Exploring Macromolecular Architecture and the Control of Nanoenvironment with Polymeric Catalysts

技术概述：设计和合成具有可控结构和功能的聚合物，可以执行催化功能或作为运输通道。大分子的总体设计要求对活性大分子内的结构和官能团的位置进行精细控制。对于运输通道，具有管状形状的树突化大分子被认为是最合适的类比，由几种蛋白质的自组装产生的生物通道。在催化方面，基于星型结构的球形大分子可以并入催化核心，而星型结构的臂可以提供类似于催化酶的位点分离核心的位点分离。该计划探索获得具有持久结构特征的功能大分子的新方法，将利用现代合成聚合物化学的所有工具，同时也开发新的反应，组装方法和表征方法。大分子在催化过程中的应用，材料的封存或运输也将在概念验证研究中进行探索。该项目旨在设计新型聚合物材料，以帮助满足社会在新物质制造、水净化或从废物流中去除污染物等领域的需求。新聚合物材料的形状和功能都从自然生物系统中获得了一些灵感，例如模仿促进化学转化的天然酶，或者模仿有选择地将液体或离子输送进出人体细胞的自然通道。该项目将在聚合物科学领域培养年轻的科学家，这是一个通过特殊塑料、电子和能源材料或治疗和诊断试剂等各种新型独特材料对我们日常生活产生巨大影响的领域。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The design and synthesis of polymers with controlled architecture and functionality that can perform catalytic functions or act as transport channels is undertaken. The overall design of the macromolecules requires that fine control over both architecture and the placement of functional groups within the active macromolecules be achieved. For transport channels, dendronized macromolecules that possess a tubular shape are expected to be most appropriate in analogy to biological channels that result from the self assembly of several proteins. For catalysis, globular macromolecules based on a star architecture enable the incorporation of a catalytic core while the arms of the star may provide for site isolation in analogy with the site isolated core of catalytic enzymes. This program exploring new ways to obtain functional macromolecules with persistent structural features will make use of all the tools of modern synthetic polymer chemistry while also developing new reactions, methods of assembly, and methods of characterization. Applications of the macromolecules in catalytic processes, the sequestration or the transport of materials will also be explored in proof-of-concept studies.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY This project is directed towards the design of novel polymeric materials that can help meet the needs of society in areas as varied as the manufacturing of novel substances, water purification, or the removal of pollutants from waste streams. Both the shape and the function of the new polymeric materials draw some inspiration from natural biological systems, for example imitating natural enzymes in the way they facilitate chemical transformations, or mimicking the natural channels that selectively transport fluids or ions in and out of cells in the human body. The project will train young scientists at the state of the art in polymer science, a field of immense impact in our daily lives through new and unique materials as varied as specialty plastics, electronic and energy materials, or therapeutic and diagnostics agents.