Cationic Lewis acids as anion receptors

François Gabbaum博士，化学系，得克萨斯州农工大学，是由化学结构，动力学和机制计划的支持，探索新的，阳离子，主族刘易斯酸作为受体的小阴离子，包括氟化物，氰化物和叠氮化物。 本研究的重点是硼，硅和锑化合物的合成和研究，其阴离子亲和力增加的库仑，疏水和/或螯合作用的组合。 这些新的阳离子刘易斯酸作为受体在电荷转移过程中进行了研究。这种反应性可用于设计开启阴离子传感器。 除了研究这些新的主族化合物的合成和结构外，还特别关注它们与阴离子结合的选择性，它们与水环境的相容性，以及由阴离子结合引起的物理响应的大小，这些研究促进了对阴离子识别过程的基本理解。 氰化物在研究和工业环境中广泛使用，尽管其可能释放到环境中是一个令人担忧的问题;氰化物是一种有毒的阴离子，可以与体内的酶结合并使其失活，有时会造成致命的后果。 虽然氟化物经常被添加到饮用水和牙膏中，因为它对牙齿健康有有益的影响，但高剂量的这种阴离子可能导致氟斑牙。 能够结合和/或感测水中潜在有毒阴离子的阴离子受体有助于环境修复和医学。 参与该研究计划的研究生和本科生在合成无机化学和物理学方面获得了良好的培训和研究经验。 通过接触一个关于捕获水中有毒阴离子的项目，该项目提高了学生对当前环境和健康挑战的认识。 努力将一些研究转化为本科无机化学实验室课程，为研究和本科教育的整合提供了一个载体。

Dr. François Gabbaï, Chemistry Department, Texas A&M University, is supported by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms Program to explore novel, cationic, main group Lewis acids as receptors for small anions including fluoride, cyanide and azide. This research focuses on the synthesis and study of boron, silicon and antimony compounds whose anion affinity is increased by a combination of Coulombic, hydrophobic, and/or chelate effects. These new, cationic Lewis acids are studied as acceptors in charge transfer processes. This reactivity can be harnessed for the design of turn-on anion sensors. In addition to investigating the synthesis and structure of these novel main group compounds, special attention is devoted to their anion binding selectivity, their compatibility with aqueous environments, and the magnitude of the photophysical response induced by anion binding.This research advances the fundamental understanding of anion recognition processes. Cyanide is widely available in both research and industrial settings even though its potential release into the environment is a source of concern; Cyanide is a toxic anion which can bind to and deactivate enzymes in the body, sometimes with fatal consequences. While fluoride is often added to drinking water and toothpaste because of its beneficial effects in dental health, high doses of this anion can be lead to dental fluorosis. Anion receptors capable of binding and/or sensing potentially toxic anions in water aid in both environmental remediation and medicine. The graduate and undergraduate students involved in this research program receive excellent training and research experiences in synthetic inorganic chemistry and photophysics. By being exposed to a project concerning the capture of toxic anions in water, this project increases the students' awareness of current environmental and health challenges. Efforts to translate some of this research into undergraduate Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory courses provide a vector for the integration of research and undergraduate education.