Probing and harnessing the hydrophobic and Hofmeister Effects

Probing and harnessing the hydrophobic and Hofmeister Effect s A better understanding of how molecules interact in aqueous solutions has ramifications a cross the biosph ere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere . For example, aqueous solutions of dissolved organic molecul es and salts are central to all of biolo gy and biochemistry . Un surprisingly, documented studies of h ow organic solutes, dissolved sa lts, and water interact with each othe r arguably go back to at least the late 18 th Centur y with Franz Hoffmeister ’s seminal work on protein solubility . However, to date no comprehensive atomistic model of the interactions between this trinity of solute, s alt, and water has been forthcoming. For some time now , our research has focused on building up an atomistic view point of aqueous supramolecular chemistry. In doing so we envis age not only being able to subtly engineer and contro l specific molecular inte ractions at the atomistic level to engender un usu al phenomena , but also apply this information to build ing a better understanding of bulk phenomena such as solubility . This presentation will focus on o ur recent stu dies into aqueous supramolecular interact ions uti liz ing deep -cavity cavitands as models . We will discuss how these interactions control the bulk prop erties of the hosts, and how they can b e harnessed to yield novel supramolecular containers that function as yoctoliter reaction vess els and tools for bringing about separation protocols. 1 References 1. (a) Jordan, J. H.; Gibb, C. L. D.; Wishard, A.; Pham, T.; Gibb, B. C., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140 (11), 4092 -4099; (b) Hill yer, M. B.; Ga n, H.; Gibb, B. C., ChemPhysC hem 2018, 19 (18), 2285 -2289; (c) Sokkalingam, P.; Shraberg, J.; Rick, S. W.; Gibb, B. C., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138 (1), 48 -51; (d) Wa ng, K.; Gibb, B. C., J. Org. Ch