The use of low molecular weight organic receptors for the development of novel detection, capture and remediation technologies.

This thesis reports the synthesis of a series of organophosphorus and organosulfur molecules designed to mimic the hydrogen bond accepting capacity of the P=O moiety common within all organophosphorus chemical warfare agents. The association of these molecules towards a series of non-specific low molecular weight hydrogen bond donating receptors and their hydrolysis in the presence of a base is investigated. The development of predictive methodologies for both hydrogen bond accepting simulants and for the reactivity of these molecules for the development of novel detection and remediation technologies; through the combination of low-level computational modelling, experimentally derived values, and exhaustive parameter searches. Here, it is also shown how that association constants derived from these non-specific hydrogen bonded complexes can be used as a parameter within predictive models for simulant reactivity. Finally, this thesis also reports the synthesis of a series of hydrogen bond donor-acceptor amphiphilic salts and their co-formulation with a series of organic molecules. The self-associative and physical chemical properties of these compounds are investigated in the solid and solution state. The potential for these amphiphilic salts to uptake their co-formulants is also investigated to assess their potential as environmental pollutant capture agents.