Studies of Deep Cavity Cavitands

本项目侧重于通过分子凹凸度进行相关研究。具体来说，高度凹的分子如何能够：1)潜在地充当超分子保护基团；2)作为选择性催化剂；3)组装成能够捕获、储存和分离碳氢化合物气体的水溶性纳米胶囊；4)组装成纳米胶囊，能够控制在其内部进行的光化学反应，将被研究。前两个子程序的重点是可溶于有机介质的寄主。所讨论的分子是文献中最大和最具组织性的分子。因此，大范围的分子可以被困在它们的凹结合位点内。第二个两个子程序依赖于水溶性宿主和疏水效应来驱动它们组装成超分子胶囊。通过这个奖项，有机和大分子化学项目支持了新奥尔良大学化学系布鲁斯·吉布教授的研究。布鲁斯·吉布教授和他的研究小组将研究高度复杂结构的分子如何增强重要的化学过程或绕过当代化学问题。他的研究可以使通常需要化学溶剂的反应在水中进行，从而使化学合成更有效、更环保。此外，它还可以提供一种分离碳氢化合物气体的新方法。后者很重要，因为石油储量正在枯竭，因此碳氢化合物天然气储量对国家的经济福祉变得更加重要。

The project is focused on research related through molecular concavity. Specifically, how highly concave molecules can: 1) potentially act as supramolecular protection groups; 2) function as selective catalysts; 3) assemble into water-soluble nano-capsules capable of trapping, storing, and separating hydrocarbon gases; and 4) assemble into nano-capsules capable of controlling photochemical reactions carried out within their interiors, will be studied. The focus of the first two subprograms is on hosts soluble in organic media. The molecules in question are some of the largest and most preorganized ones in the literature. Consequently, a wide range of molecules can be trapped within their concave binding sites. The second two subprograms rely on water-soluble hosts and the hydrophobic effect to drive their assembly into supramolecular capsules.With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Professor Bruce Gibb, of the Department of Chemistry at University of New Orleans. Professor Bruce Gibb and his research group will examine how molecules of highly complex structure can augment important chemical processes or circumnavigate contemporary chemical problems. His research could make chemical synthesis more efficient and more environmentally friendly by allowing reactions that normally require chemical solvents to be carried out in water. In addition, it could also provide a new approach to separate hydrocarbon gases. The latter is important as oil reserves are depleted and hence hydrocarbon gas reserves become more important to the economic wellbeing of the country.