个人简介

Ph.D., University of Puerto Rico, 1984 Postdoctorate, University of Texas, 1984-85

研究领域

Electrochemistry, supramolecular chemistry, functionalized dendrimers

Our group's research interests focus on the general area of Supramolecular Electrochemistry. For more than twenty years we have been investigating the electrochemical properties of a number of supramolecular systems, from host-guest complexes to self-assembled monolayers and dendrimers. In particular, we have been especially interested in the idea of using redox conversions to control the structure of supramolecular assemblies. This possibility is very relevant to the design of molecular devices. We are also interested on the effects that supramolecular structure may exert on the kinetics and thermodynamics of electron transfer reactions. Illustrative examples of specific systems in which we are currently exploring these general ideas are: Cucurbit[n]uril Complexes: The cucurbit[n]uril (CB) hosts constitute a fascinating family of molecular containers with outstanding binding affinity and selectivity. We are developing mechanisms to switch and control the binding ability of CB hosts on demand. We have recently discovered that CB hosts can be used to control the extent of aggregation of dyes and porphyrins in aqueous media. We are particularly interested in the development of analytical applications based on the controlled formation of highly fluorescent J-aggregates. Molecular Capsules: The electrochemical properties of encapsulated redox active centers are unusual and attractive because little is known on the properties and reactivity of encapsulated molecules. Our efforts in this area are geared to understand electron transfer processes involving species trapped inside molecular capsules of variable sizes. Functionalized Dendrimers: We still continue our long-standing research effort on the properties of redox active and fluorescent dendrimers. We are also working on dendrimer functionalization to facilitate effective DNA delivery to cells. Graduate students in our research group learn to use physical/analytical techniques (mainly electrochemical and spectroscopic) for the characterization of molecular structures, supramolecular assemblies and binding interactions. Many students in the group also have an opportunity to gain significant expertise in preparative organic chemistry.

近期论文

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Kaifer, A. E.; Yi, S.; Li, W. “Cucurbiturils as Versatile Receptors for Redox Active Substrates”, Isr. J. Chem.2011, in press. Cardona, C. M.; Li, W.; Kaifer, A. E.; Stockdale, D.; Bazan, G. C. “Electrochemical Considerations for Determining Absolute Frontier Orbital Energy Levels of Conjugated Polymers for Solar Cells Applications”,Adv. Mater. 2011, in press. Svec, J.; Dusek, M.; Fejfarova, K.; Stacko, P.; Klan, P.; Kaifer, A. E.; Li, W.; Hudeckova, E.; Sindelar, V. Anion-Free Bambus[6]uril and Its Supramolecular Properties”, Chem. Eur. J. 2011, 17, 5605-5611. Yi, S.; Captain, B.; Kaifer, A. E. “The Importance of Methylation in the Binding of (Ferrocenylmethyl)-tempammonium Guests by Cucurbit[n]uril (n = 7, 8) Hosts”’ Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 5500-5502. Yi, S.; Captain, B.; Ottaviani, M. F.; Kaifer, A. E. “Controlling the Extent of Spin Exchange Coupling in Tempo Biradicals via Molecular Recognition with Cucurbit[n]uril Hosts”, Langmuir 2011, 27, 5624-5632. Qiu, Y.; Yi, S.; Kaifer, A. E. “Encapsulation of Tetrathiafulvalene Inside a Dimeric Molecular Capsule”, Org. Lett. 2011, 13, 1770-1773. Gadde, S.; Kaifer, A. E. “Cucurbituril Complexes of Redox Active Guests”, Current Org. Chem. 2011, 15, 27-38. Wang, W.; Kaifer, A. E. “Transfer of Cationic Cucurbit[7]uril Inclusion Complexes from Water to Nonaqueous Solvents”, Supramol. Chem. 2010, 22, 710-716. Gadde, S.; Batchelor, E.; Kaifer, A. E. “Electrochemistry of Redox Active Centers Encapsulated by Noncovalent Methods”, Aus. J. Chem. 2010, 63, 184-194. Yi, S.; Mileo, E.; Kaifer, A. E. “EPR and NMR Investigation on the Interactions of Nitroxide Probes with Resorcin[4]arene Molecular Capsules”, Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 5690-5693. Batchelor, E. K.; Gadde, S.; Kaifer, A. E. “Host-Guest Control on the Formation of Pinacyanol Chloride H-aggregates in Anionic Polyelectrolyte Solutions”, Supramol. Chem. 2010, 22, 40-45. Podkoscielny, D.; Gadde, S.; Kaifer, A. E. “Mediated Electron Transfer to a Fully Encapsulated Redox Center”,J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 12876-12877. Cui, L.; Gadde, S.; Li, W.; Kaifer, A. E. “Electrochemistry of the Inclusion Complexes Formed Between the Cucurbit[7]uril Host and Several Cationic and Neutral Ferrocene Derivatives”, Langmuir 2009, 25, 13763-13769. Mileo, E.; Yi, S.; Bhattacharya, P.; Kaifer, A. E. “Probing the Inner Space of Molecular Capsules with Nitroxide Guests”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 5337-5340. Kaliappan, R.; Ling, Y.; Kaifer, A. E.; Ramamurthy, V. “Sulfonatocalix[8]arene as a Potential Reaction Cavity: Photo- and Electro-active Dicationic Guests Arrest Conformational Equilibrium”, Langmuir 2009, 25, 8982-8992. Gadde, S.; Batchelor, E. K.; Kaifer, A. E. “Controlling the Formation of Cyanine Dye H- and J-Aggregates with Cucurbituril Hosts in the Presence of Anionic Polyelectrolytes”, Chem. Eur. J. 2009, 15, 6025-6031. Gadde, S.; Batchelor, E. K.; Weiss, J. P.; Ling, Y.; Kaifer, A. E. “Control of H- and J-Aggregate Formation via Host-Guest Complexation using Cucurbituril Hosts”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 17114-17119. Xu, D.; Wang, W.; Gesua, D.; Kaifer, A. E. “A New Series of Dendrimers Containing Two Ferrocenyl Units and a Fréchet Dendron around a Triazine Nucleus”, Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 4517-4520. Berbeci, L. S.; Wang, W.; Kaifer, A. E. “Drastically Decreased Reactivity of Thiols and Disulfides Complexes by Cucurbit[6]uril“, Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 3721-3724. Bhattacharya, P.; Kaifer. A. E. “Preparation, Characterization and Electrochemical Properties of a New Series of Hybrid Dendrimers Containing a Viologen Core, Fréchet and Newkome Dendrimers”, J. Org. Chem.2008, 73, 5693-5698 (FEATURED ARTICLE).