Abstract
Covalent Metal-Organic Networks (CMONs) are a subset of coordination polymers - extended solids formed by the connection of metals with polyfunctional organic linkers. As the name implies CMONs form covalent interactions between organic linkers and metal nodes which complicates synthesis due to rapid product formation rate, often resulting in the formation of powders or amorphous material. To promote single crystal growth in these materials, our lab has developed an approach that uses a thiolate protecting group on the linker precursor which can be driven off at a controlled rate in basic conditions. This deprotection slows the rate of metalation, and facilitates the growth of single crystals. Most of the work in our lab has been performed on pyrene based organic linkers, and this thesis expands the protecting group methodology to other aromatic groups, which allows for the tuning of the optical and electronic properties of the materials formed.