CAS: RUI: Click Synthesis and Structure-Property-Function Relationships of Amphiphilic Ionic Liquids

在这个由化学系化学结构、动力学和机制B项目资助的RUI项目中，佛罗里达海湾海岸大学化学与物理系的Arsalan Mirjafari教授和他的学生正在开发一种名为离子液体的新型有机材料。离子液体是完全由离子组成的液体盐。寻找新型离子液体的部分原因是为了解决医药和能源领域未满足的需求。这种盐可以作为更传统的有机溶剂的替代品在各种应用中使用，包括电子材料，新一代可充电电池和基因传递。该项目旨在通过教育和培训本科生成为下一代化学家来推进科学事业。该项目汇集了化学合成、计算机建模以及先进材料开发和表征的元素，为本科生提供了体验教师指导研究的机会。由于佛罗里达海湾沿岸大学在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域有大量未被充分代表的少数民族人口，该项目为参与这些社区个人的专业培训提供了重要机会。涉及当地初中和高中的外展活动也是资助项目的一部分。离子液体领域的基础是对结构产生功能的理解。在这个项目中，Mirjafari教授寻求开发功能性离子液体，同时具有更好的流动性和两亲性——这是一种属性的组合，虽然经常是对立的，但在许多应用中是非常理想的。利用点击反应将不同的官能团组合到基于硫酰胺的杂环阳离子结构中。研究包括了解化学结构和物理化学性质之间的关系，以及用于特定功能的离子液体的开发，包括脂肪族/芳香族分离，液晶，氟离子电化学和基因转移。人们正在寻求新的策略来改善离子液体的化学稳定性和毒性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this RUI project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Arsalan Mirjafari and his students of the Department of Chemistry & Physics at the Florida Gulf Coast University are developing new type of organic materials called ionic liquids. Ionic liquids are liquid salts comprised entirely of ions. The search for new ionic liquids is driven in part by efforts to address unmet needs in medicine and energy. Salts of this kind can be utilized as alternatives for more conventional organic solvents in various applications, including electronic materials, new generation of rechargeable batteries, and gene delivery. The project is designed to advance the scientific enterprise in tandem with educating and training undergraduate students to become the next generation of chemists. The project brings together elements of chemical synthesis, computer modeling as well as advanced materials development and characterizations, providing undergraduate students with opportunities to experience faculty-mentored research. Since Florida Gulf Coast University has a large underrepresented minority population in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields, the project provides important opportunities to engage in the professional training of individuals from these communities. Outreach activities involving local middle and high schools is part of the funded project as well. Fundamental to the field of ionic liquids is the understanding that structure begets function. In this project, Professor Mirjafari seeks the development of functional ionic liquids that simultaneously have improved fluidity and amphiphilic character – a combination of attributes that, while frequently antithetical, is very desirable in many applications. Click reactions are utilized to incorporate a diverse array of functional groups into the thioamide-based heterocyclic cations structures. The research involves efforts to understand the relationships between the chemical structure and physicochemical properties and the development of ionic liquids for specific functions including aliphatic/aromatic separation, liquid crystals, fluoride-ion electrochemistry, and gene transfer. New strategies are being pursued to improve the chemical stability and toxicity profiles of ionic liquids.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.