B.S. 1969 Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Polytechnic Institute of Jassy, Romania Ph.D. 1976 Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Jassy, Romania Postdoctoral July-August 1981 Hermann Staudinger Hause, University of Freiburg, Germany Postdoctoral September 1981 - March 1982 Institute of Polymer Science, University of Akron, U.S.A.

Organic

Our research group is involved in the elaboration of synthetic methods, strategies and architectural concepts, as well as in the understanding of the fundamental principles that govern the rational design and synthesis of complex molecular, macromolecular, and supramolecular nonbiological systems that exhibit biological functions. Biological systems are employed as models to develop the synthetic architectural motifs and to control their self-assembly and self-organization during the creation of ordered systems. Our research strikes a balance among a diversity of interrelated disciplines, such as organic, bioorganic, macromolecular, and supramolecular synthesis and catalysis, seeking to understand, mimic, and extend Nature's solutions to the design of synthetic functional nanosystems. Hierarchical folding, supramolecular chirality, nonbiological ionic and electronic channels and nanowires, nanostructured supramolecular membranes, externally regulated drug release mechanisms, enzyme-like catalytic systems, and self-interrupted organic and macromolecular synthesis are examples of new concepts that are under investigation. Central to the capacity of biological molecules to perform critical functions is their ability to form highly organized and stable 3-D structures using a combination of molecular recognition processes. Therefore, the combinatorial libraries of synthetic building blocks required in our strategies consist of combinations of macrocyclic, dendritic, and other primary sequences that are able to fold into well-defined conformations and also contain all the information required to control and self-repair their secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure at the same level of precision as in biological molecules. To what extent the delicate balance between the structures and functions evolved in Nature during billions of years can be transplanted to synthetic molecules is a fascinating question. Towards these goals, we also develop new synthetic methods for the formation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds using metal-catalyzed homo- and cross-coupling, radical, and various ionic and ion-radical reactions. Living and non-statistically self-interrupted polymerization methods are elaborated based on these organic reactions. The design of the internal structure of complex single molecules and the elucidation of the reactivity principles induced by the controlled environment confined within a single molecule or supramolecule are actively pursued. This research involves collaborations with structural and computational chemists and biochemists.

