A Study of Environmental Control of Photochemical Reactions and Its Application

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This award is made in the Organic Dynamics Program in support of the continuing research of Dr. David Whitten at the University of Rochester. The research will deal with the design, synthesis, and characterization of Langmuir-Blodgett films, vesicles, and membranes bearing aggregates of chromophores. The chromophores will typically be trans-stilbenes, trans-azobenzenes, polypyridines and polypyrimidenes attached to phospholipids, calixarenes or dendrimeric amphiphiles. The research will investigate the the effect of light on the chromophoric aggregates and what influence it has on the stability and physical properties of the films. The ultimate application of these materials will be photoregulatable or optical films and membranes which can change their permeability, stability, and ion-binding ability in a controlled manner upon exposure to light. The synthesis of optical films and membranes whose stability and physical properties can be predictably controlled by light of the appropriate frequency and intensity is of great interest to the organic dynamics, materials and biophysics communities. Such materials are likely to find applications in molecular optoelectronics, drug-delivery systems and gas separation systems.