Molecular Recognition of Anionic Sulfur, Oxygen, and Nitrogen Species

在美国国家科学基金会化学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划的支持下，俄勒冈大学的Michael Pluth教授将开发结合、区分和识别未被研究的阴离子含硫、含氧和含氮物种的一般方法。这些小分子在生物系统和环境中扮演着各种重要的角色。这项研究旨在更好地从根本上了解这些物种在不同系统中的行为。通过进行这种跨学科的研究，研究生和本科生将接受超分子化学中的有机合成和分析研究方面的培训。此外，研究团队将让当地服务不足的中学的学生参加动手科学活动，以扩大他们对STEM(科学、技术、工程和数学)的接触。Michael Pluth教授和他的研究团队将研究阴离子活性硫、氧和氮物种，如过氧亚硝酸盐、亚硝酸盐、硫亚硝酸盐和过亚硝酸盐的分子识别。该项目将侧重于三个具体目标。在目标1中，将使用合成的阴离子结合主体来阐明影响阴离子客体结合的因素，包括NO3-(硝酸盐)、NO2-(亚硝酸盐)、SNO-(硫亚硝酸盐)和SSNO-(过硫亚硝酸盐)。在目标2中，将合理地设计和合成更多的宿主受体来特异性识别SNO-和SSNO-。在目标3中，研究小组将调查阴离子结合受体是否可以用来改变反应性小分子的化学形态和反应性。从这些调查中收集的信息预计将扩大对哪些特定识别基序可用于稳定小分子调节器并控制其相互转化的平衡的理解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With the support of the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program in the NSF Division of Chemistry, Professor Michael Pluth of the University of Oregon will develop general methods to bind, differentiate, and recognize under-investigated anionic sulfur-, oxygen-, and nitrogen-containing species. These small molecules play diverse and important roles in biological systems and the environment. This research aims to gain a better fundamental understanding of how these species behave in different systems. Through conducting this interdisciplinary research, graduate and undergraduate students will receive training in organic synthesis and analytical studies in supramolecular chemistry. In addition, the research team will engage students in local underserved middle schools in hands-on science activities to expand their exposure to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).Professor Michael Pluth and his research team will investigate the molecular recognition of anionic reactive sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen species, such as peroxynitrite, nitrite, thionitrite, and perthionitrite. This project will focus on three specific aims. In Aim 1, synthetic anion-binding hosts will be used to elucidate the factors that influence binding of anionic guests including NO3- (nitrate), NO2- (nitrite), SNO- (thionitrite) and SSNO- (perthionitrite). In Aim 2, additional host receptors will be rationally designed and synthesized for specific recognition of SNO- and SSNO-. In Aim 3, the research team will investigate whether the anion-binding receptors can be used to modify the chemical speciation and reactivity of reactive small molecules. Information gleaned from these investigations is expected to expand the understanding of what specific recognition motifs can be used to stabilize small molecule regulators and control the equilibria of their interconversion.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.