Systems Chemistry
Definition
Systems chemistry is an area of chemistry that seeks insight into complex networks of interacting molecules and their system-level properties. These properties emerge through the collective behavior of the system’s components and cannot be attributed to the individual components acting in isolation. The way in which specific interactions between the components propagate through the system dictates these emergent properties.
History
The term “systems chemistry” was first used in 2005 by von Kiedrowski in a publication (Kindermann et al. 2005) describing the kinetic and computational analysis of a nearly exponential organic replicator. In this paper, von Kiedrowski claims new research “could open a door to a field that may be termed systems chemistry, namely, the design of prespecified dynamic behaviour.” In the same year, a systems chemistry workshop (Stankiewicz and Eckardt 2006) was held in Venice, Italy where a more detailed definition was given describing systems...
Keywords
Molecular networks Far-from-equilibrium systems Dynamic combinatorial chemistry Supramolecular chemistry Autocatalysis Self-replicating molecules Oscillating reactions Chiral symmetry breaking Prebiotic chemistry De novo lifeReferences and Further Reading
- Kindermann M, Stahl I, Reimold M, Pankau WM, von Kiedrowski G (2005) Systems chemistry: kinetic and computational analysis of a nearly exponential organic replicator. Angew Chem Int Ed 44:6750–6755CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Li J, Nowak P, Otto S (2013) Dynamic combinatorial libraries: from exploring molecular recognition to systems chemistry. J Am Chem Soc 135:9222–9239CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Ludlow RF, Otto S (2008) Systems chemistry. Chem Soc Rev 37:101–108CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Nitschke JR (2009) Systems chemistry: molecular networks come of age. Nature 462:736–738ADSCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Peyralans JP, Otto S (2009) Recent highlights in systems chemistry. Curr Opin Chem Biol 13:705–713CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Ruiz-Mirazo K, Briones C, de la Escosura A (2014) Prebiotic systems chemistry: new perspectives for the origins of life. Chem Rev 114:285–366CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Stankiewicz J, Eckardt LH (2006) Chembiogenesis 2005 and systems chemistry workshop. Angew Chem Int Ed 45:342–344CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Stoddart JF (2012) From supramolecular to systems chemistry: complexity emerging out of simplicity. Angew Chem Int Ed 51:12902–12903CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Szostak JW (2009) Systems chemistry on early Earth. Nature 459:171–172ADSCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- von Kiedrowski G, Otto S, Herdewijn P (2010) Welcome home, systems chemists! J Syst Chem 1:1–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar