"Synthesis and Applications of Pyrroles, Dipyrrins and their Complexes"

血红素和叶绿素是含有吡咯的分子，在生命系统中扮演着关键角色--这些分子将阳光转化为动植物王国所使用的能量。在自然的引领下，化学家们已经开发出具有其他用途的含有吡咯的分子，例如生物/医学中的标记/示踪剂，以及在利用太阳能用于交通等应用方面显示出潜力的分子。关于这些含有吡咯的分子的结构多功能性和性质的详细信息意味着，可以在这个简单的分子框架的基础上开发新的和改进的应用。汤普森研究小组将设计、制备和使用新的含有吡咯的分子，以探索诸如可重复使用的洗涤剂等功能材料，以及有可能成为太阳能电池光收集器的系统。广泛的目标是：(I)提供将含有吡咯的分子结合到性能良好的洗涤剂和光收集器的材料中的新方法；(Ii)将含有吡咯的分子用作传感器、生物学工具和用于光学目的的可调系统；以及(Iii)提供世界级的支持性研究环境，在那里年轻的研究人员获得可转移到工业、专业和学术工作场所的技能。许多合成化学家回避使用吡咯，因为这些化合物的制备和操作往往具有挑战性：这就是这些高活性但可调的分子的声誉。汤普森研究小组在这些类型的分子方面拥有高水平的专业知识和经验，他们和其他化学家的工作表明，吡咯具有传统上未被充分利用的丰富性质。这一领域正在迅速扩大，汤普森集团作为该领域的领导者备受尊敬。

Heme and chlorophyll are pyrrole-containing molecules that play key roles in living systems - these molecules convert sunlight to the energy used by the animal and plant kingdoms. Building on nature's lead, chemists have developed pyrrole-containing molecules that have other uses, for example markers/tracers in biology/medicine, and molecules that show potential in harnessing solar energy for use in applications such as transportation. Detailed information on the structural versatility and the properties of these pyrrole-containing molecules means that new and improved applications can be developed based on this simple molecular framework.The Thompson research group will design, prepare and use new pyrrole-containing molecules to explore areas such as functional materials like reusable detergents that can be turned "on" and "off", and systems that have potential as light harvesters in solar cells. Broad objectives are to: (i) provide new ways to incorporate pyrrole-containing molecules into materials that perform well as detergents and light harvesters; (ii) employ pyrrole-containing molecules as sensors, tools in biology, and tunable systems for optical purposes; and (iii) provide a world-class supportive research environment where young researchers gain skills that are transferable to industrial, professional and academic workplaces.Many synthetic chemists shy away from working with pyrroles as the preparation and manipulation of these compounds is often challenging: such is the reputation of these highly reactive, yet tunable, molecules. The Thompson research group has a high level of expertise and experience with these types of molecules, and their work and that of other chemists is showing that pyrroles have rich properties that have been traditionally underexploited. This field is expanding rapidly, and the Thompson group is well-respected as a leader in this area.