Conformationally Programmable Molecular Receptors

本研究的重点是开发能够改变和改变识别特性的多功能聚合物。这是通过使用C（芳基）-N（亚胺）键的受限旋转来实现的。分子可以在客体存在下退火以形成互补结构。然后这些可以通过冷却到室温而被“保存”为稳定的构象。“保存的”构象可以在没有客体的情况下通过加热“擦除”，或者通过使用不同客体加热“重写”。这种行为的机制与蛋白质折叠等动态生物学过程有一些相似之处。有了这个更新奖，有机和大分子化学项目将支持南卡罗来纳大学化学和生物化学系的Ken Shimizu博士的研究和教育工作。Shimizu教授将把他的研究重点放在能够识别特定分子的“智能聚合物”的开发上。这项研究将有助于从根本上理解支配高分子材料行为的原理。研究生、本科生和博士后水平的化学学生将在清水教授的实验室接受培训，并将扩大对K-12学生的推广活动。

The focus of this research is in the development of multi-functional polymers that can alter and change recognition properties. This is accomplished by the use of restricted rotation about C(aryl)-N(imide) bonds. The molecules can be annealed in the presence of a guest to form complementary structures. These can then be "saved" as stable conformers by cooling to room temperature. "Saved" conformations can be "erased" by heating in the absence of guest or "rewritten" by heating with a different guest. The proposed mechanism for this behavior shares some similarities with dynamic biological processes such as protein folding. With this renewal award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program is supporting the research and educational efforts of Dr. Ken Shimizu of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina, in Columbia, S.C. Professor Shimizu will focus his research on the development of "smart polymers" capable of recognizing particular molecules. This research will contribute to the fundamental understanding of the principles governing the behavior of polymeric materials. Chemistry students at the graduate, undergraduate and post-doctoral level will be trained in Professor Shimizu's laboratory, and outreach activities to K-12 students will be extended.