Molecular hospitality seen by NMR spectroscopy

Molecular hospitality seen by NMR spectroscopy

Internship Description

Supramolecular chemistry is the domain of chemistry beyond that of molecules that focuses on the chemical systems made up of a discrete number of assembled molecular subunits or components stabilized usually by weak interactions as van der Waals or electrostatic forces, or hydrogen bonding. Cyclodextrins (CD), one group of so called host molecules, are macrocyclic oligosaccharides composed of several glucosidic units. Other molecules called guests can enter their cavity forming inclusion complexes. In aqueous solutions, CDs can form guest/host inclusion complexes with many partially or fully lipophilic molecules. The inclusion CD complexes are widely used in modification of solubility and stability of pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetic additives, or enzyme simulation studies. Many physicochemical methods have been used to study the formation of weak inclusion complexes in solid and liquid states. There is no doubt that some methods are better suited to study such complexes than others, and among the nonseparation methods nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is one of the most widely used because it delivers a wealth of highly reliable information at the atomic resolution level.

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Deliverables/Expectations

​Within the framework of the proposed project the participating student will learn about the supramolecular chemistry of cyclodextrin as well as extend own knowledge on the different host-guest interactions. The main method of the study of mentioned phenomena will be the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy​

Faculty Name

Mariusz Jaremko

Field of Study

​chemistry, bioscience, physics, or engineering background