Barbiturates and Modified Hamilton Receptors for Supramolecular Catalysis, Sensing, and Materials Applications

• Main Author: Seidenkranz, Daniel
• Other Authors: Haley, Michael
• Language: en_US
• Published: University of Oregon 2019
• Subjects: Barbiturates; Hamilton Receptor; Self-assembly; Supramolecular Chemistry
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/24194

Supramolecular chemistry (chemistry beyond the molecule) is the study and synthesis of complex molecular architectures from simple subunits using non-covalent interactions. The types of non-covalent interactions that are used for the self-assembly of these complex molecular architectures include electrostatic interactions (e.g. ionic, halogen, and hydrogen bonding), π-effects, van der Waals interactions, metal coordination, and hydrophobic effects. While these interactions are often used in concert, some of the most successful and ubiquitous approaches for the design and construction of new host–guest architectures are the incorporation of hydrogen bonding motifs. A popular class of molecules capable of making strong, highly directional hydrogen bonds is barbiturates. Barbiturates have a well-known reputation as potent hypnotics, anticonvulsants, and anxiolytics but recent years have seen a renewed interest in these molecules due to their unique, symmetric acceptor-donor-acceptor hydrogen bonding motif. In addition, receptors with complementary hydrogen bonding motifs capable of binding barbiturates have also been reported, namely those based on the work of Hamilton et al. Collectively, barbiturates and their receptors have seen widespread use in a variety of applications including sensing, optoelectronics, catalysis, and the design of soft materials. The work presented in this dissertation describes the development of novel Hamilton receptors for supramolecular catalysis and barbiturate sensing, as well as the design of new synthetic barbiturates. Together this body of research aims to extend the utility of these types of host–guest systems as well as continue to develop and refine the supramolecular design principles that govern the binding interactions between barbiturates and a variety of Hamilton-type receptors. This dissertation includes both previously published/unpublished and co-authored material.