Supramolecular Structural Chemistry

This chapter on supramolecular chemistry is the longest one in the book. According to J.-M. Lehn, who shared the 1987 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with D. J. Cram and C. J. Pedersen, supramolecular chemistry is the study of organized entities of higher complexity (supermolecule) resulting from the association of two or more chemical species consolidated by intermolecular forces. Fundamental concepts such as the nature of intermolecular interactions, molecular recognition, self-assembly, crystal engineering, and supramolecular synthon are systematically introduced. Several examples are presented to shed light on this fascinating and ever-evolving research area.