Zhang, S.; Sun, H.; Hughes, A.D.; Draghici, B.; Lejnieks, J.; Leowanawat, P.; Bertin, A.; De Leon, L.O.; Kulikov, O.V.; Chen, Y.; Pochan, D.J.; Heiney, P.A.; Percec, V. "Single–Single" Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers Self-Assemble into Uniform Dendrimersomes with Predictable Size. ACS Nano 2014, 4, 1554-1565. Roche, C.; Percec, V. Complex Adaptable Systems based on Self-​Assembling Dendrimers and Dendrons: Toward Dynamic Materials. Isr. J. Chem. 2013, 53, 30-44. Percec, V.; Leowanawat, P.; Sun, H.; Kulikov, O.; Nusbaum, C.; Tran, T.; Bertin, A.; Wilson, D.; Peterca, M.; Zhang, S.; Kamat, N.; Vargo, K.; Moock, D.; Johnston, E.; Hammer, D.; Pochan, D.; Chen, Y.; Chabre, Y.; Shiao, T.; Bergeron-Brlek, M.; Andre, S.; Roy, R.; Gabius, H.; Heiney, P. Modular Synthesis of Amphiphilic Janus Glycodendrimers and Their Self-Assembly into Glycodendrimersomes and Other Complex Architectures with Bioactivity to Biomedically Relevant Lectins. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 9055-9077. Percec, V.; Wilson, D.; Leowanawat, P.; Wilson, C.; Hughes, A.; Kaucher, M.; Hammer, D.; Levine, D.; Kim, A.; Bates, F.; Davis, K.; Lodge, T.; Klein, M.; DeVane, R.; Aqad, E.; Rosen, B.; Argintaru, A.; Sienkowska, M.; Rissanen, K.; Nummelin, S.; Ropponen, J. Self-Assembly of Janus Dendrimers into Uniform Dendrimersomes and Other Complex Architectures. Science 2010, 328, 1009-1014. Rosen, B.; Wilson, C.; Wilson, D.; Peterca, M.; Imam, M.; Percec, V. Dendron-Mediated Self-Assembly, Disassembly, and Self-Organization of Complex Systems. Chem. Rev. 2009, 109, 6275-6540. Zhang, N.; Hoffman, D.; Gutsche, N.; Gupta, J.; Percec, V. Comparison of Arylboron-Based Nucleophiles in Ni-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling with Aryl Mesylates and Sulfamates. J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 5956-5964. Leowanawat, P.; Zhang, N.; Safi, M.; Hoffman, D.; Fryberger, M.; George, A.; Percec, V. trans-Chloro(1-Naphthyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II)/PCy3 Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Aryl and Heteroaryl Neopentylglycolboronates with Aryl and Heteroaryl Mesylates and Sulfamates at Room Temperature. J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 2885-2892 Roche, C.; Sun H.-J.; Prendergast M.E.; Leowanawat P.; Partridge B.E.; Heiney P.A.; Araoka F.; Graf R.; Spiess H.W.; Zeng X.; Ungar G.; Percec V. Homochiral Columns Constructed by Chiral Self-​Sorting During Supramolecular Helical Organization of Hat-​Shaped Molecules. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 7169-7185. Rosen, B.M.; Roche, C.; Percec, V. Self-​assembly of dendritic dipeptides as a model of chiral selection in primitive biological systems. Top. Curr. Chem. 2014, 333, 213-254. Percec, V.; Sun, H.; Leowanawat, P.; Peterca, M.; Graf, R.; Spiess, H.; Zeng, X.; Ungar, G.; Heiney, P. Transformation from Kinetically into Thermodynamically Controlled Self-Organization of Complex Helical Columns with 3D Periodicity Assembled from Dendronized Perylene Bisimides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 4129-4148. Rosen, B.M.; Roche, C.; Percec, V. Self-​assembly of dendritic dipeptides as a model of chiral selection in primitive biological systems. Top. Curr. Chem. 2013, 333, 213-254. Zhang, N.; Samanta, S.; Rosen, B.M.; Percec, V. Single Electron Transfer in Radical Ion and Radical-​Mediated Organic, Materials and Polymer Synthesis. Chem. Rev. 2014, Article ASAP. Anastasaki, A.; Nikolaou, V.; Zhang, Q.; Burns, J.; Samanta, S.R.; Waldron, C.; Haddleton A.J.; McHale, R.; Fox, D.; Percec, V.; Wilson, P.; Haddleton, D.M. Copper(II)/Tertiary Amine Synergy in Photoinduced Living Radical Polymerization: Accelerated Synthesis of ω-Functional and α,ω-Heterofunctional Poly(acrylates). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 1141-1149. Samanta, S.R.; Sun, H.J.; Anastasaki, A.; Haddleton, D.M.; Percec, V. Self-​activation and activation of Cu(0) wire for SET-​LRP mediated by fluorinated alcohols. Polym. Chem. 2014, 5, 89-95. Samanta, S.R.; Percec, V. Synthesis of high molar mass poly(n-​butyl acrylate) and poly(2-​ethylhexyl acrylate) by SET-​LRP in mixtures of fluorinated alcohols with DMSO. Polym. Chem. 2014, 5, 169-174. Samanta, S.R.; Anastasaki, A.; Waldron, C.; Haddleton, D.M.; Percec, V. SET-​LRP of methacrylates in fluorinated alcohols. Polym. Chem. 2013, 4, 5563-5569. Samanta, S.R.; Anastasaki, A.; Waldron, C.; Haddleton, D.M.; Percec, V. SET-​LRP of hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylates in tetrafluoropropanol. Polym. Chem. 2013, 4, 5555-5562. Samanta, S.R.; Levere, M.E.; Percec, V. SET-​LRP of hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylates in trifluoroethanol. Polym. Chem. 2013, 4, 3212-3224. Leng, X.; Nguyen, N.H.; van Beusekom, B.; Wilson, D.A.; Percec, V. SET-​LRP of 2-​hydroxyethyl acrylate in protic and dipolar aprotic solvents. Polym. Chem. 2013, 4, 2995-3004. Nguyen, N.H.; Leng, X.; Percec, V. Synthesis of ultrahigh molar mass poly(2-​hydroxyethyl methacrylate) by single-​electron transfer living radical polymerization. Polym. Chem. 2013, 4, 2760-2766.