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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Cleopatra Grant

  • B.Sc. (University of Victoria, 2022)
Notice of the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Science

Topic

Complex Behaviours in Sulfonatocalix[n]arene Systems with Salicylaldehyde Derivatives or Diaryl Alkyne Functionalization

Department of Chemistry

Date & location

  • Friday, October 16, 2026
  • 10:00 A.M.
  • Elliott Building, Room 230

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

  • Dr. Fraser Hof, Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
  • Dr. Cornelia Bohne, Department of Chemistry, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

  • Dr. Mariya Goncheva, School of Molecular Life Sciences, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

  • Dr. Samira Gharehkhani, Department of Mechanical Engineering, UVic

Abstract

Complex behaviour is difficult to understand and needs more research within chemical systems, particularly host-guest chemistry. Calixarenes have been involved in host-guest chemistry for much of their history, but literature on complex behaviour of calixarene host-guest systems is lacking. The objective of this work is to further the understanding of complex behaviour in aqueous host-guest systems using multiple different sulfonatocalixarenes with a variety of guests, such as salicylaldehyde derivatives and illicit drug analytes.

In Chapter 2, through UV-Vis, 1H, 1D NOE NMR, and qNMR, techniques, complex behaviour is studied between sCx4-CHO 2 and sCx4-NN 3 with three salicylaldehyde derivatives. The investigation of sulfonatocalix[4]arenes with salicylaldehyde derivatives yielded no obvious com-plex behaviour or complex system where any applications could be further explored.

In Chapter 3, synthetic modification of sulfonatocalix[n]arenes into diaryl alkyne functionalized calixarene host sensors (DAACx4-CN 12, DAACx4-CO2Me 13, DAACx4-CF3 14, DAACx5-CN 19, and DAACx5-CO2Me 20) were found to bind and discriminate different classes of illicit drug analytes, particularly the opioid drug class. These findings are supported by fluorescent binding titrations, UPLC-MS, and qNMR techniques. Consequently, the finding of this work is that diaryl alkyne functionalized calixarene compounds are moderately simple-to-synthesize host sensors that are useful in the detection and discrimination for illicit drugs analytes. These findings further the understanding of calixarene host modification for use in host-guest sensing, and how different functionalization motifs can be applied for specific differentiation of select analytes.

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