Learning objectives
To gain the basic knowledge for the understanding and experimental setup of
research studies aimed at the synthesis of new molecular receptors for the
development of “devices” which exploit noncovalent interactions.
Prerequisites
To fruitfully follow the course it is fundamental to have a solid knowledge of General
Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.
Course unit content
Introduction to Supramolecular Chemistry. Molecular recognition. Intermolecular
forces. Methods for the determination of the stoicheiometries of the complexes and
of the complexation constants via different techniques (NMR, UV-vis, fluorescence,
calorimetry, potentiometry,...). Extraction percentage and distribution coefficients.
Methodologies for the synthesis of macrocyclic compounds (crown, aza-crown,
calixarenes, resorcarenes, cyclodextrins). Synthestic modifications of the
macrocycles.
Cation complexation with crown-ethers, cryptands, spherands and ciclophanes:
synthetic methodologies and complexation studies. Applications in the field of
imaging (MRI, luminescent probes , radiolabelling), of radiotherapeutics, of metal
detoxification and of the treatment of radioactive and heavy metals waste.
Neutral molecules complexation with crown-ethers, cyclodextrins and cyclophanes:
studies on the complexes, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters, effect of the
structure of the guest and of the solvent: the hydrophobic effect.
Anion complexation by natural and synthetic receptors.
Self-assembly. Supramolecular catalysis.
Cavitands from cyclotriveratrylene, resorcarenes and calixarenes in molecular
recognition. Calixarenes as molecular platform for the synthesis of receptors for
cations, anions and neutral molecules.
Discussion on some application in the field of Supramolecular Science: Ionselective
Electrodes (ISE), ion-selective membranes, chromoionophores,
piezoelectric and fluorescence sensors.
Full programme
Introduction to Supramolecular Chemistry. Molecular recognition. Intermolecular
forces. Methods for the determination of the stoichiometries of the complexes and of
the complexation constants via different techniques (NMR, UV-vis, fluorescence,
calorimetry, potentiometry,...). Extraction percentage and distribution coefficients.
Methodologies for the synthesis of macrocyclic compounds (crown, aza-crown,
calixarenes, resorcarenes, cyclodextrins). Synthestic modifications of the
macrocycles.
Cation complexation with crown-ethers, cryptands, spherands and ciclophanes:
synthetic methodologies and complexation studies. Applications in the field of
imaging (MRI, luminescent probes , radiolabelling), of radiotherapeutics, of metal
detoxification and of the treatment of radioactive and heavy metals waste.
Neutral molecules complexation with crown-ethers, cyclodextrins and cyclophanes:
studies on the complexes, thermodynamic and kinetic parameters, effect of the
structure of the guest and of the solvent: the hydrophobic effect.
Anion complexation by natural and synthetic receptors.
Self-assembly. Supramolecular catalysis.
Cavitands from cyclotriveratrylene, resorcarenes and calixarenes in molecular
recognition. Calixarenes as molecular platform for the synthesis of receptors for
cations, anions and neutral molecules.
Discussion on some application in the field of Supramolecular Science: Ionselective
Electrodes (ISE), ion-selective membranes, chromoionophores,
piezoelectric and fluorescence sensors.
Supramolecular Catalysis.
Bioorganic supramolecular chemsitry.
Bibliography
The following book represents a fair introduction to supramolecular chemistry.
Supramolecular Chemistry, P.D. Beer, P. A. Gale, D.K. Smith, Oxford University
Primers, OUP, 1999.
For several topics should however be implemented with the following
monographies:Supramolecular Chemistry: From Molecules to Nanomaterials, J. W. Steed, P. A. Gale, Wiley 2012 (ISBN: 978-0-470-74640-0); Supramolecular Chemistry: Concepts and Perspectives. J.-M. Lehn, VCH Ed.,
Weinheim, 1985.
Comprehensive Supramolecular Chemistry. Executive editors Jerry L. Atwood...[et
al.] ; chairman of the editorial board Jean Marie Lehn. - [Oxford] : Pergamon, 1996.
- 11v.
Calixarenes Revisited. C.D. Gutsche, J.F. Stoddart Ed., Royal Society of Chemistry,
Cambridge, 1998.
Container molecules and their guests. D.J. Cram and J.M. Cram. - London : Royal
Society of Chemistry, 1994.
Crown ethers and cryptands. G.W. Gokel. - London : Royal Society of Chemistry,
1991.
Cyclophanes. F. Diederich. - London : Royal Society of Chemistry, 1991
Teaching methods
The student will be evaluated (oral exam only) both on the monographic part and on
the report on a literature article on a specific argument of supramolecular chemistry.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination also with reports on a literature paper on Supramolecular Chemistry
Other information
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