Dynamical implications of supramolecular systems

我们的研究计划的基本主题围绕动态过程。最终，我们的目标是更深入地了解各种化学系统中动力学和热力学之间的相互作用。研究中的三个具体主题是：（i）分子折叠和解折叠-折叠体是在溶液中具有明确定义和可预测的折叠性质的低聚物或聚合物。本研究涉及骨架刚性折叠体，其中局部构象偏好稳定折叠的分子结构。(ii)分子“手性”的起源--自世纪后半叶以来，分子不对称性这个有趣的话题吸引了许多科学家的兴趣。我们实验室最近的实验表明，在连续和动态的溶解-结晶过程中，硫酸乙二胺晶体的外消旋群体可以被驱动成单手性的晶体（即随机镜像对称性破缺）。(iii)使用可逆反应来研究分子结合和扩增-动态组合化学（DCC）涉及在可逆平衡条件下进行的化合物的动态混合物的产生。这种热力学适应性化学依赖于并利用动态分子交换和相互作用，其中键连续形成和断裂。

The underlying theme of our research program revolves around dynamic processes. Ultimately, we are aiming for a deeper understanding of the interplay between kinetics and thermodynamics in various chemical systems. Three specific topics under investigation are:(i) Molecular folding and unfolding - Foldamers are oligomers or polymers that have well-defined and predictable folding properties in solution. This research deals with backbone rigidified foldamers where local conformational preferences stabilize folded molecular structures.(ii) The genesis of molecular 'handedness' - The intriguing topic of molecular asymmetry has captured the interest of many scientists since the second half of the nineteenth century. Recent experiments in our laboratory have shown that under a continuous and dynamic dissolution-crystallization process, a racemic population of ethylenediamine sulphate crystals can be driven into crystals of a single handedness (i.e. stochastic mirror symmetry breaking).(iii) The use of reversible reactions to investigate molecular binding and amplification - Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry (DCC) involves the creation of a dynamic mixture of compounds carried out under reversible equilibrating conditions. This thermodynamic adaptive chemistry relies on and takes advantage of dynamic molecular exchanges and interactions where bonds are continuously formed and broken.