CAREER: The Development of Hinged Molecular Containers as Fluorescent Sensors of Small Molecules

Schafmeister教授正在探索开发铰链分子容器作为小分子的荧光传感器。环状的、手性的构建块将被连接成螺旋梯融合环低聚物，形成复杂的三维结构。氨基酸连接的“盖子”将提供所得到的分子容器的依赖于配体的可逆打开和关闭。通过在适当的位置附加供体和受体，这种打开和关闭将很容易通过荧光测量观察到。Schafmeister教授将为三维分子结构的立体呈现和可视化开发有效的工具，促进这些复杂结构的交流和学习。这些工具将通过互联网传播，供全世界使用。有了这个职业奖，有机和大分子化学项目支持匹兹堡大学化学系的Christian E. Schafmeister教授的教学和研究活动。Schafmeister教授正在设计一种分子，这种分子可以识别并结合选定的较小分子，并在此过程中发生显著且易于测量的性质变化。这一基本前提可以作为设计分子特异性传感器和构建化学转化选择性催化剂的基础。Schafmeister教授将通过开发立体展示和可视化的有效工具，促进学生对有机化学三维复杂性的学习，并将这些工具提供给其他人，提高世界各地学生的教育经验。

Professor Schafmeister is exploring the development of hinged molecular containers as fluorescent sensors of small molecules. Cyclic, chiral building blocks will be joined into spiro-ladder fused-ring oligomers that create complex three-dimensional structures. An amino acid-linked "lid" will provide for ligand-dependent reversible opening and closing of the resulting molecular container. By appending a donor and an acceptor at appropriate positions, this opening and closing will be readily observed via fluorescence measurements. Professor Schafmeister will develop effective tools for the stereographic presentation and visualization of three-dimensional molecular structures, facilitating the communication and learning of these often complex structures. These tools will be disseminated for world-wide use through the Internet.With this CAREER award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the teaching and research activities of Professor Christian E. Schafmeister, of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. Professor Schafmeister is designing molecules which will specifically recognize and bind selected smaller molecules and in so doing undergo a dramatic and easily measurable change in properties. This basic premise can serve as the basis for the design of molecule-specific sensors and for the construction of selective catalysts for chemical transformations. Professor Schafmeister will facilitate student learning about the three-dimensional complexities of organic chemistry through the development of effective tools for stereographic presentation and visualization, and will make these tools available to others, enhancing the educational experience of students around the world.