FONDAMENTI DI CHIMICA SUPRAMOLECOLARE

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

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

• J.-M. Lehn, Supramolecular Chemistry, VCH
• J. W. Steed and J. L. Atwood, Supramolecular Chemistry, Wiley
• P. D. Beer, P. A. Gale and D. K. Smith Supramolecular Chemistry,OCP