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

血红素和叶绿素是含吡咯的分子，在生命系统中起着关键作用——这些分子将阳光转化为动植物王国使用的能量。以自然界的铅为基础，化学家们开发出了含有吡咯的分子，这些分子还有其他用途，例如生物学/医学中的标记/示踪剂，以及在运输等应用中显示出利用太阳能的潜力的分子。关于这些含吡咯分子的结构通用性和性质的详细信息意味着可以基于这个简单的分子框架开发新的和改进的应用。汤普森研究小组将设计、制备和使用新的含吡咯分子，以探索一些领域，如可重复使用的可“打开”和“关闭”的洗涤剂等功能材料，以及有潜力作为太阳能电池光收集器的系统。主要目标是：(i)提供新方法，将含吡咯分子纳入具有良好洗涤剂和光收集器性能的材料中；（ii）使用含吡咯分子作为传感器、生物学工具和光学可调系统；（iii）提供世界一流的支持性研究环境，使年轻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通常具有挑战性：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类分子方面拥有很高的专业知识和经验，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特性。这一领域正在迅速发展，汤普森集团作为这一领域的领导者而备受尊敬。

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.