Host-Guest Complexes of Cyclodextrins and Nanodiamonds

尽管主客体分子的分子识别是超分子化学的一个经典领域，但意想不到的新进展和可能性经常出现。在这个项目中，我们将研究所谓的环糊精(即碳水化合物)和纳米钻石(即致密的类钻石碳氢化合物)的包合物，它们的分子结构类似于锁和钥匙，并自发形成强大的(但不是共价的)键。我们将重点讨论两个问题。首先，通过改变环糊精和纳米钻石的结构，我们想要了解它们为什么会形成如此高亲和力的络合物，以及如何进一步提高亲和力。其次，我们将使用环糊精从原油中分离出纳米钻石，并将环糊精和纳米钻石作为结合基序整合到自组装纳米容器中。

Although the molecular recognition of host and guest molecules is a classic domain of supramolecular chemistry, unexpected new developments and possibilities occur frequently. In this project we will investigate so-called inclusion complexes of cyclodextrins (i.e. carbohydrates) and nanodiamonds (i.e. compact, diamondoid hydrocarbons) which fit like lock and key due to their molecular structure and spontaneously form a strong (yet non-covalent) bond. We will focus on two questions. First of all, by variation of the structures of the cyclodextrins and the nanodiamonds, we want to understand why they form complexes with such high affinity, and how potentially the affinity can be increased even further. Secondly, we will use cyclodextrins to isolate nanodiamonds from crude oil and we will integrate cyclodextrins and nanodiamonds as a binding motif in self-assembled nanocontainers.