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Research Interests
Organic Chemistry, Synthesis, Supramolecular Chemistry,
Conducting Polymers, Interlocked Macromolecules (polyrotaxanes
and polycatenanes), Peptide Nucleic Acids, Supramolecular
Polymerization, Reversible ‘Dynamic’ Chemistry, Responsive
Materials and Nanotechnology.
Overview of Research
Our interests focus on the investigation and utilization of
Supramolecular Chemistry (the chemistry of the non-covalent
bond) in polymer chemistry.
Current Activity
Current projects focus on two broad areas (1)
Supramolecular Polymerization and (2) Preparation and
Characterization of polycatenanes (molecular chains) and
polyrotaxanes (molecular beads on strings). Supramolecular
polymerization uses non-covalent interactions built into a
monomer unit to allow it to self-assemble into a polymeric
aggregate. Such polymeric systems are under a dynamic
equilibrium and therefore are affected by changes in their
environment (e.g. temperature, concentration, impurities
etc.). We are currently investigating the use of nucleobase
containing monomers as the source of the non-covalent
(‘sticky’) interactions. This project so far has found that
H-bonding, p-p stacking and phase segregation are all
important factors in influencing the properties of these
materials.
Using the nucleobase
chemistry fluorescent supramolecular liquid crystalline
polymers have also been prepared.
Multi-responsive metallo-supramolecular polymers have
also been prepared by using mixed metal systems in
conjunction with a bis-ligand monomer.
These systems respond to light, temperature, chemicals
and shear forces.
We are also currently trying different methodologies to
the preparation of poly[n]catenanes, as well as
investigating the use of polyrotaxanes as molecular
switches.
Recent Publications
“Metal-Ligand Induced Supramolecular Polymerization: A Route
to Responsive Materials,” Beck, J. B.; Rowan, S.J.,
Faraday Dis. 128, 43-53 (2005).
“Metallomesogens,”
Rowan, S.J., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 44,
4830-4832 (2005).
“Rheological
Properties and Conformation of a Side-Chain Liquid Crystal
Polysiloxane Dissolved in a Nematic Solvent,”
Zhao, Y.; Dong, S.; Jamieson, A.M.; Hu, X.; Lal, J.;
Nazarenko, S.; Rowan, S.J., Macromolecules, 38,
5205-5213 (2005).
“Metal/Ligand-Induced Formation of Metallo-Supramolecular
Polymers,” Beck, J. B.; Ineman, J.M.; Rowan,
S.J., Macromolecules, 38, 5060-5068 (2005).
“Synthesis and Optical Properties of Metallo-Supramolecular
Polymers, Iyer, P., Beck, J. B.; Rowan, S.J., Weder
C. Chem. Comm., 319-321 (2005).
“Nucleobases as Supramolecular Motifs,” Sivakova, S.;
Rowan, S.J., Chem. Soc. Rev. 9-21 (2005).
“Metal-Ligand Induced Supramolecular Polymerization: A Route
to Responsive Materials,” Beck, J. B.; Rowan, S.J.
Faraday Dis. 128, 43-53 (2005).
Recent Presentations
June 2005: Japan-US Seminar on Advances in Polymer
Chemistry and their Impacts Upon Society, Lake Tahoe, Ca,
US, Invited Lecture: Stimuli-Responsive
Materials: From Basic Science to Applications Development
and 9th International Symposium on Metallomesogens, Lake
Arrowhead, UCLA, Plenary Lecture:
Metallo-Supramolecular Polymers and Gels.
Mar 2005: American Chemical Society Meeting, San
Deigo, Symposium Honoring Craig Hawker, Invited
Lecture: Investigating the Potential of
Supramolecular Polymerizations
Feb 2005: University of Akron, Department of Polymer
Science and Engineering, Invited Lecture:
"Investigating the Potential of Supramolecular
Polymerizations: From Nucleobase to Metal-Ligand
Interactions"
Nov 2004: Boston College, Department of
Chemistry, Invited Lecture:
Supramolecular Polymerization: A Route to Responsive
Materials; Emerging Technology Forum on Functional
Nanomaterials, Case, Ohio, Invited Lecture:
Self-Healing and Responsive Materials; Energizer,
Westlake, Ohio, Invited Lecture: At
the Interface of Synthetic Supramolecular Chemistry and
Material Science; and University of York, UK,
Invited Lecture: At the Interface of
Synthetic Supramolecular Chemistry and Material Science.
Oct 2004: University of Oakland, Michigan,
Department of Chemistry, Invited Lecture:
Supramolecular Polymerization: A Route to Responsive
Materials.
July 2004: Faraday Discussions on Self-Organizing
Polymers, Leeds, UK, Lecture: Metal-ligand
Induced Supramolecular Polymerization: A Route to
Responsive Materials.
Awards
Research Associate of Girton College, Cambridge 1996
NSF CAREER Award, 2002-2007
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