CHEM 93.08 Introduction to Supramolecular Chemistry
Supramolecular Chemistry is a term coined by the Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Lehn, which means “chemistry beyond the molecules”. In supramolecular chemistry, weak and reversible noncovalent interactions are used to construct complex molecular architectures that would otherwise be almost impossible to synthesize. These interactions include hydrogen-bonding, metal coordination, hydrophobic forces, van der Waals forces, pi-p interactions, and electrostatic effects. We will be learning about these interactions and how to use them to make functional materials, such as molecular machines and muscles, self-healing polymers, diagnostics and sensing platforms, and even molecular memory devices!