Environmental

Research in the area of supramolecular chemistry has been one of the strengths of this group over the past 30 years, and it has been a consistent theme feature of successful applications to project and programme funding sources. We have designed macrocyclic compounds from calixarenes, to molecular clips, to alkyl-linked bis-tetra tetrazolophanes. We have also produced hybrid bridged calix-crowns, calix-bistetrazoles with pre-organised cavities and ligating groups attached which are suited to binding metal ions and small organic molecules for applications primarily as metal ion scavengers. We are currently working on using these macromolecules to make MIPs and SIPs for the removal and detection common pathogens in water.

Synthetic fine tuning of these macrocyclic hosts with groups varying in size, functionality and stereochemistry allows us to adjust the molecular architecture and conformation to suite target guest species be it in the solid state or in a solution.

Studies to determine the strength and suitability of binding is a significant follow-on task and the ability to generate a measurable selective and often specific response is also something we have expertise to do with our group. These molecular recognition studies primarily by NMR, UV/VIS, fluorescence, and electrochemistry pave the way for our compounds to be fabricated into devices, flow cells, and wafer-type materials for real time use.