CAREER: Boron-Containing Polymeric Lewis Acids in Supramolecular Chemistry and Materials Science

纽瓦克罗格斯大学化学系的Frieder Jaekle教授受到有机和高分子化学计划的支持，从事专注于材料化学领域应用的新型无机聚合物的制备和探索的研究。通过模块化方法制备相对分子质量可控、聚合物结构明确的基于硼的聚合物Lewis酸，该方法包括三个步骤：(1)控制合成各种结构的官能化聚合物，包括均聚物、无规共聚物、嵌段共聚物和遥螺旋聚合物，(2)用卤化硼或其他强Lewis酸定量取代官能团，以及(3)通过高产量取代反应微调单个位置的Lewis酸度，从而获得一系列新的聚合物Lewis酸。他将利用Lewis酸和Lewis碱之间自发和可逆的给体-受体键的形成，开发合成嵌段共聚物和接枝聚合物的创新方法，以及聚合物的可逆交联。此外，Jaekle教授将利用形成的高度稳定的阴离子硼酸盐和阳离子硼中心来开发新的无机聚电解质和两亲性嵌段共聚物。在有机与高分子化学计划的支持下，将开设“材料化学”本科实验室课程，包括烯烃的活性聚合、共轭(电活性)聚合物的表征以及纳米颗粒的形成等研究水平的实验。这一努力将加强对高度多样化的学生群体在聚合物和材料化学领域的培训。还将与当地高中建立一个新的聚合物化学推广计划，以努力吸引少数族裔学生进入科学领域。

Professor Frieder Jaekle of the Department of Chemistry at Rutgers University- Newark is supported by the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program to perform research that focuses on the preparation and exploration of new inorganic polymers for applications in the field of materials chemistry. Boron-based polymeric Lewis acids of controlled molecular weight and well-defined polymer architecture will be prepared through a modular approach that involves three steps: (1) the controlled synthesis of functionalized polymers of various architectures including homopolymers, random copolymers, block copolymers, and telechelic polymers, (2) the quantitative replacement of the functional groups with boron halides or other strong Lewis acids, and (3) the fine-tuning of the Lewis acidity of the individual sites through high-yield substitution reactions to give access to a family of new polymeric Lewis acids. He will take advantage of the spontaneous and reversible formation of donor-acceptor bonds between Lewis acids and Lewis bases for the development of innovative methods for the synthesis of block copolymers and graft polymers as well as the reversible cross-linking of polymers. Furthermore, Professor Jaekle will use the formation of highly stable anionic borate and cationic boronium centers for the development of new inorganic polyelectrolytes and amphiphilic block copolymers. The described research efforts are likely to result in discoveries of novel thermo-reversible polymers, of polymeric nanostructures, and of new functional materials.With the support of the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program, a "Materials Chemistry" Undergraduate Laboratory Course will be developed that includes research level experiments on the living polymerization of olefins, the characterization of conjugated (electro-active) polymers, and the formation of nanoparticles. This effort will enhance the training of a highly diverse student population in the areas of polymer and materials chemistry. A new polymer chemistry Outreach Program with local high schools will also be established in an effort at attracting minority students into the sciences.