Molecular Probes of Cation-Arene Interactions

本研究主要考察碱金属阳离子在合成离子通道中的相互作用，以及组成离子通道的芳烃官能团。合成通道由二氮杂-18-冠-6亚基组成，通过不同长度的间隔物连接，以确定作为离子通道所需的最小长度。不同的芳烃将附着在通道开口上，并通过对间隔基的合成修饰，结合到通道内部，以阐明芳烃-阳离子相互作用对通道内钠离子和钾离子运输的影响。参与这项研究的研究生和本科生将被介绍通过模型化合物的方法对一个重要的自然过程进行建模，并综合定制这些化合物以检查过程中涉及的特定相互作用。通过这一奖项，有机和高分子化学项目支持华盛顿大学医学院分子生物学和药理学系George Gokel博士的研究和教育活动。戈克尔博士将把他的研究重点放在大分子系统的合成上，这些大分子系统由许多由分子间隔物连接的等量环状亚单位组成，分子间隔物统称为离子通道。这些分子系统模拟自然发生的生物系统，将被合成修饰，以探索影响钠和钾离子通过通道移动的特定相互作用。戈克尔博士的教育活动将包括培训研究生和本科生合成这些模型系统，并将其表征为离子导体。

This research focuses on examining the role of the interactions between alkali metal cations being transported through synthetic ion channels, and the arene functionalities that make up the ion channel. Synthetic channels composed of diaza-18-crown-6 subunits connected by spacers of various lengths will be synthesized to define the minimum length needed to function as an ion channel. Different arenes will be attached to the channel opening, and by synthetic modification of the spacers, incorporated into the channel interiors to elucidate the effect of arene-cation interactions on sodium and potassium ion transport within the channel. Graduate and undergraduates students involved in the research will be introduced to modeling an important, natural process by means of model compounds and synthetically tailoring these compounds to examine specific interactions involved in the process. With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports the research and educational activities of Dr. George Gokel of the Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology at the Washington University School of Medicine. Dr Gokel will focus his research on the synthesis of macromolecular systems composed of a number of equivalent cyclic subunits connected by molecular spacers that, in toto, are referred to as ion channels. These molecular systems, which mimic naturally occuring biological systems, will be synthetically modified to explore a specific interaction that affects the movement of sodium and potassium ions through the channel. Dr. Gokel's educational activities will involve training graduate and undergraduate students in the syntheses of these model systems, and their characterization as ion conductors.