Molecular and Supramolecular Chemistry. Forces governing the formation of supramolecular aggregates. Macrocyclic and acyclic receptors for cations, anions and neutral species. Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects in the formation of supramolecular aggregates. Structures of supramolecular species. Molecular recognition. Self-assembly. Supramolecular reactivity and catalysis. Molecular devices and machines.
Fundamentals for the understanding of: 1) association processes of chemical species (molecules and ions) to form organized aggregates by means of weak forces; 2) aggregates’ properties and transformation; 3) molecular recognition 4) design of molecular receptors; 5) self-assembly; 6) molecular devices and machines.
Prerequisites
Courses required: none
Courses recommended: none
Teaching Methods
Total number of hours for Lectures (hours): 48
Type of Assessment
Final oral examination or, alternatively, 2 written tests during the course and final dissertation.
Course program
Molecular and supramolecular chemistry: definitions and fields of study. Molecules and supramolecular aggregates. The forces that govern the formation of supramolecular aggregates (electrostatic interactions, Van der Waals, dispersion, stacking, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic effect). Acyclic and macrocyclic molecules as receptors for cations, anions and neutral molecules. Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects concerning the formation of supramolecular adducts. Structures of the supramolecular species. Property-structure relation and molecular design. Molecular recognition. Self-assembly and self-replication processes. Reactivity and supramolecular catalysis. Molecular devices and machines. Bioorganic and bioinorganic model systems. Transport through membranes.