During the course, the first principles (forces, interactions and processes) that are the basis of non-covalent chemistry will be presented. With a look at natural systems, the course leads the students to understanding self-assembly phenomena and enable them to design supramolecular devices. To this end, an overview of material-related applications will be presented
This course mainly consists of class lectures plus one or two laboratory sessions.
Introduction to supramolecular chemistry: the fundamentals of non-covalent synthesis
Nature as a Model: learning as to read molecular and supramolecular information (DNA, proteins). Relationships between structures (primary, secondary, tertiary) and function. Allosteric effect. Hierarchy of self-assembling and kinetic inertia: thermodynamics and kinetics at work
-Nature of non-covalent interactions. The role of solvent: solubility and solvofobicity.
-Classification of synthetic supramolecular compounds. Chelation effect and macrocycle effect. Organization and complementarity.
Non-covalent synthesis and covalent synthesis: a marriage of convenience
Host-guest chemist
-Anion Receptors. Cation Receptors. Neutral molecule receptors.
Self-assembly
- Supramolecular architectures, ideas of crystal engineering.
- Supramolecular stereochemistry. Intrinsic chirality and induced chirality. Chiral memory.
-Catalysis and supramolecular reactivity. Self-replication.
Supramolecular at Work: Nanotechnologies.
Nanomedicine.
-Imaging (MRI, luminescent probes, radiolabeling), radiotherapeutic compounds
Sensors
- Selective ionic electrodes (ISEs), iono-selective membranes, chromo ionophore, piezoelectric and fluorescence sensors, electronic nose
Supramolecular switches.
- Optical and hybrid switches.
-Logic gates (YES, NOT, AND, OR, XOR) from supramolecular systems.
Future Applications: nanomacchine
- Top-down and bottom-up strategies for building nanostructures.
- Molecular machines in the biological world. Artificial molecular machines.
Notes from classes