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An important aspect of molecular engineering is the `property directed' synthesis of large molecules and molecular assemblies. Synthetic expertise has advanced to a state which allows the assembly of supramolecules containing thousands of atoms using a `construction kit' of molecular building blocks. Expansion in the field is driven by the appearance of new building blocks and by an improved understanding of the rules for joining them in the design of nanometer-sized devices.
Another aspect is the transition from supramolecules to materials. At present no single molecule (however large) has been demonstrated to function as a device, but this appears to be only a matter of time. In all of this research, which has a strongly multidisciplinary character, both existing and yet to be developed analytical techniques are and will remain indispensable.
All this and more is discussed in Molecular Engineering for Advanced Materials, which provides a masterly and up to date summary of one of the most challenging research fields to emerge in recent time.
List of contents
The Self-Assembly of Redox-Active and Photo-Active Catenanes and Rotaxanes.- Advantages of the Rotaxane Framework for the Construction of Switchable Molecular Devices.- The Polyrotaxane Architecture. A New Approach to Molecular Engineering.- "Smart" Cascade Macromolecules.- Tailoring Cyclodextrins for the Construction of Large Scale Scale Molecular Assemblies.- Cation and Anion Coordination Chemistry of Redox Active Calixarene Macrocyclic Ligand Systems.- Functionalization and Application of Calixarenes.- Design Principles for Engineering Conducting Discotic Liquid Crystals.- Organic Synthesis and Materials Science.- New Aspects of Heterocyclic Annulene Chemistry.- Electrochemical Properties of Fullerenes and Fulerene Derivatives: A Possible Route to Endohedral Complexes.- Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Bis-Porphyrin-Stoppered [2]-Rotaxanes.- New Materials Based on Highly-Functionalised Tetrathiafulvalene Derivatives.- Design, Synthesis and Properties of Exotic Tetrathiafulvalenes.- Novel TTF Derivatives as Components for Conducting CT Complexes.- Tetrathiafulvalenes with Extended Conjugation.- Giant Analogues of Tetrathiafulvalene: Outcome and Prospect.- Unsymmetrically-Substituted Tetrathiafulvalenes (TTF) as Key Intermediates in the Preparation of Functionalised TTF Derivatives.- From Molecular Structures to Solid State Properties in ?-Charge Transfer Salts.- New Bimetallic Tetrathiafulvalene Building Blocks and Self-Assembled, Two-Dimensional Conductors Derived from Regioregular, Head-to-Tail Coupled Polythiophenes.- Author Index.
