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"General Principles for the Design of Spherical Supramolecular Assemblies”
Jerry L. Atwood
Department
of Chemistry
University
of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia,
MO 65211
atwoodj@missouri.edu
The enclosure of chemical space is one of the essential attributes of biological
systems. We have previously shown that macrocycles can serve as building
blocks for very large assemblies. In particular, calixarenes and
resorcinarenes may be used to enclose space in a manner consistent with
the principles of solid geometry attributed to Plato and to Archimedes.
The ability of macrocycles to effect the construction of hydrogen-bonded
spherical enclosure assemblies is due to focussed functionality.
Aided by the concepts of solid geometry and by an understanding of focussed
functionality, we have now prepared a range of new, large assemblies.
Further, we are able to use non-covalent interactions to organize the interior
of certain of these spherical assemblies. Strategies for this organization
will be discussed.