Syntheses, Anion Recognition and Self-assemblies of Cyanostilbene Receptors

该项目的长期目标是解决化学科学中的重大挑战之一：如何设计和完善具有定制性质的新形式物质的原子和能源高效合成。为此，印第安纳大学的阿马尔·H·弗洛德博士正在研究如何设计星形分子，在其中心打上小孔，以识别和容纳曾经被认为太大而无法捕捉的独特类型的负电荷阴离子。通过这样做，这项研究和这些分子可以在去除受污染的水中的有毒阴离子或操纵对人类健康至关重要的阴离子方面产生影响。此外，他的研究团队还研究了如何将星形结构设计成自组装和装配在一起，以形成更大的组件，例如纳米尺寸的足球形状的建筑。他的目标是揭示它们自我组装的规则，因为分子不能像乐高积木一样被挑选和放置在一起。这种材料可能会在分区化学催化和门控药物输送方面产生影响。该项目更广泛的影响活动包括培训研究生和本科生，使用3D打印教授自组装原理，并制定策略，提高未被充分代表的少数群体和妇女在Dr.Flow组织的会议上的参与度和能见度。在NSF大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划的支持下，Flood博士试图开发用于结合阴离子(如生物悬浮磷酸盐)的被称为“氰基星”的聚氰基二苯乙烯大环的合成，并从根本上了解非共价相互作用(如CHH键)和疏溶剂效应如何影响阴离子结合。此外，他还探索了氰基星在轮烷中的应用，这些轮烷可以在不同的状态之间切换，以及在源于阴离子模板和5倍对称性的新型自组装结构中。

The long term goal of this project is to address one of the grand challenges in the chemical sciences: How to design and perfect the atom- and energy-efficient synthesis of new forms of matter with tailored properties. To this end, Dr. Amar H. Flood at Indiana University seeks knowledge of how to design star-shaped molecules bearing holes in their centers to recognize and hold unique classes of negatively charged anions that were once considered too large to catch. By doing so, this research and these molecules can have impacts in removing toxic anions from contaminated water or manipulating anions important for human health. In addition, his research team investigates how star-shaped structures can be designed to self-assemble and fit together to form larger assemblies, e.g., nanometer-sized, soccer-ball shaped architectures. He aims to unfold the rules of their self-assembly because molecules cannot be picked and placed together like a lego set. Such materials could have impacts in compartmentalized chemical catalysis and for gated drug delivery. Broader impact activities of the project include training of graduate and undergraduate students, using 3D printing to teach principles of self-assembly, and developing strategies to increase the participation and visibility of under-represented minorities and women at conferences organized by Dr. Flood.Under the support of the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of NSF, Dr. Flood seeks to develop the syntheses of polycyanostilbene macrocycles called "cyanostars" for binding anions (e.g., biorelevant phosphates), and understand fundamentally how non-covalent interactions (such as CH H-bonding) and solvophobic effects influence anion binding. Furthermore, he explores the use of cyanostars in rotaxanes that can switch between states and in novel self-assembled architectures that stem from anion templation and 5-fold symmetry.