Perspectives in Supramolecular Chemistry: from Molecular Recognition Towards Selforganization

Abstract

Supramolecular chemistry has relied on more or less preorganised molecular receptors for effecting molecular recognition, catalysis and transport processes. A step beyond consists in the design of systems undergoing molecular self-organisation, i.e. systems capable of spontaneously generating a well-defined supramolecular architecture by self assembling from their components in a given set of conditions.