With funding from the Organic Dynamics Program, Professor Gellman of the University of Wisconsin is investigating the noncovalent bonding factors in molecular associations. The focus of the research is to determine the contributions that factors such as hydrophobic interactions, pi stacking and dipole-dipole attraction make on molecular recognition and folding. Model compounds are being prepared to test each factor and NMR spectroscopy is the analysis technique. Molecular systems in biology and materials associate to form functional assemblies that have beneficial properties such as strength, chemical reaction catalysis and general biological activity. This investigation is designed to characterize some of the individual factors responsible for the formation of these functional assemblies.
