Molecular recognition as inspiration for new classes of catalysts

分子识别作为新型催化剂的灵感

• 批准号: 355550-2011
• 负责人: Taylor, Mark
• 金额: $ 3.28万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=572606
• 关键词: Molecular; recognition; inspiration; new; classes

Our research takes place at the interface of two fields in the area of organic chemistry: (1) Catalysis and organic reactivity: we develop new catalysts that enable the efficient, "green" preparation of useful organic compounds. We are particularly interested in processes that are able to convert readily available, renewable sugar feedstocks into value-added compounds for use in drug manufacture or as probes in biological research. (2) Molecular recognition: we are interested in developing fundamental understanding of the interactions between molecules. Our specific interest is in the noncovalent interactions of halogen atoms that are responsible for such diverse phenomena as drug-receptor interactions, the properties of organic materials, and the reactivity of halogen compounds. Our research in these seemingly diverse areas is motivated by the idea that knowledge of the interactions between molecules can be exploited in the design of catalysts able to bind to their substrates in predictable ways. For example, boron compounds known to interact with sugars at specific positions were the starting point for our development of catalysts able to promote reactions of sugars site-selectively. This research program enables students to acquire a diverse and flexible skill set that is increasingly valued by employers in the scientific and high-tech sectors. These skills include organic synthesis and structural elucidation, computational chemistry, quantitative studies of solution-phase binding phenomena, and carbohydrate chemistry.

我们的研究发生在有机化学领域两个领域的交界处： (1)催化和有机反应性：我们开发新的催化剂，能够高效、“绿色”地制备有用的有机化合物。我们特别感兴趣的是能够将容易获得的可再生糖原料转化为用于药物制造或作为生物研究探针的增值化合物的工艺。 (2)分子识别：我们对发展分子间相互作用的基本理解感兴趣。我们特别感兴趣的是卤素原子的非共价相互作用，这是负责药物受体相互作用，有机材料的性质，卤素化合物的反应性等多种现象。 我们在这些看似不同的领域进行研究的动机是这样一种想法，即分子之间相互作用的知识可以用于设计能够以可预测的方式与其底物结合的催化剂。例如，已知在特定位置与糖相互作用的硼化合物是我们开发能够位点选择性地促进糖反应的催化剂的起点。 该研究计划使学生能够获得多样化和灵活的技能，这些技能越来越受到科学和高科技领域雇主的重视。这些技能包括有机合成和结构解析、计算化学、溶液相结合现象的定量研究和碳水化合物化学。