91244 - Advanded Supramolecular Chemistry

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Moduli: Serena Silvi (Modulo 1) Andrea Fermi (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Photochemistry and Molecular Materials (cod. 9074)

Learning outcomes

The students will acquire the fundamentals at the basis of supramolecular chemistry, and they will be familiar with the properties and transformations of the main classes of supramolecular systems. The course will present also the most recent developments in the field, characterization techniques and potential applications.

Course contents

A – INTRODUCTION - HISTORY
• First examples - historical overview
• Zeolites
• Clathrates
• Observations of self-assembled systems
• Intra/Intermolecular interactions
• M+L coordinative binding
• H-bonding
• Halogen bonding
• VdW forces
• Concepts
• HG interactions; receptors
• Lock + key
• Non-covalency
• Old school Supramolecular Chemistry
• Pedersen's macrocycles
• Lehn's cryptands
• Cram's spherands
• Supramolecular Chemistry Today
• Materials
• Nanomaterials
• Engineering and practical uses
• Nomenclature


B – INTRODUCTION: EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES
• NMR
• Basics
• MAS
• NOESY, ROESY
• DOSY
• Examples of uses
• Absorption and emission spectroscopies
• Basics
• Examples of uses in Supramolecular Chemistry
• Examples of uses in Biochemistry
• Calorimetry
• Basics
• Examples of uses in Supramolecular Chemistry
• Examples of uses in Biochemistry


C – BINDING THEORY
• Definitions
• Equilibrium
• Thermodynamic treatise
• The role of ΔG
• Binding isotherms
• Titrations
• The role of Kass
• Practical example
• Calculation of the binding constant

• Approximations
• Old methods: pros/cons
• Non-linear regression
• Example: UV asbsorption, titration
• HG system vs. choice of the analytical method
• p factor
• Examples
• Kass regime
• Analytical methods: pros/cons
• NMR
• UV-vis + luminescence
• ITC
• Binding stoichiometry
• Job's method
• Kass dependence
• Pros/cons
• Considerations on molecular structure
• Concentration range dependence


D – COOPERATIVITY AND MULTIVALENCY
• Definitions
• Examples
• Supramolecular materials: example
• Biochemistry: example
• Cooperativity
• Allostery
• Chelating
• Allostery
• Definitions
• The case of hemoglobin
• Allostery vs. a reference system
• Cooperativity: details
• Microscopic vs macroscopic level
• Hill plot
• Effective molarity
• Thermodynamic considerations
• Example: Lehn's CuI helicates


E – SELF ASSEMBLY
• Definitions
• Design principles
• Directional approach
• Symmetry approach
• Panelling
• Examples
• Fujita's macrocycles
• Anderson's wheels
• Covalent preorganisation
• Thermodynamic considerations
• Dynamic covalent chemistry: overview

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested readings:

• Atwood & Steed, "Encyclopedia of Supramolecular Chemistry"
• Fabbrizzi, "From simple to complex compounds"
• Lehn, Science 2002, 295, 2400-2403.
• Schalley (ed.), "Analytical Methods in Supramolecular Chemistry"
• Goodsell, "Bionanotechnology"

Teaching methods

Lectures will focus on the fundamental concepts of modern supramolecular chemistry, by describing i) the equilibria involved in intermolecular interactions, ii) the thermodynamics aspects of binding events, iii) the main analytical methods employed to describe and quantify supramolecular interactions

 

As concerns the teaching methods of this course unit, all students must attend Module 1, 2 on Health and Safety, online.

Assessment methods

Oral examination: discussion on a case study

Teaching tools

Video projector and blackboard for lectures.

Electronic handouts and pdf notes will be distributed via Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Fermi

See the website of Serena Silvi