INFEWS N/P/H2O: SusChEM: New Molecular Receptors to Complete the Loop on Nitrogen/Phosphorus Fertilizer Use and Detection

氮和磷化合物是用于增加农场作物产量的肥料的主要成分。 虽然氮和磷在低剂量下是有益的植物营养素，但过量的肥料会导致环境问题，当相同的化合物被雨水从土壤中冲刷到溪流和河流中时。 迫切需要开发能够实时测量氮和磷浓度的精确浓度的传感器。 这些测量为农业肥料管理和废水处理决策提供信息。 这种测量可以用来最大限度地提高肥料效益，同时最大限度地减少对环境的影响。在NSF化学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持下，俄勒冈州大学的Michael Haley和Darren约翰逊教授及其学生正在设计用于肥料管理和环境保护的改进型传感器。该项目为研究生和本科生研究人员提供跨学科培训。该项目的更广泛影响还包括研究生在当地和区域公司的工业实习，以及通过促进代表性不足群体参与的计划，继续让本科生参与化学研究。本基础研究旨在设计和合成对肥料中环境相关成分具有选择性的分子探针。长期目标是为农业生产具有更高精度和准确性的分子受体。研究人员设计并合成了两个新的分子受体家族，用于结合和检测重要的阴离子，如亚硝酸根和磷酸二氢根。第一个家族是基于芳基-乙炔支架，第二个是基于高荧光磷喹啉-2-酮的简易合成。本研究采用了一种组合的方法（包括量热，NMR和分光光度滴定），以确定超分子受体的结合特性，并获得更好的理解如何结构变化影响其结合亲和力，选择性和光电性能。此外，该团队还开发了高通量检测方法，以有效地识别用于营养传感的受体。这些研究为研究人员提供了有机合成，物理有机化学，计算化学，X射线晶体学以及电子结构和分子结构之间相互作用的广泛经验。 研究生可在当地和区域公司进行工业实习。 本科化学研究机会促进代表性不足的群体的参与。

Nitrogen and phosphorus compounds are the main ingredients of fertilizers used to increase crop yields on farms. While nitrogen and phosphorus are helpful plant nutrients in low dosage, excess fertilizer can cause environmental problems when the same compounds are washed by rainwater from the soil into streams and rivers. There is a pressing need to develop sensors able to measure, in real-time, accurate concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. These measurement inform decisions on fertilizer management in agriculture and wastewater treatment. Such measurements can be used to maximize fertilizer benefits while minimizing environmental impacts. With the support of the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the NSF Chemistry Division, Professors Michael Haley and Darren Johnson, and their students at the University of Oregon are designing improved sensors for fertilizer management and environmental protection. This project provides interdisciplinary training to graduate and undergraduate researchers. The broader impacts of this project also include industrial internships of graduate students at local and regional companies and continued involvement of undergraduates in chemical research via programs that promote participation of underrepresented groups. This fundamental research aims to design and synthesize molecular probes that are selective for environmentally relevant components of fertilizers. The long-term goal is to produce molecular receptors with improved precision and accuracy for the agriculture industry. The researchers design and synthesize two new families of molecular receptors for binding and sensing important anions such as nitrite and dihydrogen phosphate. The first family is based on aryl-acetylene scaffolding and the second is based on the facile synthesis of highly fluorescent phosphaquinolin-2-ones. This research employs a combination of methods (including calorimetric, NMR, and spectrophotometric titrations) to determine the binding properties of the supramolecular receptors and to gain a better understanding of how structural changes influence their binding affinity, selectivity, and optoelectronic properties. In addition, the team develops high throughput assays to efficiently identify receptors for nutrient sensing. The studies provide the researchers with broad experience in organic synthesis, physical organic chemistry, computational chemistry, x-ray crystallography, and the interplay between electronic structure and molecular architecture. Industrial internships at local and regional companies are available for graduate students. Undergraduate chemical research opportunities promote participation of underrepresented groups.