IN CHEMISTRY

I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my parents. I will eternally be indebted to them for the numerous ways I have experienced and benefited from their support throughout the years. This dissertation is accredited to their immeasurable love, and infinite encouragement, understanding and belief in me. Mom, thank you for your limitless motivation. You have always been a great inspiration and an irrefutable driving force in my life, I love you. Dad, thank you for teaching me to never give up and to follow my heart. I love you and miss you. There are not enough words available to enable me to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my research advisor, Dr. Carol Korzeniewski. I will forever be thankful to Dr. Korzeniewski for her support, encouragement, guidance, and friendship throughout my stay in her research lab. During this time, I have come to admire and respect her as a scientist and as a mentor. She has selflessly taught me to be a careful and thoughtful scientist and to strive for excellence in all endeavors. A heartfelt appreciation is also due to the remaining members of m