New Hydrogen Bonding Modules for Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry

这项工作的目标是开发DNA碱基对类似物，可以自组装（使用氢键）成低聚物和聚合物，采用定义的三维结构。 他们将通过制备新的碱基对类似物开始这项研究，并研究决定碱基对稳定性的结构因素。 他们还将致力于开发一种模型来预测模拟碱基对的稳定性。 然后将合成这些碱基对类似物的低聚物和聚合物，目标是制备可以在折叠和片状结构之间平衡的自组装聚合物。 能够利用光来实现这种平衡的分子是特别需要的，并且将被详细地研究。 这些自组装聚合物材料可以具有诸如自修复的性质，这是目前传统共价键合的聚合物所不能获得的。 将这些具有确定氢键能力的小分子结合到本体聚合物中可能有一天会导致更高性能的材料。有了这个奖项，有机和大分子化学计划支持Steven C.伊利诺伊大学化学系的齐默尔曼说。 齐默尔曼博士和他的学生将致力于DNA碱基对类似物的开发，这些类似物可以自组装成采用确定的三维结构的低聚物和聚合物。 然后将制备这些碱基对类似物的聚合物，目标是制备可以在折叠和片状结构之间平衡的自组装聚合物。 能够利用光来实现这种平衡的分子是特别需要的，并且将被详细地研究。 这些自组装聚合物材料可以具有诸如自修复的性质，这是目前传统共价键合的聚合物所不能获得的。 将这些具有确定的氢键能力的小分子结合到本体结晶聚合物中可能有一天会导致更高性能的材料。 在这个跨学科的工作过程中培训的学生将获得制药，聚合物和特种化学品行业所需的技能。

The objectives of this work are to develop DNA base-pair analogs which can self assemble (using hydrogen bonding) into oligomers and polymers that adopt defined three dimensional structures. They will start this investigation by preparing new base-pair analogs and study the structural factors that determine base-pair stability. They will also work to develop a model to predict analog base-pair stability. Oligomers and polymers of these base pair analogs will then be synthesized with the goal being the preparation of self assembled polymers which can equilibrate between folded and sheet-like structures. Molecules which can use light to accomplish this equilibration are particularly desirable and will be studied in detail. These self assembling polymeric materials may have properties, such as self healing, which are not currently available with traditional covalently bonded polymers. The incorporation of these small molecules with defined hydrogen bonding capabilities into bulk commerical polymers may one day lead to higher performance materials.With this award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research of Dr. Steven C. Zimmerman of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Illinois. Dr. Zimmerman and his students will work on the development of DNA base-pair analogs which can self assemble into oligomers and polymers that adopt defined three dimensional structures. Polymers of these base-pair analogs will then be prepared with the goal being the preparation of self assembled polymers which can equilibrate between folded and sheet-like structures. Molecules which can use light to accomplish this equilibration are particularly desirable and will be studied in detail. These self assembling polymeric materials may have properties, such as self healing, which are not currently available with traditional covalently bonded polymers. The incorporation of these small molecules with defined hydrogen bonding capabilities into bulk commerical polymers may one day lead to higher performance materials. Students trained during the course of this interdisciplinary work will gain skills needed by the pharmaceutical, polymer and speciality chemicals industries.