Chemistry and Chemical Physics Graduate Programs brochure

BENJAMIN T. KING
Associate Professor
Organic Chemistry
E-mail: king@unr.edu
24 - Faculty
B.S. (1992), Northeastern University; Ph.D. (2000),
University of Colorado (J. Michl); NIH Postdoctoral
Fellow (2000-02), University of California, Berkeley
(R.G. Bergman).
Our research focuses on the preparation of molecules that might someday
serve as useful materials. The approach is to design synthetic targets using
computational chemistry, prepare them by chemical synthesis, and then
study their properties and behavior.
The benzenoid unit is a particularly versatile building block for nanostructures,
as demonstrated by graphite, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. We
are interested in constructing benzenoid nanostructures using controlled organic
synthesis instead of the normal high temperature arc discharge methods.
Two of our molecular targets are shown below. The short nanotubes
might nucleate the growth
of longer nanotubes and the
extended helicenes might serve
as molecular actuators.
Since the incorporation of
fluorine into molecules often
confers unusual properties, such
as high stability (e.g., Teflon®) or
the ability to attain high oxidation
states (e.g., XeF 2 ), the preparation of highly fluorinated nanostructures is another goal. Our
initial targets are perfluorinated fullerenes, which are expected to be good electron acceptors.
This work is safely carried out in specialized vacuum manifolds.
Selected Publications
1. “Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by ring closing metathesis,” Bonifacio, M.C.; Robertson,
C.R.; Jung, J.-Y.; King, B.T. J. Org. Chem. 2005, 70, 8522-8526.
2. “A slippery slope: Mechanistic analysis of the intramolecular Scholl reaction of hexaphenylbenzene,”
Rempala, P.; Kroulík, J.; King, B.T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 15002-15003.
3. “Clar valence bond representation of π-bonding in carbon nanotubes,” Ormsby, J.; King, B.T.
J. Org. Chem. 2004, 69, 4287-4291. (Cover feature).
4. “Alkylated carborane anions and radicals,” King, B. T.; Zharov, I.; Michl, J. Chemical Innovation
2001, 31, 23-29.
5. “Preparation of [ closo-CB H ] 11 12 - by dichlorocarbene insertion into [nido-B H ] 11 14 - ,” Franken, A.;
King, B.T.; Rudolph, J.; Rao, P.; Noll, B.C.; Michl, J. Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications
2001, 66, 1238-1249.
6. “LiCB11Me
: A catalyst for pericyclic rearrangements,” Moss, S.; King, B.T.; de Meijere, A.;
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Kozhushkov, S.I.; Eaton, P.E.; Michl, J. Organic Letters 2001, 3, 2375-2377.
7. “The explosive ‘inert’ anion,CB11
(CF3 ) 8.
- ,” King, B.T.; Michl, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 10255.
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“Crystal structure of n-Bu Sn 3 + -, CB Me ” Zharov, I.; King, B.T.; Havlas, Z.; Pardi, A.; Michl, J. J. Am.
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Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 10253-10254.
9.
+ - “Cation-π interactions in the solid state: Crystal structures of M (benzene)2CB Me (M = Tl,
11 12
Cs, Rb, K, Na) and Li + - (toluene)CB Me ,” King, B.T.; Noll, B.C.; Michl, J. Collection of Czechoslo-
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vak Chemical Communications 1999, 64, 1001-1012.