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. 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. 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.
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 or catalyze reactions involving these species. There are presently a handful of examples illustrating this principle. My group also takes interest in this area and is developing receptors that serve as supramolecular chiral auxiliaries and catalysts for asymmetric synthetic transformations such as Aldol and Michael type reactions. One application lies in the detection of leaking landmines where TNT and DNT are the principal constituents of the approximately 120 million unexploded land mines worldwide.