the best decisions I ever made. He taught general chemistry with genuine ardor and as a result I became increasingly interested in the subject. I had Dr. Lehmpuhl for a couple other courses throughout the past couple of years and through his teaching I developed strong interests for each new subject because the joy he has for teaching came through his lectures and it made me want to learn more about the subject, even when the subject may not have been that exciting (quality assurance). I was able to book-end my chemistry education with courses from Dr. Lehmpuhl. In the first chemistry class I had with him I became a chemistry major and the last class I had with Dr. Lehmpuhl was during my final semester of coursework. I wish all students could be as lucky as I was to have both a great beginning and end to their studies and to have them with a professor like Dr. Lehmpuhl who was there with them from start to finish. - 4 - Dr. Richard Farrer’s mentorship was paramount to my development as a graduate student, and as an individual. I would like to thank him for everything he has done for me. Even though Dr. Farrer knows of my opinion on physical chemistry, he was able to teach my physical chemistry classes in such a way that kept me interested and allowed me to understand the material. Dr. Farrer always goes above and beyond for his students, by making lecture notes, being available to help students with their homework questions (except when he is hiding), etc. He has been very lenient with me over the past couple of semesters and I cannot express how much I appreciate the leeway he gave me. Dr. Farrer taught me how to be a better graduate student and provided me with resources to research journal articles, write my thesis, and create research presentations through the Graduate Foundations course he instructed. Dr. Farrer’s laugh is contagious and when you hear it booming through the hallways you always smile to yourself; he can always brighten your day even when his day is dull. He shows genuine concern and care for my well being and always has my best interests in mind. Knowing that, I was able to feel a little more at ease when I was at school because I knew if anything were to happen he would be there to help and support me, and for that I am truly thankful to him. There are not enough adjectives for me to properly thank my graduate advisor and mentor, Dr. Matthew Cranswick, for everything he has done for me over the past 2 years. Without Dr. Cranswick’s guidance, patience, motivation, enthusiasm, immense knowledge, and persistent help this thesis would not have been possible. If he did not make me withdraw from his inorganic laboratory class 2 years ago, this thesis would definitely not be possible since I would not have joined the graduate program otherwise. His support and advice throughout this research project, as well as his pain-staking effort in proof reading the drafts, are greatly appreciated. Dr. Cranswick’s profound attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc has positively impacted my writing; it has made my thesis infinitely better and has allowed me to develop stronger scientific writing skills. Dr. Cranswick was the first professor I did research for and as a result of the joy he showed when he was doing his research, I found that same joy and I was able to do something that I truly loved to do, every day. I started research with him the summer before he began his first semester teaching at CSU-Pueblo and as a thank you for introducing me to inorganic research and a multitude of new laboratory techniques, I helped make his first - 5 - semester teaching inorganic lab class very memorable and helped him prepare for anything that could happen in lab (you are welcome). Dr. Cranswick’s guidance and support has gone beyond that of a graduate advisor and I was extremely fortunate to have him as a mentor and a professor: he has such excitement with regard to teaching which encouraged me to become a better teacher; he understood that I got overwhelmed at times and he always had a box of tissues in his office for me; he showed leniency with me which I greatly appreciate and worked patiently with me to help me understand the material presented in class; and he has written multiple letters of reference on my behalf because he believes in me.