CHEM 345
Supramolecular Organic Chemistry Fall 2022
Division III
This is not the current course catalog

Supramolecular chemistry is the study of chemical systems, often with practical applications, that are composed of two or more molecular components held together by non-covalent interactions. More specifically, we will focus on the use of “synthetic influence” over organic compounds and reactions to make tailor-made building blocks that will produce functional molecular assemblies. The various analytical methodologies used to probe these relatively weaker and more dynamic chemical systems will be studied. We will also examine (and be inspired by) the supramolecular chemistry found in nature, as the field was originally defined by the host-guest interactions used to explain receptor-substrate binding in many biological systems. Today, the field has intersected with numerous disciplines which we will explore; these include analytical molecular recognition and sensing, self-assembly molecular engineering, catalysis, and organic-based molecular devices, among others. We will also explore more complex supramolecular topics such as dynamic covalent chemistry and the mechanical bond. Students will be expected to delve into the chemical literature and analyze the research of pioneering chemists in the field (past and present) by choosing one prominent journal article, culminating in a final literature review paper.