Supramolecular chemistry

Supramolecular chemistry is area of chemistry that studies the relationship and linking molecules into bigger systems. It focuses on the chemical systems made up of a discrete number of assembled molecular subunits or components.[2][3][4] The study of non-covalent interactions is crucial to understanding many biological processes from cell structure to vision that rely on these forces for structure and function. Biological systems are often the inspiration for supramolecular research.

An example of a supramolecular assembly.[1]

Supramolecular complex of a chloride ion, cucurbit[5]uril, and cucurbit[10]uril.

An example of a mechanically-interlocked molecular architecture in this case a rotaxane.

An example of a host-guest chemistry.

host-guest complex with a p-xylylenediammonium bound within a cucurbituril.

Intramolecular self-assembly of a foldamer.