Cucurbituril Chemistry

了解分子如何相互作用以形成稳定的组件具有基本的科学兴趣，并且在药物开发，靶向和递送，新型响应/智能材料以及新传感器开发等多种领域具有潜在的应用。在这种情况下，形成主客复合物是非常重要的，在这种复合物中，一个大的容器分子（宿主）为一个小分子（来访者）的对接提供了一个欢迎空间。迈阿密大学的Angel E. Kaifer教授在美国国家科学基金会大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持下，研究了一类重要的宿主——葫芦素——形成主客体复合物的过程。本项目为研究生、本科生和高中生（包括女性和代表性不足群体的成员）提供研究机会。通过这项研究，学生们接受了跨越传统化学学科界限的训练。葫芦嘌呤寄主非常有吸引力，因为它们与合适的寄主在水介质中形成非常稳定的配合物。本研究探索了以下途径：(1)利用葫芦素作为复杂超分子系统的模块化成分，包括至少两种类型的宿主。(2)合成功能化葫芦烷作为活性组分，制备具有良好定义的超分子低聚物，并对金属和金属氧化物纳米颗粒表面进行修饰，使其具有高亲和力的结合性能。(3)通过电化学和EPR研究了瓜比脲腔入口附近水微环境的极性。(4)两种不同客体之间的瓜比脲交换反应动力学，特别强调三元中间体的检测。

Understanding how molecules interact with each other to form stable assemblies is of fundamental scientific interest and has potential applications in fields as diverse as drug development, targeting and delivery, novel responsive/intelligent materials, and the development of new sensors. In this context, the formation of host-guest complexes, in which a large container molecule (the host) provides a welcoming space for the docking of a smaller molecule (the guest), is of great importance. Professor Angel E. Kaifer of the University of Miami is supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program at NSF to study the formation of host-guest complexes by an important class of hosts, known as the cucurbiturils. This project provides research opportunities to graduate, undergraduate, and high school students (including women and members of underrepresented groups). Through this research, students receive training across the boundaries of the traditional disciplines of chemistry. The cucurbituril hosts are very attractive because they form extremely stable complexes with suitable guests in aqueous media. This research explores the following avenues: (1) Use of cucurbiturils as modular components of complex supramolecular systems, including at least two types of hosts. (2) Synthesis of functionalized cucurbiturils as active components for the preparation of well-defined supramolecular oligomers, as well as modification of the surface of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, endowing them with high-affinity binding properties. (3) Electrochemical and EPR investigation of the polarity of the aqueous microenvironments adjacent to the cucurbituril cavity entrances. (4) Kinetics of cucurbituril exchange reactions between two different guests, with particular emphasis on the detection of ternary intermediates.