The Dunbar Research Group

My research involves the study of organocyanide-based conducting and magnetic materials. The anionic forms of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and halogen derivatives are being employed as bridging ligands for paramagnetic metal ions to form molecules as well as higher dimensionality architectures. Another project is directed at the study of meta- and para-dicyanamidobenzene dianions to test the theory that strong magnetic superexchange interactions between trivalent metal ions should be possible. The main objective in pursuing these topics is to design magnetic MOFs with redox active organocyanides instead of the commonly used carboxylic acids which do not facilitate magnetic and electronic interactions.