New Hydrogen Bonding Modules for Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry

该项目致力于开发新的工具来理解和使用松散地类似于DNA碱基对的分子识别单元。待开发的识别单元被设计成彼此可逆地配对，但在非极性溶剂中的强度为碳-碳单键强度的约10%。它们在组装的稳定性和保真度方面都上级正常的DNA碱基对。将开发容易可扩展的单元衍生物的合成，这些单元可以“点击”到其他小分子，聚合物，表面和其他材料上。这些结果将扩展到刺激响应单位，其中外部刺激，如光或热，打开或关闭识别单元。“一个自发组装成环状六聚体的系统将用于开发刺激响应（溶剂）自组装星星聚合物，这些聚合物可以自组织成更大的超结构。“可点击”的识别单元将在一系列应用中得到开发，包括可切换的氢键多层膜。有了这个奖项，有机和大分子化学计划将支持Steven C.伊利诺伊大学化学系的齐默尔曼说。齐默尔曼教授和他的学生们正在开发合成系统，旨在识别彼此，并在模仿DNA中发现的识别单元的基础上自发组装成多分子聚集体。通过对这些系统的研究，齐默尔曼教授正在开发生物启发的方法来构建复杂的多功能材料，这些材料显示出“智能”特性，包括对热、光和环境的响应。

This project addresses the development of new tools to understand and employ molecular recognition units that loosely resemble DNA base-pairs. The recognition units to be developed are designed to pair with one another reversibly but with a strength that in apolar solvents is about 10% the strength of a carbon-carbon single bond. Both in their stability and fidelity of assembly they are superior to normal DNA base pairs. Easily scalable syntheses of derivatives of the units that can be "clicked" onto other small molecules, polymers, surfaces, and other materials will be developed. These results will be extended toward stimuli responsive units where an external stimulus, such as light or heat, turns the recognition unit "on" or "off." A system that assembles spontaneously into cyclic, hexameric aggregates will be used to develop stimuli responsive (solvent) self-assembling star polymers that can self-organize into larger superstructures. "Clickable" recognition units will be exploited in a range of applications, including switchable, hydrogen-bonded multilayers.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. Professor Zimmerman and his students are developing synthetic systems designed to recognize one-another and assemble spontaneously into multi-molecular aggregates on the basis of recognition units mimicking those found in DNA. Through the study of such systems, Professor Zimmerman is developing biologically inspired ways to construct complex multifunctional materials that display "smart" properties, including responsiveness to heat, light, and environment.