supramolekulare

Supramolekulare chemistry, sometimes referred to as supramolecular chemistry, is the study of systems assembled from discrete molecules held together by non-covalent interactions. It examines how molecules recognize each other, organize into larger architectures, and function as coordinated units. Because the connections are reversible, these assemblies are often dynamic, stimuli-responsive, and capable of self-assembly and self-healing.

The field originated from early work on host–guest chemistry and molecular recognition in the 1980s, with pioneers such as Charles J. Pedersen, Jean-Marie Lehn, and Donald J. Cram contributing to its foundations. Later developments by scientists including Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Fraser Stoddart expanded the concept to molecular machines, a line of progress honored with the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Key interactions driving supramolecular assembly include hydrogen bonding, ionic and electrostatic interactions, metal coordination, hydrophobic effects, van der Waals forces, and π–π stacking. These forces enable the design of complex, reversible structures that can respond to chemical or physical stimuli and adapt their conformation or function.

Common motifs encompass host–guest complexes, macrocyclic receptors, coordination cages, rotaxanes and catenanes, and supramolecular polymers or gels. The field integrates synthetic design with characterization techniques such as NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and calorimetry.

Applications span drug delivery, catalysis, sensing, separation, and the development of responsive materials and nanoscale devices. Supramolecular chemistry thus bridges chemistry, materials science, and biology by enabling programmable, reversible assemblies.