| Novel physical and chemical processes can be studied with supramolecular assemblies. Molecular recognition allows one to design an active site in a supramolecular assembly to target an analyte for chemical sensing applications. Supramolecular assemblies can be designed for chemical sensing that ranges from monitoring of environmental contaminants such as benzene to medically relevant analytes such as glucose, pH, and blood gases. One class of molecule that is useful in designing a supramolecular assembly is a cyclodextrin (CD); CDs have a hydrophobic cavity that binds molecules that are insoluble in water. We have used the hydrophobic pocket to bind chromophores and lumophores that are used for triggering a luminescent optical signal in the presence of analytes. One supramolecule designed in our laboratory triggers phosphorescence of 1-bromonaphthalene (1-BrNp) upon formation of a ternary complex with hydrogen-bonding substrates (alcohols) and cyclodextrin (Chapters 2-4). A second active site that is suitable for an optical sensor for sensing of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene, biphenyl, naphthalene) is also discussed in detail (Chapters 5 and 6). |
