Dominic V Mcgrath

Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry-Sci

Professor, BIO5 Institute

Primary Department

Chemistry & Biochemistry

Department Affiliations

Chemistry & Biochemistry

BIO5 Institute

Contact

(520) 626-4690

mcgrath@u.arizona.edu

Research Interest

Dominic Mcgrath, PhD, set forth a program which involves the use of organic synthesis for the design, development, and application of new concepts in macromolecular, supramolecular, and materials chemistry. Research efforts span a number of areas in the chemical sciences and include studies of: 1) chiral dendritic macromolecules and the effect of chiral subunits on dendrimer conformation, 2) photochromic dendrimers and linear polymers which undergo structural changes in response to visible light, 3) liquid crystalline materials based on dendritic and photochromic mesogens, and 4) synthesis of new ligands based on saturated nitrogen heterocycles.A continuing interest remains in the effect of structural perturbations on the properties and functional of dendritic macromolecules. Part of this research addresses the design, synthesis, and study of dendrimeric materials containing chiral moieties in the interior for influencing the conformational order of these 3-dimensional macromolecules. An ultimate goal is to develop materials active for the selective clathration of small guest molecules. Potential applications include chemical separations, sensor technology, environmental remediation, and asymmetric catalysis.Dr. Mcgrath and his lab team recently developed several new classes of dendritic materials containing photochromic subunits. As nature uses light energy to alter function in photoresponsive systems such as photosynthesis, vision, phototropism, and phototaxis, they use light energy to drive gross topological or constitutional changes in fundamentally new dendritic architectures with precisely placed photoresponsive subunits. In short, they can drive dendrimer properties with light stimuli. Two entirely new classes of photoresponsive dendritic macromolecules have been developed and include: 1) photochromic dendrimers and 2) photolabile dendrimers. Dr. Mcgrath anticipates that switchable and degradable dendrimers of this type will have application in small molecule transport systems based on their ability to reversibly encapsulate guest molecules. He continues to develop these materials as potential transport hosts and photoresponsive supramolecular assemblies.

Publications

Effect of macromolecular isomerism on the photomodulation of dendrimer properties

Sheng, L. i., & McGrath, D. V. (2000). Effect of macromolecular isomerism on the photomodulation of dendrimer properties. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 122(28), 6795-6796.

Asymmetric Synthesis of a Series of Chiral AB2 Monomers for Dendrimer Construction

McElhanon, J. R., Wu, M., Escobar, M., Chaudhry, U., Hu, C., & McGrath, D. V. (1997). Asymmetric Synthesis of a Series of Chiral AB₂ Monomers for Dendrimer Construction. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 62(4), 908-915.

Abstract:

Efficient preparation of a series of four chiral, nonracemic AB2 monomers suitable for the construction of dendrimers is presented. Monomers 1-4 possess the common structural features of a diphenolic moiety and a benzylic or aliphatic hydroxyl which render these molecules suitable for convergent dendrimer synthesis. The same basic, high-yielding, five-step sequence is employed for 1-4. Stilbene derivatives 13 and 14 are prepared by a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons modified Wittig reaction between 3,5- or 3,4-bis(benzyloxy)benzaldehyde (8 and 10) and an ester-substituted benzylphosphonate (11 or 12). Cinnamate derivatives 21 and 22 are prepared similarly from 8 and 10 and triethyl phosphonoacetate. Chirality is introduced in the form of a 1,2-diol unit by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD) (>97% ee in all cases). Protection of the 1,2-diols as their acetonide derivatives provides dioxolane intermediates 17, 18, 25, and 26. Reduction of the ester groups followed by hydrogenolysis of the benzyl ethers yields AB2 monomers 1-4 in 57-67% overall yield from 8 and 10.

Photolabile dendrimers using o-nitrobenzyl ether linkages

Smet, M., Liao, L., Dehaen, W., & McGrath, D. V. (2000). Photolabile dendrimers using o-nitrobenzyl ether linkages. Organic Letters, 2(4), 511-512.

Abstract:

(Formula presented) Benzyl aryl ether dendrimers containing photosensitive, veratryl-based o-nitrobenzyl AB linkages (bold bonds) were prepared to the third generation and shown to undergo site-specific degradation when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

Modification of alkyne-functionalized asymmetric phthalocyanines by CuI-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition

Chen, X., Lu, C., Huang, Y., & McGrath, D. V. (2015). Modification of alkyne-functionalized asymmetric phthalocyanines by CuI-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. Tetrahedron, 71(48), 9154-9160. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2015.09.074

The use of asymmetric phthalocyanines (Pcs) as platforms for the preparation of several asymmetric hexatriazolyl-monohydroxyphthalocyanines via copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction was investigated. Asymmetric Pcs 5a and 5b were prepared through statistical macrocyclization of phthalonitriles (Pns) 1a and 2 to give PMB-protected 4a and 4b, which afforded asymmetric Pcs 5a and 5b after acidic cleavage. The ‘ROMP-Capture-Release’ method as a synthetic approach to prepare asymmetric Pc 5b was also evaluated. TIPS-protection of the terminal alkynes was necessary to prevent cross-coupling during the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) step. Zinc Pc 5b was successfully used as a scaffold for functional modification under CuAAC conditions using several azides bearing hydrophobic, photo-crosslinkable, or electroactive moieties. Monitoring the CuAAC reaction by both UV/Vis and FTIR spectroscopies provided insight into the role of azide equivalent, reaction time, and catalyst on reaction progress.

Identification and determination of millimolar C6-C8 alkenes in the corresponding alkanes [4]

Burk, M. J., Crabtree, R. H., & McGrath, D. V. (1986). Identification and determination of millimolar C₆-C₈ alkenes in the corresponding alkanes [4]. Analytical Chemistry, 58(4), 977-978.

Dominic V Mcgrath