Electrochemistry of Supramolecular Systems

在化学学部有机动力学项目的支持下，迈阿密大学（佛罗里达）的Angel E. Kaifer教授将研究超分子体系的电化学，特别是轮烷、树状大分子和主客体体系。这是先前资助的工作（CHE-9304262）的延续，该工作表明，电子转移反应和质子转移反应可以用来在具有不同电子吸收光谱的某些轮烷构象之间切换。目前的项目将包括研究涉及这种超分子结构的电子转移的热力学和动力学，制备新的轮烷体系，并继续研究主客体体系中的结合、结构和分子间力的基础研究。特别强调电子转移反应。该项目将包括旨在促进含有预制结合位点的支持单层的制备的工作。选择强调的单层是胺功能化受体在羧酸端自组装单层。这个项目将为某些化合物作为“分子开关”的使用做一些基础工作，这些分子以某种可观察的方式对光或电等外部刺激做出反应。这项工作可能最终对纳米技术有用，因为它会导致具有分子水平信息存储和处理潜力的新材料。研究自组装的单层分子可能会产生选择性分子传感器。

With support from the Organic Dynamics program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Angel E. Kaifer of the University of Miami (Florida) will study the electrochemistry of supramolecular systems, especially rotaxanes, dendrimers, and host-guest systems. This is a continuation of previously funded work (CHE-9304262) which showed that electron transfer reactions and proton transfer reactions can be used to switch certain rotaxanes between conformers having different electronic absorption spectra. The present project will involve investigation of the thermodynamics and kinetics of electron transfer involving such supramolecular architectures, the preparation of new rotaxane systems, and continuation of fundamental investigations of binding, structure, and intermolecular forces in host-guest systems. The electron transfer reactions are selected for special emphasis. The project will include work intended to lead to facile preparation of supported monolayers containing preformed binding sites. The monolayers chosen for emphasis are amine functionalized receptors on carboxylate terminated self-assembled monolayers. This project will prepare some of the groundwork for the use of certain chemical compounds as `molecular switches,` molecules which respond in some observable way to external stimuli such as light or electricity. The work may eventually be useful in nanotechnology, since it leads to new materials with the potential for molecular level information storage and processing. Work with self-assembled monolayers may lead to selective molecular sensors.