Studies of Deep Cavity Cavitands

新奥尔良大学的布鲁斯·吉布教授得到化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持，研究水溶液中自组装系统的超分子化学，并设计具有不寻常性质的化学复杂系统。本项目的第一个目的是研究利用选择性分子包封的新分离方案。在这些系统中，超分子结构封装了复杂化学混合物的选定目标，将它们与大量反应环境隔离开来。第二个目标是设计多（超）分子系统，慢慢地发展到平衡，并证明不寻常的组件和系统的净整体状态之间的关系。第三个目标是了解氟相的超分子化学。所提出的研究调查了在水中形成的纳米胶囊的性质。胶囊将其他分子捕获在其内部，并且与常见的药物制剂胶囊非常相似，在胶囊内和胶囊外之间产生物理分离。在分子水平上，这种分离导致了许多不寻常的现象，其中两个正在研究中。它们是：1）分离现有技术无法分离的化学品的新方法，对生物学和饮食科学等领域产生影响; 2）复杂的化学系统，其整体性质大于其部分的总和。复杂系统表现出涌现，或者只有通过协同作用才能产生的特性和现象。生命形式被认为是复杂的系统，拟议的研究将有助于解开不同过程的复杂交织。该研究项目将为学生的教育和培训提供一个激励性的研究环境，包括代表性不足群体的成员。

Professor Bruce Gibb at the University of New Orleans is supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division to study the supramolecular chemistry of self-assembling systems in aqueous solution and to devise chemically complex systems possessing unusual properties. The first aim of this project is to investigate new separation protocols that utilize selective molecular encapsulation. In these systems, supramolecular structures encapsulate selected targets of complex chemical mixtures, isolating them from the bulk reactive environment. The second aim is to devise multi-(supra)molecular systems that evolve to equilibrium slowly and demonstrate unusual relationships between the components and the net overall state of the system. The third aim focuses on understanding supramolecular chemistry in the fluorous phaseThe proposed studies investigate the properties of nano-sized capsules that are formed in water. The capsules trap other molecules within their interior and, much like familiar capsules for drug formulations, engender a physical separation between what is within the capsule and what lies outside. At the molecular level this separation leads to many unusual phenomena, two of which are being investigated in this program of study. They are: 1) New ways to bring about the separation of chemicals that cannot be separated by current technologies, with impact in areas such as biological and dietary science; 2) Complex chemical systems whose overall properties are greater than the sum of their parts. Complex systems demonstrate emergence, or properties and phenomena that only arise through synergism. Life-forms are considered complex systems, and the proposed studies will aid in disentangling the complex intertwining of different processes. The research project will offer a stimulating research environment for the education and training of students, including members of the underrepresented groups.