Supramolecular Chemistry: A Toolkit for Soft Functional Materials and Organic Particles

Self-assembly has proven to be a powerful tool for the construction of complex superstructures. The assembly of monomers into supramolecular architectures via non-covalent interactions is chiefly directed by the molecular structures, their functional groups, and environmental conditions. The principal advantage of non-covalent interactions is reversibility, which allows the assembly of monomers into supramolecular structures in situ depending on the local conditions. In addition, the supramolecular approach provides a degree of control over self-assembly at the molecular level, thereby influencing the macroscopic level and facilitating tuning of the bulk material properties. This review discusses the meritorious examples of supramolecular materials constructed through the molecular assembly process, guided by the classical principles of supramolecular chemistry. Furthermore, this year (2017) marks the 50th anniversary of supramolecular chemistry in honor of the first example of supramolecular structure reported by Charles J. Pedersen and the achievements in the area of supramolecular chemistry ever since.