1. i get a free touch attack attempt the round i cast the spell. does casting it/charging it up (not the touch part) cause an AoO as per a normal spell?
Yes. You're still casting a spell. All the usual rules apply (including the ability to cast defensively if you choose). See "Touch Spells in Combat", wich says "The act of casting a spell, however, does provoke an attack of opportunity."
2. given the free touch attack after i've cast/charged up, can i cast/charge the touch spell, move, and then take the free touch attack to avoid any AoO [provoked by casting] (assuming they happen)?
Yes. See "Touch Spells in Combat", wich says "You may take your move before casting the spell, after touching the target, or between casting the spell and touching the target."
3. does weapon finesse allow me to make touch attacks with my dex bonus - i'm pretty sure this is yes, but since i think of that as being initially meant for physically damaging attacks, i wanted to double check.
Yes. See this thread.
4. would weapon focus unarmed strikes help with unarmed touch attacks?
Only if you're delivering your touch spell with an unarmed strike rather than a simple touch. If you choose to do that, you attack regular AC instead of touch AC and do your unarmed strike damage in addition to the damage the spell does.
See "Touch Spells in Combat", in the last part of the "Holding the Charge" Paragraph.
"Alternatively, you may make a normal unarmed attack (or an attack with a natural weapon) while holding a charge. In this case, you aren't considered armed and you provoke attacks of opportunity as normal for the attack. If your unarmed attack or natural weapon attack normally doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity, neither does this attack. If the attack hits, you deal normal damage for your unarmed attack or natural weapon and the spell discharges. If the attack misses, you are still holding the charge."
You might be able to take Weapon Focus (touch attack) much like you can take Weapon Focus (rays) instead, but that might not fly in PFS because it's not specifically called out the way WF(rays) is.