Project Grant 2420332

This federal Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemistry under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program provides $1,800,000 to establish the NSF Center for Aqueous Supramolecular Chemistry (CASC). The Center will conduct research to enable the selective capture, transport, and transformation of bicarbonate and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) anions through the development of custom-designed supramolecular molecules. Key activities include synthesizing novel anion-binding receptors, demonstrating their ability to control anion affinity and selectivity, and applying these switchable receptors to improve catalytic transformations and environmental remediation. The University of Utah is the prime awardee, with sub-awards planned for the University of Minnesota, University of Texas at Austin, University of Oregon, and University of California, Riverside to collaborate on various aspects of the Center's research and outreach initiatives over the 3-year project period.