Supramolecular chemistry

It has been suggested that this article be merged with Non-covalent interaction. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2024.

Supramolecular chemistry refers to the branch of chemistry concerning chemical systems composed of a discrete number of molecules. The strength of the forces responsible for spatial organization of the system range from weak intermolecular forces, electrostatic charge, or hydrogen bonding to strong covalent bonding, provided that the electronic coupling strength remains small relative to the energy parameters of the component.^{[1][2][page needed]} While traditional chemistry concentrates on the covalent bond, supramolecular chemistry examines the weaker and reversible non-covalent interactions between molecules.^[3] These forces include hydrogen bonding, metal coordination, hydrophobic forces, van der Waals forces, pi–pi interactions and electrostatic effects.^[4][5]

Important concepts advanced by supramolecular chemistry include molecular self-assembly, molecular folding, molecular recognition, host–guest chemistry, mechanically-interlocked molecular architectures, and dynamic covalent chemistry.^[6] The study of non-covalent interactions is crucial to understanding many biological processes that rely on these forces for structure and function. Biological systems are often the inspiration for supramolecular research.

• 
  Self-assembly of a circular double helicate^[7]
• 
  Host–guest complex within another host (cucurbituril)^[8]
• 
  Mechanically-interlocked molecules (rotaxane)^[9]
• 
  An example of a host–guest chemistry^[10]
• 
  Host–guest complex with a p-xylylenediammonium bound within a cucurbituril^[11]
• 
  Intramolecular self-assembly of a foldamer^[12]
• 
  In this example two pyrene butyric acids are bound within a hexameric nanocapsule composed of six C-hexylpyrogallol[4]arenes held together by hydrogen bonds. The side chains of the pyrene butyric acids are omitted.^[13]