eprintid: 16312 rev_number: 44 userid: 1377 dir: disk0/00/01/63/12 datestamp: 2014-01-31 06:00:09 lastmod: 2016-11-15 14:06:50 status_changed: 2014-01-31 06:00:09 type: thesis_degree metadata_visibility: show contact_email: Melissa@Sprachman.net item_issues_count: 0 eprint_status: archive creators_name: Sprachman, Melissa M creators_email: mms79@pitt.edu creators_id: MMS79 title: Applications of Small Heterocycles: Oxetanes as Additives and Cosolvents and Oxazolines as Linkers for Controlled Release from Silica Nanoparticles ispublished: unpub divisions: sch_as_chemistry full_text_status: public keywords: oxetane, azetidine, solvent effects, dimethylsulfoxide substitute, radiation mitigation, silica nanoparticle, oxazoline abstract: In the first chapter of this dissertation, the design and synthesis of bifunctional additives and cosolvents containing an oxetane moiety are described. The use of dimeric oxetanes as additives for reactions involving organometallic agents—namely, organolithium, organozirconium, and organomagnesium reagents was studied. A dimeric bisoxetanyl ether showed promise for solvating organolithium aggregates, but dimeric oxetanyl ethers were not useful additives in hydrozirconation reactions. A bisoxetanyl sulfide is being investigated further as an additive for Grignard reactions. A bisoxetanyl sulfoxide (MMS350) was developed as a dimethylsulfoxide substitute that showed utility for enhancing the aqueous solubility of small organic molecules. In the second chapter, efforts toward the development of agents for protection and mitigation of ionizing radiation damage are outlined. It was discovered that administration of MMS350 prolonged survival in irradiated mice. Moreover, mice given MMS350 in their drinking water had lower incidences of pulmonary fibrosis. Additional analogs of MMS350 were synthesized for further investigation of the molecular and structural requirements for successful sulfoxide-containing radiation protectors. In the third chapter, the design and proof-of-concept study of using an oxazoline linker for functionalization and pH-dependent release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers from silica nanoparticles is discussed. pH-Dependent hydrolysis of model oxazolines was achieved by modulating the substitution on the oxazoline moiety. Moreover, functionalized silica nanoparticles were successfully endocytosed by macrophages. Our studies have laid the groundwork for the design of covalently modified nanoparticles for delivery of ROS. date: 2014-01-31 date_type: published pages: 346 institution: University of Pittsburgh refereed: TRUE etdcommittee_type: committee_chair etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_type: committee_member etdcommittee_name: Wipf, Peter etdcommittee_name: Curran, Dennis P etdcommittee_name: Wilcox, Craig S etdcommittee_name: Yang, Judith C etdcommittee_email: pwipf@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: curran@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: daylite@pitt.edu etdcommittee_email: judyyang@pitt.edu etdcommittee_id: PWIPF etdcommittee_id: CURRAN etdcommittee_id: DAYLITE etdcommittee_id: JUDYYANG etd_defense_date: 2012-11-12 etd_approval_date: 2013-01-31 etd_submission_date: 2012-11-09 etd_release_date: 2013-01-31 etd_access_restriction: 1_year etd_patent_pending: TRUE thesis_type: dissertation degree: PhD citation: Sprachman, Melissa M (2014) Applications of Small Heterocycles: Oxetanes as Additives and Cosolvents and Oxazolines as Linkers for Controlled Release from Silica Nanoparticles. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished) document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/16312/1/SprachmanMM_ETD_2012_2.pdf