Students will learn about the fundamental aspects of this discipline, as well as selected current research trends and applications. Chapter 1 gives an overview on the history of the field and introduces key terminology, concepts and (spectroscopic) techniques. Chapters 2 and 3 focus on the processes that form the basis of supramolecular chemistry: non-covalent interactions, mostly between host and guest molecules (and ions), and the dynamic assembly of larger superstructures from small building blocks (bottom-up approach towards nanomaterials). Chapter 4 covers molecular machines, a fascinating topic of intense current research and chapter 5 discusses the applications of supramolecular chemistry, both in other research areas (e.g. catalysis) and in everyday products (e.g. in the air freshener Febreze).

J. W. Steed, J. L. Atwood, “Supramolecular Chemistry”, Wiley 2009 (2nd edition).

Lecture contents

Chapter 1: Concepts and Techniques

Chapter 2: Host-Guest Chemistry

Chapter 3: Self-Assembly

Chapter 4: Molecular Machines

Chapter 5: Applications of Supramolecular Chemistry

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