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Supramolecular chemistry—general principles and selected examples from anion recognition and metallosupramolecular chemistry

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Abstract

This review gives an introduction into supramolecular chemistry describing in the first part general principles, focusing on terms like noncovalent interaction, molecular recognition, self-assembly, and supramolecular function. In the second part those will be illustrated by simple examples from our laboratories. Supramolecular chemistry is the science that bridges the gap between the world of molecules and nanotechnology. In supramolecular chemistry noncovalent interactions occur between molecular building blocks, which by molecular recognition and self-assembly form (functional) supramolecular entities. It is also termed the “chemistry of the noncovalent bond.” Molecular recognition is based on geometrical complementarity based on the “key-and-lock” principle with nonshape-dependent effects, e.g., solvatization, being also highly influential. Self-assembly leads to the formation of well-defined aggregates. Hereby the overall structure of the target ensemble is controlled by the symmetry features of the certain building blocks. Finally, the aggregates can possess special properties or supramolecular functions, which are only found in the ensemble but not in the participating molecules. This review gives an introduction on supramolecular chemistry and illustrates the fundamental principles by recent examples from our group.

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Acknowledgement

I thank all my coworkers and all the collaborating scientists who were involved in the works described and which are mentioned in the reference section. Funding for our work is generously provided by the DFG (especially within the priority program SPP 1118) and by the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie.

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  1. Institut für Organische Chemie, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Landoltweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Markus Albrecht

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Correspondence to Markus Albrecht.

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Albrecht, M. Supramolecular chemistry—general principles and selected examples from anion recognition and metallosupramolecular chemistry. Naturwissenschaften 94, 951–966 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-007-0282-7

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