CAREER: Stereoselective and Rate-enhanced H-bonding Catalysts for Ring-Opening Polymerization

鉴于聚合物生产对自然资源的巨大负担，以及制造和销售这些材料所带来的大量美国经济，开发高效的聚合物合成工艺具有重要的社会意义。在这项由罗德岛大学化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目支持的研究中，Kiesewetter教授旨在开发更有效的催化剂，在温和的反应条件下发挥作用，并能更好地控制聚合物结构。从事这项研究的研究生和本科生将接受催化剂开发以及聚合物合成和表征方面的培训。此外，一系列基于聚合物科学的研讨会正在为罗德岛教育工作者建立，包括高中教师、大专讲师和社区大学教授。本研究旨在开发开环聚合的速率增强催化剂和立体选择性催化剂。为了实现这些目标，Kiesewetter小组研究了双氢键供体的催化性能，这是一种很大程度上尚未开发的催化剂。具体来说，他的团队设计和合成了非手性和手性双硫脲，并通过涉及光谱研究，化学动力学和热力学研究的多方面方法对其催化特性进行了机理理解。

Given the tremendous burden of polymer production on natural resources and the vast amount of the US economy derived as a result of manufacturing and selling these materials, the development of efficient processes for polymer synthesis is of great societal importance. In this research supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry, Prof. Kiesewetter of the Rhode Island University conducts aims to develop more efficient catalysts that function under mild reaction conditions and enable better control of the polymer structures. Graduate and undergraduate students who conduct this research receive training in catalyst development as well as polymer synthesis and characterization. In addition, a series of polymer science based workshops are being established for Rhode Island educators, including high school teachers, post-secondary lecturers, and community college professors. This research aims to develop rate enhanced catalysts and stereoselective catalysts for ring-opening polymerization. For these aims, the Kiesewetter group investigates the catalytic properties of dual H-bond donors, a largely unexplored class of catalysts. Specifically, his group designs and synthesizes achiral and chiral bisthioureas, as well as develops a mechanistic understanding of their catalytic properties through a multifaceted approach involving spectroscopic studies, chemical kinetics and thermodynamic studies.