In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a centrally-functionalizable living cationic polymer or copolymer having a centrally-substituted tetraene group having the formula

##STR00001##

wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a copolymer, such as a polyisobutylene polymer or a poly(isobutylene-b-styrene) copolymer.

In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a centrally-functionalizable living cationic polymer or copolymer having a centrally-substituted tetraene group having the formula

##STR00001##

wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a copolymer, such as a polyisobutylene polymer or a poly(isobutylene-b-styrene) copolymer.

A method of preparing a cyclopropane ring-bearing compound of the formula I ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, optionally substituted, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, together with the bonds linking them to the cyclopropane ring, form a monocyclic or bicyclic ring system, which may comprise at least one hetero-atom, comprising the reaction of a compound of formula II
R.sup.1CHCHR.sup.2II
in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the significances hereinabove defined, with a compound of formula III
XCH.sub.2YIII
in which X is a nucleofuge selected from halides and pseudohalides and Y is an electrofuge selected from boranes and borates, in the presence of a metal catalyst complex selected from those useful for catalytic cyclopropanation and those useful for catalyzing Heck coupling. The method provides a particularly easy and non-hazardous method of cyclopropanation.

A method of preparing a cyclopropane ring-bearing compound of the formula I ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, optionally substituted, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, together with the bonds linking them to the cyclopropane ring, form a monocyclic or bicyclic ring system, which may comprise at least one hetero-atom, comprising the reaction of a compound of formula II
R.sup.1CHCHR.sup.2II
in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the significances hereinabove defined, with a compound of formula III
XCH.sub.2YIII
in which X is a nucleofuge selected from halides and pseudohalides and Y is an electrofuge selected from boranes and borates, in the presence of a metal catalyst complex selected from those useful for catalytic cyclopropanation and those useful for catalyzing Heck coupling. The method provides a particularly easy and non-hazardous method of cyclopropanation.

Embodiments of the invention provide modified metal-organic frameworks (MOF), materials and compositions comprising the modified metal-organic frameworks (MOF) and uses of the materials and compositions comprising modified MOFs. The modified MOFs may include a functionalizing constituent that provides enhanced functionality, such as transporting molecules across biological membranes. Embodiments of the modified MOF may comprise a magnesium-gallate (Mg-GA) network structure. The Mg-GA MOF may also comprise phosphate-functionalized polyethylene glycol, which comprises PEGylates (polyethylene glycol) with phosphate groups.