title: How to Make Weak Noncovalent Interactions Stronger.
abstract: By employing noncovalent interactions, chemists have constructed a variety of molecular aggregates with well-defined structures and fascinating properties. In fabricating stable and large molecular assemblies, noncovalent interactions with high binding strength are needed. This Concept summarizes some strategies to modify and optimize the structures of building blocks for making weak noncovalent interactions stronger. The strategies include: 1) Preorganization of binding sites; 2) spatial confinement effects; 3) multivalent enhancement; 4) synergistic binding with multiple forces. Examples of the fabrication of supramolecular architectures by utilizing these strategies are presented and discussed. Guidance is offered in the construction and fabrication of stable molecular assemblies and supramolecular materials.
authors.affiliation: The Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Jiang-Fei
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: The Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (P. R. China).
authors.forename: Linghui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics & Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (P. R. China). xi@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: binding constants; host-guest systems; noncovalent interactions; self-assembly; supramolecular chemistry