CHARLES E. STROUSE

Professor; BSc, Pennsylvania State University; PhD, University of Wisconsin; Alfred P. Sloan Award; Herbert Newby McCoy Award.

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:

Metallotetraarylporphyrin molecules have proved to be remarkably versatile building blocks for the construction of clathrate lattices. The large, rigid, highly symmetric porphyrin ligand provides the driving force for guest incorporation. The rich chemistry of the metal site can be used to program the host lattice for preferential incorporation of guest molecules of a predetermined size, shape, and charge.

Synthesis and characterization of a large number of porphyrin-based clathrates has laid the foundation for numerous technological applications. X-ray structural data now available for approximately 500 materials reveal a strong conservation of host structure. Used in conjunction with modern molecular modeling techniques, this large base of structural information greatly facilitates the design of new materials.

Structural, thermodynamic, and kinetic analyses are being applied to the study of guest uptake and loss. The combination of weak guest binding and slow guest loss makes these materials particularly attractive for controlled release applications. Controlled release formulations for specific agricultural, medical, and consumer products are being developed.

KEY CONCEPTS AND WORDS:

Inorganic Chemistry: crystal engineering; supramolecular chemistry; technological applications of programmable lattice clathrates; controlled release formulations for pest control.