Clarkson University Seminar
Dr. Maxwell J. Robb
Department of Chemistry, California Institute of Technology
will speak on
“Force-Activated Covalent Bond Transformations via Polymer Mechanochemistry”
Abstract:
The use of mechanical force to selectively activate covalent bond transformations is emerging as a powerful method to access stimuli-responsive polymers for applications ranging from sensing to drug delivery. In polymer mechanochemistry, polymer chains transduce mechanical stress to force-sensitive molecules called mechanophores that can be designed to undergo a wide variety of chemical reactions. Mechanochemical reactivity arises from a distortion of the potential energy surface under large forces, which fundamentally changes the reaction landscape. Force-induced chemical reactions that produce a change in optical properties such as color or luminescence are particularly useful because they enable molecular level stress sensing by straightforward visual detection methods. Mechanically triggered release of small molecules is also an underdeveloped, but potentially powerful approach for sensing and delivery. This presentation will highlight some of our recent developments leveraging a molecular design strategy in which mechanical activation is decoupled from the ultimate functional response. This mechanically gated reaction methodology establishes unique opportunities for understanding and exploiting structure–activity relationships and creating stimuli-responsive polymers that impact a variety of useful technologies.
Friday, March 26, 2021
3:30 pm
Zoom link: https://clarkson.zoom.us/j/97229541614?pwd=alp2c0pzUDVTWkVkQVEwTjVTT0k5UT09
Meeting ID: 972 2954 1614
Passcode: 048492