SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY - MOLECULAR INFORMATION AND THE DESIGN OF SUPRAMOLECULAR MATERIALS

Molecular information expressed through molecular recognition events provides means for directing the spontaneous formation of supramolecular species from complementary components. It may allow the design and engineering of supramolecular materials, in particular of liquid crystalline and of polymeric nature. Thus, supramolecular mesophases have been obtained from molecular recognition-induced association of suitable subunits. The self-assembly of complementary ditopic components generates liquid crystalline ''polymers'' of supramolecular nature; it takes place by a progressive growth revealed by electron microscopy: from nuclei, to filaments, to tree-like species, to strings and fibers that present helicity induced by the chirality of the subunits. A rich variety of structures and properties may be expected to result from the blending of supramolecular chemistry with polymer chemistry and materials science.