Research Interests

• Anion and molecular recognition
   

• Design and synthesis of porphyrin based receptors
   

• Design and synthesis of sensors for anions of biomedical and environmental   relevance
   

• Separation science
   

• Computational chemistry

My research group is interested in the design and synthesis of receptors for anions and molecules of biomedical and environmental significance. The research is multidisciplinary working at the interface between organic chemistry and biological, analytical, and separation chemistry. As a result, research associates receive broad training in synthetic organic chemistry, spectroscopy (NMR, Uv/vis, fluorescence, IR and CD), and computer modeling.

Anion Recognition: Goals and rationale behind the research

Biomedical applications-A major research goal of my group is the development of optical sensors for anions such as phosphate derivatives (nucleotides, DNA, RNA for example), carboxylates, halides (chloride, fluoride),and amino acids (through carboxylate recognition). The development of sensors for these analytes has diagnostic applications in the monitoring of cellular processes. The group is also focused on the design of receptors that serve as carriers for the membrane transport of anions such as nucleotides and chloride. Receptors that function in this way could find therapeutic applications in the treatment of cystic fibrosis (a disease characterized by defective chloride channel proteins) and viral diseases (via the membrane transport of nucleotide antiviral agents).

Environmental applications-There are several anionic species of environmental concern such as radioactive pertechnetate, which is a by-product of the nuclear fuel cycle, and nitrate, which is present in large quantities in radioactive tank wastes and has been implicated in high incidences of lymphoma when present in large quantities in groundwater. My group is interested in the development of receptors that can detect the presence of these species and that can serve as extraction and transport agents for the removal of these and other anionic environmental contaminants.

Synthesis applications - Numerous reagents utilized in organic synthesis are anionic in nature. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, numerous reactions proceed through anionic transition states. Receptors for anionic reagents, intermediates, and transition states could be used to direct the course of or catalyze reactions involving these species. My group is developing receptors that serve as supramolecular chiral auxiliaries and catalysts for asymmetric synthetic transformations such as Aldol and Michael type reactions.