Research interests:
· Anion and molecular recognition
· Design and synthesis of porphyrin, phthalocyanine, and triphenylene based receptors
· Design and synthesis of sensors for anions of biomedical and environmental relevance
· Separation science
· Computational chemistry

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. As a result, research associates receive broad training in synthetic organic chemistry, spectroscopy (NMR, Uv/vis, fluorescence, IR and CD), computer modeling, as well as membrane technology.
Anion Recognition: Goals and rationale behind the research
Biomedical applications: A major research goal of my group is the development of optical sensors for anions such as phosphate derivatives (nucleotides, DNA, RNA for example), carboxylates, halides (chloride, fluoride), and amino acids (through carboxylate recognition). 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. Receptors that function in this way could find therapeutic applications in the treatment of cystic fibrosis (a disease characterized by defective chloride channel proteins) and viral diseases (via the membrane transport of nucleotide antiviral agents).
Environmental applications: There are several anionic species of environmental concern such as radioactive pertechnetate, which is a by-product of the nuclear fuel cycle, and nitrate, which is present in large quantities in radioactive tank wastes and has been implicated in high incidences of lymphoma when present in large quantities in groundwater. 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.
Synthesis applications: 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.
Molecular Recognition - Explosives Detection: Goals and rationale behind the research
Environmental applications: A second major goal of my group is the development of sensors for high explosives such as TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) and DNT (2,4-dinitrotoluene). On a fundamental basis, my group is developing receptors that undergo an observable change upon interaction with a nitro group, (which are prevalent in explosives). 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. This research could also find applications in environmental remediation efforts, security, and forensic analysis.